M380 Hurricane Heater

[cmillsap]

(02-22-2013 09:41)davidmbrady Wrote:  Chuck, do you have an old SHURflo water pump lying around? Those pumps are self-priming and would work.

I'm confused. The March pump isn't self priming, but if you're getting fluid flow thru Loop 1 then the pump's primed, and if the pump is primed then with the head it's capable of it should be able to push fluid thru Loop 2. Now I'm leaning more towards a mechanical obstruction.

Maybe you can disconnect Loop 2 and drain it of any remaining fluid and hook up a supply of regulated air to see if you can very, very, gently blow thru it, rather than deal with the messy fluid. Too much air and you can easily damage heat registers or split apart connectors. (with safety goggles, I don't want a dislodged projectile to hit you on the head)!

The March pump sits below both loops so it's kept primed.

David, I have some reservations about introducing more air into the loop, but like you, I am concerned about an obstruction other than air.

I think it may be prudent to just Reverse the hose connections on zone 2. The only risk is (if it is a mechanical obstruction) it could end up in the pump impeller at sometime in the future. This may push it back out and since it appears the obstruction is on the first register in the circuit, there is less danger of lodging it somewhere else before it hits the expansion tank.

What do you think about That?