Septic tank pump problem

Hey guys.
Having trouble with my septic pump. The tank overflowed so I got it pumped out and tried starting the pump. It was just buzzing so I figured the pump was screwed or plugged. So I pulled it up and sure enough there was a rope tangled in the impeller. Not sure how it got there. So I split the casing got the rope out of the impeller and put it back together. It's a Gould pump that just required removing 4 bolts from the bottom to get at the impeller. So I put the system back together and now when I start the pump it seems like it's trying to pump... puts ripples in the water but the level won't go down. Could the pump have lost its prime or could the system be air locked?

Thanks

 

If it's a pump that sits in the liquid..... it should be self-priming.

I doubt the system is air locked but something could be restricting the output of the pump. The only way to know for sure is to try setting the pump into liquid without connecting the discharge line. (maybe in a bucket or small tank of water)

I just had another thought..... many self-priming pumps have a small hole near the discharge line.... possible in the pump head itself..... where liquid comes out to allow the pump to start pumping properly. Almost like a little pressure relief.

 

Thanks for the quick response. Well I'm getting a plumber in tomorrow because I had to go leave to work. I just don't want him to try and replace the pump cause I got them to price it out and they figure it's about $1050CAN.
I'm really hoping there's just a blockage in the line. Maybe the check valve got something in it because the dirty side did overflow into the clean.

 

The check valve could very well be clogged. You'd have to check the pump with the discharge line not connected first and then go from there.

 

Update: just had the plumber out today. He checked the pump. It works fine. Figures the line probably froze. He told me to wait a couple days than to try pumping it again. If it doesn't work in a couple days get it jetted out.
Thanks for the help. I'll update again.