Thread: Livewell aerator keeps losing it's prime

Livewell pumps need to be submerged, they can't suck water. I don't think you were losing prime, what you were experiencing was the pump being air bound. A pocket of air was probably preventing water to get to the pump. Plunging it with your finger was purging the air. Most livewell pumps now have the thru transom pick up pipe built into it. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boati...3Bcat104434380 I had a similar problem and only needed to rotate the pump so the discharge was closer to 12 o'clock and it didn't become air bound again.

What Shellback said about head position and Matt I had one I installe one time that drove me nuts like that. When I installed it I left about 2 inches of the threaded pipe sticking out. Finally cut excess off where pipe was flush with outside nut and it stopped my problem.

Ok, thanks for both of the replies! I didn't really know the terminology, to me air bound and lost prime would be the same thing, but I see what you mean. I can't remember how much of the pipe was extended out past the nut on the old one. So it sounds like maybe if the discharge isn't pointed up to 12 o'clock, any air bubbles that get in can't "float" on through and make their way out, and air lock the pump.

Thanks again I'll definitely refer back to this when I get started with the new one. I'll probably have some more questions, too. My in-laws gave me their boat since they never use it any more, but it's still under 3 feet of snow in northern Michigan so until it melts and I can get it back to TN I haven't had a chance to give it a good going over. I do know they said they bought a brand new outboard for it 2 seasons ago and have only taken about 3-4 trips in it since buying it, so it is still practically new. I only hope it hasn't had old gas sitting in it that long.

Lost prime and air bound I guess are similar. Usually I've heard the term "lost prime" on pumps above the water level and are able to pull water up. Either way, they can't pump water without the impeller submerged. Sounds like you might be getting a nice boat and motor. Any doubt about the fuel, just drain it and refill with fresh stuff. Burn the old stuff a little bit at a time in your lawn equipment. A lot less stress if your lawn tractors stuck instead of dead in the water with your boat. LOL!

I had to replace the aerator pump on my boat. It was a thru transom mount which was a dream to get to underneath the rear deck. (Not!!) I noticed the new boats had a screen on the intake pipe where it came out the transom. I left about 2" sticking out and screwed one of the mesh guards on it to keep out trash. I can't see how it sticking out a couple of inches would affect it's ability to draw water, but boats can have a mind of their own sometime.
One tip I will share. When I got ready to slide the hose on the pump that runs to the live well I failed to put some lubricant on the output barb of the pump and the hose went on about 1/3 of the way and stopped. Of course I was standing on my head with one arm way under the deck so I did not have any leverage. I finally got my wife's hair dryer and heated the hose enough to slide it the rest of the way on. It is so much easier to do it right the first time!! Also make sure you have the hose clamp on before you slide it on. You may have an open bilge and none of this would be a problem, but it was very difficult to work in the tight confines under my deck.

Fought this problem on my old boat forever it never did get fixed by numerous calls to factory and dealer and several pumps. I asked the same question several years back on this board. Mine would lose its prime after running down the lake to try a new spot.
I found the easiest solution was to back up quickly after boat slowed down. It would clear the airlock . Hope that helps

Originally Posted by catchncrisco

Fought this problem on my old boat forever it never did get fixed by numerous calls to factory and dealer and several pumps. I asked the same question several years back on this board. Mine would lose its prime after running down the lake to try a new spot.
I found the easiest solution was to back up quickly after boat slowed down. It would clear the airlock . Hope that helps

catchncrisco that is good to know. I will give this a try next time my Live well aerator loses it's prime.

The only problem is, if you are setting on a brush pile you can't do that, but yes, backing up fast will work.