On Mon, 7 Jun 2021 14:30:33 -0200, dan wrote:

On Mon, 7 Jun 2021 07:01:52 -0700, Bob F wrote:
The obvious first thing to do is adjust the switch to a lower pressure.
Instructions are in the switch cover usually. I believe you loosen the
nut on the bigger spring.

I agree. Completely. And therefore I will do that next!
https://youtu.be/1VNSv7xVzzU?t=400

BTW, this morning I increased the native pressure of the bladder to 28psi
(when the water level was a dribble so I assume that's as low as it gets)
as it had started at about 22 psi a couple of days ago & needed air.

After pressurizing the bladder to 28psi I let the pressure pump run to see
if it would cut off, and the pressure (at the top of the blue tank) went up
very quickly (within a minute) to 35psi and then within another minute to 50
psi but even after ten minutes of the pump running it never exceeded 52psi
(and the pump never turned off).

So that's one mystery of why the pump doesn't get higher than 52psi as
measured at the top of the blue bladder tank. The other (perhaps related?)
mystery is why the pressure at the gauge on the pump is literally zero (no
air, no water).

I removed the gauge and let the pump run and NOTHING came out. Huh?

Given the pump /can't/ get higher than 52psi, then lowering the pressure
switch shutoff may prove that everything /else/ is working (but the pump).

Therefore I agree the next thing I should try is lower the shutoff pressure.

I don't have instructions on the cover but they are here & you are right.
https://youtu.be/1VNSv7xVzzU?t=65

That video says if the 20# range is set to 30:50, then loosening the big nut
on that large center bolt will _lower_ the 20# range (say to 20:40).

Each full center nut rotation is 2 to 3 psi change of the 20# range.
https://youtu.be/1VNSv7xVzzU?t=85

Loosening the smaller nut lowers the high-end cutoff only (about 2psi/turn).
https://youtu.be/1VNSv7xVzzU?t=98

What's a good range and high end? I don't know.
The video says to play with the 20# range if you need to lower pressure.
It says to play with the high end cutoff only if you specifically need it.

I will probably drop it lower than I really need to just to debug.
Then bring it up later as close to the 30:50 as I can get it.

When I change the cutout pressure point I have to measure the results.
Is the pressure at the top of the blue bladder tank an accurate pressure?
There are 2 settings. A cut in pressure and a cut out pressure. The
difference is Hysteresis. Having the hysteresis too low means the
pumnp continuously cycles. Lower the cut out pressure to below 52 PSI
- lets say 30. Then set the cut in pressure to about 10 for testing
purposes. When the tank drops below 10 the pump will turn on. Whenit
reaches 30 it will shut off. Having air in the bladder maintains the
30PSI while the water volume in the tank drops. Without air pressure
the water pressure drops immediately when a tap is opened - starting
the pump.
Now - you need the gauge to read. Generally the guage is on a
"damping" orifice to keep the needle from jumping all over the place.
If you are not getting air or water to the gauge the orifice is
plugged. Findit and poke a wire through it so the water or air can get
through to the gauge - and replace the gauge.

If it starts when the pressure frops to 10 and runs untill it hits 30
- and you can see pressure on the gauge, everything is working -
adjust the cut out to the specified upper pressure and see if the
pumnp cam kick that much pressure. If it can't pump up to the required
pressure the pump is worn out and you will need to replace it.

The air pressure at the top of the bell should be equal to the tank
water pressure when the tank is full - if there is enough air in the
bell / bladder.