replacement pump not putting out water

ntrap50 · Jul 26, 2011

My well is 147' deep, and the pump sits at 100'. I utilize a Mascontrol pump controller with the pump. We have had years of trouble free service with this setup. Well supplies all outside water, plus 10 irrigation zones zoned at 18GPM per zone. Pump broke lose from well head and fell to bottom of the well. I was able to retrieve pump, pipe, and wire. The pump was a Red Jacket 1HP, 2 wire pump, installed 1991. Considering the age, I replaced with a Sta Rite of the same specifications. Reinstalled new pump exactly as old. However, only getting approximately 1/3 of previous water, if that. Reading 230V coming in, and 230V going to the pump. Any ideas? The well can run 24 hours, and never have an issue with water.

Masterpumpman · Jul 26, 2011

I like the Sta-Rite pumps but the Mascontrol isn't my favorite! I like a pressure tank, pressure switch and a Cycle Stop Valve.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

ntrap50 · Jul 26, 2011

I have heard that from various people. Fortunately with mine I have had no issues. Just wonder why everything worked fine, and then almost nothing.

Valveman · Jul 26, 2011

I think you did have an issue. A leak of less than 1/5 of a GPM will cause a Masscontrol to cycle the pump rapidly. Rapid cycling is probably what caused the pump to unscrew or break off and fall in the well.

Also did you replace the pump with another of the same 18 GPM? Because a 10 GPM or A 25 gpm of the same horsepower will not pump as much water.

ntrap50 · Jul 28, 2011

Yes, I replaced it with a Sta Rite 20gpm, 1HP, 2 wire. Took information off the old Red Jacket, and supplier matched it up to comparable Sta Rite.

Valveman · Jul 29, 2011

A Masscontrol has a small path for a flow switch. You may have gotten something stuck in there or the flow switch itself could have broken off and closed off the flow path.

ntrap50 · Aug 11, 2011

Everything has been replaced, from pump to mascontrol. Water flow is still low. Possibly problem with the pump, even though it is new?

Valveman · Aug 11, 2011

Did you do this job yourself? Is there a pressure guage somewhere? Pumps usually either work or they don't. Rare for a new pump to be putting out low flow unless it has come unscrewed again.

ntrap50 · Aug 11, 2011

Yes, I did do it myself. There is a pressure gauge immediately after the mascontrol. It never gets above 40PSI, and it takes at least 5-10 minutes for it to build up to this. Everything was replaced exactly as it was before.

Valveman · Aug 11, 2011

Do you have a check valve above ground?

ntrap50 · Aug 11, 2011

valveman said:
Do you have a check valve above ground?

There is a check valve in the Mascontrol unit. It is opening. Other than the check valve in the pump itself, I placed an additional check valve 20' above the pump, just as it was previously installed.

Valveman · Aug 11, 2011

I was going to sugest taking out the above ground check valve, but I forgot those things had one built in. Then put a pressure guage before the MC. If the pressure drops immediatly after the pump shuts off, you have a leak down hole. Or if you can take a plug out anywhere before the MC, it will draw a vaccuum when the pump shuts off.

ntrap50 · Aug 29, 2011

I finally got back this past weekend to try to solve the problem with low water and PSI. I engaged the Macontrol, and let pressure build to 75PSI before opening an irrigation valve. Everything worked great-water volume and PSI(constant 60psi). The next day, tried the same thing, would not work. PSI would drop to 20, low water. The previous day, ran the system for a number of hours, no problem with flow, etc., so I know there is plenty of water available. Any ideas? Stumped.

Valveman · Aug 29, 2011

Check the voltage and amperage going to the motor when the pressure is low. If there is no vlotage or amperage, the Masscontrol is bad. If there is voltage and amperage, you have a restriction (could still be the Masscontrol) or you are out of water. Bypass the Masscontrol and see what happens.

replacement pump not putting out water

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