No high pressure chemicals spraying out

[GiantWash]

High pressure chemicals (soap and wax) are not coming out of the spray gun. Both are gravity fed, mixture in the hydrominer is good since the other 3 bays are working correctly. Prior to this issue the pump was getting starved of inlet water because of electrical issues but chemicals were coming out. Once the water pressure was back to normal on the inlet side then I was having this issue of no chemicals. I reduced the amount of inlet water and chemicals would come out but the pump would pulsate.
I’m trying to figure out what the large cylinder is that the chemical lines are going into and if that would be my issue.
Thanks in advance for any assistance and advice.

 

[MEP001]

It looks like you've put high pressure check valves on the soap and wax lines. They might have too high of a cracking pressure to let soap or wax flow before it's starving the pump for water. You might need a low pressure check valve like this:

Poppet Check Valve, 1/4 In. FxF, Buna-N Seal | SMC | 5140090

Eliminate back flow, maintain constant back-pressure, and prevent system damage from water hammer surges with the SMC 5140090 poppet check valve.

www.kleen-ritecorp.com

 

[GiantWash]

It looks like you've put high pressure check valves on the soap and wax lines. They might have too high of a cracking pressure to let soap or wax flow before it's starving the pump for water. You might need a low pressure check valve like this:

Poppet Check Valve, 1/4 In. FxF, Buna-N Seal | SMC | 5140090

Eliminate back flow, maintain constant back-pressure, and prevent system damage from water hammer surges with the SMC 5140090 poppet check valve.

www.kleen-ritecorp.com

The check valves that I have on the soap/wax have a cracking pressure of 1 PSI.
I've taken those valve off of the pump and tested the kip valve and chemicals came out of the check valves.

Kleen-Rite Check Valves 1/4MxM

Kleen-Rite Check Valves at the Best Prices! Call 800-233-3873!

www.kleen-ritecorp.com

 

[Randy]

That big brass thingy under the rusty “U” Clamp looks to me like a check valve, I could be wrong, it would be the first time this year. Is that regulator on the downstream side of the rusty “U” Clamp?

 

[MEP001]

That big brass thingy under the rusty “U” Clamp looks to me like a check valve, I could be wrong, it would be the first time this year.

It does look like a check valve, but I would have to guess that someone gutted it and tapped the holes

Is that regulator on the downstream side of the rusty “U” Clamp?

It looks like it's upstream, then a hose comes off the end of the big check valve or whatever it is to the pump.

 

[GiantWash]

That big brass thingy under the rusty “U” Clamp looks to me like a check valve, I could be wrong, it would be the first time this year. Is that regulator on the downstream side of the rusty “U” Clamp?

You're the second person that thinks that's a check valve but I'm unable to find anything that large for a replacement.
The regulator is on the downstream side.

 

[GiantWash]

It does look like a check valve, but I would have to guess that someone gutted it and tapped the holes

It looks like it's upstream, then a hose comes off the end of the big check valve or whatever it is to the pump.

Upstream/downstream - I suppose it depends on how you reference it. But you are correct. I have the city water line coming into that regulator then it hits the "check valve" then to the pump.
This set up works on 3 other bays but for some odd reason after rebuilding the pump and fixing an electrical issue has caused the soap/wax to come through

 

[Randy]

What kind of equipment is it? Is the pump fed with city water pressure?

 

[MEP001]

You're the second person that thinks that's a check valve but I'm unable to find anything that large for a replacement.
The regulator is on the downstream side.

I doubt it's a check valve anymore. I suspect someone used it just to join the soap and wax into the water stream.

 

[GiantWash]

What kind of equipment is it? Is the pump fed with city water pressure?

Cat pumps 310S using city water. Gravity fed chemicals from hydrominer tanks.

 

[Randy]

Cat pumps 310S using city water. Gravity fed chemicals from hydrominer tanks.

You might want to check your water regulator. I have the same type system and my hot and cold water regulator is before the DEMA 204C chemical injector. When the regulator goes bad the pump will stave for water.

 

[GiantWash]

You might want to check your water regulator. I have the same type system and my hot and cold water regulator is before the DEMA 204C chemical injector. When the regulator goes bad the pump will stave for water.

With Randy’s great advice, I was able to fix the pulsating issue by replacing my water regulator. Thank you Randy and others that posted.

 

[Twodose]

That "large cylinder" your referring to is a chemical injector that Specialty Carwash Equipment used to manufacture. One wash I owned had specialty equipment, and those injectors, I had one of there old catalogs that I took this picture from.
With that setup you have to starve the pumps a little to make it suck the chemicals into that injector, and that was creating cavitation problems.
I changed to small SS holding tanks, one for each bay, that were mounted on the wall behind the pump stands so they were gravity fed.

 

[Randy]

That "large cylinder" your referring to is a chemical injector that Specialty Carwash Equipment used to manufacture. One wash I owned had specialty equipment, and those injectors, I had one of there old catalogs that I took this picture from.
With that setup you have to starve the pumps a little to make it suck the chemicals into that injector, and that was creating cavitation problems.
I changed to small SS holding tanks, one for each bay, that were mounted on the wall behind the pump stands so they were gravity fed.

That's why you want to use a high flow Generant water regulator and a DEMA 204C injector so you don't have to starve the pump for water.

 

[Twodose]

I had that same setup, dole solenoids, generant regulator, chemical injector. I would definitely get rid of that setup and put in a dema injector, or small holding tanks, the tanks eliminate the need for a regulator on each pump, plus your not starving the pumps all the time, I don't know if you have the same problems I experienced, but I was always adjusting the generant regulators, and the dole solenoids never lasted for a long time before having to replace the stems, or the whole thing, they would crack, leak, or the water would just stop flowing in one side or the other.