priming a jet pump

[Plott hound]

short of buying a guzzler pump what is the best way to prime shallow well jet pump? i had to get mine rebuilt untill i can find a new one,i guess covid has caused a shortages of pumps.i hooked the rebuilt pump back up and poured water into the prime plug hole,then hit the power.pump runs and i get a few bubbles out of the prime hole but it wont pick up.tried 3-4 times letting the pump run about 10 minutes each time.is there anything around that i may use to draw water into the pump housing?

thanks

 

[Valveman]

The prime hole should be on the discharge side of the pump. Leave the plug out of the prime hole until the pump picks up water. Your suction line is probably air locked. Suction line has to be full of water.

 

[Plott hound]

Thanks for that valveman. The prime hoke is 3/4” and is on the top of pump, i dont see another. Will pull the plug right out like you suggest . Just didnt want to leave the pump running to long if its not picking up.should i leave a tap open to let any preasure out or should i shut everything off. Thanks again

 

[Plott hound]

so after letting the pump sit overnight with as much water as i could get in the primer hole,it must have burped itself overnight.i got another 1/2 gallon f water in it and it picked prime in seconds.

one more question though,in the manual it tells me for shallow wells to turn the control valve counter clockwise all the way open.do i leave it in this position for good?

thanks

 

[Valveman]

so after letting the pump sit overnight with as much water as i could get in the primer hole,it must have burped itself overnight.i got another 1/2 gallon f water in it and it picked prime in seconds.

one more question though,in the manual it tells me for shallow wells to turn the control valve counter clockwise all the way open.do i leave it in this position for good?

thanks

Yes unless it pumps more water at a different adjustment. The back pressure valve is adjusted to deliver the max flow.

 

[Plott hound]

thanks valveman

 

[RS]

I don't think you should let the pump run 10 minutes each time you try to prime it, you could burn up the seal. When I prime our sprinkler pump I fill it with water, run it for maybe 20 seconds, if it hasn't primed I shut it off and fil it again, sometimes just shutting it off burps it and then it will prime.