I’ve got an older laser 4000 about every 50th vehicle or so it will stop at the corner of the vehicle to turn and it will make its turn and just keep spraying and not move. And it’s random corners, and on random cycles. It could be the pre-soak, high-pressure or spot free rinse. It will stop and make its turn and just stay motionless and keep spraying product for about 30 seconds and then suddenly shut off. Like I say, it’s random and intermittent, had been able to figure it out. Also , the controller does not throw out any fault codes. Wondering if anybody else ever ran into that on a laser 4000.
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Laser 4000 intermittent stopping
- Thread starter Don B.
- Start date
I actually thought about that mid limit sensor. I didn’t know if that would cause that or not but maybe it is. I’ll replace it and check the wiring and flag plate it and see if that helps it. Thanks.
Waxman
Super Moderator
definitely sounds like a Prox switch to me. You just have to figure out which one is losing the signal at that particular point where it stops. I'm not familiar with the laser wash, but on my old machine there was an LED light in the PLC that corresponded to the different Prox switches. If there is one corresponding to the prox in question you have to see if it's lit or not on the wash stops.
Yes, there is indicator lights for the switches.
I’ll check that next time it happens.
Thanks
I’ll check those out.
Thanks
You mentioned that it happens at different corners. Does it just happen at the front driver's side and rear passenger's side or does it also happen at the rear driver's side and front passenger's side?
I ask because if it just happens at the front driver's side and rear passenger's side then you are most likely looking at a bridge motor/gearbox problem. If it's just happening at the front passenger's side and rear driver's side, then it most likely has to do with the trolley motor/gearbox. If it's truly happening at all four then you might want to check the impact switch, system stop relay or the VFD.
I ask because if it just happens at the front driver's side and rear passenger's side then you are most likely looking at a bridge motor/gearbox problem. If it's just happening at the front passenger's side and rear driver's side, then it most likely has to do with the trolley motor/gearbox. If it's truly happening at all four then you might want to check the impact switch, system stop relay or the VFD.
Honestly, at one time or another it has happened at all four corners. In fact, it used to do it about once every six months. I’d reset it and it was fine again for six months. So I didn’t look into it too hard. But now it’s doing it more often, although it hasn’t done it since I made this post so I haven’t been able to check some these things yet. That’s a lot of good suggestions. I’ll troubleshoot these things. Thanks.
Well, right after I posted this, I start having another problem where the spray arm would stop and turn just past the mid limit switch and run into the side of the vehicle as it was going to the front on the passenger side. So I checked the mid limit switch and I noticed the indicator light on the switch was very dim when it was activated, so I went ahead and replaced it. The indicator light on the new switch was very bright. It’s only been a few days ago so not sure if that fixed it yet or not.
Hopefully it did.
Hopefully it did.
One other thing comes to mind. Right side top rollers control dimension to prox. They get wore and dimension between prox and flag varies pass to pass. This one is tough to diagnose but pretty easy to change out whole set of rollers and readjust prox distances. I would also look at festoon cable and festoon rollers since they are notorious for intermittent problems.
Yes, worn rollers can create a problem as it passes the flag. I have replaced them a few times over the years, but I haven’t checked them lately. The first festoon cable was replaced about five years ago. The first one lasted 18 years, although I had to switch out extra pairs a few times. My machine is 23 years old. I went ahead and replaced the mid limit prod switch. When I checked the old switch, I noticed the indicator light on it was very dim. You could barely see it. It’s been 10 days and it has not faulted out yet. No stopping at corners or stopping midway and running into vehicle. It was doing about every 3-5 days. It appears that the new switch has fixed it. I never imagined that the mid limit prox switch could cause it to mess up at the corners. I’ll feel more comfortable in another week or so. Thanks for the suggestions!
