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Our company (originally called Watson Jack & Co.) was founded in 1898 by Montreal native John Colquhoun Watson Jack, who, in 1925, introduced a powerful 200 PSI portable fire pump called the “WAJAX” (an acronym of his name). Through a number of acquisitions during the twentieth century, the company became known as Watson Jack Hopkins Ltd, WAJAX Equipment Ltd and Wildfire. The WATERAX brand name and trademark was introduced in 2010 as the series name for our portable high-pressure fire pumps. Today, the WATERAX brand captures the powerful meaning and essence of the historical names Watson & Jack Co., WAJAX and Wildfire as we seek to honour our roots and align with the company’s original purpose. Our new brand identity communicates the core nature of our manufacturing activities and our distinctive, proven brand of portable pump products.

Raffaele Gerbasi, Marcello Iacovella and Frédéric Lefrançois met in 2006 when they were EMBA students at the John Molson School of Business. United by shared values, beliefs, and ambitions—as well as the same desire to work and play hard, the three purchased the company from Tyco in a management buy-out in 2010, and now lead WATERAX. Iacovella is a WATERAX veteran. Lefrançois left Ubisoft to join WATERAX. Gerbasi has extensive experience in technology companies. As a team, they have not looked back since acquiring WATERAX, a move which sealed their friendship, partnership and fate.

The origins of WATERAX date all the way back to 1898 in Montreal. We started designing and manufacturing high-pressure fire pumps in the 1920s and pioneered the wildland fire control industry under the name WAJAX. Introduced in 1964, our iconic MARK-3^® series rapidly became the gold standard in portable high-pressure pumps for wildland fires. For more than 50 years, the MARK-3^® has been championed by fire crews and adopted by forest agencies around the world!

WATERAX engineers and manufactures high-pressure centrifugal pumps that are designed to move water over long distances and take it to high points of elevation. Our pumps have been time-tested and are trusted by firefighters to perform under the most extreme conditions.

Since the 1920s our commitment is steadfast: to help firefighters use nature’s most powerful force in partnership with the most trusted high-pressure fire pumps to protect our forests and our communities.

For information on product training, please contact us at [email protected].

For information on product orientation sessions, please contact us at [email protected].

For technical support, please contact our technical team at [email protected].

You can find product demos and videos on our YouTube channel or on our teaching videos page.

To best serve our clients’ needs, we constantly strive to maintain an extensive product inventory. In most cases, WATERAX fire pumps can be shipped from the factory within one to two weeks and we make every effort to ship in a timely manner. Please note however that delivery schedules can vary.

Any shortage, damage or error in shipment should be reported to WATERAX immediately upon receipt of goods and at the latest within 10 days after delivery. All packages should be carefully inspected for visible damage prior to acceptance from the carrier and delivery refused or damage noted when signing for receipt of packages.

Please contact our customer service department for full details concerning the return of any goods and the issuance of a return goods authorization (RGA) number. Material returned for reasons other than defective replacement will carry a handling and restocking charge as per our terms and conditions.

A multi-stage centrifugal pump is a pump containing more than one impeller on a common shaft and within one pump casing. The water is routed from the discharge of one impeller to the intake of the other one, thus increasing the generated pressure. Multi-stage pumps are generally more efficient than single-stage centrifugal pumps because they produce greater pressure at lower speeds.

WATERAX has designed and manufactured high-pressure fire pumps since the 1920s. WATERAX offers a complete portfolio of high-pressure portable and vehicle-mounted centrifugal fire pumps that are powered by 2-stroke, 4-stroke and diesel engines.

Higher-pressure pumps are required by wildland firefighters for a number of reasons:

First, the greater pressure helps move water over wider distances and points of elevation, allowing for longer hose lays able to service remote and hard-to-reach areas.

Second, they are safer and ensure better fire control for firefighters by providing higher and longer nozzle-stream reach. High pressure also provides better water penetration in thick brush and ground debris.

For fires in remote areas such as wildland forest, the unmatched power-to-weight ratio of a 2-stroke engine provides for a powerful yet lighter and more compact carrying unit. This is critical for quick response, relocation and agile movement.

The recommended oil for your WATERAX MARK-3^® pumping unit is any API-TC, JASO FD, ISO-L-EGD certified two-cycle oil. The optimum fuel mix ratio is 50:1. This new fuel mixture reduces carbon deposits in the exhaust port and extends the service life of the MARK-3^®. The 50:1 fuel ratio was also found to work well with the older versions of the MARK-3^®.

