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Hello. I own a new to me 2000 PanteraIII with recently reworked livewell plumbing and upgrade to A10 touchpad (by previous owner). I have the Flow-rite switch in the Auto position but it has emptied in my first two outings on the way to the ramp. While I was looking over the boat prior to buying, the previous owner mentioned that it might have been switched so that EMPTY was the actual position for AUTO. Is this even possible? I have been trying to locate the control valve in the bilge area but have not been able to find it. The addition of a fourth battery to the compartment may have obscured any chance of seeing it without some major time invested. Can anyone tell me where this valve is found in the bilge area relative to the livewells and drain plug? I don’t really mind it draining but I’m kind of OCD about things working as they should.
Thanks
DanielJanse, I also like to see things work properly too. This valve is nice to have and is easily replaced or re-built if it has a problem. The valve is always located in the bottom of the bilge in the center line. Mine is just behind the seat post. The valve has a pump (for the aspirator) attached to one end of it and the other end has a cable attached to a swing arm that moves forward for auto and toward the rear for empty. Here are a couple of pictures showing the valve and a close up of the swing arm with the cable attached to it from the valve handle in the cockpit of the boat. Hope this helps you out.

Thanks so much for the pics and discussion. I believe in the process of switching to 36V this area of my bilge was covered with a plywood plank to act as floor space for the extra battery. Regardless, I performed the ultimate test of the backwards valve and was pleasantly surprised with a full livewell at the ramp. So, it IS possible to somehow rig this so that the EMPTY setting is actually performing the AUTO function. Some day I’ll need to pull that battery and will have to have a peak underneath to see what it looks like.
Thanks again!
Danged JEH, that image set and effort just earned you a Kudo!
Please get in touch with Clothing and tell Ms Dorry you earned a Kudo package for your help.
DanielJanse:
Thanks so much for the pics and discussion. I believe in the process of switching to 36V this area of my bilge was covered with a plywood plank to act as floor space for the extra battery. Regardless, I performed the ultimate test of the backwards valve and was pleasantly surprised with a full livewell at the ramp. So, it IS possible to somehow rig this so that the EMPTY setting is actually performing the AUTO function. Some day I’ll need to pull that battery and will have to have a peak underneath to see what it looks like.
Thanks again!
Here are a couple of more links to help you with your “visual Observation” whenever you get the opportunity. Make sure that the white swing arm on the valve is being pulled toward the rear of the boat as shown when the Actuator is in the “empty” position. You never know what someone else has done previously so just be aware of that. Here is a couple of links to show the configuration. Good luck.
https://www.flow-rite.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/cbl2vlv.pdf
https://www.flow-rite.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/cbl2act.pdf
Bass Cat Boats:
Danged JEH, that image set and effort just earned you a Kudo!
Please get in touch with Clothing and tell Ms Dorry you earned a Kudo package for your help.
Thank you very much BCB. I am always willing to help owners if I can. I very much appreciate this Company and their “Kudos program”.
Thanks again.
For what its worth, I had a 2009 CougarFTD. That valve worked in the opposite way it was designed to. Empty was Auto, and Vice Versa. It worked fine the whole time I had it. The current owner, who works at Sherm’s Marine, says its still working fine for him.
If the valve is working backwards the arm is reversed and that has happened where we have to change arms from the factory.
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