Replacing Ballast Pumps

[tchur1]

Hey all,

I had a port ballast pump go out on our xstar over the weekend. I assume its a bad pump as I didnt see anything in the breaker panel.

I asked the dealer to send me a new pump since I live 5+ hours from them. Does anyone on here have experience replacing these pumps? It looks pretty straightforward but would love insights.

For context I have a 2020 X star (fastfill)

Appreciate any input!

[Mystic3D]

There are 2 Fastfilll pumps for the port ballast, If you don't hear either running then there is also a relay box closer to the pumps. I mention this as if you don't hear either pump I would suspect a relay box.
Now to answer your question when you remove the hoses from the pumps you will see there is silicone around the hoses to keep them from leaking, so have some handy when you go to replace them. Pretty easy, remove hoses, unscrew 90's, replace pump, put silicone back on the hoses before you tighten them.

[tchur1]

Ya 1 of the pumps is working fine, its just the second one that went out which is why I think its just burned out at this point (boat has 800 hours on it but I have only put on about 110 of those). New pump should be here tomorrow so ill get it swapped.

Appreciate the walk through!

[Mystic3D]

Ya 1 of the pumps is working fine, its just the second one that went out which is why I think its just burned out at this point (boat has 800 hours on it but I have only put on about 110 of those). New pump should be here tomorrow so ill get it swapped.

Appreciate the walk through!

Sounds like a plan. Sounds like it was a surf school boat. ;-)

[LD50]

Just had one of my forward pumps go out yesterday. One more easy check you can do to narrow it down to the pump itself is to unplug the duetsch connector from both pumps and swap the connection from working pump to the non working pump. If it still doesn't work, you can be pretty much assured it's the pump and not something further upstream. Sounds like you got it worked out though.

Good luck with swapping them, that 1 1/2 ballast hose isn't much fun to work with. If anyone knows any secrets for easily removing the fittings without just cutting and replacing the hose, I'd like to hear it. Heat can help, but it's still a pain.

[tchur1]

Sounds like a plan. Sounds like it was a surf school boat. ;-)

Haha yup! This was The Boarding Schools boat last season. After speaking with Travis about the maintenance he had done we felt comfortable pulling the trigger on it, will only have it for another year or two and then will move into something else when the market (hopefully) mellows out.

Just had one of my forward pumps go out yesterday. One more easy check you can do to narrow it down to the pump itself is to unplug the duetsch connector from both pumps and swap the connection from working pump to the non working pump. If it still doesn't work, you can be pretty much assured it's the pump and not something further upstream. Sounds like you got it worked out though.

Good luck with swapping them, that 1 1/2 ballast hose isn't much fun to work with. If anyone knows any secrets for easily removing the fittings without just cutting and replacing the hose, I'd like to hear it. Heat can help, but it's still a pain.

I will swap connectors when I go to change them later today to double check, good call.

Ya ive heard these hoses are a bear, Im looking forward to the wrestling match, beer in hand.

Do you use silicon on the hose to seal or just teflon tape? I was talking to our dealer and he said just throw some teflon tape on the threads and we should be good but curious what others use.

[jpwhit]

Good luck with swapping them, that 1 1/2 ballast hose isn't much fun to work with. If anyone knows any secrets for easily removing the fittings without just cutting and replacing the hose, I'd like to hear it. Heat can help, but it's still a pain.

The trick is a heat gun. And you have to get the hoses pretty hot. Once hot enough, it's pretty easy to work with.

[tchur1]

I dont own a heat gun so Ill either use a hair dryer or just wrestle with it.

Do you use teflon tape or silicone to seal the hoses on the pump?

[wallos]

Have a heat gun you can borrow if hair dryer doesn't do it.

[jpwhit]

Hair dryer is nowhere near hot enough. My advice heat guns are pretty cheap, it's worth buying one......

$20 Heat Gun on Amazon

[jpwhit]

Do you use teflon tape or silicone to seal the hoses on the pump?

Teflon tape only if threaded fittings. If you're connecting a hose to a barb or smooth fitting then nothing is needed other than a hose clamp.

[tchur1]

Ya I figured that would be the case. I have no issues buying one but Im headed out of town this weekend and want to get out and check the pumps tonight before we take off. Good tool to have regardless though.

Wallo if I am having a really hard time with them I will take you up on that offer.

[tchur1]

Ran out of time replacing the bad pump today because I feel like I’m missing something when removing the old pump. I got the hoses and connectors off no problem but I don’t see a way to get the old pump out without removing the 4 screws that hold both port pumps in place. Is that the only way to remove the top pump on the port side? Or am I being an idiot and there is an easy way to remove just the one pump without taking the whole bracket apart.

Appreciate any tips you all have

[bbenj10]

Ran out of time replacing the bad pump today because I feel like I’m missing something when removing the old pump. I got the hoses and connectors off no problem but I don’t see a way to get the old pump out without removing the 4 screws that hold both port pumps in place. Is that the only way to remove the top pump on the port side? Or am I being an idiot and there is an easy way to remove just the one pump without taking the whole bracket apart.

Appreciate any tips you all have

Just curious, did you ever sort this out? I have a pump that went down as well that will need to be replaced soon.

[tchur1]

Just curious, did you ever sort this out? I have a pump that went down as well that will need to be replaced soon.

Ya, make sure you have a heat gun to get the 1 1/2" hose off, thing is a bear. From there its the 4 mounting screws and isolators. Also make sure you check the relays, I had the relays go out on both port and starboard last summer. Much easier fix than the pumps themselves, cheaper too.