Is it just me or is it very noisy?
Anyone have any suggestions for quietening it?
Comments appreciated
Brian
Anyone have any suggestions for quietening it?
Comments appreciated
Brian
Water pump on Bailey Senator series 5
- Thread starter VeraBrian
- Start date
Brian,
No, it's not just you, the pump sounds like a helicopter flying overhead. I met another Senator owner at motorway services last summer and that was one of the first things they asked about as well. I asked my dealer to check it out thinking it might be a fault but no, it's just a noisy pump. On site we were reluctant to use it early morning or late evening for fear of disturbing the neighbours.
I have managed to quieten it down a bit though. If you have a look you will find it is sitting on a rubber mat which is fixed to the floor by four screws. I removed these, fitted washers then replaced them and was able to get them much tighter.Without the washers they just screwed right through the rubber. I also tried putting pieces of sponge under different places of the pump before re-tightening the screws and it seems to have cut down on the noise a good bit. Still not the quietest of things.
Robert
No, it's not just you, the pump sounds like a helicopter flying overhead. I met another Senator owner at motorway services last summer and that was one of the first things they asked about as well. I asked my dealer to check it out thinking it might be a fault but no, it's just a noisy pump. On site we were reluctant to use it early morning or late evening for fear of disturbing the neighbours.
I have managed to quieten it down a bit though. If you have a look you will find it is sitting on a rubber mat which is fixed to the floor by four screws. I removed these, fitted washers then replaced them and was able to get them much tighter.Without the washers they just screwed right through the rubber. I also tried putting pieces of sponge under different places of the pump before re-tightening the screws and it seems to have cut down on the noise a good bit. Still not the quietest of things.
Robert
Hi Brian
The Senator pump is noisy,I found that re routing the pipe that fills the on board tank can reduce the noise, even when you are not using the on board tank.Ours is not as bad as some, we can use it without disturbing the neighbours,and I have also heard that an after fit modification to make the pump quieter is being planned but no date for release yet, mind you the pump noise is a small price to pay for the rest of the van.
The Senator pump is noisy,I found that re routing the pipe that fills the on board tank can reduce the noise, even when you are not using the on board tank.Ours is not as bad as some, we can use it without disturbing the neighbours,and I have also heard that an after fit modification to make the pump quieter is being planned but no date for release yet, mind you the pump noise is a small price to pay for the rest of the van.
The inboard pump in our Oklahoma (Jul '06) is more audible in the caravan than an outboard pump - as one would expect. However, externally it is not any more audible than a pump sitting in an aquaroll. I certainly have no hesitation about using it at any time of day or night. Having said that, if someone was sleeping in the bed immediately above the pump, they might just have a bit of a sense of humour failure. IMHO, the benefits outweigh any perceived disadvantages.
Noisy pump quietened by placing the pump in a thick walled tupperware style cup or or container.
Drill a hole in the lid that the outlet hose fits tightly through and perforate the cup with small holes so the water flows to the pump that must not touch the sides. Some pieces of hose can be used as soft flexilble spacers.
We found most inboard pump noise seems to come from it vibrating against the tank. Trial and error to find the best pipe position and set inside another container works for us and for friends and family with kids who sleep over the pump.
Drill a hole in the lid that the outlet hose fits tightly through and perforate the cup with small holes so the water flows to the pump that must not touch the sides. Some pieces of hose can be used as soft flexilble spacers.
We found most inboard pump noise seems to come from it vibrating against the tank. Trial and error to find the best pipe position and set inside another container works for us and for friends and family with kids who sleep over the pump.
Sorry cris but you have lost me on this one! The Senator 5 pump is an external pump, fitted to the floor of the van. Can't figure out your suggestion to fit it inside a tupperware container.
Robert
Hi,
We have just got our 2007 Bailey Pageant Burgendey which has the Whale sure flow pump and it is pulsing like mad. We spoke to the dealer last week about this while away at the CC site at Southport and he said to adjust the small 2-3mm allen key head screw on top of the pump. I did this in conjunction with the Bailey manual and did it work! did it heck! Basically we would switch on the taps and the pump would pulse like mad and even when switching off the taps it would continue pulsing for about 5 seconds The system had been correctly vented of any air prior to use and all taps bled.
Any suggestions would be a help.
I know that the van is under warrenty but I don't fancy a 70 mile round trip to the dealers in Staffordshire and also I would prefere to sort it out myself if it should start again
Thanks Rob
We have just got our 2007 Bailey Pageant Burgendey which has the Whale sure flow pump and it is pulsing like mad. We spoke to the dealer last week about this while away at the CC site at Southport and he said to adjust the small 2-3mm allen key head screw on top of the pump. I did this in conjunction with the Bailey manual and did it work! did it heck! Basically we would switch on the taps and the pump would pulse like mad and even when switching off the taps it would continue pulsing for about 5 seconds The system had been correctly vented of any air prior to use and all taps bled.
Any suggestions would be a help.
I know that the van is under warrenty but I don't fancy a 70 mile round trip to the dealers in Staffordshire and also I would prefere to sort it out myself if it should start again
Thanks Rob
Rob-T. Assumed it was still an internal pump.
