| Problem |
Possible Cause and Solutions |
| Pump won’t
prime after three minutes |
• Pump housing not filled with water. Fill
pump housing with water.
• Static suction head too high. Lower the pump closer to the
water.
• Suction hose too long. Reduce suction hose length.
• Leaking suction hose. Repair hose or repair coupler seal.
• Strainer plugged. Clean strainer. To eliminate debris
collecting around the strainer, set the strainer in a
submerged bucket.
• Internal pump wear or damage. Perform a vacuum test:
•• Fill the pump with water and attach a vacuum gauge to the
suction port. Remove the discharge hose and start the pump.
Move the throttle to fast. The gauge should read at least 20
inch Hg. If the vacuum is low and the engine speed is
correct, there is an internal problem with the pump (worn
components, etc.). If the engine speed is too low, there is
a problem with the engine (engine worn out, governor
problem, etc.).
|
| Low discharge
capacity or pressure. |
Maximum engine speed correct:
• Excessive head loss due to restricted discharge hose
or very long discharge hose. Increase hose size and/or
shorten hose.
• Worn impeller and volute. Pumping water containing
abrasives can quickly wear out a Honda general-purpose pump.
Pump only clean water or use a Honda Trash pump.
• Damage and poor performance caused by cavitation. See
cavitation troubleshooting below.
Maximum engine speed too slow:
• Engine throttle lever not in fast position.
• Not producing maximum power due to worn engine or governor
problem.
|
| Pump
Cavitates (grinding noise and impeller worn from pitting) |
• The strainer also may be clogged. Keep
the strainer clean. To eliminate debris collecting around
the strainer, set the strainer in a submerged bucket.
• Static suction head too great and/or suction hose too long
or too small in diameter. Always use the shortest suction
hose possible. Keep the hose diameter equal to or greater
than the pump’s suction port.
|
| Pump housing
cracked or broken. |
• Vehicle ran over discharge hose.
Reposition and/or protect discharge hose.
• Water left in pump housing and allowed to freeze. Always
drain water from pump housing after using.
• Water hammer damage caused by shutting water flow off very
quickly (or driving over hose) with very long discharge hose
length. Shut hose off more slowly or decrease discharge hose
length.
|
| Water leaking
between pump case and engine. |
• Worn mechanical seal. Seal wear is
usually caused by pumping water containing abrasives,
running the pump dry, or shutting off water flow for a long
period of time. |
| Engine does
not turn over. |
• Debris lodged in impeller/volute. Always
use the Honda-supplied strainer with the pump. |
