texasjohn
Super Member
I've got a 90gal diesel transfer tank in the back of the pickup. Power is 12V pump wired unswitched, unfused (yes, I know, that way when I bought the pickup, used) to the battery. It's quit pumping twice on me now, mysterious to me.
First time, it just refused to start. Meaning that I removed the nozzle and lifted the lever and the motor didn't start. It had been working fine the day before. Couldn't do repair immediately but next day I carefully followed wire from pump to battery and made sure terminals were tight. Also removed the cover to the wiring box on the body of the pump. Pulled wires out and examined screw on connectors between battery supply and pump motor wires. Found nothing loose, fundamentally didn't do anything, lifted the lever and motor started.
Has worked fine across about a month, have used 2-3 times to fill tractor tank. Today, I filled tractor tank, bubbles were near fill cap and I let go of the nozzle handle trigger. Motor stopped. (usually it keeps running). I let the bubbles settle down then pulled the trigger again... didn't start up (didn't think it would). I reset the lever at the pump (down, then up again)...didn't start.
Tank has 7 inches of fuel in it...so not a low fuel shutoff (previous experience tells me motor will keep running when fuel tank is exhausted.
I do not believe the nozzle is an automatic shutoff like there is at the regular gas station.... but don't really know how to tell if it were.
My current theory is that there is a loose wire somewhere, possibly deep inside the pump motor itself. I'll repeat the prior "solution" outlined above and hope for more "magic" but don't really believe in magic. I'd rather not take the motor apart but will if need be. Purchase of a new motor/pump is last, expensive, resort.
One final mystery to me. Next to the on/off lever which the nozzle rides on there is another lever. It is flat, has a hole in it and can be lifted up/down but I feel no resistance or hear any switches click when I do this, and I've never determined what it is for except perhaps for a lock.
Ideas to fix the on/off problem are welcome.
What's the other lever for?
First time, it just refused to start. Meaning that I removed the nozzle and lifted the lever and the motor didn't start. It had been working fine the day before. Couldn't do repair immediately but next day I carefully followed wire from pump to battery and made sure terminals were tight. Also removed the cover to the wiring box on the body of the pump. Pulled wires out and examined screw on connectors between battery supply and pump motor wires. Found nothing loose, fundamentally didn't do anything, lifted the lever and motor started.
Has worked fine across about a month, have used 2-3 times to fill tractor tank. Today, I filled tractor tank, bubbles were near fill cap and I let go of the nozzle handle trigger. Motor stopped. (usually it keeps running). I let the bubbles settle down then pulled the trigger again... didn't start up (didn't think it would). I reset the lever at the pump (down, then up again)...didn't start.
Tank has 7 inches of fuel in it...so not a low fuel shutoff (previous experience tells me motor will keep running when fuel tank is exhausted.
I do not believe the nozzle is an automatic shutoff like there is at the regular gas station.... but don't really know how to tell if it were.
My current theory is that there is a loose wire somewhere, possibly deep inside the pump motor itself. I'll repeat the prior "solution" outlined above and hope for more "magic" but don't really believe in magic. I'd rather not take the motor apart but will if need be. Purchase of a new motor/pump is last, expensive, resort.
One final mystery to me. Next to the on/off lever which the nozzle rides on there is another lever. It is flat, has a hole in it and can be lifted up/down but I feel no resistance or hear any switches click when I do this, and I've never determined what it is for except perhaps for a lock.
Ideas to fix the on/off problem are welcome.
What's the other lever for?
