Vetus Cold Water Strainer

irishejit

Hi guys,

Having an issue getting my Vetus filter plumbed back up again.

I've been having a water flow problem in my Port engine. I first tried changing the wear plate, cam and impellor in my water pump but still no luck.

This weekend past I tried to see if the inlet hoses where blocked, so I took them off and cleaned them all out. The problem is now I can't get the hoses reattached to the inlet on the strainer.

I've tried fairy liquid, soap, hot water and good old brute force and can't get them on, I spent 2 hours on this alone Saturday evening until I had to admit defeat and have a beer!

Would anyone have any hints or tips on how to get this reattached? I know it has to go on somehow, as they were all attached before I started! Best of it is, there were no blockages so i'm back to square one with my water flow problem...once I get these hoses attached that is!!

Many thanks

fergal.b

Heat it up and put a wrench or pliers in it and force it open, make sure it's gathering up inside the pipe as you are pushing it on. Could you have an air bubble or be sucking in air somewhere along the system.

irishejit

Thanks Fergal, i'll give that a try.

I had though about air getting in but only through the strainer lid, so had used lots of vaseline whislt refitting it when I was first investigating the problem. I'll have to see if I can test the pipes for any holes

Some one had recommened using instant gasket on it but I'm a bit dubious about that as trying to get it off for winterising and running anti freeze through could be a problem then.

fergal.b

If the strainer is filling up past the outlet pipe "the pipe that goes to your heat exchanger" then the lid will not be your problem.






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irishejit

Its the actual strainer itself that isn't filling up.

I ran a test at the weekend and at 1800rpm the starboard strainer is complelety full, but the port strainer might just be about a quarter full at best :-(

irishejit

Though it is noticable even at idle. The only other thing that I thought of was a blockage in the through hull inlet, but it also seemed to be clear.

fergal.b

Any way you can block the intake and fill the strainer using a hose till you get the impeller pumping, you can kink the hose to get the right flow so it's pumping through the engine at the same speed your filling this should rule out if there are any blockages in the heat exchanger or air trapped in the pump.




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gctest50

The hose on the suction side of the pump/filter etc can partially collapse internally ( may not be proper hose for the job if boat is s/h )

It'll look fine from the outside