Bosworth Company - Application

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use a check valve to increase pump lift?: A check valve makes it easier for you to use the Guzzler pump to prime for pump lifts in excess of 12 feet. If you had a see-through inlet line, as you begin to pump you would see that the Guzzler draws fluid up the inlet line toward the pump as you execute the suction stroke of the pump. However, as you perform the exhaust stroke, the fluid would tend to fall backward a bit, and then be drawn up further with the next suction stroke. As you are priming at greater distances, this fallback effect on the water column becomes more pronounced. To offset it, install a check valve at the bottom of the inlet line. Also called “foot valves” because they are typically placed at the foot of in the inlet line, check valves serve as a “one-way”valve to permit water to be drawn up to the pump, but to help prevent it from flowing backward either when the pump is performing its exhaust stroke or when it is not operating. In this way, the check valve helps to maintain the height of the water column in the inlet line, thus maintaining the pump’s “prime”. We recommend that you use a check anytime the pump lift (i.e., the vertical distance from the fluid source to the inlet of the pump) exceeds 12 feet.
What is the highest temperature that the pump will sustain?: This depends very much on the component materials that you’ve selected when you configured your pump. The white Delrin plastic of our "N" pumps is rated for a maximum temperature of 220° Fahrenheit, while the gray Acetal plastic of our "D" pumps has a maximum service temperature of 212° Fahrenheit. Aluminum and bronze pump bodies can sustain much higher temperatures. Don’t forget to choose an elastomer for the diaphragm and valves whose temperature rating meets your requirements. Helpful information is provided in the tooltips for diaphragm and valve choices on the pump configuration web page of this site.
What is the lowest temperature at which the pump will continue to work?: The lowest temperature is generally the freezing point of the liquid you are pumping. Remember that adding salt to water depresses its freezing point, allowing you to pump at temperatures below 32°F.
What is the maximum pressure the pump will sustain?: Our pumps are designed to generate pressures up to a maximum of 20 psi.
Can Guzzler pumps be used to pump gasoline?: The pump bodies and flanges are available in materials that are non-reactive to gasoline and many fuels; in particular, acetal resin, aluminum and bronze. We offer the pump elastomers (diaphragm and valves) in several materials that are very compatible with most fuels; in particular, the Buna and Viton elastomers. However, we do not recommend that our pumps be used for transferring fuels or flammable fluides of any kind without the use of a grounding strap or other device that ensures they are properly grounded.
What should I check if the pump stops working?: If your pump stops working, the first thing to check is whether there is a hole or tear in the diaphragm. If so, the diaphragm needs replacement. If there is no problem with the diaphragm, then check to see if the pump is able to create a vacuum to draw fluid up to it. Disconnect the inlet line and, with your hand directly covering the inlet flange, pull the handle up (or turn the motor on). You should feel a suction on your hand. If not, then remove the outlet flange (opposite the inlet), to inspect that the valve is operating properly and not obstructed by any material. Depending on the type of valve, material in the fluid that enters the pump may become lodged in the valve and prevent it from closing to make a tight seal against the flange. If this happens, then the pump will be unable to create a suction on the inlet side. After checking the inlet suction, disconnect the outlet hose and, with your hand covering the outlet flange, press down on the handle (or turn the motor on). You should feel exhaust pressure against your hand. If not, then make a similar inspection of the inlet valve.

If there is no material lodged in either valve, the valves may simply be old and no longer seating properly. If your pump is a “400” series pump equipped with flapper valves, a simple trick is to turn each valve around. Sometimes flapper valves can warp as they age and simply flipping the valve to change the side that seals against the flange allows the valve to operate properly again. (Note that you cannot do this trick with “500” flapper valves since they have a specific side that needs to face against the sealing flange.) If the pump is operating properly when disconnected from your hoses (i.e., if you feel the appropriate suction and exhaust pressure), then a next step is to check your inlet and outlet lines for any obstruction.
Is it better to mount the pump horizontally or vertically?: The horizontal-handle pumps and the vertical-handle pumps are completely equivalent in functionality. Which you choose for your installation is entirely a matter of which style of pumping action (“back-and-forth” for the vertical handle and “up-and-down” for the horizontal handle) is convenient for your use. Additionally, if you equip your pump with duckbill valves, you can mount your pump vertically, which changes the sense of handle action as well.
Are Guzzler motorized pumps submersible?: No, although the motors used in a number of the Guzzler pumps are available with water-resistant enclosure, they are not waterproof and should not be submerged.