Menu
Your cart is empty
Looks like you haven't added anything to your cart yet
Frankin Electric Self Priming Centrifugal Pumps
Franklin Electric DR Series Close-Coupled Centrifugal Pump - Booster & Transfer Service, 1/2-2 HP
Franklin Electric
Franklin Electric DR Series Close-Coupled Centrifugal Pump - Booster & Transfer Service, 1/2-2 HP
- Price
- From $1,046.40
Franklin Electric Turf Boss Close-Coupled Self-Priming Pump - Turf, Irrigation & Transfer, 1-5 HP
Franklin Electric
Franklin Electric Turf Boss Close-Coupled Self-Priming Pump - Turf, Irrigation & Transfer, 1-5 HP
- Price
- From $1,244.04
Franklin Electric FBSE Series Close-Coupled Self-Priming Pump - Cast Iron Semi-Open Impeller, 1/2-3 HP
Franklin Electric
Franklin Electric FBSE Series Close-Coupled Self-Priming Pump - Cast Iron Semi-Open Impeller, 1/2-3 HP
- Price
- From $1,244.04
Frankin Electric Self Priming Centrifugal Pumps
Franklin Electric Water Systems · Irrigation, Transfer & Effluent
Franklin Electric
Self-Priming Pumps
A self-priming centrifugal pump moves large volumes of water from a lake, pond, ditch, or basin — and re-primes itself automatically after that first prime, so it doesn’t have to sit flooded to run. Franklin Electric builds two families: the cast iron Turf Boss for clean-water irrigation and transfer, and the FBSE for dirty, corrosive, and light-solids liquids. Watermain Supply stocks and supplies both, sized to your liquid, lift, flow, and pressure. This page covers every self-priming line we carry and how to choose between them.
2 Pump Lines
Clear-Water & Effluent
1/2–5 HP
Fractional to Commercial
to ~150 GPM
High-Volume Transfer
25 ft Lift
Self-Priming Suction
Product Identification & Sourcing Notice
Franklin Electric product information on this page — model numbers, series names, specifications, and application data — is published for product identification and information only, and is drawn from Franklin Electric’s own literature. Franklin Electric, FPS, Turf Boss, FBSE, and all related names, models, and specifications are trademarks of Franklin Electric Co., Inc., used here for identification only. Watermain Supply is an independent supplier and is not an authorized Franklin Electric distributor; Franklin Electric products are sourced directly through our own supply channels. For select other manufacturer lines, Watermain Supply is a factory-authorized distributor. Specifications may change without notice — confirm all models, ratings, and availability with us before ordering.
The Line
One Split That Decides Everything: The Liquid
Self-priming pumps supply large volumes of water from an open source — a lake, pond, canal, or holding basin — into an irrigation system or from one place to another. Franklin’s two lines cover the range, and picking between them comes down to one question: is the liquid clean, or is it dirty?
Clean water → Turf Boss. The cast iron Turf Boss is the irrigation and sprinkler workhorse — higher flow, a back pull-out design for easy service, single- and three-phase motors, and an optional (or, on the larger models, standard) 304 stainless steel impeller. It covers 1–5 HP and lifts water from depths up to 25 ft.
Dirty, corrosive, or light-solids liquid → FBSE. The FBSE runs a semi-open cast iron impeller and a blind-hole-tapped shaft built to move fertilizer, salt water, dirty water, and other liquids clear-water pumps can’t handle. It spans 1/2–3 HP, passes light solids, and takes liquid temperatures up to 212 °F. Both families self-prime and both handle a 25 ft-class lift.
Clear-Water IrrigationLight-Solids EffluentBack Pull-OutCast Iron304 SS ImpellerPump-End Kits
Self-Priming Basics
What “Self-Priming” Actually Means
A standard centrifugal pump has to be full of water to move water — run it dry off a suction lift and it just spins air. A self-priming pump keeps a reservoir of liquid in its casing, mixes it with the incoming air to push the air out of the suction line, and pulls water up on its own. Prime it once, and it re-primes automatically on later starts.
What To Look At On A Self-Priming Pump
Suction lift — how high it pulls
The vertical distance from the water surface up to the pump. Both Turf Boss and FBSE self-prime to about 25 ft. Past that, priming and performance fall off fast.
The liquid — clean vs dirty
Clear water points to Turf Boss; dirty, corrosive, or light-solids liquid points to FBSE and its semi-open impeller.
Back pull-out serviceability
Turf Boss pulls apart from the motor end so the pump can be serviced without disturbing the suction and discharge plumbing — the base and case stay put.
Priming aids matter. The Turf Boss 3–5 HP builds add a built-in suction check valve that helps the pump prime and stops backflow or siphoning when it shuts off — useful on longer or higher suction lifts.
Measure The Lift From The Water Surface
Self-priming performance is set by how far the pump sits above the water it’s pulling from. A pump drawing from a pond 8 ft down behaves very differently than one lifting 22 ft. Send us the vertical lift, the flow you need, and the liquid, and we size it.
