Wayne Sump Pump Float Switch: Which Part Fits?

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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: Wayne’s CDU790, CDU800, CDU980E, CDU1000 and SPF33/SPF50 sump pumps have an integrated vertical float, and Wayne’s manual says “The vertical float switch is not replaceable.” What you can replace is the float: Wayne’s 60038-WYN1 float kit fits its CDU vertical-float pumps. The WST30 and CDT50 use the piggyback tether switch 56835-WYN1, which Wayne says to replace every two years.

Float cracked, waterlogged or sticking? Wayne’s float kit is the part. See the Wayne 60038 float kit on Amazon

Which Switch Your Wayne Has

The Wayne submersible sump pumps in Wayne’s sump pump manual use one of two switches. Everything here is from Wayne’s product pages and that manual:

Wayne’s manual gives the tether switch as approximately 13 inches on and 7 off; the WST30 product page says 14 and 7. If the cord runs from the pump straight to the wall, you have a vertical-float model. If a second cord runs to a float on a tether and the pump plugs into the back of its plug, you have a piggyback tether switch.

Vertical-Float Models: You Replace the Float, Not the Switch

This is the part that trips people up. Wayne’s manual says plainly: “The vertical float switch is not replaceable.” What Wayne does sell for these pumps is the float. Its repair-kit table lists the “FLOAT KIT 60038-WYN1,” and its product page describes it as a “float replacement part kit for all Wayne CDU vertical float sump pump models.” The Amazon listing for the same kit adds that it “Does not include switch.”

A float kit fixes a cracked or stuck float. It does not fix a switch that has failed electrically. For a bad switch, Wayne’s troubleshooting chart says “Replace tether switch or replace pump,” and a vertical-float pump has no tether switch to replace.

Amazon also lists a “Wayne 56395 Switch Repair Kit For cdu, spf, & sspf.” That kit is not in the repair-kit table of the current Wayne manual, which says the vertical switch is not replaceable, so we are not linking it. Ask Wayne whether it fits your pump’s serial number before you buy it.

Tether Models: Replace the Switch Every Two Years

The WST30 and CDT50 use Wayne’s piggyback tether switch, part 56835-WYN1. Wayne treats it as a wear part: “REPLACE THE TETHER SWTICH [sic] EVERY TWO (2) YEARS. This required maintenance will reduce the risk of improper pump operation, switch failure and/or flooding.” Its tether diagram calls for a basin at least 14 inches across and 22 inches deep.

I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.

Check These Before You Buy Anything

• Is the pump still standing straight? Wayne says vibrations during operation “can cause it to fall or tilt onto one side. This can jam the float so it can’t activate the pump.”
• Does the float have room? Wayne wants “at least 1 in. clearance to the side wall of the basin” and rigid pipe: “Pump movement can prevent the switch from operating correctly. Do not use flexible hosing.”
• Is there a check valve? Wayne’s chart lists “Back-flow of water from discharge pipe” as a cause of a pump that “starts and stops too often,” and says a check valve is required. See our sump pump check valve guide.
• Has debris built up on the float? Wayne’s routine maintenance is an inspection “3-4 times per year for pump movement or buildup of debris on the switch or float.”

If the Pump Has to Be Replaced

A dead vertical switch means a new pump. These Wayne vertical-float models (all with a 1-1/2-inch NPT discharge and Wayne’s 9-inch on, 4-inch off float, per Wayne) were in stock when we checked. Match the horsepower of the pump you are replacing:

• 1/3 hp: Wayne CDU790, shipped and sold by Amazon.
• 1/2 hp: Wayne CDU800, shipped and sold by Amazon.
• 3/4 hp: Wayne CDU980E, shipped and sold by Amazon.
• 1 hp: Wayne CDU1000, shipped and sold by Amazon.

Parts You’ll Also Need

Only if the old check valve is worn or missing. Wayne says a check valve is “required”:

• Wayne 1-1/2″ check valve kit, shipped and sold by Amazon. The listing identifies it as 66005-WYN1 “For Wayne Sump/Sewage Pumps.”

FAQ

Can you replace the float switch on a Wayne CDU800?

Not the switch itself. Wayne’s manual says the vertical float switch is not replaceable. Wayne sells the 60038-WYN1 float kit for its CDU vertical-float pumps, and if the switch has failed, its troubleshooting chart says to replace the pump.

What is the Wayne 60038 float kit for?

Wayne describes it as a float replacement kit for all Wayne CDU vertical float sump pump models, and the Amazon listing says it works with the CDU and SPF pumps and does not include the switch.

What are the on and off levels on a Wayne sump pump?

Wayne’s manual lists the vertical float at approximately 9 inches on and 4 inches off, and the tether switch at approximately 13 inches on and 7 inches off.

How often should I replace a Wayne tether float switch?

Every two years. Wayne’s manual calls it required maintenance to reduce the risk of switch failure and flooding.

Does a Wayne sump pump need a weep hole?

Not on the models whose pages say so. Wayne’s CDU790, CDU800, CDU980E, CDU1000, SPF33, SPF50, WST30 and CDT50 pages each list “No need for weep holes; Unique Top Suction Design.” Check your own model’s page or manual. Wayne does require a check valve.

Why Trust Plumbing Picks

Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every part number, size, setting and fit on this page comes from the manufacturer pages and documents listed below, which we opened and read; product details come from those makers and from the Amazon listings, not from hands-on testing. Each linked product was shipped or sold by Amazon, new and in stock, when we checked on September 24, 2026. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.

Sources

• Wayne: Submersible Sump Pump installation manual (600002W-001 F)
• Wayne: CDU790
• Wayne: CDU800
• Wayne: CDU980E
• Wayne: CDU1000
• Wayne: SPF50
• Wayne: WST30 (WST33)
• Wayne: CDT50
• Wayne: 60038-WYN1 float replacement kit
• Wayne: 60017-WYN1 Float Top Replacement Kit
• Wayne: 60017-WYN2 Float Top Replacement Kit
• Wayne: 56835-WYN1 Piggy Back Tether Float Switch

Bottom Line

Vertical-float Wayne: clear the float, check the pump is upright and the check valve works, then replace the float with the 60038 kit if it is damaged. If the switch itself is dead, Wayne’s answer is a new pump. Tether-switch Wayne: replace the 56835-WYN1 switch every two years.