Pump ( 1 horse jet pump) on well has been cutting on frequently for no reason in recent past. Tried to fill small above ground pool and pump died. Replaced pressure switch.. still not working. Opened motor cover on pump and found points were burnt. Replaced points.. Eureka ! Pump now runs.. but no water.. Spent hours dripping water into only place available... will not prime..
Question... when pump quits is it necessary to add air to bladder tank before prime will catch ? Is it possible to wrongly wire switch causing pump to draw air from surface rather than pull water ? How many gallons are needed to prime a two inch well ? Been in house only 2 years.. do not know depth of this well or age of well.
Am 62 yr old widow on disability... must do this alone with very little funds... hoping for help from someone...

1. You do not need to add air to the bladder tank. When empty, the pressure at the top of the tank should be 2 pounds below the cut in pressure for your pump. So, if the pump cuts on at 30#, then the tank pressure should be set at 28#.

2. To prime your pump, you will find a plug (or possibly a pressure gauge) in the top of the pump housing. Take the plug out, pour in (not drip in) water until it overflows. Hard to say how much because that depends on the depth of the well, but it will not require a five gallon bucket.

3. I do not believe you can wire the pump backwards. You are thinking the pump is running backwards, but that does not, in my knowledge of the subject, happen with AC current. Others on this site my have a better answer on that.

4. I'm intrigued by your desription of the pump cutting on for no reason. If the pump is cutting on when no water is being used, then there are two usual causes. One is that you have a water leak somewhere between the house and the tank. The other is a leaking check valve. That valve will be between your tank and the pump. Its purpose is to prevent water from flowing from the tank back down into the well. You can see a pretty good description of all of this at this site:

Water system check valve location & purpose - private pump and well system do-it-yourself repairs (http://www.inspect-ny.com/water/CheckValves.htm)