Downstream not working

Dave B

Dave B

New member
I have a feeling I'm making a rookie mistake, but I can't figure out what it is...

For some reason, my downstream isn't drawing chemicals through the siphon hose. Well, it does it sometimes, and sometimes not.

For instance, the other day I was cleaning some solar screens. When I first started, everything worked fine. The siphon hose pulled the chemicals through as expected. However, since I was cleaning screens with low pressure, I had to pull the siphon hose out of the chemicals so I could rinse. Once I placed the siphon hose back into the chemicals, it wouldn't draw. I made sure the end was well below the level of the chemicals. I checked for leaks in the hose. I made sure the hose wasn't clogged. No matter what I did, I couldn't get it to draw.

This isn't the first time this has happened. Again, sometimes it works fine, other times it doesn't.

What did I do wrong? So it simply because I let air into the siphon hose? If so, why did it work in the beginning?

I'm embarrassed having to ask these questions, but sometimes the simplest things can baffle us rookies.
 
Air in the hose won't affect anything. You should make an injector bypass, that way you turn a knob instead of pulling the hose.

Possible reasons injector not working.

Ball stuck in o-ring
too much back pressure for injector size, could be too long of a hose, go one orifice size lower
debris in orifice or hose
injector installed backwards
gun rated too low, should be at least 12 gpm
faulty injector, replace
 
Last edited:
Answer these questions and we'll try to help. This is All relevant.
What GPM is your pump rated?
What # is stamped on your injector like 2.1 KOmm or 2.2mm or maybe something else?

How much hose are you running?

What GPM rating is stamped on your trigger gun?

What size orifice (not fan degree) spray nozzle are you using?
 
I have had this same thing happen when I idled down the machine for a job that didn't need as much flow or psi. It would work good at first downstreaming then after I would get done with the higher pressure rinsing and try and downstream again with the motor still at low idle though the whole process it wouldn't want to pull chem. What I would have to do is idle up the engine for a few seconds to get it to pull chem. I hope I explained that right. lol
 
You don't need to idle down my throttle is fixed. You need to use a much larger orifice nozzle to drop the pressure on the downstream side of the injector. The pressure difference on each side of the injector is what makes it work.
 
Yes Pat know I can drop the pressure with a lager nozzle. There are times I don't need the higher flow either.
 
Sorry I reread what you wrote Pat. I don't think you understood what I was saying....Not your falt,mine I don''t think I was clear enough..
 
Pat Norman said:
You don't need to idle down my throttle is fixed. You need to use a much larger orifice nozzle to drop the pressure on the downstream side of the injector. The pressure difference on each side of the injector is what makes it work.
Click to expand...
Thanks pat. I forgot to mention nozzle size. Like they say it's usually the most obvious.

Still using my Patjet. Saved me the other day,... again.

melted this thick green algae on the sidewalk and driveway. No black speckles .either
 

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Sometimes they just get worn out. But I had a problem when my chemical got to thick at the bottom.
 
Pat Norman said:
Answer these questions and we'll try to help. This is All relevant.
1) What GPM is your pump rated?

2) What # is stamped on your injector like 2.1 KOmm or 2.2mm or maybe something else?

3) How much hose are you running?

4) What GPM rating is stamped on your trigger gun?

5) What size orifice (not fan degree) spray nozzle are you using?
Click to expand...


1) 4 GPM

2) No clue. I'll check in the morning. It's just the siphon tube that came with the unit

3) 100 ft

4) I'll check in the morning, but again, it's the gun that came with the unit

5) Orifice is whatever the black applicator nozzle is.

Ralph said:
Ball stuck in o-ring
too much back pressure for injector size, could be too long of a hose, go one orifice size lower
debris in orifice or hose
injector installed backwards
gun rated too low, should be at least 12 gpm
faulty injector, replace
Click to expand...

I checked the ball by sticking a wire into it. Then tested it and it worked fine. Dunno. Just confused why it works sometimes and not others.
 
You definitely can't downstream with a 4gpm pump using a 4gpm orifice. With a 4 GPM pump I would think a jrod with a set of 20 GPM nozzles would be good for soaping. I'll let someone who uses 4gpm chime in though. Gun ratings isn't as important at 4gpm.
 
I am not sure how old it is but make sure you rise it out good every time. If not it just wont last long at all. 1months I getting about 8months out of them. Also use a 2.3 for 5 to6 gpm. 2.1 for 4gpm
Again make sure your mix is not thick. When you stir it in the moring check it to see if its thick.
Try mixing some fresh chem in a 5gal bucket. Also blow thru your chem line and don't use a filter just make one out of pvc
 
Get rid of the black soap tip and get a 0040 --- go to Bob web site he sells a 4 shooter that will work just match your machine gpm. Run a open gun and use a ball valve = Go to a round table make friends who has been doing it for 6-8years and ask questions.
 
Get rid of the black soap nozzles, most are too large and you are wasting a lot of soap and the different manufacturers are not consistent, I have 5 or 6 from different companies and they are all different size orifices and spray patterns. I use the size 40 and 50 orifice for applying soap and also rinsing as I like to rinse with very low pressure but high volume which means I have to take the soap hose out of the bucket and I put into a bucket of water which keeps the injector rinsed all the time.

Have you looked in the bucket/tank where your injector hose is and actually seen if the end of the hose is below the liquid level? A lot of times it will curl up and start to float which will cause problems like you mentioned. I get some 3/4" pvc pipe and slide it over the hose and let it stick out a few inches at the bottom so the pipe holds it down at the bottom of the bucket so I know it is down there and not floating sucking air.

What brand of injector are you using? Most out there are not consistent quality and can go bad in a moment's notice.
 
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