Help with Ampmaster return pump

[michael stern]

I hope somebody can help.

I did a water change earlier, and I shut off my return pump. Upon restart, it powers up, but doesn't push any water. I had this happen before. I needed to prime it. I did so again. I used my mag 18 to force water into the infeed from the sump. Water flows up to the tank. When I shut off the mag, the ampmaster still doesn't pull any water. Any thoughts? Do I need to pull apart the ampmaster (I hope not, no clue how)? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Michael

 

[jhale]

you need to have a live in plumber I think

I hope someone who is familiar with those pumps can give you a good answer.
Perhaps Dave knows it was his pump.

 

[michael stern]

yeah, I'm having a bad run of luck with my return pumps. I thought this was the answer. If I can't figure it out, I'll run a temp return with my mag 18. This sucks

 

[michael stern]

FWIW, the pump is turning. It just isn't pushing any water???????????

 

[spykes]

head pressure, if correctly remember, i think ampmaster only is a 12 ft head, it's not meant to push water alllll the way up from basement over, it's a flow pump that would move around 2700GPH at 4".

 

[michael stern]

No, It's not the head pressure. For some reason, it's not priming properly.

 

[spykes]

ampmasters usually have a hard time starting up i think, the impeller is a bit big, what do you mean by the moter is spinning do you see the shaft turning?

 

[cali_reef]

You sure the motor is turning??

If the motor is not turning, take the plastic cap off the motor end, it is in the dead center of the motor and about the size of a quarter. You will see a slot under it, turn it with a flat blade screw driver, the motor should start up.

My Ampmaster sometime won't start after a power interruption.

 

[michael stern]

Yes, I did.

It's going now.

I think I plumbed it stupidly when I installed it. The system was originally set up for 2 1" returns through quiet one 6000's. I replaced them with the ampmaster, which is 1 1/2".

Instead of trying to drill a new bulkhead, I run 2 1"lines into a 1 1/2" wye, then into the pump. My problem was getting water to push through both lines simultaneously.

Anyway, lesson learned. One of these days, I really need to replumb this with a 1 1/2" bulkhead.

 

[jhale]

glad you got the pump running again.

your getting to be a pro at these plumbing problems, lol.

with a little help

 

[spykes]

yes dont break that bulkhead again dood :p

 

[michael stern]

yes dont break that bulkhead again dood :p

Thanks