Unloader Replacement Help

[Car Washer]

I am troubleshooting a drop in pressure on a 5cp2102W Cat Pump. Without the trigger pulled the PSI is 1500 and drops to 700 when pulled. I have checked the valves and just rebuilt the head. I have also replaced the nozzle tip in the bay. From what I have read...if that did not solve it it may be the Unloader. Can anyone recommend the right replacement for the setup I have? Finally learning to work on things myself and any help would be appreciated.

 

[OurTown]

We do not use unloaders but use regulators. The original regulators were Para Plate BR5-2 which lasted a long time. They sell a rebuild kit for cheap but we found that the chrome plating wears off the brass body on the inside and wears out the o-rings quickly after that. Based on a suggestion from MEP a few years ago we have been using the 555 series SMC regulators with so far pretty good luck. They are half the price of the Para Plate regulators.



https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-16...or-750-2000psi-5gpm-3-8-inlet-1-4-outlet.aspx

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-17...gulator-with-buna-n-seals-2000-psi-7-gpm.aspx

 

[Car Washer]

We do not use unloaders but use regulators. The original regulators were Para Plate BR5-2 which lasted a long time. They sell a rebuild kit for cheap but we found that the chrome plating wears off the brass body on the inside and wears out the o-rings quickly after that. Based on a suggestion from MEP a few years ago we have been using the 555 series SMC regulators with so far pretty good luck. They are half the price of the Para Plate regulators.



https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-16...or-750-2000psi-5gpm-3-8-inlet-1-4-outlet.aspx

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-17...gulator-with-buna-n-seals-2000-psi-7-gpm.aspx

Thank you! When swapping from the unloader to a regulator is the hook up the same? It looks like I have a hose coming in to the back side of the unloader and one on top. Looking at the 555 regulator pic it looks like only one connection for hose.

 

[OurTown]

Thank you! When swapping from the unloader to a regulator is the hook up the same? It looks like I have a hose coming in to the back side of the unloader and one on top. Looking at the 555 regulator pic it looks like only one connection for hose.

It has two, one coming in on the side of it which would be connected to the output high pressure side of your pump head and one coming out the bottom returning to the inlet/suction side of the pump.

 

[Car Washer]

Thanks again. Looking at the 555 it hooks to the high pressure side horizontally to the pump, and the black hose (water coming in) that is going to the unloader now goes to the inlet side of the 555 and my white hose, water coming out, of the top of the unloader goes to the outlet side of the 555. Is this correct? Black "in" and white "out"?

 

[Randy]

You could replace it with the same unloader https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-46...d-unloader-blue-spring-21-1-gpm-4060-psi.aspx

But before you replace what you have now try taking yours apart and clean it and relube the O rings.

I’ve been using this regulator for years with very little problems. https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-17...balanced-regulator-3-8-npt-2000psi-7-gpm.aspx

 

[Car Washer]

You could replace it with the same unloader https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-46...d-unloader-blue-spring-21-1-gpm-4060-psi.aspx

But before you replace what you have now try taking yours apart and clean it and relube the O rings.

I’ve been using this regulator for years with very little problems. https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-17...balanced-regulator-3-8-npt-2000psi-7-gpm.aspx

Thank you, we will try to clean it out first and then go from there.

 

[Keno]

Thanks again. Looking at the 555 it hooks to the high pressure side horizontally to the pump, and the black hose (water coming in) that is going to the unloader now goes to the inlet side of the 555 and my white hose, water coming out, of the top of the unloader goes to the outlet side of the 555. Is this correct? Black "in" and white "out"?

You will need to re-plumb a little bit to use the smc 555 regulator. The 555 are good regulators to use and worth the little time and $ it will take to re-plumb. You will have to add a tee to your outlet of your pump once you remove your unloader. The black hose will go to one port of the tee and the inlet of the 555 will go to the other port of the tee. Outlet of the 555 will be your white hose. Pretty easy as long as you have all the brass fittings on hand.