Low Pressure Cat 310

[864real]

Don't have a spare regulator. With the bay gun trigger pulled, i set the pressure to 1000 and when trigger released it goes to 1300+. So the pump can make pressure when bay in use. I just wouldn't think that regulator should fluctuate that much when in use or not. Other bays don't vary.

Have not swapped the lines between bays yet.

 

[2Biz]

The high pressure differential is the tell tale sign the regulator is failing. The plunger is sticking between full bypass and when trigger is pulled that causes the spike in pressure. Time to either take it apart and see if it can be repaired/cleaned/oiled or replace it. They arn't that expensive. A regulator is a wear item you might consider keeping in stock. When you take it apart, there will be spring washers inside that are steel and tend to rust/corrode and don't allow the regulator to bypass correctly. See post #11

 

[Randy]

Yes, swapped tips between 2 bays and same pressure issues. I've order 2506 tips but don't have yet. Currently has 4008 tips.

WOW! a 4008 nozzle! Even a 2506 is to big, we want the customer to get the sensation that they are getting a lot of pressure. We use a 1505 and don't have any pressure problems. The customers love the high pressure that they think they are getting. We get comments regularly about how much more pressure we are delivering.
Order one of these regulators https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-5511-kleen-rite-nickel-plated-adjustable-pressure-regulator.aspx It's always good to have a few spare parts.

 

[864real]

Perfect. I was leaning regulator but wasn't sure. Have one ordered. Yeah only had wash for 3 weeks and trying to fix all the things. I thought a 4008 nozzle was huge based on what everyone is saying.

With the 1505 tips, what PSI you running?

 

[2Biz]

I was leaning regulator but wasn't sure.

"The high pressure differential is the tell tale sign the regulator is failing. The plunger is sticking between full bypass and when trigger is pulled that causes the spike in pressure. Time to either take it apart and see if it can be repaired/cleaned/oiled or replace it. They arn't that expensive. A regulator is a wear item you might consider keeping in stock. When you take it apart, there will be spring washers inside that are steel and tend to rust/corrode and don't allow the regulator to bypass correctly. See post #11"

Are you not seeing my posts?

 

[Randy]

Are you not seeing my posts?

Do what 2Biz has told you. Replace the regulator as soon as you get your new one. Dissemble the old one, clean all the spring washes, grease the spring washes as you reassemble it. When i do that I reinstall them and adjust the pressure, take it odd then put it on the shelf as a spare. You've gotten some really good information here.
I run my guns at around 1400-1500 psi

 

[864real]

2Biz, Yes i am, why ordered one. Thank you for the confirmation.

Was talking about when initially starting to diagnose what could be the cause, not today as I have one on order and being shipped in.


Oh and by the way, Checked out your Facebook page earlier and enjoyed the behind the scene photos you had of your setup and changes you made. Did you machine the aluminum mounting blocks you use? They looked great. Ones particularly interested in were the ones you used on the vacs for your timers but saw a lot in your pump setups too.

 

[MEP001]

I'm 99% sure it's the oversize tip. Paraplate regulators don't go bad without leaking water from the weep hole, nor do they go bad without having been leaking for a while.

You said there are no check valves at the boom. Do you have tire cleaner or presoak? If you do, there are absolutely check valves up there somewhere.

 

[2Biz]

I'm 99% sure it's the oversize tip. Paraplate regulators don't go bad without leaking water from the weep hole, nor do they go bad without having been leaking for a while.

Hmmm...Good points, except the OP said the pressure in the other bays don't vary in bypass...

Oh and by the way, Checked out your Facebook page earlier and enjoyed the behind the scene photos you had of your setup and changes you made. Did you machine the aluminum mounting blocks you use? They looked great. Ones particularly interested in were the ones you used on the vacs for your timers but saw a lot in your pump setups too.

Yes, I did all the designing and machining for everything you saw in the photos. I also machined the timer cutouts in the vac faceplates for the Dixmor LED 7's....You can't buy them with the cutout for the timer for the old Doyle Vacs. As you can see, there isn't that much room in there, so it is pretty much a custom installation! If I remember right, the hold down holes were already in the faceplate...I had to offset the steps in the aluminum blocks to use the holes. It helps to have a Bridgeport in my garage and 43 years experience in Manufacturing/Machining!

 

[2Biz]

You said there are no check valves at the boom. Do you have tire cleaner or presoak? If you do, there are absolutely check valves up there somewhere.

I don't have ANY CV's on my PS!

 

[MEP001]

I don't have ANY CV's on my PS!

'Cause you have it on a separate gun.

 

[MEP001]

It helps to have a Bridgeport in my garage and 43 years experience in Manufacturing/Machining!

You don't happen to have a lathe, do you?

 

[864real]

There is no presoak, but there is tire cleaner. So there is a splitter or something at the boom, and check valve between the high pressure pump and the tire cleaner since it's low pressure? If that was bad, would the pressure blow back into the tire cleaner? Since that is low pressure hose assume it would blow the lines and couplings.

 

[2Biz]

You don't happen to have a lathe, do you?

Yes...

 

[Roz]

So we have a bay that started to have the same issue. Preset to 1400psi which it gets to consistently but drops to 600psi when wand handle pulled. Changed all components in the bay and the regulator with new parts. Parts are seven years old and the bay is the most used one out of 5 SS bays. Issue has not been fixed. Going to attach a hose directly to the pump in the ER to see if issue is with the pump or in the troth. Will try to swap two bays next to see if problem moves.

 

[MEP001]

There is no presoak, but there is tire cleaner. So there is a splitter or something at the boom, and check valve between the high pressure pump and the tire cleaner since it's low pressure? If that was bad, would the pressure blow back into the tire cleaner? Since that is low pressure hose assume it would blow the lines and couplings.

It may or may not blow lines. A lot of older washes have a Procon pump and no check valve between the solenoids and the tank, so there's nothing to build up pressure and blow the lines. If your tire cleaner comes out of the same wand as the high pressure, there is a check valve somewhere.

 

[MEP001]

So we have a bay that started to have the same issue.

What is the check valve next to the Paraplate regulator for?

 

[864real]

Got new regulator installed and all working as expected. Seal kit fixed low pressure and regulator fixed the large pressure drop when in use. Thanks to everyone and learned a lot along the way.

 

[Randy]

Got new regulator installed and all working as expected. Seal kit fixed low pressure and regulator fixed the large pressure drop when in use. Thanks to everyone and learned a lot along the way.

Good deal, glad you came back with what it took to fix the problem.