FlowRite valve not working properly

[Texas Transplant]

I finally deciphered the problem I was having with the drain always running 'open' on the rear live well (Targa 18). I took off the 'switch handle', to make sure the cable was connected and working properly. Finally was able to deduce which valve in the bilge (wasn't sure where the valve was at) connected up the livewell. Bottom line is that the valve is not working properly - or the plumbing is wrong. Plumbing 'looks' good, I suspect the valve. Now when I can get the time and energy to take off the rear deck cover so that I can get into the comparment . . . .



In the meantime, I'll just stick with my other workarounds.

 

[Roy Cody]

My livewell re-circulation pumps stopped working properly on my 901 at my last tournament. The fresh-water side worked fine and I asked to weigh-in 1st to get the fish back into the water asap.



I removed the battery and the plate that covers the rear bilge. The motors can be removed by turning. One of them had some debri inside. I cleaned it out, and it started working fine. The other side was clean, but it still didn't work well. I kept back-flushing thru the opening inside the livewell and working the valve back and forth. after a few minutes, the system started working like new.



I must of had something stuck in the valve. I know that fish will spit up things like minnows, crawfish pieces, etc. and they have a tendency to be sucked into the bottom drain intake of the livewell re-circulating system. They can get into the valves and cause problems.



It would have been nice if Tracker had used fittings that allowed screens on them to eliminate the above problem.



Hope this helps with your problem!

 

[Texas Transplant]

Thanks Roy. Hadn't thought of that. I'll backflush the little bugger tonight! It certainly could be something from the livewell, but it also could be something from the 'lake'. That drain, which is not too far from the valve, is 'open' to the sea, so to speak.



I'll give that a try and see what transpires.

 

[Jim B]

Try taking it apart and cleaning it. My buddy had a simliar problem with the valve on his pt 185 and it ended up that there was a pebble in the valve. his was draining all the time and he needed to keep the pump on all day. my nx882 came with screens that cover the drain hole and the fill holes in the transom if yours dosent have any northern bass sells them.

 

[James D.]

I have a 98 nitro lx 700 with a flow rite 3-way valve. On my boat there is an adjustment lever on the side to adjust for fresh water or recirculate. Mine had the problem of not wanting to drain the livewell when the boat was trailered. After backflushing and cleaning and taking apart it still would not work out. What I found is that the lever switch operates on a cable which connect to the actuation arm on the flow rite valve and is held in place by a screw which clamps the cable to the valve (kind of like the throttle cable on a small engine push lawnmower). Loosen this screw and adjust the cable so that the water will flow in and out correctly and then tighten it back down so that the valve lever arm has a full range of operation each direction. Hope this helps!



James D.

 

[Mebassn]

Before you go to NBS, try Wal-Mart, they had an inventory sale here in Fla and might have the same sale in other parts of the country. I got 2 attwood screens for $.50 each vice the normal $5.00.



Tight Lines

Eric H.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Thanks guys. Tried backflushing last night. Only thing that was accomplished was me getting wet! Still not working. I'm going to have to take it out, clean it, and check it. Right now, there appears to be no restriction in water flow, whether open or closed. I manually 'switched' the valve, still nothing.