My little Mustang pump won't work

[Alan L.]

It is a mustang pump with a little 2-stroke mitsubishi engine - got it at Tractor Supply several years ago. I think the manufacturer is Tri-Global up north somewhere. It won't pump anything at all. I finally took it apart and it did have some silt in it which I cleaned out, but I didn't see anything else wrong with it. The impeller is not what I expected. There are some fins no more than 1/8" to 1/4" thick sticking out from a flat disk, which apparently almost touch a flat disk on the other side when you put it back together. Don't know how this could work.....

The engine runs great - I hate to have to trash it and get another one. It was only about $200 but did the job when it was working.

 

[chh]

You may have an air leak in the inlet side somewhere. That is probably the most common cause of a pump failing to start pumping. I am not familiar with that particular pump, but the shaft seal going from the engine to the pump could also be bad. Do you see any leaks when you prime it?

 

[Alan L.]

I will say, that when I prime the pump, the water runs out, presumably back toward the source of the water I am pumping out. But frankly it seems to have always worked this way, and would finally start pumping. But there are no leaks to the outside once you close the lid.