Bilge Pump Testing; Built-In Autofloat Switch Testing - Bayliner 285 Cruiser Owner's Manual

Chapter 6: Plumbing

Bilge Pump Testing

 The bilge pump is vital to the safety of your boat.
 Test the bilge pump often.
1. Turn On the bilge pump switch at the helm.
2. Make sure that water in the bilge is pumped overboard.
 If there is water in the bilge and the pump motor is running but not pumping, inspect the discharge hose for a kink
or collapsed area.
If the discharge hose looks okay, check the bilge pump and strainer for clogging debris.
Inspecting and clearing debris from the bilge pump:
1. Squeeze the holding tabs on each side of
the strainer and pull the pump housing out
of the strainer.
2. Remove debris from the strainer and the
bottom of the pump housing.
3. Remove the impeller guard screw and the
impeller guard.
4. Remove all debris from the pump cham-
ber, from around the impeller, and from
the tab slots on the sides.
5. Make sure the impeller is firmly attached
to the shaft and is not cracked or broken.
6. Reinstall the impeller guard and screw,
and the pump housing on the strainer.
Make sure both tabs lock into the slots.

Built-in Autofloat Switch Testing

 The autofloat switch turns the bilge pump On when water rises above a preset level.
 Test the autofloat switch often as follows:
Autofloat switch testing:
Twist the float switch test button to turn On the bilge pump.
 If the pump does not turn On, check the fuse on the fuse block.
 If the fuse is good, but the switch still does not work, it may mean the switch is bad, or the battery is dead.
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PUMP HOUSING
FLOAT SWITCH
TEST KNOB
IMPELLER
GUARD SCREW
STRAINER
285 Cruiser • Owner's Manual Supplement
IMPELLER
GUARD
HOLDING TABS