Flojet air pump signs of going bad

[stampedecarwash]

Hi all, when is the time to change these flojet pumps( pic attached). This one leaks air from the hole in its button sometimes. Or after working for few minutes the sound of it changes… i know its a rather cheap part and easy yo change but wanted to see your experiences please.

 

[kentadel]

I would be more concerned about the water leaking than the sound changing. Water is not good. Mine will pump loudly and then hesitate, and pump quietly, on occasion. They all last a couple years min. Keep the moisture out of the air lines and carry a spare!

 

[Earl Weiss]

and carry a spare!

2 Spares. Order more when you use the first spare - Cheap Insurance

 

[Rudy]

I made an air dryer for my air compressor, and haven't changed out a FloJet since.......

 

[OurTown]

I made an air dryer for my air compressor, and haven't changed out a FloJet since.......

How did you make one? We installed a refrigerated dryer recently on our remodel so hopefully pneumatic parts last longer.

 

[Keno]

I made an air dryer for my air compressor, and haven't changed out a FloJet since.......

Also interested in how you made one

 

[stampedecarwash]

Thanks all, created a little procedure to how to change these pumps:

Flojet pump change: (foam brush, tripleshine, presoak, tireCleaner)

Step 1: empty foam brush hydrominder tank

Step 2: shut off air regulator to the pump

Step 3: run a bay foam-brush(or whichever function changing pump for) to empty the line completely and product pressure goes to zero

Step 4: un click the 3 input lines in the button: air, chemical in, chemical out

Step 5: unscrew the pump from the wall and remove the lines from the button of the pump, and the pump itself

Step 6: with the new pump, add the 3 lines in the button, and screw the new pump to the wall

Step7: add chemical to foam brush hydrominder and turn on the air regulator to desired pressure

Step8: test the foam brush in all bays

 

[OurTown]

I'm not sure how your set up is but you shouldn't need to drain the tank. If your pump is below the liquid level and is therefore gravity feeding it then install a shut off valve so you can remove the pump without the tank draining.

 

[Rudy]

I should have kept my opinion to myself. Within 2 hours of posting, my FloJet quit after over 10 years of service. Ha. That thing doesn't owe me a dime.

Anyway...

I purchased a transmission oil cooler, and mounted it on the air compressor. I route the hot compressed air into the top of the cooler, and run the bottom (output) into a self dumping water trap. I have an electrical fan draw ambient air across the cooler whenever the compressor is running.

This causes the hot, moist, compressed air to cool, which in turn causes the moisture to condense. The cool, dry air is then routed into the tank.

I haven't had a single issue since installing.

My ARO pneumatic pumps run without freezing up now.

I'll try to upload some pictures soon.

 

[Rudy]

 

[Rudy]

FYI, these are old pictures. The solid copper lines have been replaced with flexible lines. The hard copper caused the cooler joints to fail. Flexible lines don't transmit vibrations.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Thanks all, created a little procedure to how to change these pumps:


Step 2: shut off air regulator to the pump

My flojets have a check valve that is part of the brass fitting that clips in to the pump. They can go bad and you have to be careful about that but once you un clip it shuts off air, So with a valve for the liquid supply we just close that, unclip all 3 hoses from the old Pump, attach the new pump, open that valve and we are back in operation and then un mount old, and re mount new. So, old is out and new is in and operating - well under 30 seconds - could be under 10 seconds if nothing is stuck or hard to get to.

 

[Greg Pack]

I put a Ingersoll Rand refrigerated dryer (about 1K) on my lines to protect some expensive SMC air cards on an IBA, but Flojets definitely benefited, Even with multiple moisture traps I was getting maybe six months out of flojets. I think I have changed one out in three years. Also air cylinders on my water wizard are lasting a lot longer. Not saying the math works out considering energy usage but it's nice having dry air and make the site more reliable.

 

[Randy]

Thanks all, created a little procedure to how to change these pumps:

Flojet pump change: (foam brush, tripleshine, presoak, tireCleaner)

Step 1: empty foam brush hydrominder tank

Step 2: shut off air regulator to the pump

Step 3: run a bay foam-brush(or whichever function changing pump for) to empty the line completely and product pressure goes to zero

Step 4: un click the 3 input lines in the button: air, chemical in, chemical out

Step 5: unscrew the pump from the wall and remove the lines from the button of the pump, and the pump itself

Step 6: with the new pump, add the 3 lines in the button, and screw the new pump to the wall

Step7: add chemical to foam brush hydrominder and turn on the air regulator to desired pressure

Step8: test the foam brush in all bays

It takes me about 2 minutes to change a Flo Jet pump. I have a ball valve on my chemical tank that I close and a ball valve on my air supply to the pump that I close and the Flo Jet pump is mounted on a quick change bracket. https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-2092-flojet-fpk209821-mounting-bracket.aspx like this one. I don't have any moisture separators on my air supply to my only Flo Jet pump and they last a long time, years.