Hand Pump Faucet Priming and Holding Prime?

[Kevin Poll]

Hi all,

Our trillium (circa 1975) has a hand pump faucet at the sink that is connected to a 12 gal storage tank that we haven't used before. The pump is chrome with a round black plastic ball on the end of the pump handle and the sticker on the underside has a coleman logo on it.

I am trying to get everything up and running and have a few questions for anyone that uses this setup: 1. what is the best way to prime the hand pump or should it be self priming? 2. once primed ( i had to suck the water up into the valve body to get it working) how long should i expect the pump to hold its prime? I have already trimmed and re-attached the 3/8" water line going to the tank (it is PE plastic and had little stress cracks in it at the barb fittings that were letting in some air) but I am now tempted to replace the line altogether with something that isn't 35 years old.

I want to make sure my expectations for how this pump should work are realistic.

thanks,
we are trying to get everything ready for a 3 week trip through new brunswick leaving next thursday but the past few days things are coming apart faster than I can get things together.

Kevin

[barring]

I was sufficiently annoyed with the new pump that came with my new Scamp - wouldn't hold its prime at all - that I bought something called the Rocket Hand Pump from Amazon - under $30, that seems to hold its prime for days. It's also self priming. I like it a lot.

[Joe Z]

I was sufficiently annoyed with the new pump that came with my new Scamp - wouldn't hold its prime at all - that I bought something called the Rocket Hand Pump from Amazon - under $30, that seems to hold its prime for days. It's also self priming. I like it a lot.

That's a nice hand pump and it got good reviews;

http://www.amazon.com/Valterra-Products-RP...3187&sr=8-1

[Larry C Hanson]

Hello Kevin,
The new hand pump I installed on my Trillium would not hold a prime... water kept draining back to the tank.
The cure was a small 'check valve' installed in the supply line just below the hand pump. Now the hand pump
pumps on the first stroke every time. Here is the valve I used:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx...9&catid=489

Good Luck,
Larry H

[Kevin Poll]

Hello Kevin,
The new hand pump I installed on my Trillium would not hold a prime... water kept draining back to the tank.
The cure was a small 'check valve' installed in the supply line just below the hand pump. Now the hand pump
pumps on the first stroke every time. Here is the valve I used:

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx...9&catid=489

Good Luck,
Larry H

Thanks Larry, that'll be the ticket.

that looks cheap and easy to install, I'll keep my eye out for one and I think I might install it where the line connects to the holding tank (easier to get at).

great advice.

[Larry C Hanson]

You are welcome.
I ordered two valves directly from the company. As I recall the shipping was reasonable and quick.
Larry H