Foam Brush / Triple Foam Pumps

[washregal]

Getting a fair amount of what I would call stall with using flo-jet pumps.. When I tap on the pump in operation it will kick on .. a day or two later - it pushes only air out to my bays until I tap on it to kick it over again. Just curious if others might change out to an ARO pump or double diaphragm pump.. would this lessen that problem or make that go away? Any experience using other pumps on air applications over Flojet?

 

[MEP001]

First thing to do is to make sure the air supply is clean and dry. I like to put an oil/water separator at the compressor and have a drip leg off that. I've had no issues with water in the lines with that setup, but others here have had to add a dryer at the pump. A few have a cooler added to the compressor output before the tank with its own separator and drain which seems to be almost as effective as a refrigerated dryer.

ARO and Yamada used to both be excellent pumps, now they're less reliable than a Flojet at three to five times the price. I've had no real problems with Flojet, even with them dead-headed with pressure on them all the time they last no less than three years. Ideally an air control system for them is good both for a longer life of the pump and to protect yourself from losing a bunch of chemical down the drain if a solenoid hangs open.

 

[2Biz]

I agree with Mep...I have flojets on PS, FB, and washer fluid for winterizing LP hoses and can't remember the last time I've replaced one. I do have solenoids on the air supplies for "Cheap Insurance"...I lost a few 5 gallon buckets of chemicals with stuck open solenoids and broken hoses/fittings before I got a little wiser! FWIW...You can't beat a flojet if set up correctly.

 

[MEP001]

But you can beat a Flojet if it's stalling.

 

[Randy]

How old are these Flo-Jet pumps? When they start to stall they are about worn out. I field tested the Flo-Jet pumps for over a year before went into production. We've never used a air filter or moisture separator on any of the Flo-Jet pumps we have in service, we have about 24 online at any given time.

 

[washregal]

Hi Randy - I would say this unit is about a year old - it does get a work out - as I have this pump set up as my change over FB pump. I have the unit set up well - and must admit - I get alot more life out of them as to when I first started in this business 12 yrs ago - always looking for a better solution however. Maybe it is time to just buy a new one. To me though a pump like this should last longer than a year.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I suggest a water separator with auto dump as far from the compressor and close to the pump(s) as possible. Air cools as it expands and it will cool on it's journey from the compressor allowing moisture to condense out.

 

[OurTown]

Do you have a solenoid set up on the air supply to the pump? If you do is there a bleeder hole in between it and the pump? From what I understand it might make the pump last longer. Also how close is your air injection pressure vs air pump supply pressure? If they are kinda close then maybe a pump would start stalling earlier than it should in its life. Maybe they were built a tad better before and these days we have to do these things in order to make them last like they used to.

 

[MEP001]

Another thing that will shorten the life of any air pump is too much pressure. I've seen more than a few setups where there's no individual regulator to the air supply of the Flojet so they're running 100 or more PSI, then they regulate the liquid pressure out. I mentioned to one owner that it's hard on the pumps, he said it must be okay since it was built that way, they must know what they're doing. Meanwhile his high-pressure pumps are all clattering because they're spinning 2 1/2 times faster than they need to and they can't get enough water flow through the plumbing.

 

[bighead]

Try changing just the air supply check valve (the little brass hose barb thingy the air goes into on the pump) its possible just that is bad (or has some debris in it)

The only flojets i've replaced in 10 years were mounted above their supply tank, once i relocated those particular ones to below their supply tank I have had REALLY good luck with them. And i'm in the PNW near the coast, and believe me, i've had some moisture problems in the air supply.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

A year ago I followed Earl’s suggestion and bought the water separator with auto dump that I attached to the air line coming out of the compressor.
I also bought an air line like you use to fill tires that I attached after the separator with an off/on switch.
When I have issues with a flow jet I’ll shut off the air to the flow jet, bleed the air from it and detached the airline to it.
Turn on the air line from the compressor to shoot air into the flow jet where I detached the line for a minute or so several times.
This has worked for me.

 

[2Biz]

Do you have a solenoid set up on the air supply to the pump? If you do is there a bleeder hole in between it and the pump? From what I understand it might make the pump last longer.

Where did you get your information for adding the bleeder hole? I would think it would be just the opposite. Although I have air shut-off Solenoids between the regulators and Flojets….I would never know if air pressure was leaking down! Unless I was there and heard the pump continue to run after a customer switches away from the function.

I don't seem to have problems with Flojets like some operators complain about. If I did have problems, I'd look into how Randy pumps LP and use a Procon pump. That would solve 2 issues, pumps wearing out prematurely and failed (stuck open) solenoids.

 

[OurTown]

Where did you get your information for adding the bleeder hole?

Somewhere on here. The idea is to take the air pressure off the pump when it's not pumping.