Brand new injector not working, thoughts?

DownEastPowerWash

New member
I have scoured the posts involving injector issues and have not found an answer that fixes mine, so here it is.

Machine: 5.5 GPM @ 3500psi
Injector: Super Suds Sucker with size 2 orifice (correct for my size machine so says manufacturer of injector)
Chem line: Line runs from injector to selector knob then into chem. Knob works, and length of hose from injector to chem total is under 4 feet and is in 3/4" PVC to keep below chem line in bucket.
Gun is rated to 10gpm
Tried open hose same issue
Hose length is 100'
Hose is off reel and connected by quick connect directly to injector


ISSUE: Put a brand new injector on with specs from above today as the old one was acting up. Washed one truck and it pulled soap like it was suppose to, moved to second truck without changing anything except where I was standing and the injector at first wouldn't pull then it pulled very little soap. Nothing had changed from one truck to the next. I then took the reel out of the equation and hooked directly to the injector thinking there might some restriction in the reel causing it, no change. Took the soap selector knob out of the equation and same issue. This is the third injector I have tried that worked great one second then not. It is simple physics that makes this thing work that is why I am stumped. Checked for "sticky balls" and bad springs, nothing seems incorrect. IDEAS?
 
What is the brand of gun? If it is an off-brand gun that might be the problem.

I tried several of the biggest northern tool and other off brand guns years ago and they would not work for downstreaming. I just stick to the Suttner Easy pull guns that are rated at or above 12gpm.

Did you take the injector off of the line and look inside it to make sure no trash is in there?

I would either vacuum or pressure test the selector knob and hoses, there might be an air leak there which would keep you from pulling chemicals.

Make sure the orifice in the injector is in there tight, if it is loose then that will make it not work.

What size downstream nozzles are you using? Pressure nozzles?

Something to think about is when the pressure hose is empty and you have the injector hose in chemical, it will pull chemical until the line is full of water so when you pull the trigger there is chemical there but once the chemical is gone then no more chemical. I have had this happen on odd size nozzles in the past and some of those foamer nozzles.

These are a few things to look at.
 
What is the brand of gun? If it is an off-brand gun that might be the problem.

I tried several of the biggest northern tool and other off brand guns years ago and they would not work for downstreaming. I just stick to the Suttner Easy pull guns that are rated at or above 12gpm.

Did you take the injector off of the line and look inside it to make sure no trash is in there?

I would either vacuum or pressure test the selector knob and hoses, there might be an air leak there which would keep you from pulling chemicals.

Make sure the orifice in the injector is in there tight, if it is loose then that will make it not work.

What size downstream nozzles are you using? Pressure nozzles?

Something to think about is when the pressure hose is empty and you have the injector hose in chemical, it will pull chemical until the line is full of water so when you pull the trigger there is chemical there but once the chemical is gone then no more chemical. I have had this happen on odd size nozzles in the past and some of those foamer nozzles.

These are a few things to look at.
Wishing it was that easy. I used the exact same setup all last year with no problems. All happened when I forgot to rinse after a bleaching and the o ring finally failed so I bought the repair kit with new ring and ball and spring. That's when the problems started and ever since all injectors are having trouble. Some don't start acting up until a week or so but a lot of times it's the same day. I will check air leaks, and the gun is a name brand, same as I have used for years. Won't even pull soap when it's an open hose.

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What's a selector knob? A restriction after the injector is could create back pressure and turn the injector off.
Ralph, the knob allows me to switch between soap and sealer or soap and acid without moving Chem line from bucket to bucket. Also allows me to shut off the injector. We've been using the same type of setup for years without issues.

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Post pics when you can.
 
My guess would be that the orifice that is screwed into the injector either backed out or something Bree is stuck inside that chamber. If you already check the spring and ball like you said or sticky O-ring that would be where I would look.
 
Adam, I bought 2 expensive suds suckers back during the summer and neither lasted more than a week. Just stopped pulling.
 
I'm not to familiar with your injector however, Is the spring a tapered spring and if so, Did you install the spring in the correct direction? Also, Does the injector have a black seat for the ball? If so, Did you install it in the correct direction?

I had one many years back which I was overhauling and was distracted when I inserted the ball seat. I installed it incorrectly and the injector pulled on the initial downstream and wouldn't pull the second time. I had to replace the brand new seat as the ball deformed it too much to use.
 
Yeah, Especially when it turns out to be something so simple and drives us nuts in the process...
 
O ring (ball seat) is good, spring is not tapered and took reel out of equation, no change. I will take the hose off tomorrow and see if there's suction. I have the same problem with the same injector in my other truck too. Maybe time to find a new injector manufacturer. Suggestions on what you all use?

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The way injectors work is so simple, that if the injector isn't defective, there is too much back pressure to turn it on. change to a smaller orifice, or just buy a new injector. For a 5.5 gpm machine use a 2-3 gpm injector. Your orifice could have worn out. I used to use SSS's, one did the same thing as yours, after I installed a new unloader, and I just bought a new one. The next one just stopped working even after I changed the orifice. Just went back to GP hi draw. 2.1 orifice on a 10 gpm machine, puts out a lot of soap even with 200 feet of hose.
 
Some hoses are on storage reels, some are connected to a swivel with a jumper so I can add the injector to any reel I have.

What about the gun? Have you tried another gun, maybe a new gun to see if the gun has enough gpms?

Get an allen (hex) wrench and remove the orifice inside the injector and take a look at it, it should be smooth inside it and no pitting or rust, it could be defective, rusty or pitted which would cause it to not pull chemicals.
 
Some hoses are on storage reels, some are connected to a swivel with a jumper so I can add the injector to any reel I have.

What about the gun? Have you tried another gun, maybe a new gun to see if the gun has enough gpms?

Get an allen (hex) wrench and remove the orifice inside the injector and take a look at it, it should be smooth inside it and no pitting or rust, it could be defective, rusty or pitted which would cause it to not pull chemicals.
Tried all my guns, no change. I haven't pulled the orifice yet because it was brand new, literally it arrived in the mail the day before I installed it. Doing some more testing today. Thanks all.

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