Car Wash Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
Pulsating high pressure
- Thread starter Joswhaha
- Start date
Should I order some kind of rebuild kit before I take this think apart? I just noticed it a day or 2 ago and it hasn’t changed as far as I can tell.
So I took the valves out of this pump and checked everything. One valve had some metal shavings in it and I assume that isn’t good. I cleaned them up and there is not change in the pulsating. I have a few extra pumps, would it be worth having one rebuild to have as a spare for when these go out.
MEP001
Well-known member
They aren't hard to rebuild, but it's definitely a good idea to have a rebuilt backup. I don't change out the whole pump, I keep a manifold plumbed with unions ready to swap out, which takes all of five minutes.
Is this pulsating constant, whether the trigger is pulled or not? Or does it pulsate only if the trigger is pulled? Does it pulsate immediately when the trigger is pulled, or does it take a few seconds?
Is this pulsating constant, whether the trigger is pulled or not? Or does it pulsate only if the trigger is pulled? Does it pulsate immediately when the trigger is pulled, or does it take a few seconds?
cantbreak80
Maybe I need new clubs
It might be a caused by an air leak in the plumbing to the pump…like where the soap and wax supply connects to the pump.
Maybe try running the pump after removing and plugging the soap/wax inlet fittings at the pump.
If it now runs smoothly, look for cracked, loose, poorly taped fittings.
Air leaks are sneaky...they may not leak liquid which sometimes make them hard to find.
"Slow to start pumping"...might be a leaking boom swivel. While the bay is idle, the swivel seal relaxes allowing air into the discharge hose.
This condition will drain the hose. When the pump is turned on again it has to fill the entire bay hose before pressure builds.
Maybe try running the pump after removing and plugging the soap/wax inlet fittings at the pump.
If it now runs smoothly, look for cracked, loose, poorly taped fittings.
Air leaks are sneaky...they may not leak liquid which sometimes make them hard to find.
"Slow to start pumping"...might be a leaking boom swivel. While the bay is idle, the swivel seal relaxes allowing air into the discharge hose.
This condition will drain the hose. When the pump is turned on again it has to fill the entire bay hose before pressure builds.
MEP001
Well-known member
In my experience, it's more likely to be a low pressure seal failed. If there's water dripping from under the pump, it's definitely the problem.
Where do you think the metal shavings came from?, I would look into that.
Always keep a new head ready to go.
Cat rebuild. Is this the rebuild kit I should purchase?
The first thing you need to do is to verify that the head is rebuild able. Are you using a 5CP or a 310 pump? Is the head seal seating surfaces washed out or are the valve seating surfaces washed out? What is the condition of the brass seal cases? Are they cupped? If you put a seal kit into a head that’s washed out you’ll be wasting $100, because it’ll last about 15 minutes before it start pulsating again. The head in the attacment is washed out, notice the groove cut in the seating surface.
Attachments