Selection Note
Nominal flows, heads, and lift figures below are approximate and vary by model, HP, and suction lift. Watermain Supply provides engineering-led sizing and selection; the final duty point is confirmed against Franklin Electric published performance data before you order.
Clear-Water Irrigation, Sprinkling & Transfer
Turf Boss Self-Priming Pumps
The cast iron irrigation workhorse, in two build tiers across 1–5 HP. Both self-prime, both lift from depths up to 25 ft, and both use a back pull-out design that services the pump without disturbing the plumbing. Water temperatures to 120 °F.
Fractional to Mid
1–2 HP
Turf Boss 1–2 HP · 1-1/2 in x 1-1/2 in
Rugged cast iron case with Modified PPO hydraulic components and a floating stainless steel impeller eye-seal. Single- and three-phase motors with dual voltage on the smaller sizes, three-phase inverter-duty rated. Integral 1 in NPT priming plug and built-in drain plug for easy winterizing.
- Flowto ~70 gpm
- Shut-offto ~130 ft
- ImpellerModified PPO; opt. 304 SS
- Connections1-1/2 in x 1-1/2 in NPT
- Max temp120 °F
High-Volume
3–5 HP
Turf Boss 3–5 HP · 2 in / 2-1/2 in Suction
Steps up to a standard 304 stainless steel impeller, a cast iron diffuser, and a built-in suction check valve that aids priming and prevents backflow. Standard JM-frame motor in ODP or TEFC, single- and three-phase. 2 in x 2 in suction/discharge on the 3 HP, 2-1/2 in x 2 in on the 5 HP.
- Flowto ~150 gpm
- Shut-offto ~71 psi
- Impeller304 stainless (standard)
- MotorJM-frame, ODP or TEFC
- Pump-end kit143–184JM, .875 in shaft
Cast Iron or Stainless Impeller?
The Modified PPO / cast iron build handles clean irrigation water fine. Step to the 304 stainless steel impeller (optional on 1–2 HP, standard on 3–5 HP) when the water carries fine grit or you want maximum service life on a hard-run irrigation system.
Dirty, Corrosive & Light-Solids Liquids
FBSE Self-Priming Effluent Pumps
When the liquid isn’t clean water, the FBSE takes over — a cast iron volute and semi-open cast iron impeller built to move fertilizer, salt water, dirty water, and light solids, on a shaft tapped so the liquid won’t corrode it. 1/2–3 HP, capacities to 126 gpm, heads to 70 ft, and liquid temperatures to 212 °F.
Effluent & Transfer
FBSE Series
FBSE Self-Priming · 1/2–3 HP
Cast iron construction with tapped openings for priming, venting, and draining. Semi-open cast iron impeller, blind-hole-tapped shaft, carbon/ceramic seal faces with FKM elastomers and 300-series stainless components. Higher-than-NEMA service-factor motors. Sold complete, or as a 56J C-face pump-end kit for a customer-supplied motor.
- Capacityto 126 gpm
- Headto 70 ft
- Max working pressure75 psi
- Max temperature212 °F
- Solidsup to 0.75 in (FBSE-300)
Handles What Turf Boss Can’t
Fertilizer and chemical transfer, salt and brackish water, dirty water, dewatering, and light effluent — the semi-open impeller passes solids and the corrosion-resistant build takes aggressive liquids and higher temperatures.
Solids Capacity Rises With Size
Max solids depend on the model — from 0.25 in on the 1/2 HP up to 0.75 in on the 3 HP. If your liquid carries solids, tell us the size and we’ll match the model that passes them.
| Model | HP | Suction x Discharge | Max Solids |
|---|---|---|---|
| FBSE-50 | 1/2 | 1-1/4 in x 1-1/4 in | 0.25 in |
| FBSE-75 | 3/4 | 1-1/4 in x 1-1/4 in | 0.35 in |
| FBSE-100 | 1 | 1-1/4 in x 1-1/4 in | 0.50 in |
| FBSE-150 | 1-1/2 | 2 in x 2 in | 0.30 in |
| FBSE-200 | 2 | 2 in x 2 in | 0.47 in |
| FBSE-300 | 3 | 2 in x 2 in | 0.75 in |
Solids capacity and connections are from Franklin Electric published data. 56J C-face pump-end kits (less motor) are available across the range. Confirm the model to your liquid and solids before ordering.
The Self-Priming Catalog, One Table
Turf Boss vs FBSE Comparison
| Line | Type | HP | Flow | Key Trait | Liquid | Reach For It When |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turf Boss 1–2 HP | Clear-water | 1–2 | to ~70 gpm | Cast iron, opt. 304 SS impeller | Clean water | Irrigation, sprinkler, general transfer |
| Turf Boss 3–5 HP | Clear-water | 3–5 | to ~150 gpm | 304 SS impeller std, JM motor, check valve | Clean water, high volume | Large irrigation, high-volume transfer |
| FBSE Series | Effluent | 1/2–3 | to 126 gpm | Semi-open CI impeller, solids to 0.75 in, 212 °F | Dirty, corrosive, light solids | Effluent, fertilizer, dewatering, brackish water |
HP, flow, and head figures are nominal and vary by model, motor, and suction lift — see each product page for full performance tables. Specifications are drawn from Franklin Electric published data.
