Changing a Bilge Pump on a H210 SS , anyone ever done it ?

myprecious · **Joined:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:12 am **Posts:** 5

My bilge pump suddenly died, must have been the floater stuck all night and burned the pump.
However the geniuses at fourwinns have placed the bilge pump exactly under the engine with absolutely no access to it , my mechanic tells me this morning the whole engine needs to come for the bilge pump to be replaced, i am fuming :evil:

and confused :roll:

on why would any manufacturer do such a thing.
any ideas on how to do this without having to take out the entire engine to replace a bilge pump ???

kneel · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:56 am

myprecious wrote:

any ideas on how to do this without having to take out the entire engine to replace a bilge pump ???

Perhaps an idea.. leave the old one right where it is.. disconnect hose/wires and install a new pump as close to it as you can..

myprecious · **Joined:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:12 am **Posts:** 5

thats actually a good idea , might give that a try unless anyone else has any solutions...
Thanks

captwalt · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:45 am

You should give the search a use....

Check out this very recent post by millhaven_nice_guy on how he changed his by taking his pump off a base.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=6082&hilit=bilge+pump

LouC · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:02 am

Although I ususally don't take shortcuts in fixing things, in this case I'd correct what is a bad design...an inaccesble bilge pump...a bilge pump is such an important safety feature that it should be accessible...my old '88 had just a pump and no auto switch when I bought it...I made an 'L' bracket out of a piece of aluminum stock and attached both the pump and a Sure Bail switch to the bracket...the bracket got attached to the bulkhead at the front of the engine compartment behind the gas tank...this way if either one fails I remove two screws and lift the whole works out on the bracket...also the location allows me to reach down to test the auto switch....

This is why I have stuck with my old '88...there are just too many difficult for no reason service points on many newer boats...I especially hate the molded in fiberglass all around the rear seats on the newer bowriders...

captwalt · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:28 am

I have never had to take mine out and it also sits under the engine but I am not sure this is necessarily a bad design. If in fact it does sit on a base and can be removed then having it where it is probably serves two purposes.

1. keeps it from being stepped on while working in the engine bay.
2. the further back it is the more water it can pick up while you are running

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

yanking the engine to swap the bilge does seem nuts to me.....i also agree that the bilge is probably in the best spot for it's purpose....it was in the same place in my prior boat. I have never tried to access mine but will need to take a look as I have the same model as you. I like the idea of just removing it from the existing base and replacing the rest of the unit.

My best suggestion is to get a skinny kid who is flexible and can get to it to make the swap:) I only assumed that removing the access panel at the front of the engine would get you there - maybe wrong on that though.

Can someone tell me how a pickup tube will work to pull water into a live/bait well, but can't be used on these bilge systems....that gets the pickup where you need it and the pump where you want it.

millhaven_nice_guy · **Posted:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:23 pm

Replacing the bilge pump is not easy but is doable. You may have to remove the back seat supports and the engine doghouse completely but that's just screws. Take some time to surveythe situation and work at it methodically. Here's the steps you need to do after you get access.
1-Disconnect all wiring by trimming the zip ties and finding the wire connector.
2-Disconnect the hose from the pump.
3- There are tabs on the pump that need to be pushed in then you twist the pump which will release it from the base.
4-the switch is screwed in place and you will need to undo them.
5- remove the pump and switch from the bilge.
6- Go buy new matching pump or a complete new one which means you need to remove the original base. I would recommend that you just replace everything now. Use the existing screws and holes to mount your new system. This will avoid adding any holes in your bilge.

Be sure and test both methods of operation....
It sounds complicated here but once you set your mind at it then it's not too bad.

Jim_R · **Posted:** Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:22 am

I did this on my 200H, but suspect my 4.3 GXi has a bit more access than your 5.7 GXi. I did have to remove rear bench, etc. and it wasn't too bad. Of course I did go from a Rule 500 to a Rule 2000, which required a larger through hull fitting, but that's another story. If you do a search on Pascoe or Bilge pump upgrade you should be able to find the threads (lots of pics).

Almost forgot, one of the things that makes this doable is that the existing bilge pump pops off the base via plastic clips on each side. Only the base is screwed down to the deck.

myprecious · **Joined:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:12 am **Posts:** 5

Thanks for that , pics would really help actually at the point , i dont have idea where to look on Pascoe perhaps you have some links, if so can you please reply and jot them down to have a look.
Both mechanics i brought so far are not willing to help out and curse fourwinns on not making a bigle pump more accessible as it is very likely to be damaged with use.
:cry:

myprecious · **Joined:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:12 am **Posts:** 5

OK a few house of labour and very small hands , my Mechanic was able to slide and unplug the old bilge pump and replace it with a new one.
Thanks all for your help and suggestions , i really appreciate it.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

I guess it would have been pushing it to hand him a towel and get a wipe down of the bilge while he was crammed down in there:) Glad you got that taken care of.

Jim_R · **Posted:** Thu Aug 05, 2010 5:58 pm

Let me know if you still want those links, although I gotta warn you after reading Pascoe I not only significantly upgraded my primary bilge, I added a back up.

myprecious · **Joined:** Tue Aug 03, 2010 1:12 am **Posts:** 5

oh in that case please link them

Thanks

EvilZ · **Posted:** Fri Aug 06, 2010 4:32 pm

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/bilge_pumps.htm

www.iFourWinns.com

Changing a Bilge Pump on a H210 SS , anyone ever done it ?

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