Fire personnel cannot have a pump down or out of service for a couple of days, let alone for 2 to 4 weeks (the time it takes for a replacement part to arrive). While WATERAX pumps are highly reliable, there may always be unforeseen situations which necessitate pump maintenance. The detachable pump end allows for the pump to be swapped out in seconds, enabling the operator to be back up and running in no time. It also means that the pump needing service can be set aside and serviced at a convenient time (without taking essential fire apparatus out of service for an indefinite period).

A firefighter has a large amount of equipment to maintain and service. WATERAX reduces this list by providing a drive belt system that, unlike a gearbox, requires no maintenance, generates less heat and is designed to last the service life of the pump. It’s also quieter than a gearbox—an important factor when communications need to be heard.

WATERAX anodizes its aluminum pump components. This creates a protective barrier on aluminum surfaces, making them resistant to corrosion and means that salt water can be used in the pump. However, because salt water is highly corrosive, to extend service life, salt water should not be left in the pump after use. The pump should be flushed with fresh water for at least 5 minutes after salt water has been run through it.

Pump parts made from different metals can attack each other when they’re exposed to water, causing one metal (the “sacrificial” metal”) to corrode. This process is called galvanic corrosion. The further the metals are from each other on the galvanic corrosion chart, the greater the corrosion of the sacrificial material. Bronze and brass are situated far from aluminum on the corrosion chart. When bronze or brass is combined with aluminum, aluminum becomes the sacrificial metal. For instance, a large bronze impeller will pull electrons from the aluminum components of the pump and cause them to corrode and degrade. WATERAX uses aluminum impellers to counter this effect and ensure that the pump’s aluminum parts last longer.

For a pump/engine unit: always store in an upright position. For short storage time frames (up to 3 months): add fuel stabilizer to the engine fuel and spray a light coat of WD-40 inside the pump intake and in any parts on the pump. If the pump will be stored in a region where it may freeze: a biodegradable antifreeze such as Amsoil low-toxicity antifreeze and engine coolant should be poured through the pump and added to the engine’s radiator, if equipped, to the manufacturer's specified water-to-coolant ratio. If storage is to be longer than 3 months: completely run the fuel out before storing and spray the inside of the pump with a long-term corrosion inhibitor such as WD-40 long-term corrosion inhibitor.

For a pump end (only): lightly spray the inside of the pump with WD-40 long-term corrosion inhibitor and store with the pump inlet down. Do not get the inhibitor on the pump mechanical seal.

In the new MARK-3® Watson Edition, the fill cap was removed as part of an overall design improvement. The new pump end can now be easily rotated to allow for manual filling, offering the same functionality without the need for a separate cap.

This change also reduced the overall weight of the pump and eliminated a potential failure point, making the unit more reliable and easier to handle in the field.

Absolutely. The MARK-3® Watson Edition was completely redesigned with durability as a top priority, maintaining the trusted performance standard of the original MARK-3®.

After years of development and extensive field testing, it meets—or exceeds—the quality expectations of the original. In fact, it successfully passed the USDA Forest Service's rigorous 100-hour endurance performance test, making it eligible for use within the NIFC system.

Yes! We designed the MARK-3® Watson Edition to be run at full throttle, every shift, every day.

No! Pump operators can immediately throttle up, the warm up cycle is a suggested best practice to maximize pump longevity. The electronics do not control pump operation they are a parallel system that provides diagnostic information and are not required for pump operation.

The new 140 cc engine was purpose-built specifically for the MARK-3® Watson Edition, allowing us to take advantage of modern engine design and materials. This change reduced weight, compression and size of the engine, the lower engine compression makes the pump noticeably easier to start by pull cord. It's a more efficient, reliable, and user-friendly solution without compromising on power or durability.

Contact your local WATERAX dealer for current prices. WATERAX contact us | For all your questions on our pumps and equipment.

We made many improvements for field servicing and preventive maintenance.

Due to the total redesign repair parts and major components are not compatible or interchangeable. However, the pump head clamp is compatible and is universal across all WATERAX platforms.

The MARK-3® Watson Edition, like all WATERAX two-stroke engines, use a 50:1 fuel mixture. For optimal performance and engine longevity, we recommend High quality two-cycle mixing oil specifically designed for use on air cooled engines with APITC, JASO-FD and ISO-L-EGD certification. WATERAX recommends Amsoil Saber® Professional Synthetic.

