Whale bilge pump issue!

[ryanandtracy]

Our holding tank has a manual bilge pump (whale gusher titan). The other day we went out to empty the tank but it would not prime. The diaphragm is fully extended and when pressed in comes back out. No matter how many times I try to pump it I do not feel the pressure that normally happens when waste is on the other side.

The port side one works fine and when not engaged stays in and not extended.

Previously it seemed as though it would take longer to prime than the port side. I am wondering if one of the flappers is not working correctly or is there maybe a blockage somewhere. I have verified that the thru hull is open.

A side note and not sure if its related but when flushing the head air bubbles up after you are done pumping. Related or something totally different?

If it does need to be serviced, I have seen talk about the nitrile vs neoprene. It sounds like the nitrile doesn't last as long but might hold the stink back longer. Is this true?

[rslifkin]

The air bubbling and trouble priming makes me think your holding tank vent might be restricted.

[Manateeman]

Something might be keeping the flapper valves from closing. It’s like a Q tip in a joker valve. The whale valves are real simple but they do get stiff and fail to close completely as they get old. One might have broken off.
Buy the kit and rebuild it because they are good pumps.
Mark