Ovation Boost pump woes

[rpyle]

Hi All, 1998 Ovation, stock IO550-G Weldon boost pump. Two years ago, the Weldon boost pump started leaking. So, I overhauled it at QAA (where Weldon pointed me). Two months ago, the low boost pump setting resulted in 12 PSI (should be 6psi with mixture full rich, full throttle). So, it was adjusted to 6psi. The next time I used it to prime, the pump started, then ramped down to 0 PSI, and you could hear the pump slow down to nothing. Went back in and could not adjust it to 6psi reliably. Upon a group of recommendations, I sent the boost pump regulator to Don Maxwell. He confirmed it was ok. Reinstalled it, same behavior. You can set it at 6psi with some trouble, but the next time you try to use it, it starts then ramps quickly to 0 PSI. Don is convinced it's the overhauled Weldon pump. Any similar issues out there?

[EarthboundMisfit]

We had a boost pump problem very early in our ownership similar to what you've described.  In our case was all working one moment, not working the next. 

Short version:  Bench tested the Weldon pump (A8152-B). It was kaput, so new pump bought and installed.  Problem not solved, as the boost pump controller was ALSO busted.  Replaced a burnt out component, and everything then went back to normal.  No issues since (6 years ago). 

(As we just happened to have an electrical engineer in our group, we took a look inside the suspect controller and discovered that a rather cheap component, readily available at the local electrical component store, was the root cause of the failure.  We no longer use LO BOOST operationally.)

Also, the pump outlet is rated at 18.5GPH flow at 15PSIG (24VDC).  On the G1000 engine page, we see peak FF of approx 13GPH when priming the engine using HI BOOST (THROT, PROP and MIX all full forward).

Hope all that is useful.  

Happy to do the longer version if needed.