It is made from a very tough type of composite that has the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic material presently made. It is lighter than steel, has impressive vibration dampening properties, and can be molded into any shape. We also designed angled engine vibration mounts that greatly increase vibration absorption.

The pump head impellers are made out of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene that is highly durable and abrasive resistant and has self-lubricating properties.

Fuel consumption has shown to be on par with the MARK-3®.

Due to the size of the engine MARK-3® Watson Edition is covered by the EPA and CARB emission standards exemption for firefighting equipment.

The muffler incorporates noise dampening insulation that keeps the decibel level the same as the classic MARK-3®. We recommend wearing eye and ear protection when operating any WATERAX pump.

Many pump operators have noticed that the WATSON is noticeably quieter than the classic MARK3 at idle.

The LED indicator on the UIM module and the entire electronics package is IP67 rated. The IP67 rating means, our electronics are dust tight and withstands ingress of dust with vacuum applied. Withstands incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

The onboard electronics package picks up power from the engine’s dynamo. There is a small battery in the UIM module that provides power to the memory that stores the operational data for the diagnostic features.

The integrated primer bulb and a fuel bypass feature on the carburetor allows the proper amount of fuel to reach the carburetor with the excess taking the bypass.

Our design was inspired by a snowshoe concept. It provides more than 230% more contact area than the preceding frame and greatly improves grounding in uneven terrains. We tested the new frame with wildland firefighters during our 2019 WATSON tour and participants were highly impressed with its buoyancy!

No, the MARK-3® Watson Edition pump end has the same sealed bearing to eliminate pump end greasing in the field as the previous 4-stage pump end.

Yes

It is a Waterax proprietary engine that was purpose built to run the MARK-3® Watson Edition. It was designed and produced in the United States.

We have standardized to hex head fasteners to help simplify the tools required to service a MARK-3® Watson Edition pump.

The MARK-3® Watson Edition delivers pump performance that is at least equal to and in many cases slightly exceeds that of the classic MARK-3®.

Yes, the MARK-3® Watson Edition has a system for a manual wrap of the pull cord in the event of recoil failure.

Yes, new components are different than MARK-3® to achieve the reduced weight and size.

A type of composite that has the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic material presently made.

We are continually working to get all our Instructions, videos and technical manuals in more languages, currently we have documentation available in French, English and Spanish.

We run several mechanics training courses per year. If you are interested in attending or hosting a training, please contact [email protected].

Throughout our rigorous field testing the coupler showed no major signs of wear.

If you would like to arrange a live demonstration or to find out more about getting a MARK-3® Watson Edition to test please contact your local WATERAX dealer or email [email protected].

2-Stroke Powered Pumps Earlier of two (2) years from date of shipment or One hundred (100) run hours. Full details are set out in full at www.waterax.com/en/support/warranty.

Please contact your local WATERAX dealer or email [email protected]. for the current availability.

The lights on the UIM are driven by sensors that detect engine temperature, the status of the over speed protection and fuel status. When the UIM flashing a fuel indicator it is telling the operator the reason for the last pump shut down was fuel related, and any trouble shooting should start at fuel and fuel supply.

The app is feature complete, any potential future updates will be for language localization or phone OS compatibility.

(found on page 8 of the owners Manual)

LED States:

Green Flashing
Engine in warm-up stage.

Green Solid
Engine is warmed up.
Can safely operate at wide open throttle.

Yellow Flashing
Engine speed below 1,000 rpm (low speed condition): engine shut down.
Engine likely ran out of fuel.

Yellow Solid
Wiring issue.
Engine temperature sensor disconnected
Engine temperature sensor shorted.
Off button disconnected or loose contact.
Such conditions will never shut down the engine.

Blue Flashing
Engine speed above 9,000 rpm (overspeed): engine shut down.
Loss of prime condition.

Red Flashing
Engine temperature exceeds warning temperature threshold: warning.
Engine temperature exceeds max. allowed temperature: engine shut down.

Red Solid
Engine temperature gradient too high: engine shut down.
Very lean adjustment.
No oil in fuel.

