Help with ballast drain pump on Z3

[Travism]

Hey guys,

Went out for the first time of the year today and filled up for goofy surfing. At the end of the day we started draining the ballast and the starboard rear pump stopped working with the Wake9 sack still full. I pulled the fuse for this pump and it was blown. I replaced the fuse and soon as I turned the pump on it blew again.

Where is the drain pump located for the starboard side rear ? Any ideas on what may be causing the fuse to blow everytime the pump is turned on ?

[boardman74]

Either you have a dead short somewhere(short to ground) or your pump is drawing beyond the amps of there fuse(it shouldn't). Do you have the sacs hooked up to the standard piggy back surf system. If so the pump is screwed to the aft side of the tank below the floor.

[Travism]

I have the sack hooked up to the stock fill and drain lines.

How do I get the floor off below the ballast bag ?

[mls6722]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Everyone with fly high ballast should carry a manual fill and drain pump on the boat -
http://www.evo.com/fat-sack-pumps/fl...campaign=45797

[Iwndr]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Everyone with fly high ballast should carry a manual fill and drain pump on the boat -
http://www.evo.com/fat-sack-pumps/fl...campaign=45797

Agree completely! X 1000!

[JohnnieMo]

You must have had a fun time loading that beast! Once it's on the trailer I assume you could gravity drain it somehow....

[Travism]

I just installed The wake 9 sacks so I think some debris maybe stuck in the pump. Which is the best way to access the pump ?

Johnnie,

I was able to pull a plug on the bag and drain it into the bilge. I'm assuming the hard tank is still full. Hopefully fix it in the morning.

[Ewok]

I had the drain pump disconnect from my 1100 lb sac last weekend. Gave me a bit of a scare to see the bilge pump kick on and see that much water in the bilge. At first I thought I forgot the drain plug but I jumped in to check and the plug was in. Luckily WABoating let me use his air lift to raise my boat out of the water so I could pull the drain plug and let the water run out that way.

[boardman74]

I haven't personally pulled the floor on the Z3 but on the smaller boats you just have to get everything off the floor and they lift out. Assuming its the same: Pull the sac. Pull the engine divider and remove the rear wall that covers the batteries. Pull the batteries and anything else you might have on the floor. After that the floor lifts out. I believe you will find the pump on the aft side of the tank. Pull the cartridge and you will be able to see if you have debris. If there isn't I would try getting a new pump and just installing the cartridge in the old body thats in the tank. I'd blow thru your drain line to the thru hull also just to make sure there isn't anything in there.

[boardman74]

Another thought with this being a Z3 is warranty? If you have warranty why not let the dealer service it? You paid for a warranty might as well use it. Bad thing this time of year is many service departments get a week or more backlogged.

[mls6722]

I had the drain pump disconnect from my 1100 lb sac last weekend. Gave me a bit of a scare to see the bilge pump kick on and see that much water in the bilge. At first I thought I forgot the drain plug but I jumped in to check and the plug was in. Luckily WABoating let me use his air lift to raise my boat out of the water so I could pull the drain plug and let the water run out that way.

There are two kinds of wake boaters ....those who have filled their bilge with a disconnected hose and those who are going to.

[IDBoating]

Ewok and I came up with a simple way of using tyraps to prevent the sac connectors from coming off. Not to create work for Ewok, but if he gets a chance it might be nice to post a photo of what we did. I'm out of town right now or I would replicate it and photograph it myself.

[chpthril]

Ewok and I came up with a simple way of using tyraps to prevent the sac connectors from coming off. Not to create work for Ewok, but if he gets a chance it might be nice to post a photo of what we did. I'm out of town right now or I would replicate it and photograph it myself.

I am really interested in what came apart?

[Travism]

Well I pulled the Carthage from the pump today and it was seized. Ran to brass pro shop and grabbed a new one, put it all together and had a great day on the lake with friends and family ! Thanks for all the help. I removed the divider from the ballast bag area to the taps motor and was able to reach under the floor and grab it.

I talked with my purchasing dealer GT performance and they were awesome. Helped me through it on a Sunday. They will order me a new pump and I will have a replacement.

Thanks again for the help ! Days like today make all the boat "headaches" worth it !!

[Ewok]

Glad you figured it out Travis.

Mike, it was just the quick disconnect fittings on the drain port of the sac. I had just re-installed he sacs that morning from winter storage and they might have become disconnected from the pressure of the bag shifting a little bit as it filled. First time in 2 years it did that but I'll be looking for it next time I fill them up for the start of the season.