New to self serve

[Xlr8danno]

So I am new to the carwash world as I just purchased a 2 self serve bay just a week ago. I am a master plumber so I do know my way around most of the piping.
One of my bays the only cycle that works is the high pressure soap. I cleaned the solenoid and still cannot get anything but soap on the high cycle. I am using an old futura ssa system.
I’m I also cannot get spot free to kick in on either bay. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Eric H]

One of my bays the only cycle that works is the high pressure soap. I cleaned the solenoid and still cannot get anything but soap on the high cycle.

Do you mean that the only function that works is the HP soap OR that all of the functions have soap and you cant get the solenoid to close?

 

[Xlr8danno]

All the high pressure cycles have soapy water.

 

[Eric H]

Assuming you have the correct NC (normally closed) solenoid...I'd get out your voltmeter and make sure the solenoid isn't getting 24vac all of the time. Or, you could just pull the leads off of the valve to insure that it isn't getting power.
If it isn't setting some stray voltage i'd be willing to bet it is one of 3 possible issues.
1 The rubber on the plunger has hardened or possibly been deformed by a foreign object and cannot make a good seal.
2 The spring on the plunger has been compressed and will not push the plunger down with enough force to make a good seal. I've had some success with stretching the spring a little to give it a little more pressure.
3 The valve has corroded and groove has been made in the seat so that the plunger will never seal.

 

[JMMUSTANG]

Introduce yourself and open up an account to Kleenrite Corp. There are others but they are one of the best.
Lookup normally closed solenoid. Order the one you need and you will have it in a few days.
They have everything you should need for your wash.

 

[MEP001]

If you think you'll be ordering a lot of small parts to get up and running, consider using carwashsuperstore.com. For $99 all your shipping is prepaid for a year.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

If you think you'll be ordering a lot of small parts to get up and running, consider using carwashsuperstore.com. For $99 all your shipping is prepaid for a year.

Is my go to store now and customer service is superb I agree

 

[Xlr8danno]

If you think you'll be ordering a lot of small parts to get up and running, consider using carwashsuperstore.com. For $99 all your shipping is prepaid for a year.

It’s an operational car wash now. I don’t see why I would order a lot of small parts. Many of the standard plumbing fittings I stock. But really, this seems like a pretty simple system. I could be way wrong also.

 

[Xlr8danno]

Introduce yourself and open up an account to Kleenrite Corp. There are others but they are one of the best.
Lookup normally closed solenoid. Order the one you need and you will have it in a few days.
They have everything you should need for your wash.

Thank you

 

[Xlr8danno]

Assuming you have the correct NC (normally closed) solenoid...I'd get out your voltmeter and make sure the solenoid isn't getting 24vac all of the time. Or, you could just pull the leads off of the valve to insure that it isn't getting power.
If it isn't setting some stray voltage i'd be willing to bet it is one of 3 possible issues.
1 The rubber on the plunger has hardened or possibly been deformed by a foreign object and cannot make a good seal.
2 The spring on the plunger has been compressed and will not push the plunger down with enough force to make a good seal. I've had some success with stretching the spring a little to give it a little more pressure.
3 The valve has corroded and groove has been made in the seat so that the plunger will never seal.

This is the valve style currently in place. The other bay seems to work fine. I pulled these sms cleaned them but it doesn’t mean they are good. So I should have 24v only when running soap cycle? I can test tomorrow. Thanks.

 

[Eric H]

So I should have 24v only when running soap cycle? I can test tomorrow. Thanks.

yes , 24vac only when running. the top of the valve will also be magnetized when power is applied. you can touch the end of a screwdriver to the top of the solenoid and feel a slight magnetic pull.
Is the valve with the issue the one that is orientated horizontally? Some solenoids only work properly when orientated near vertical. In any case it would probably be "best practice" to add a elbow and get that valve vertical.

 

[Eric H]

This is what I mentioned about deep grooving in the rubber seat on the plunger. This Dema valve wasn’t opening on my clear coat solenoid. I’m not sure if it was the seat that was the issue or a worn/weak spring but a rebuild kit solved the issue.

 

[MEP001]

This Dema valve wasn’t opening on my clear coat solenoid.

It's probably because the seal was too worn down or compressed and the plunger was too far from the coil for it to pull it up. I've had that happen with the Kip solenoids where the plunger seal had swelled to the point it wouldn't open, so I shaved it off with a razor blade, then it would only open if I whacked the stem.

 

[Nuphoenix]

View attachment 2458
This is the valve style currently in place. The other bay seems to work fine. I pulled these sms cleaned them but it doesn’t mean they are good. So I should have 24v only when running soap cycle? I can test tomorrow. Thanks.

Wow, I thought my stuff looked bad. Lots of corrosion there. Be better off replacing those valves.

 

[Xlr8danno]

So last night for some reason everything worked. Now this afternoon the soap cycle stayed on in my #1 bay. And for some reason bay #2 started pulsating and I only get 600psi. I had 1400psi roughly yesterday. The pump is only a week old.

 

[Nuphoenix]

Do you have slime in your soap tank? What are you using for a pressure regulator? Is water backing up to your soap tank?

 

[MEP001]

So last night for some reason everything worked. Now this afternoon the soap cycle stayed on in my #1 bay.

There's probably something wrong with the solenoid. Have you checked the voltage when it's not working?

And for some reason bay #2 started pulsating and I only get 600psi. I had 1400psi roughly yesterday. The pump is only a week old.

There's a good chance some debris has gotten into one of the valves. It could also be getting air from a leak in the inlet plumbing.