The overheat warning is not an indication that there is an actual issue. It's a warning to check your carburetor adjustments and air cooling access. Make sure the fan is not obstructed so you are getting maximum air flow across the pump. Also confirm your carb is properly adjusted, this is a good use of the WATERAX app, once you are connected to the pump when it is running the app acts as a tach and you can really dial in the carb. However, We have units running above 150 °C and are perfectly fine. If outside conditions are very hot and the unit is baking in the sun, running slightly richer is not a bad idea.

On the steep slopes make sure you put a “check and bleeder” on the pumps discharge to help keep the head pressure manageable for starts and stops of flow.

We recommend using 50:1 synthetic. We haven't tested it with Aspen 2 so it’s hard to comment on it right now. Here’s more information on the fuel mix ratio: https://waterax.imgix.net/products/documents/185cc-Fuel-Mix-Ratio-50-1.pdf

For old units, it’s fine to continue using 24:1. With the introduction of the 185cc engine with Nikasil® cylinder, WATERAX recommends a mixture ratio of 50:1, which is compatible on both Nikasil® (newer pumps) AND cast iron sleeve (older pumps) cylinder engines. In other words, don’t worry about damaging the older pumps with 50:1. So, if you have both older and newer MARK-3®, at this point, it makes sense to switch to 50:1.

Here’s the link to the Tech Note on the subject: https://waterax.imgix.net/products/documents/185cc-Fuel-Mix-Ratio-50-1.pdf

That is correct. However, with parallel pumping you are increasing the flow which also increases the friction loss. If you are not increasing the diameter of your hose, then the flow may only increase up to 10%. Therefore, we recommend using in tandem pumping over parallel.

98 US GPM (371 L/min)

Bosch M4AC 18 mm

The MARK-3® Watson Edition will have a more robust clamp design that is easier to use as well. Consult the MARK-3® Watson Edition brochure for more details!

The recommended gap for the spark plug is 0.5-0.6 mm (0.02-0.024 in). If unable to adjust the spark plug to this gap, replace with new spark plug.

Make sure to rinse your pump with fresh water after every use to avoid residue build up!

There is a frame for the pump (C-7404) but not the fuel tank.

This depends on the terrain that you are working in, but generally placing the second pump at 10 lengths is a good starting point. Keep a hand on the supply line at the second pump. If it is going soft, then the second pump is throttled too high or is located too far from the first pump.

You can place it either right off the pump or right before the ‘Y’ valve. If one pump is more powerful than the other, it can overpower the other in a parallel pump set up. Having the ball check before the ‘Y’ valve will prevent the pumps from fighting each other.

Use soapy water and make sure that the filter is dry before you re-install it. If it's beat up, better to replace it. When you take out the air filter, make sure to engage the choke in order to block debris from getting into the carb/cylinder.

It is best to stop priming right as fuel reaches the carburator as seen through the clear fuel tube. It’s also better to under prime and then try to start it. If it doesn't work, prime a bit more, but try to avoid flooding the engine by ensuring there aren't any other causes for the pump not to start.

This is a good start. You should always prepare your home and property in the WUI according to the fire prevention information found at sources such as NFPA’s Firewise^® Communities website or FireSmart Canada

You should never put yourself in a dangerous or life-threatening situation. In the context of wildfires, the VERSAX^® fire pump wettens the perimeter of a property (using nozzle or sprinkler heads) which helps to prevent flying embers from igniting a fire. It is a preventive measure rather than being equipment specifically designed to fight fire head on. VERSAX^® is suitable for rapid interventions which enable you to control a small fire on a property or private land before firefighters arrive. Always prepare your home and property in the wild-urban interface according to fire prevention information found at trusted sources such as the National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise^® Communities website, or FireSmart Canada. Evacuate as soon as authorities inform residents to do so or when it’s “common sense” to leave. Note that structure protection equipment is a value-added tool to all Firewise^® and FireSmart measures.

Having a fire pump accessible at all times, for high-risk and high-value residential properties, means that you are ready and equipped. Protect your defensible space and reduce the chances of fire spreading to neighbouring homes or the surrounding forest. Being prepared gives your property a fighting chance against an approaching wildfire before the firefighters arrive. While we do not encourage you to fight a raging wildfire on your own, you can make a difference with the right plan and the appropriate equipment.

The VERSAX^® is a multipurpose fire pump that can also be used for rapid interventions, tank filling, water transfers and as an ATV slip-on unit. This portable pump is ideal for emergency protection against fire on farms, private properties and construction sites.

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