livewvell plumbing

[bassfan586]

Maybe you guys can help.  One of my livewell pumps quit.  I ordered a couple of new ones from ranger like i have done in the past.  This time the sent out something different.  It looks like rules new design.  where can i get the plumbing to connect the two pumps?  I did a bit of searching bbc and other online places and have come up empty.  I would rather not call ranger as i need 2 working pumps for next weekend.  Anywhere to find this on the east side?  I looked for the older pumps that i have to no avail.

[Mike S.]

I just had to do this on my boat a week ago. I switched to the Johnson pumps. Anyways, it looks like your pumps draw from one location. Pull the motors (the red part) from their housings. Then you need to find out how the housings mount to the tube they pull the water through, assuming they mount to the tube in the middle in the picture.  Mine just poke right out of the back of the boat. When you figure out how to get the housings out, you will have to cut the threaded part of your new pumps down to fit like the old ones do.  Won't be a bad job once you figure out how the housings mount. Good luck.

[Redbone]

If you cant just switch out the pumps and you have to re-plum.  I would switch to Johnson/Mayfair pumps.  When one needs to be replaced you can just swap it out and not have to worry.  Recently my livewell pump(Johnson) burnt up due to sucking in scum.  I have to order another pump.  But for now I just swapped out the Bilge with the burnt up livewell. It took about 2 minutes.

And that reminds me to order that bilge pump asap

[Mike S.]

I had to switch because they don't make the Rule pumps I have anymore, and the new ones won't snap into the housings for the old ones. The Johnson pumps haven't changed in years, so that's what I will run. They are very easy to swap. The guy at Sportfishermens even told me I could switch them to my bolted in an emergency.

[Mike S.]

Did you get it figured out?  It's hard to see in the picture exactly how those draw their water through the boat. Definitely not like the Skeeter. On the old ones, does the threaded part go straight down instead of at a 90 degree angle?  Mine has a screen outside the boat that twists off and then you have access to the plastic nut that tightened the pump to the transom. Hope my babbling was a help to you.

[bassfan586]

It seems similar to yours.  The new rule pumps wont fit the old housing.  Unfortunatly i wont be able to rip apart until tomorrow.  As of now i think i need a new base for lack of a better term.  The base seems to be all one piece.  Will know more tomorrow............

[bassfan586]

Im thinking hacksaw and epoxy putty:-P

[djkimmel]

That is quite the difference from my almost 20 year old Ranger setup. If you haven't already figured out a fix, can the new Rule pumps be screwed into the base of the old pumps? Not completely clear if they are of the same or similar size? Doesn't look like a good possibility.

Possible a marine store might have a female-male connector that you could use between the T coming from the valve and cut down the connector coming from the new Rule pumps? Or maybe even use a short length of hose with 2 clamps for each side to run over each end if you can get one to fit both? Or maybe 2 short lengths of hose with different diameters and a splicer insert with 2 more clamps for each size?

It looks that is the only real problem - you have a female pump base and they sent you pumps with male bases. Is that the problem? Not completely sure if I'm seeing that right?

I had a problem like this years ago when I had to switch from original to the 'latest' and I made it work with elbow inserts, some hose and clamps. I sure do like the pump that have a motor as just a plug in cartridge. Good luck.

[bassfan586]

The rule pumps are like that.  It was easy in the past to switch a bad pump out.  Now it seems the design has changed and the female bases on the old pump base ae not compatible with the new design.  I like your idea dan about hose clamps and modifing the new base.  I need to tske it out and up to the depot to check on fitting to make it work.  Im leary of doing it before a tourney if i cant fix.  Not that i think i cant but u never know...........

[djkimmel]

If you find some place that has a really good assortment of connectors you should be able to make it work. Try to make sure you start and get a ways into the project while they are still open. That always helped me. Usually. Most of the time.