Get It Right The First Time
How to Size a Self-Priming Pump
Four things pick the pump. Send them over and we return an engineering-led selection — the right line, HP, motor, and pump-end or complete-unit configuration.
1. The liquid. Clean water points to Turf Boss; dirty, corrosive, chemical, or light-solids liquid points to FBSE. If it carries solids, tell us the solid size.
2. Suction lift (ft). The vertical distance from the water surface up to the pump. Both lines self-prime to about 25 ft; the closer to that limit, the more the lift eats into your flow.
3. Flow you need (GPM). How many sprinkler heads, zones, or gallons per minute you have to move. This drives HP and line.
4. Discharge pressure or head. The pressure at the pump outlet, or the total lift and friction the pump has to push against. Higher pressure trades against flow.
What You Get Back
A pump recommendation with the nominal duty point, the impeller and motor build that fits your liquid, and whether a complete unit or a pump-end kit makes sense — all confirmed against Franklin Electric performance data. We don’t commit a final model or duty point until it’s verified for your numbers.
Where These Pumps Go To Work
Self-Priming Pump Applications
The same two lines cover most open-source, high-volume moving-water jobs within a 25 ft self-priming lift.
Turf Boss handles agricultural and turf irrigation, lawn and sprinkler feeds, freshwater supply and transfer, livestock watering, and general water transfer between locations. FBSE takes the messier work — fertilizer and chemical transfer, effluent and light dewatering, salt and brackish water, construction and mining service, and septic and drainage installations where the liquid isn’t clean. Both also cover HVAC and light-commercial transfer duty.
Agricultural IrrigationLawn & SprinklerWater TransferLivestock WateringEffluent & DewateringFertilizer & ChemicalConstruction & Mining
Straight Answers
Self-Priming Pump Questions
What does “self-priming” mean?
A self-priming pump can pull water up a suction line without being manually flooded before every start. It keeps liquid in its casing, uses that to purge air from the suction line, and draws water up on its own — then re-primes automatically on later starts. It still needs to be primed once at first install.
Turf Boss or FBSE — which do I need?
It comes down to the liquid. Turf Boss is for clean water — irrigation, sprinkler feeds, and general transfer — and offers higher flow. FBSE has a semi-open impeller built for dirty, corrosive, or light-solids liquid like effluent, fertilizer, and brackish water. Clean water: Turf Boss. Dirty liquid: FBSE.
How high can a self-priming pump lift water?
Both Turf Boss and FBSE self-prime and lift from depths of about 25 ft — that’s the vertical distance from the water surface up to the pump. Performance drops as you approach that limit, so the closer you are to 25 ft, the more it eats into available flow. The Turf Boss 3–5 HP adds a built-in check valve that helps on higher lifts.
Can these pumps handle dirty water or solids?
The Turf Boss is a clear-water pump — keep solids out of it. The FBSE is built for it: its semi-open cast iron impeller passes light solids, from 0.25 in on the 1/2 HP up to 0.75 in on the 3 HP model. Tell us the solid size and we match the model.
What is the back pull-out design?
Back pull-out means the motor and rotating assembly come off the back of the pump for service without disturbing the suction and discharge plumbing — the pump base and case stay bolted in place. It makes seal and impeller service on the Turf Boss much faster in the field.
Do I need the stainless steel impeller?
On the Turf Boss, a 304 stainless steel impeller is optional on the 1–2 HP models and standard on the 3–5 HP. Choose stainless when the water carries fine grit or you want maximum durability on a hard-run system. Clean, low-grit water runs fine on the standard build.
Can I buy just the pump end?
Do you sell Franklin self-priming pumps if you’re not an authorized distributor?
Yes. Watermain Supply is an independent supplier and sources Franklin Electric products directly through our own channels — we are not an authorized Franklin Electric distributor, and this page is provided for product identification and information. For select other manufacturer lines we are a factory-authorized distributor. Either way, we confirm current models, ratings, and pricing before anything ships.
Information & Sourcing Disclaimer
This page is provided for product identification and information only. Watermain Supply is an independent supplier of Franklin Electric products — sourced directly through our own channels, not as an authorized Franklin Electric distributor — and a factory-authorized distributor for select other manufacturer lines. Franklin Electric, FPS, Turf Boss, FBSE, and all related names, models, and specifications are trademarks of Franklin Electric Co., Inc., used here for identification only. All specifications are drawn from Franklin Electric published data and may change without notice — confirm current models, ratings, availability, and pricing with us before ordering.
Sizing a Self-Priming Pump? Let’s Spec It.
Engineering-led pump selection on every Turf Boss and FBSE — matched to your liquid, suction lift, flow, and pressure, complete or as a pump-end kit. Independently supplied, verified before it ships.
Email sales@watermainsupply.comOr call 281.664.8000 — same-day quotes on stocked items
Watermain Supply Houston, TX · watermainsupply.com
281.664.8000 sales@watermainsupply.com
Free Shipping On orders $499 or more
Independent Supplier Franklin Electric self-priming pumps
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.