Thanks for the reponses guys and much appreciated. I have tried moving the lever on the side of the switch and the float moves freely and isn't or wasn't stuck on so it must be shorting out. I took wiring apart to hook up a replacement Rule switch and can't figure out how to get connections out of the grey plug that they run into (see attached photo). Does orange piece come out with a good tug or will I break wires by doing this?
HotTeMolly: Are you able to send me a picture of the bilge that they sent you or describe the make/model. I think they now use bilge pumps with built in switches?
Thanks.
JF more