Flow sensitive unloader
- Thread starter Walter
- Start date
Andrew Phelps
New member
Walter you may want to tell WIZ what pressure you had before these problems occured it will help I'm sure.
Andrew/ Safe Clean
Andrew/ Safe Clean
Hotwaterwizard
Hotsy Service Tech
Sounds like something was installed improperly. If so then you may have dammaged packings or valves or even the plungers. The first thing to check is the hoses for leaks. Then check the high limit saftey valve or pop-off valve. And the inlet water screen.
Pump Dammage Causes
What causes Pump Dammage ?
1) Cavitation. The pump will starve of water and the air in the system will make tiny explosions in the head and will dammage packings, valves and, plungers. Check your filters regularly if you have them.
2) The unloader is set too high. The unloader will spike if set too high. The pressure should be only about 400 psi higher on the spike. When the unloader is set too high it will cause the same dammage as Cavitation.
3) No inlet screen. If you don't have some kind of filter on the input side of the pump trash can get in the pump and do dammage. Sand is the most common thing to find inside of a broken pump.
4) Running the water from the bypass back into the inlet of the pump. The longer you run your machine with out pulling the trigger the hotter the water becomes. This is caused by friction. The Molecules moving in a constant circle builds up heat and will dammage your pump. If you have a tank available Run your bypass into the tank. Also as a general rule If you don't pull the trigger for 3 min or more Shut the machine down to save your pump.
Writen By John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Pump Dammage Causes
What causes Pump Dammage ?
1) Cavitation. The pump will starve of water and the air in the system will make tiny explosions in the head and will dammage packings, valves and, plungers. Check your filters regularly if you have them.
2) The unloader is set too high. The unloader will spike if set too high. The pressure should be only about 400 psi higher on the spike. When the unloader is set too high it will cause the same dammage as Cavitation.
3) No inlet screen. If you don't have some kind of filter on the input side of the pump trash can get in the pump and do dammage. Sand is the most common thing to find inside of a broken pump.
4) Running the water from the bypass back into the inlet of the pump. The longer you run your machine with out pulling the trigger the hotter the water becomes. This is caused by friction. The Molecules moving in a constant circle builds up heat and will dammage your pump. If you have a tank available Run your bypass into the tank. Also as a general rule If you don't pull the trigger for 3 min or more Shut the machine down to save your pump.
Writen By John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Hotwaterwizard
Hotsy Service Tech
10 Things to fix a pump.
Here I am standing in front of my Pressure washer and the stupid thing won't pump water. What do I do?
This question Is the most common question that a new Contract Cleaner will ask.
Hopefully this question will be answered in the following.
#1 Is the water turned on?
Sounds like a stupid question but, people do get in a hurry and forget to turn it on.
#2 Is the soap valve opened?
It should be closed if you are not using soap. It could suck air into the system and you will loose pressure.
#3 Is the water screen clean in the float tank or on the water inlet? Stuff does block the water flow especially the small water hose screens that many manufactures use right at the water connection.
#4 Are all of the hose clamps tight?
Sometimes if the clamps are loose air will get sucked into the water stream and you will loose pressure.
#5 Is the Spray Tip plugged up?
If no water is flowing out at all your tip could be plugged up with something. Remove it and check it for small rocks or anything else that may have got stuck in it.
#6 Is the Pressure Hose vibrating alot?
Sometimes your hose will shake like a vibrator is attached to the other end instead of a pump. This is usually an indication that something is stuck in the valves of the pump. Then you just have to remove the caps on the pump head and remove the valves and check them for debris inspect the orings and put them back in.
#7 Is water running out of the bottom of the pump head?
This means that you need new packings in the pump.
#8 Is water running out of the pop-off safety valve?
You can usually reset it by shutting off the machine then the water and turn the water back on and then start it up again. If it keeps pooping off it can be readjusted if needed. This can also be due to too small of a spray tip on the Trigger gun.
#9 Is the spray tip the right size?
Sometimes when you buy a new spray tip if you put the wrong size on it will cause problems, especially if you have a flow unloader. Too small of a tip can cause the unloader to operate improperly. It will make your pressure go up and down and up and down. It can also make the safety pop-off spew out water from over pressure.
#10 Can you hear the sound change when you pull the trigger on and off?
If your unloader is not working properly the water will stay in bypass and the pump will not build up pressure. On a lock-up or pressure unloader you can usually see the big spring move when you pull the trigger and let off. Sometimes stuff will get stucl in the unloader and it will not operate at all other times you will see water leaking out of it showing you that something is wrong with it and it should be replaced.
by John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Here I am standing in front of my Pressure washer and the stupid thing won't pump water. What do I do?
This question Is the most common question that a new Contract Cleaner will ask.
Hopefully this question will be answered in the following.
#1 Is the water turned on?
Sounds like a stupid question but, people do get in a hurry and forget to turn it on.
#2 Is the soap valve opened?
It should be closed if you are not using soap. It could suck air into the system and you will loose pressure.
#3 Is the water screen clean in the float tank or on the water inlet? Stuff does block the water flow especially the small water hose screens that many manufactures use right at the water connection.
#4 Are all of the hose clamps tight?
Sometimes if the clamps are loose air will get sucked into the water stream and you will loose pressure.
#5 Is the Spray Tip plugged up?
If no water is flowing out at all your tip could be plugged up with something. Remove it and check it for small rocks or anything else that may have got stuck in it.
#6 Is the Pressure Hose vibrating alot?
Sometimes your hose will shake like a vibrator is attached to the other end instead of a pump. This is usually an indication that something is stuck in the valves of the pump. Then you just have to remove the caps on the pump head and remove the valves and check them for debris inspect the orings and put them back in.
#7 Is water running out of the bottom of the pump head?
This means that you need new packings in the pump.
#8 Is water running out of the pop-off safety valve?
You can usually reset it by shutting off the machine then the water and turn the water back on and then start it up again. If it keeps pooping off it can be readjusted if needed. This can also be due to too small of a spray tip on the Trigger gun.
#9 Is the spray tip the right size?
Sometimes when you buy a new spray tip if you put the wrong size on it will cause problems, especially if you have a flow unloader. Too small of a tip can cause the unloader to operate improperly. It will make your pressure go up and down and up and down. It can also make the safety pop-off spew out water from over pressure.
#10 Can you hear the sound change when you pull the trigger on and off?
If your unloader is not working properly the water will stay in bypass and the pump will not build up pressure. On a lock-up or pressure unloader you can usually see the big spring move when you pull the trigger and let off. Sometimes stuff will get stucl in the unloader and it will not operate at all other times you will see water leaking out of it showing you that something is wrong with it and it should be replaced.
by John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)
Great Post John