DC MUSEUM

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
P-500 FIRE PUMP

STARTING

  1. Open both fuel tank valves (one on each tank).
  2. Turn fuel valve, on control panel, from CLOSED position to one of the fuel tanks. See that the float valve pin in the carburetor bowl rises, indicating the bowl is full of fuel.
  3. Close both Y valves. (When the pump is to be used at suction life greater than 16 feet with eductor in use, the Y valve connected to the pressure hose leading to pressure connection on eductor should be open and the other Y valve CLOSED.)
  4. Prime the pump as follows:
    1. Operate the hand primer plunger rapidly, full stroke, until it suddenly becomes hard to pump, indicating that air is exhausted and water has entered it.
    2. If the bucket method of priming is used, open the filler opening cap on the pump housing and fill with buckets or hose until it is completely full.
    3. When pump is to be used at suction lift greater than 16 feet with eductor in use, complete priming consists of filling the suction hose, pump housing, and pressure hose to eductor with water. This cannot be accomplished with the hand primer and the bucket method of priming is necessary.
  5. Prime the carburetor on engine (plunger on the control panel) FOUR strokes.
  6. Wind the starting rope on the starting pulley on the flywheel.
  7. Pull the starting rope. Pull strongly – don’t jerk – to the full length of the rope.
     
    NOTE: If the engine does not start with two pulls, then push the carburetor primer plunger ONCE and pull rope again.
     
    If the engine starts but stops at once, push primer, start again, and keep priming as needed until the engine warms up.
     
  8. With the engine running –
    1. Make sure pressure builds up on gage.
    2. Slowly open one Y valve when the pressure on the pressure gage (control panel) shows 75 pounds per square inch, or more.
       
      NOTE: When the eductor is in use only one Y valve and hose is available for fire fighting.
       
  9. Readjust carburetor needle valve (on control panel) so the engine operates best. Note this setting fur future reference.
  10. Adjust water pressure with regulator (on control panel) if necessary.
  11. Open the second Y valve if output required. (Not available when using eductor.)
     
    NOTE: If the engine does not start and run under the above procedure, check all the above operations and see TROUBLE CHART in Manufacturer’s Instruction Pamphlet.

OPERATING

During the whole period of operation of the pump, the attendant should:

  1. Watch the water pressure gage and the temperature gage on the control panel. If the temperature gage indicator gets over into the DANGEROUS (red) zone on the dial, the unit should be stopped and cause of trouble corrected.
  2. Change the fuel supply from one tank to the other tank when one is almost empty.
    1. After about one hour of operation at full capacity.
    2. When irregular engine operation or the lowered position of the float pin in the carburetor bowl indicates lack of fuel.
  3. To stop unit - Push and hold STOP button on the control panel until the engine comes to a full stop.

RE-STARTING

When the unit has been operating and is stopped, it may be hot or warm when it is to be re-started. If the Y valves were closed before stopping and if the foot valve and all hoses and hose connections are tight, the pump will hold its prime and probably will not need re-priming. It will pick up when the engine is operated. But should it not, the hand primer may be operated while the engine is running.

(CAUTION! Do not run too long without full prime and pressure or engine will overheat. Watch temperature gage.)

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

  1. Do not operate the P-500 in confined spaces.
  2. Be sure to support the suction hose so that the weight of this hose will not be borne entirely by the pump.
  3. Be sure the connections on the suction hose are tight between the water and the pump, and that the combination, suction strainer and foot valve is well attached and completely submerged in the water. Similarly, when using eductor be sure suction hose and eductor supply hose are securely attached.
  4. Be sure steadying line is attached to eductor and/or combination suction strainer and foot valve.
  5. Do not operate the engine without pumping, since the engine depends on water taken from the pump for cooling.
  6. The pump cannot be used for pumping oil or gasoline directly. Use overboard suction to operate eductor for unwatering spaces containing oil or gasoline.
  7. Do not operate too long without full pump priming and discharge pressure or engine will overheat.
  8. For unwatering operations involving low static heads, do not allow the discharge pressure to drop below 35 psi.
  9. Do not operate on gasoline alone. Use a mixture of ONE PINT of oil to ONE GALLON of gasoline. The oil should be Navy 3065 (SAE No. 30).