Well pump issues, please help

[Muaddib78]

recently installed a new pump and pressure tank for a neighbor after a leak in a pvc coupler burned out a 30 year old Sta-rite 1hp shallow well pump

suction is 1 1/4" with 1" discharge

new pump is a Zoeller 1hp, wired 110v using a square D 40/60 switch.

pressure tank is a water worker 20 gal charged to 38psi

issue i am having is when i turn the power on the well will instantly charge up as it should but as the system drains the flow rate will quickly drop to a trickle as the pressure tank drains, when the pump turns on the pressure gauge will drop to zero and remain there then when the pump shuts off it will jump to ~ 38 psi and generate no water pressure to the house feed line.

neighbor did not want to use the included control body due to the positioning of the original lines and not wanting to cut out and redo the entire pvc system so the pressure gauge and pressure switch or mounted to the 1/4 fip holes in the pump body

anybody have any ideas about whats going on here?

 

[Valveman]

Good video! Your pressure gauge should not be on the suction line. Needs to be on the same as the pressure switch or line to the tank. Then your pressure switch is most likely working at 20/40, and you can't put any water in the tank with a 38 PSI pre-charge. Move the gauge so you can see what is going on. Then either let air out of the tank and/or turn up the pressure switch until the pump starts 3-5 PSI higher than the air pre-charge in the tank.