Foam brush Setup

[sparkey]

I recently purchased a wash that has mostly liquid coming from the foam brush and hardly any foam. I am going to make some foamers to try to get a little more show. I noticed that they have the foam air tee'd in before it leaves the equipment room where I am used to seeing it tee'd together at the boom. Could this be a lot of my problem?

 

[Jeff_L]

Mine tee at above the bay, right before the boom. I assumed this prevented the foam from breaking down before it got to the brush. However, some other owners have the flames in the equipment room like you, and have no issues. I've actually thought about moving my pine in as well, less trips to the attic for a repair.

I'd first check your recipe before you move everything. Check the output side of your former, foam there? Water soft? Getting air to the foamer? Soap too diluted?

Just my thoughts.

 

[Earl Weiss]

See this with explanation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlRMAQnwIPw

I think T in equip room may let foam die before it reaches the bay. AFAIAC no foamers needed per video.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

See this with explanation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlRMAQnwIPw

I think T in equip room may let foam die before it reaches the bay. AFAIAC no foamers needed per video.

Thanks for posting that video Earl. After watching that - I need to do some fine tuning on my setup. My tire cleaner I think has too much air and comes out in less quantity and sputters.

My foam is way less foamy with less coverage than yours.

I'm using Blendco on both - could it be the chemical itself or the air/chem psi settings? IIRC they are at 50psi across the board.

 

[mrfixit]

Mine is T'd in the equipment room. Simple setup off flow jet. When the pressures adjusted right the foam is rich and plentiful to 3bays through 3/8 poly to the boom. It may be out of the norm but my system, the way it is, works best at about 80psi Chem, 76psi air while running. The flow jet pumps every 3 seconds. No other foamers, the t is directly after the flow jet. The output comes off the side of the 1/4" solenoid block 1/4" line and T, so the air and Chem are opposing, then converts to 3/8, then weep is T'd in also. That's the way it was set up originally and it's worked fine.

Sounds like you need more air pressure is all. Oh also the foam is a little heavier than earls video. Nothing but air.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I'm using Blendco on both - could it be the chemical itself or the air/chem psi settings? IIRC they are at 50psi across the board.

1. Could be the chemical. Adjust concentration, BUT
2. Contrary to what Mr. Fixit says, I think less is more. But all this can be affected by the setup. (Where T is, 3/8 vs 1/4 etc. ) If you try to put too much solution and air thru the line and hole it will Kill the foam. I would keep 50 PSI on the liquid / flo jet. and start at 10 PSI on the air. Increase air in 5 PSI increments. You will need to perhaps wait 30 seconds or more to see what happens at the bay.

 

[sparkey]

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like my setup should work teed together in the equipment room. It has 3/8 poly lines for air and liquid, going across the equipment room and it tees together just before it leaves the equipment room where it turns into 3/8 rubber hose. It has a bigger diaphragm pump that doesn't seem to pump the best, which I am going to replace with a flojet pump this weekend. I may also bump the tip up a size and see what happens.

 

[2Biz]

JMHO...I think you may be trying to push foam too far thru too small of hose. My old setup consisted of PVC foamers in the Er with air and chemical tee'd in just ahead of the foamers. The hose that went to the bays was 3/4" ID hose. It actually worked quite well and delivered foam amazingly fast to the bays.

A few years ago, I changed it all out and added new foamers above the bays. I tee'd air and chemical in ahead of the foamer. The reason I did it this way was to help with winterizing since I have a blowdown/washer fluid injection system. It wouldn't work with the old set up. No more methanol soap, Yea!

 

[2Biz]

Here is a great thread on different foam brush setups including lots of documented testing. Might be worth the read.

http://www.autocareforum.com/showthread.php?9947-Foam-brush-plumbing-Attn-2Biz&highlight=foam

 

[mrfixit]

I'm getting a substantial amount of foam, almost too much, and it's 3/8 poly all the way to the boom. Just air T'd below the flojet. It only takes about 5 seconds to reach rich foaming at the brush... It was built this way originally, and if it works great I have no need to change it. I always hear lower psi is better, just not for me the way it's set up. 40psi doesn't keep consistent amount of foam to all three bays at the same time. Your wash may be different.

If your foam brush soap is too weak obviously it won't foam as much.. You may want to do as I did and check the dilution in the mixing tank. If it doesn't feel slippery between your fingers it's not strong enough. Lubricity is what you want for brushes to avoid scratches. Make sure you have enough concentration for Lubricity.

Play with your air pressure till it's foams properly. A flojet pump every three seconds with one brush running provides me the best output.

Oh if your getting liquid your pump is pumping stronger than the air pressure coming into the line. More air to slow the pump. Mine is opposing which may be the key

Solution - v - Air
................ |
............. Foam

 

[Earl Weiss]

Oh if your getting liquid your pump is pumping stronger than the air pressure coming into the line. More air to slow the pump. Mine is opposing which may be the key

I think you are exactly correct. Air pressure is slowing pump. Normally I would say let pump work less hard and reduce pressure to both. But perhaps the Higher pressure is what makes your setup deliver properly so I agree it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[sparkey]

I did get my foam looking a little better. I think my main issue was the air for the air injection was way to high. I also replaced my big diaphragm pump with a flojet which I like way better than the bigger pumps.