Dick,
You should not have to fuss with any valves at all when switching
from city water to pump supplied water from your storage tank. There
are check valves, one by the city water inlet allowing flow only to
go in, not out. The other valve is by the water pump, allowing water
to only exit the pump, not pressurizing it when the city water hose
is hooked up and turned on. The hand valves are for draining the
lines, and on some models also to fill the tank from the inside when
hooked up to city water. Chances are that your water pump needs
repair or replacement. It could be as simple as a stuck pressure
switch, the one that makes the pump come on when you turn on a faucet.
I would make sure that there is proper 12V power and ground at the
pump, and then perhaps lightly tap the motor housing and pressure
switch with the soft side of a screwdriver etc.
Uwe Salwender
salwender@sbcglobal.net
>
> Okay, here's a question. I have a '72 25-foot Trade Wind. Earlier
> this week I went on a short two-day trip and the place I stayed
> offered only "primitive camping" at a tractor show. By the way, I
> was the only Airstream there and also probably the oldest camper on
> the property.
>
> Anyway, I had loaded everything and was all set to accept the
> isolation from air conditioning etc. The big problem came when I
> couldn't get the water pump to work. I got it to work okay a couple
> of years ago but haven't needed it since. I suspect I didn't have
> the valves set properly. I'm not sure just which ones should be open
> and which ones should be closed when I'm using the on-board water
> supply.
>
> There are three valves under the galley sink and two more at the rear
> curb side. The two rear are supposed to be used to drain the lines.
> I'm not sure about those under the galley sink. Lots of lines under
> there and all seem to be connected together. Hard to see in that
> tight little space.
>
> What am I not doing wrong?
>
> Dick & Rose Ann Harold
> Noblesville, Indiana
> 1972 Airstream Trade Wind
> WBCCI #8551