Gasboy won't pump

[canucklehead]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum...it seemed like the best of all the options.

I have a Gasboy Model 60 or 61 pump (it has both model numbers marked in 2 different spots) on a 100 gallon tidy tank. I can hear the pump running and removed a top cover to see the rotary veins spinning. It seems like the pump is working but it is not picking up fuel and pumping it.

I removed the pump from tank and the pick tube seems fine and is all the way to the bottom of tank. I dumped 12 gallons of fuel in the tank plus there was already at least 5-10 gallons of fuel in tank. On the top of pump where the hose assembly bolts on there is a metal cover. That metal cover has a brass bolt on the side. I removed the bolt and felt it sucking, but no fuel.

Do I need to prime this pump or dump some fuel in through that access hole (pretty small hole to dump fuel into)? Maybe an air leak?... but I'm not seeing where it is obviously sucking air.

Why is it not sucking up fuel, and how do I troubleshoot/fix this?

thanks for the help.

 

[DJ54]

If the pickup tube isn't leaking, maybe the bypass valve is stuck, or shaft seal on the pump is shot. If you can feel a little suction, I'd check the bypass valve. Sounds like the easiest anyway..., LOL...

 

[canucklehead]

I pulled the pump housing off to expose bypass valve and strainer screen. I pushed on bypass valve (it's like a tire valve?). There is another valve in there aswell, a plastic cup piece on a large spring. The gasket was old crusty and tore. I replaced it with one I made myself from bulk gasket material (maybe that helped seal it better??).

I also removed vane cover again and squirted it generously with motor oil.

I tried it and it worked. Maybe spraying the vanes with oil helped prime it?? I filled (2) 6 gallon jugs pretty quick & easy.

 

[DJ54]

Time will tell... I'm sure the fuel washed the oil away. If there is an air leak anywhere, it should lose prime again.

 

[canucklehead]

how do I pin down where the air leaks are and fix them? that should be relatively simple?

 

[DJ54]

From the sound of the condition of that gasket, that may have very well been the problem. If not, believe I'd pull the pump out of the tank, turn the pump on with something, even your hand over the end of the pipe, and see if it's making suction. I'd think if it is, and still not pumping fuel, you should be able to hear it sucking air somewhere.

You don't say how old it is, or roughly how much fuel it has pumped. If it's worn that bad, they should sell rebuild kits for them.

Being it pumped again doing those two things, I'd say you pretty well narrowed it down to those two.

 

[canucklehead]

thanks for the help DJ54.

I don't know the age as I recently bought it used from a friend of my son's. Had the impression they hadn't used it much thus the reason for selling it. It was a small farm.

aahhhh.... parts.... what a PITA. Gasboy is in business but doesn't deal with these or make them anymore and they refer you to another company that has no parts either. Internet & google searches don't seem to help either. I always thought Gasboy was a good, reliable product so hopefully it will last.

I also noticed the top of the pump where the nozzle assembly clamps on, seemed to have an old or weak gasket... would that also be a potential air leak area?

 

[DJ54]

I did a liitle search on Google, and found a couple of interesting links that may help you. This first one http://www.petroparts.com/mm5/documents/60 Series.pdf seems to have parts, but says only ships to the U.S. None the less, this link to their site has a PDF exploded view of your pump. And it appears that top gasket could cause a problem.

This one seems to have a kit too. And they are less than the above mentioned one. No mention of not shipping outside the U.S. Gasboy Model 60 & 600 Series 12V Pump Parts : ARK Petroleum Equipment, Inc.

Before I'd go to the expense of the whole kit, and that top gasket seems to be getting weak, believe I'd tap one out. That is, if it's not pumping again. I usually try one thing at a time when diagnosing a problem, so I know exactly what fixed it.

 

[canucklehead]

I also found the first one and the company is SVI international. despite showing the parts and their own part numbers to replace many gasboy part #s, they don't have any parts. I spoke to them and it sounds like they might eventually produce/copy these parts and supply them (??). Their explanation was confusing, but the long & short of it was they have no parts.

the second link looks very promising, especially the complete rebuild for about $100. I already made my own bottom gasket relatively easily, so I'm sure I could do the same for the top gasket, as they appear exactly the same on parts diagram.

too funny...., too many times I've tried several things at the same time to fix something (instead of one at a time) and i can't pinpoint what fixed it. oh well, it still fixes the item so not all bad i suppose.

 

[canucklehead]

I pumped tank down quite low and probably sucked up air. I dumped another 6 gallon jug in and it wouldn't prime. I replaced the top gasket. Old one wasn't as bad as I thought. I pumped more motor oil from little quirt can into rotor/vane, and it primed right up. As long as i don't drain it and suck air, it seems to hold the prime. I don't think that top gasket was my problem.

looks like there are 2 rubber o-rings in that kit, plus the other parts. Are those o-rings easy to replace? Likely to cause the type of leak that would cause it not to prime?

Maybe worn vanes/rotor and those need to be replaced? Like you said DJ, i'd rather start simple, but if I have to pull it apart for these seals, etc..., maybe bite the bullet and do the full rebuild?? I also don't want to spend $115 on a full kit if i only need a couple o-rings. And i don't want to keep pulling it apart... Not an easy one, is it?

oh yeah, how come motor oil gives me just enough to prime compared to diesel fuel? Diesel is pretty oily and almost as thick as oil.

 

[DJ54]

I really don't have a clue as to taking it apart, or rebuilding. But I'd think a decent parts store, or hydraulic shop should have O-rings that size.

And I'd think diesel would be much thinner than any oil I have around.

Sounds like you've narrowed it down to those two items.

 

[canucklehead]

For the amount of work involved to keep chasing it, I'll probably splurge and get the rebuild kit.the kit looks like it has many parts, o-rings, a couple of valves, etc...

 

[tommu56]

what about a foot valve

 

[canucklehead]

foot valve as in manual pump? i'd rather fix this and have 12v do all the work.

 

[rbargeron]

......i'd rather fix this and have 12v do all the work.

When my Gasboy pump got weak I took it to a local fuels dealer. They have many agricultural customers with tanks and Gasboy pumps - and they have a busy maintenance shop. Their guy took a quick look, had all the parts on his shelf, put in new vanes (two were chipped) and sent me on my way without charge.

 

[canucklehead]

WOW!!! that'd never happen here. To look at anything costs minimum $50-100... then maybe fix from there. Lawnmowers, 2-stroke stuff, cars, tractors...they won't say hello until work order is signed and hook is in.

I took my old 93 Lexus in to dealership for a CEL, i knew code (knock sensor) but couldn't fix problem. I asked them to pin it down and told them everything that had been done. service writer assured me they could do it. $200 later they told me it'd take 4-5 hours to dig deeper and pin down cause. I ended up doing lots of internet poking, chatrooms and figured out my own fix. Still bitter about that as I figure they could have told me from square one that diagnostics were difficult on this model year, and it may take several hours (it is OBDI, not OBDII). AND...dealership should know their 20 year old products and have history to draw upon... aaarrggghhh!!

good info tho, and thanks for the heads up. I may just order the whole kit.

 

[MK19]

I just got an old model 61 and I can't get it to work. It's setup for 110AC and it keeps tripping breakers and only turned on for about a second. I tried running it through a generator as well but never got any results. I am guessing it needs repair. The internals look good and free, so I assume I need a new switch and or motor? I found this site which has quite a few parts for the pump - Gasboy 037744X Switch and Motor Protector 60 Series