As it's an external surely it could be put in something or surrounded by something that will quieten the noise.
If it runs quiet detached from its mounting point (assuming it has one) the noise is being amplified by the vans structure or through pipes vibrating. If it is still noisy when held away from the mounting point what else can you do apart from muffle it. Again a cheap plastic container that could be easily cut to accomodate pipes and lined with foam to muffle the sound springs to mind
As it's an external surely it could be put in something or surrounded by something that will quieten the noise.
If it runs quiet detached from its mounting point (assuming it has one) the noise is being amplified by the vans structure or through pipes vibrating. If it is still noisy when held away from the mounting point what else can you do apart from muffle it. Again a cheap plastic container that could be easily cut to accomodate pipes and lined with foam to muffle the sound springs to mind
Brian,
Having had, for many years, a Castleton with an inboard water pump (Sureflow) and now have a Bailey Senator Indiana, I can honestly say that the pump in the Indiana is no noisier than the one in the Castleton.
I guess it's relative to what you've been used too in the past,it took about 6 months to get used to the noise in the Castleton, after that we never noticed it untill the water ran out in the aquaroll.
It's interesting that Bailey now put a flyer in the user manual saying that the noise is normal.
Although it may sound quite noisey inside the van, outside from about 2 metres it's hardly noticeable at all.
Hope this helps
GeorgeB
Having had, for many years, a Castleton with an inboard water pump (Sureflow) and now have a Bailey Senator Indiana, I can honestly say that the pump in the Indiana is no noisier than the one in the Castleton.
I guess it's relative to what you've been used too in the past,it took about 6 months to get used to the noise in the Castleton, after that we never noticed it untill the water ran out in the aquaroll.
It's interesting that Bailey now put a flyer in the user manual saying that the noise is normal.
Although it may sound quite noisey inside the van, outside from about 2 metres it's hardly noticeable at all.
Hope this helps
GeorgeB
Hi Rob,
The same pump is fitted in our Senator Oklahoma. When you write 'pulsing', do mean the pump is cutting in and out rapidly? If so, the handbook's fault-finding chart states:-
"Pump cycles on & off excessively when tap(s) are open" Cause = "Excessive back pressure". Solution = "Check pipework for kinks and that filters etc are clear. Check shower rose/taps for blockages."
Obviously on a brand new van none of the above should apply! When you set the two selector levers on the pump to fill the inboard tank, does it pulsate then or only when feeding direct to the taps? Note that the pump will run-on briefly after most use as the system pressure necessary to cut the pump out is built-up. (The pump is operated by a pressure-switch).
Hopefully you can find a solution without having to make the trip back to the dealer.
The same pump is fitted in our Senator Oklahoma. When you write 'pulsing', do mean the pump is cutting in and out rapidly? If so, the handbook's fault-finding chart states:-
"Pump cycles on & off excessively when tap(s) are open" Cause = "Excessive back pressure". Solution = "Check pipework for kinks and that filters etc are clear. Check shower rose/taps for blockages."
Obviously on a brand new van none of the above should apply! When you set the two selector levers on the pump to fill the inboard tank, does it pulsate then or only when feeding direct to the taps? Note that the pump will run-on briefly after most use as the system pressure necessary to cut the pump out is built-up. (The pump is operated by a pressure-switch).
Hopefully you can find a solution without having to make the trip back to the dealer.
cris,Rob-T. Assumed it was still an internal pump.
As it's an external surely it could be put in something or surrounded by something that will quieten the noise.
If it runs quiet detached from its mounting point (assuming it has one) the noise is being amplified by the vans structure or through pipes vibrating. If it is still noisy when held away from the mounting point what else can you do apart from muffle it. Again a cheap plastic container that could be easily cut to accomodate pipes and lined with foam to muffle the sound springs to mind
It doesn't run all that much quieter when detached from mounting position, that was the first thing I tried out when hoping to get it to run quieter. There was a difference though.
As described in previous post, using washers on holding screws meant I could get it fixed down tighter and pieces of sponge placed under pump and connections to hopefully absorb any vibration have reduced noise to a more acceptable level.
I hadn't thought of placing pump in container with padding inside, wonder if lack of air around pump might cause over heating problem though?
Robert
Hi Keith,
The Pageant series 6 does not have a cold water tank on board, just hot and so no levers to fill the cold water tank. I have checked for kinks and obstructions and leaks and not found any.
Any advice would be greatly appriciated
Rob
ON our senator vermont series 5 with onboard pump, we have found that if the suction hose from the aquaroll is not pushed fully home into the socket on the outside of the caravan ( which sometimes seems quite difficult ) then some air is drawn in with the water which makes the pump very noisy. It also struggles to pressure the system up and runs on longer than usual.
I have used a Shurflow inboard pump for 10+ years and it was noisier than the Whale fitted to the Oklahoma
I had the Shurflow sitting on a car sponge and for the one in the Oklahoma I have removed the screws that hold it down to reduce conducted vibration/noise.
I had the Shurflow sitting on a car sponge and for the one in the Oklahoma I have removed the screws that hold it down to reduce conducted vibration/noise.
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