hey! I did the same aquarium pump thing a few years back, sure makes
a racket doesn't it?

took mine out, used same switch for interior fan.

don't give up on fridge. I am puzzled by the stiff pump, still can't
figure out why so resistant.

about the going out problem, sounds a bit like the safety
thermocouple is not switching or that the override button is not
making the contact.

Alistair

On 10-Aug-07, at 3:54 PM, Paul Chubbuck wrote:

I sealed one side with a cork and blew in the other end.  Very leaky.

I just spent the better part of the today taking it all apart,
sealing the
system with better gaskets and caulk and putting it back together.  Same
cork test was MUCH less leaky, almost no leaking at all afterwards.

But....I just got it back together and, guess what?  I cannot get it
to stay
it lit more than a few seconds.  And the pump, which I cleaned and
re-lubricated with silicone instead of oil, is so stiff that it's very
difficult to get more than 5-6 strokes in.

I even obtained a little 2 D-cell operated fish aeration pump which I
plumbed in next to the air pump with a "T", but that didn't help get it
started at all.

VERY discouraging.  I've put in at least a solid week's work on that
damn
Dometic this season yet don't have an reliable fridge to show for it.

A Norcold by next season, I swear.

Paul