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Are FLOJET pumps terrible?

J

Jimmy Buffett

Active member
I have never had an air operated Flowjet pump before I put in a cta about 4 months ago. The first one lasted 2 months and the second lasted 1 month. Is it possible that I'm doing something to cause this? I can't imagine what it could be since I have not really done anything. They just hook up and run on the air pressure. Anybody else have similar problems?
Thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The pumps come in two different flavors. one has a santoprene diaphram, and the other is made of viton which is more resistant to harsh chemicals. More than likely you have the santoprene ones.
 
mac said:
The pumps come in two different flavors. one has a santoprene diaphram, and the other is made of viton which is more resistant to harsh chemicals. More than likely you have the santoprene ones.
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I agree with Mac, I experienced the same thing with our tire cleaners in the self serve bays and switched to the viton seals which I haven't had a problem with yet.
 
I have the Viton. I called the guy at KR and he suggested an in line water separater. He also thought the santoprene would work with the tire chemical. He said that if it dries out it may well work again.
 
What air pressure are you running? Mine are santoprenes pumping tire cleaner and FB soap and set @ 60psi...
 
Which flojet pump are you using? I have had very few problems with the G57 compared to the smaller flojets. Flojets need dry air and if you have moisture in your air feeding the pumps they will not work well.
 
The g57 viton is what I have had. The guy at KR said the santoprene would work with that chemical so I ordered 1 of those and the drier. Together they cost about what the viton cost.
I've had it at about 45lbs.
 
What syptoms are you having? I had one that stopped working because the exhaust filter had plugged up. If the air cannot flow thru the pump it will not work. Simply removing the exhaust took care of the problem.
 
It just quit pumping. I had my guy at the wash take it off and put it out into the sun. I'll check the exhaust when I get there later this afternoon.
 
We had several flojets fail, we installed inline flojet driers inline right before the flojets, and an automatic blow out on the bottom of the air compreser tank this slowed down the failures. We didn't feel we could aford the refrigeration air filters, so we installed a radiator type thing in the air line above our air compressor a fan blows through the radiator and cools the air, the moisture then seperates from the air and is collected in an online air filter, we drain it when the site glass shows it needs drained, usually daily. We haven't had a flojet failure since.
 
Almost all flo-jet problems are related to moisture in the air used to power the pump. The other thing that can kill them is too much oil in the air. Do you have an in line air lubricator?
 
No inline lube. We drain the compressor almost every day but that just gets what's in the bottom. If it's just a moisture issue that should fix itself if it has time to dry out, right?
 
Is the pump dead-headed against a solenoid (Pressurized all the time and only pumps when demand is called for)? If so, make sure the regulator is good and the pressure doesn't creep up to 175 psi when sitting idle. That's the fastest way to ruin a FloJet.

Use a piece of clear hose on the outlet of the pump. If the diaphragm ruptures the air will come through the outlet instead of making the pump work. If you're having diaphragm failures, there is a grade up from the viton.
 
How often does your compressor run Jimmy? If the compressor is running a lot and your equipment room has a high level of humidity it could be that you are still getting moisture in your air. With out an after cooler of some kind, the air never gets a chance to cool down and the moisture doesn't condense at the bottom of the tank. It goes out to the pump and sometimes causes the problems you are describing.
 
I don’t understand why everyone keeps fighting the Flo-Jet G57 pumps on the Presoak or Tire Cleaner systems. Why not just replace them with a Procon pump and be done with it. We have 1 Flo-Jet G57 pump at our car washes and they are on the Foam Brush system.
 
No isues with Flo jets

1. I only use Viton
2. On the air line that feeds the flojets I use an airline filter with auto drain from Mc Master Carr with and put it as close as possible to the Flo Jets before the line T's off for the various feeds.
3. I literaly have dozens in operation at the Tunnels and SS. Seem to last for years, and with the tunnels that can easily be 200,000 on/off cycles.
 
Earl Weiss said:
No isues with Flo jets
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Same here.

Earl Weiss said:
1. I only use Viton
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Same here. I could get by with the cheaper one on the foam brush, but that just means keeping two different spares.

Earl Weiss said:
2. On the air line that feeds the flojets I use an airline filter with auto drain from Mc Master Carr with and put it as close as possible to the Flo Jets before the line T's off for the various feeds.
Click to expand...
Same here, except it's at the end of a loop of copper near the compressor. It's set up that any liquid that can condense out before the drain/filter will either run into the filter or back into the compressor tank.

Earl Weiss said:
3. I literaly have dozens in operation at the Tunnels and SS. Seem to last for years, and with the tunnels that can easily be 200,000 on/off cycles.
Click to expand...
I don't have dozens in operation, only 5, but they typically last 3-5 years. They mostly wear out and leak chemical out the exhaust or air into the product; I think out of 10 failed ones in 8 1/2 years only one was from stalling. They stay constantly pressurized.
 
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