Our Rural water stopped one day.. pump was toast.I had my plumber hook up a new 1 hp craftsman pump to replace the old one.(same,craftsman) did it just like the inst. Said.. 1" and 1 1/4" to water. Gage on top. Plumbed like picture,primed it and followed inst to start.. it won't get past 40 lbs and it needs 60 to shut off.. seams like the pressure tank is not filling or feels empty also.. it is set at 48 lbs like the book said too...
My plumber said and I think so too, that we should put a check valve on the 2 main 1" and 1 1/4" pipes before the pump somewhere.. he thinks the pressure is going back to the water source..
Any rural plumbers out there that can help?
Thanks!
Also,. I got my pumphouse ripped apart so I can take a pic if needed.

1. Set your tank at 38#. It should be at 2# below the cut in point, which for you is probably 40#. I say that because most switches have a 20# interval, so yours would be 40 to 60.

2. If you want to put in a checkvalve, they typically only go on the suction line, not the pressure (return) line. I don't think that's your problem, but it won't hurt to try it.

3. Make sure your pipe connections are airtight.

OK so would the pressure be going back down to zero too after I turn the pump off,even if the check valve was working on the end of the jet? We only replaced the pump because the jet was working before the pump fried out.and both pumps are craftsman so the old jet shouldn't matter right since it was working before?

Jet pumps can struggle to build 40-60 psi pressure. Typically the highest a jet pump pressure switch should be is 30-50. Most common is 20-40. The old pump may have toasted because there is low water volume coming from the well. If this is the case the system will not build enough head pressure. The impeller may also be bad, causing pump not to build pressure. Try lowering the pressure to 30-50 or put a new switch on and prime the pump while trying to build pressure and keep pump running.
You have to have check valve on the incoming line only. Make sure there are no air leaks also, seal on pump.
RJ