[C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website

[Jack McDonough]

That's good to know, Chris. My original concern about the screws, however, 
was the question of how to remove the existing switch. Others said to remove 
the two PH screws -- but my switch doesn't have any. I believe I now have 
found the answer to that problem -- sliding a screwdriver down the side of 
the unit and popping the float out. I'm also keeping in mind the suggestion 
to shim the replacement.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chris Burti" <clburti at gmail.com>
To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 10:47 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website


I wouldn't be too concerned about a couple of screws in the bilge
floor...that is over an inch of solid laminate and you only need 1/2
inch of bite for the threads to hold any of the switches you might
choose..

On Thu, Jun 9, 2011 at 9:23 PM, Jack McDonough <mcdonough5 at verizon.net> 
wrote:
> OK. Thanks again. I do appreciate your input. I'll muddle on.
>
> jack
> #947
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad Kuether" <bkuether at comcast.net>
> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 8:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>
>
>> No mine was not a rule.
>>
>> Mine was a small black box that had a mechanical float switch inside of
>> it.
>>
>> Check the links in the documentation I created. You can see the base it
>> was mounted on.
>>
>> If your's is a rule, not sure this upgrade will line up for you with
>> regards to the holes in the bilge.
>>
>> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
>> "Independence"
>> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
>> Middle River, MD
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack McDonough"
>> <mcdonough5 at verizon.net>
>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 8:23 PM
>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>
>>
>>> So, Brad, lemme get this straight. Was your original switch a Rule? Mine
>>> is a Rule but, as I said earlier, there ain't no screws to loosen as 
>>> others
>>> have described, so I'm thinking I have a different model. I never had 
>>> any
>>> trouble with this switch until this season when it stopped working
>>> altogether. You think the Johnson is the way to go? And does it fit the 
>>> same
>>> holes as the Rule?
>>>
>>> Jack
>>> #947
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "jim brown" <jbrown5093 at yahoo.com>
>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Thursday, June 09, 2011 7:23 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>>
>>>
>>> I agree completely. I'm on my second float switch. Changed to a new one
>>> because it got stuck in the on position with no water in the bilge when
>>> heeled to starboard. Guess what- new one does the same thing. I'm about 
>>> to
>>> try a different type.
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim Brown
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Brad Kuether <bkuether at comcast.net>
>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 6:40 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>>
>>> To be honest, it is NOT worth trying to salvage the stock bilge pump
>>> sensor. Its better to just replace it, with something that WON'T get 
>>> hung
>>> up, because it is mechanical rather than electrical/enclosed. Even if it
>>> wasn't the root cause...... (but I am almost 100% sure it was....) it is
>>> better to have it replaced.....
>>>
>>> After doing this replacement, I was kicking myself for not doing it
>>> sooner. After I came to realize what cheap POS it was, I actually felt 
>>> kind
>>> of stupid, when I realized what I was "relying on", to keep my boat from
>>> potentially sinking.
>>>
>>> I know that people don't need another reason to spend additional $$ on
>>> their boats, but this, was one of them for me. Why I felt it necessary 
>>> to
>>> document the process. And to be honest, if you go with the Johnson part, 
>>> it
>>> REALLY is easy and no more holes to drill!!!!
>>>
>>> Just my 2cents, and sorry for the rant. I know everyone is just trying 
>>> to
>>> help, and that help is something I have taken in the past and completely
>>> appreciate. I will shut up now.
>>>
>>> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
>>> "Independence"
>>> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
>>> Middle River, MD
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Irving Grunes" <igrunes at gmail.com>
>>> To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 3:40 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>>
>>>
>>>> Did you try shorting the wires where they leave the float switch or put
>>>> an
>>>> ometer across where they go into the pump to see if the switch works
>>>> when
>>>> operated manually.
>>>> Irv #851
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 3:37 PM, Jack McDonough
>>>> <mcdonough5 at verizon.net>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Ted:
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes. Thanks for the idea but the switch was on.
>>>>>
>>>>> jack
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ted Barto" <capt.tb at verizon.net>
>>>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 10:09 AM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> You did check the bottom switch in the right hand column on the 12 
>>>>> volt
>>>>>>
>>>>>> panel to make sure it's in the "on" position? When I first bought my
>>>>>> boat
>>>>>> (2002 #880) I replaced the float switch in a panic before discovering
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> while wired direct to battery Catalina put a switch on the panel that
>>>>>> kills
>>>>>> power to the float switch. Only purpose for this I can think of is to
>>>>>> replace the float switch, weird. Ted
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Jack McDonough
>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2011 4:54 AM
>>>>>> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
>>>>>> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 
>>>>>> Website
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Brad:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks for the offer of help. I have something from Chris, too, but
>>>>>> I'll
>>>>>> also look for yours. If that 7-year-old is still available, I 
>>>>>> probably
>>>>>> will
>>>>>> need him/her, too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> jack
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad Kuether"
>>>>>> <bkuether at comcast.net>
>>>>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 9:35 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP) - documented on 320 Website
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jack,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It is likely the sensor and it is a relatively easy replacement.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I documented the entire process on the 320 website, including a
>>>>>>> comprehensive BOMs, and submitted it, but it does not appear to have
>>>>>>> been
>>>>>>> approved.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Chris Burti would you be so kind to please take a peek at any 
>>>>>>> pending
>>>>>>> articles and see if mine is in there?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Jack you can contact me offline if you need any info on this fix.
>>>>>>> Took
>>>>>>> me
>>>>>>> about 2 hours but I had a 7 year old with me.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Brad, Mary, Monica, and Jarod
>>>>>>> "Independence"
>>>>>>> 2004 Catalina 320 Hull 1006
>>>>>>> Middle River, MD
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jack McDonough" <
>>>>>>>> mcdonough5 at verizon.net>
>>>>>>>> To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>>>>>>>> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 5:06 PM
>>>>>>>> Subject: [C320-list] Bilge pump (HELP)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> After launching today, we discovered that the automatic bilge pump
>>>>>>>> in
>>>>>>>> our 2003 320 wasn't working. The pump worked fine on "manual" but
>>>>>>>> the float
>>>>>>>> switch in the bilge would not activate the pump.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Assuming I need to replace the float switch, can anyone tell me how
>>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>>> remove it? In other words, how is it fastened to the bottom of the
>>>>>>>> bilge?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Or is there any other reason it wouldn't work -- and, if so, what's
>>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>>> solution?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I'd be grateful for any help on this.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Jack
>>>>>>>> #947
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>



-- 
Chris Burti
Farmville, NC