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Whale galley pump repair

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skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/08/2009 : 20:56:00

I have one of the typical Whale "Flipper" type hand pumps on the galley sink. At the end of the season last, it stopped pumping. It was old so I figured I needed a repair kit which I got from West Marine. In this MK IV kit it contained all the parts I needed and a few more that weren't on this pump, and it didn't contain two new valve balls, only one.
Anyways, I replaced the rubber plunger ring along with the lower ring. I could see when I had it apart that it needed cleaning (I was drinking that ?

)and how loose the old plunger rubber part was in the housing.
Now here is my problem. The new rubber plunger seems to fit too tight. It is so tight that I couldn't move it with the handle at first. I thought it was an alignment problem and I used a little olive oil to grease the insertion. True enough, once I got it aligned it moved up and down, and pumped water. But I left it on the table and a couple of days later when I went to install it again, I could not get this mother to move.
So what's with these pumps? Is this normal? In the meantime, how do I get this thing to function again? I have to say, installing and uninstalling this pump from under the sink is not a job I look forward to do again.
Any ideas?

Steve Krenz
`Elan
1978 SR/SK #482
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Edited by - on

keydup
Deckhand

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10 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2009 : 19:20:05

Don't want to hijack your thread, but mine leak around the handle and the spout, is this as simple as replacing the o-rings? Do you have to purchase the whole re-build kit for this repair?

Edited by - on

skrenz
Captain

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USA
351 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 09:19:25

I think you do. Or, go to a good hardware store and get O rings the correct size to match the existing.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 09:38:43

Get rid of the whole fresh water system. Water doesn't stay fresh anyway, it's a pain to keep clean, and you can use the space where water tank was stored for gear storage.

Edited by - aeckhart on 06/10/2009 09:39:49

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 10:52:34

It is possible that the olive oil congealed when exposed to air. And some of us do use the water for a variety of purposes.

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psechrist
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 11:50:35

I took my pump apart after buying my boat. It had been setting for 10 years. Put a little vaseline on the rubber parts & it pumped like new.
I have only been with this form for a short while but I have read way to many treads that suggest getting rid of the system instead of fixing them. Like trash the stove, trash the ice box, trash the fresh water system, trash the BBQ. What part of this boat is worth saving?
I am a fixer by trade so when something doesn't work I can't wait to tear into it.
O-rings can be bought to replace the leaking ones for pennies. No kit necessary.
Pat Sechrist.

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 12:20:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 Get rid of the whole fresh water system. Water doesn't stay fresh anyway, it's a pain to keep clean, and you can use the space where water tank was stored for gear storage.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I kindof agree with you Al, Our galley pump literally falls apart when you touch it, and should be replaced, I don't because it isn't a priority. Similarly the tank is in need of an extreme cleaning, but has never been used since we bought the boat.

Since we sail in freshwater, it wouldn't be hard to sail offshore a little ways and draw water from the lake, then run it through a purifier, storing a days use in a bladder. We have the purifiers from our canoeing days.

This past weekend I tried using the port settee for stowage next to the holding tank, and it was a huge boost to be able to put stuff in there. I am now thinking of putting a false bottom in that space (leaving a way to get to the depth tranducer and paddlewheel) It would be a good thing to double the storage by doing the same on stbd.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 12:54:13

Every season (summer and winter) I partially fill the tank, add a couple of ounces of Clorox, pump it through the systems, top off the tank, and let it sit for a day. I pump out the systems and rinse a couple of times; when I put water in, I add a few drops of Clorox and everything stays fresh. I don't regularly drink the water, but I frequently brush my teeth or take meds with it. Its primary use is cleaning, wash ups, and rinsing/washing dishes and containers.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 06/10/2009 12:56:07

TractorJohn
Deckhand

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USA
24 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 15:45:30

Quick, you need to clean off that oil based lube (its making the o ring swell and dissolve) and get some made for potable water systems. Any plumber store and most hardwares will have the right stuff. The same product is what you use to lube your home faucet. It's a little costly but a small container lasts a lifetime.

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psechrist
1st Mate

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USA
29 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 18:34:33

If you use viton o-rings nothing will harm them. Well maybe fire!
Pat.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2009 : 18:57:06

Are you sure you got the right kit? I did the kit thing with my Whale galley sink and all the parts were there, they fit and it works fine. Perhaps your faucet is an older model than the kit?

FWIW I would not remove the plumbing system. We don't drink that water but we do dishes with it, general cleaning, etc. Properly treated the water is fine for these purposes and better than lake water IMHO.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 06/11/2009 : 14:55:29

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Get rid of the whole fresh water system. Water doesn't stay fresh anyway, it's a pain to keep clean, and you can use the space where water tank was stored for gear storage.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Even if you never put water in or used the sink, This would be the last thing I would do. I know that when I was looking for a boat and came across a boat that the owner had gutted out the plumbing, I would have stopped right there and left. Just on a resale point of view I would repair the system.

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