Whale system, Bourton, Air locks

We have had our Bourton just on a year now, we have continual problems filling with water from a tap with the whale system ( we have never used a drum ) we get air locks and we are then unable to use the system as no water comes out of any tap. we then empty and start again, often with the same problem, air lock and no water. we fill with taps open, we have the control panel just inside the door with the controls, press the pump control, we get the noise but no water.  we can then go to a site and fill and all ok......???  we once had a technician out who took off a pipe under the bench seat and blew it through and all ok, don't want to keep having to do that.
any advice appreciated, our info book does not describe filling from a tap just submersing into a drum.

thanks in advance.  Lesley and Peter

On my Broadway, with the submersible pump, I get an airlock every time I fill from empty and have to suck, like mad, through a filling pipe connected to the sink tap.  Providing I do not empty the tank, I do not get anymore problems.  Once empty, the circus starts again.

I have had the same problem with my Bourton, after winter drain downs or after draining to avoid running with the weight of water in tanks after arriving on site and filling tank the pump runs but no water at taps, no matter what I do I cannot clear the air lock, what I found on My previous trips was that if I put a few gallons in the tank before setting off and left the taps in the open position on arrival on site the airlock had cleared I assume due to the water sloshing about in the tank and clearing the air lock in the pump or pipes, anyway it works for me. As Dave'R' has said if I do not empty the tank no problems.
Don

I have the same system on my 2012 Lancashire and, touch wood, I have never had this problem.

thanks for the replies, we will try this next weekend away..... fingers crossed , we have been travelling empty this year... many thanks again.

Hi there,

Luckily, we don't have the problems associated with the "in tank" variety of pumps .... 

.... but if we did I would get one of these ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diesel-hand-primer-bulb-pump-In-line-to-suit-8mm-fuel-pipe-/151427807064

.... and a plastic hose that fitted over one of the taps.

All that usually needs to be done with an "in tank" pump (we had one on a caravan we once owned) is to get the air-lock out of the pump itself.

The "one-way" action of the bulb ensures that once the water is sucked into the pump it can't flow backwards; and when the pump starts to deliver it will just flow through the bulb.

Hope this helps. 

Best regards,

Thanks for that Dutto, looks like it could be the solution, will order one today.
Don

Peter,

In the "good old bad old days" that was the ONLY pump in one caravan we had!! 

Other versions were a half-spherical rubber version that stuck up out of the floor like this one ....

http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/water/whale_pumps_and_filters/whale_baby_foot_pump.aspx

(a great tripping hazard after a few drinks!) and a hand-pump on the sink itself like this one ....  

http://www.camperdeals.com.au/deals/caravan-hand-pump-manual/

(which still needed the odd "suck" to get it going when it got worn) ...

.... but they then invented electricity ....  

.... and then the problems started!!    

Best regards,

Ian