Problem of the week...not getting wax from the tank to the pump

[Car Washer]

So to start, the wax was not getting to the bays. It was backflowing back into the drum. We changed the hydro minder and it did it again, wasting two total drums of wax. Then we checked the flow from the bottom of the tank and it started drawing from the drum to the tank properly. The problem now is we can't get from the tank to the pump. All lines are dry from the tank to the pump. I have looked at all the lines and can't find the issue. Foot valves are good and clear. Just can't figure it out. I know pictures would help and I can get them to you later, I just don't have at the moment, spent four hours fixing vacuums and gave up, it had been a long day. I did at least get the vacuum fixed!

 

[Greg Pack]

First make sure that the wax solenoid is indeed on by holding a micro screwdriver to the solenoid while on and you should feel a very slight amount of magnetism.. I'm assuming since you have a problem in all bays that they are hooked up and work correctly but this takes five seconds to ensure your problem is not electrical in nature before you start taking stuff apart.

Sometimes in slow or closed down car washes the chemical lines that feed to the pump can get clogged. The easy hack is to attempt to suck the crap out of the lines by having someone in the bay hold the trigger down with the wax function on. Go to the pump stand and find the ball valve that controls the flow of water to that pump. When you close that valve off you will create additional suction on the wax line that can possibly clear the lines. Close the valve until the pump gets really noisy and leave it there for about ten seconds. Don't leave it like that for very long because the pump seals can be damaged if they overheat. Then, open the ball valve up until the pumps gets good flow and the excessive noise goes away. Go to teh bay and see if you can tell if the wax is flowing.

Another problem is that wax products can cause certain solenoid plunger seats to swell shut and not allow flow. Find the wax solenoid for a particular bay and disassemble the solenoid. You can compare to a known good solenoid plunger from a soap solenoid to see if that is a difference. If the seat is swollen, you can take a fresh, sharp razor blade and shave the material flush. Reassemble and again you may have to try sucking the goo as described above to clear the lines.

 

[Car Washer]

First make sure that the wax solenoid is indeed on by holding a micro screwdriver to the solenoid while on and you should feel a very slight amount of magnetism.. I'm assuming since you have a problem in all bays that they are hooked up and work correctly but this takes five seconds to ensure your problem is not electrical in nature before you start taking stuff apart.

Sometimes in slow or closed down car washes the chemical lines that feed to the pump can get clogged. The easy hack is to attempt to suck the crap out of the lines by having someone in the bay hold the trigger down with the wax function on. Go to the pump stand and find the ball valve that controls the flow of water to that pump. When you close that valve off you will create additional suction on the wax line that can possibly clear the lines. Close the valve until the pump gets really noisy and leave it there for about ten seconds. Don't leave it like that for very long because the pump seals can be damaged if they overheat. Then, open the ball valve up until the pumps gets good flow and the excessive noise goes away. Go to teh bay and see if you can tell if the wax is flowing.

Another problem is that wax products can cause certain solenoid plunger seats to swell shut and not allow flow. Find the wax solenoid for a particular bay and disassemble the solenoid. You can compare to a known good solenoid plunger from a soap solenoid to see if that is a difference. If the seat is swollen, you can take a fresh, sharp razor blade and shave the material flush. Reassemble and again you may have to try sucking the goo as described above to clear the lines.

Thank you for the detailed response. Ill try all of that.

 

[Dan kamsickas]

It was backflowing back into the drum.

You have a syphon that is diluting the chemical. You need to put an 1/8" hole in the discharge tube from the Hydrominder. Put it halfway between the bottom of the eductor body on the Hydrominder and the top of the liquid in the wax tank.

 

[2Biz]

Once you have the 1/8" "Anti-syphon" hole drilled, I bet you'll find the foot valve also needs replaced....If the FV is bad, air will form at the top of the pickup hose from the drum which will continue to dilute the mixture in the hydrominder tank.