Detecting a Defect in Your Dredge

If your dredge is not functioning correctly and you are under the impression you might have a defective dredge pump or casing, there is a test that can easily be done to prove it. Start out by checking the outside circumference of the pump covering. If there are any cracks or little imperfections you will be able to notice bubbles or little jets of water coming out from the covering. Due to the fact that no air would go into the casing because of this type of defect it is unlikely little leaks here will cause the pressure to drop so it is not probable that a loss of water speed would be noticed here. The last thing you can do is around the intake inlet junction where it joins the pump casing. Most likely you should see the water being sucked into the pump that would show that it has a defective casing. Obviously if all of the more simple tests show that there is a defect in the pump or suction hose, the part that is not functioning should be given back to the manufacturer so it can be replaced. If all of these tests were done and it seems that none of them are the problem, then the best thing would simply be to shut down the dredge and allow it to rest for a moment. You can move to another place as well. After waiting for a little while, try starting it up again and very carefully prime the pump and follow the instructions of the manufacturer. If the amount and speed of the sluice continues to be slow, or if a big amount of air still remains in the high pressure hose, it is reasonable to presume that something in the pump casing is flawed. It could be that the impeller casing is not working or any number of problems that could cause the impeller to turn irregularly which would then cause turbulence and cavitation. If this were to be the problem, more inspection by the owner of the dredge is not really worth it since the problem is more intricate and it should be returned to the manufacturer with a full explanation of what occurred so that the problem can be resolved.