Whats your trick to priming a/c pump???

liv2ryde100

liv2ryde100

Active Member
May 17, 2012
906
long island
Boat Info
07' 40 sundancer
Engines
cummins 5.9 380's
I’ve seen a couple different styles of ac pump, but they all seem to need to be primed, what’s your method? Thanks
 
I've never had to prime an AC pump.
Probably because the storage yard is 10 miles away from my marina and I have never tried to run my AC when they set the boat in the water, I wait until I am at my dock to do it. Driving the boat forces water through the scoop strainer (as long as the seacock is open of course) and takes care of priming it.
On our current boat, the pump is below the water line, problem solved. Suggest you go for a boat ride, might be all it takes. If not, you may have to get a little more creative. I've heard of guys back filling the system by sticking a garden hose via some homemade adaptor into the thru hull discharge. If you have two AC's, you will most likely have to plug the thru hull you're not sticking the hose in.
 
The pump is usually at or very near the level of the sea water strainer. Take the lid off the strainer. Open the seacock a bit to allow water to flow in. It will flow to the pump. Close seacock, replace lid.

Alternatively, you could leave the seacock closed and pour water in into the strainer so it flows into the hose to the pump. Could use a hose for this.
 
b_arrington said:
The pump is usually at or very near the level of the sea water strainer. Take the lid off the strainer. Open the seacock a bit to allow water to flow in. It will flow to the pump. Close seacock, replace lid.

Alternatively, you could leave the seacock closed and pour water in into the strainer so it flows into the hose to the pump. Could use a hose for this.
Click to expand...
THIS

If you know the boat is coming out of the water than close the seacock(s).
 
If your thru hull "water out" is easily accessible force water into it and watch the bubbles come out from under the stern. Once the bubbles have cleared - it's purged.
 
My first time doing this took little effort. I grabbed my wet vac from the dock box, put the hose up to the thru hull, and whola, it sucked the water out and started flowing! Literally two minutes and no climbing into the bilge :)
 
Agree with JB. Backflow the pump.
 
I put a tee before the pump for flushing the seacock out and it doubles as a prime if needed. The tee has a valve on top of it allowing a hose connection.
 
Cool thanks for the suggestions, I’ve been loosening the hose on the outflow side of the pump for years but figured there has to be an easier way.
 
liv2ryde100 said:
Cool thanks for the suggestions, I’ve been loosening the hose on the outflow side of the pump for years but figured there has to be an easier way.
Click to expand...
If you have Groco strainers, there are flush caps available that greatly simplify flushing and priming. I have a set on my generator and main engine. This version is bronze with a ball valve and threaded port, meant to be used when the engine is in service (vs. the plastic caps that are for temp use only). I use these to flush my generator and engine after every use; they could easily be used to also flush/prime an AC system.

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b_arrington said:
If you have Groco strainers, there are flush caps available that greatly simplify flushing and priming. I have a set on my generator and main engine. This version is bronze with a ball valve and threaded port, meant to be used when the engine is in service (vs. the plastic caps that are for temp use only). I use these to flush my generator and engine after every use; they could easily be used to also flush/prime an AC system.

View attachment 147167

View attachment 147168

View attachment 147169
Click to expand...
Wow really nice thanks
 
b_arrington said:
If you have Groco strainers, there are flush caps available that greatly simplify flushing and priming. I have a set on my generator and main engine. This version is bronze with a ball valve and threaded port, meant to be used when the engine is in service (vs. the plastic caps that are for temp use only). I use these to flush my generator and engine after every use; they could easily be used to also flush/prime an AC system.

View attachment 147167

View attachment 147168

View attachment 147169
Click to expand...

This. My AC strainer is a Groco and I prime the pump with a flush cap. Works great for priming. Just turn the hose on until the bubbles stop coming out of the hull outlet. I made my own flush cap, but same thing.
 
lawndoctor said:
This. My AC strainer is a Groco and I prime the pump with a flush cap. Works great for priming. Just turn the hose on until the bubbles stop coming out of the hull outlet. I made my own flush cap, but same thing.
Click to expand...
Really nice
 
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