Weird Ryko Thrust Pro Dryer Issue

[slash007]

A few days ago I got to my wash and noticed the follower for one of my IBA dryers was down. Usually that means I have an air leak and there is not enough pressure to hold it up. I couldn't find any leaks, so I pushed it up by hand and it clicked on the way up and stayed in position. Worked fine after that for the rest of the day, but then did the same thing the next day. Seems to happen about 1x per day since. What could cause that? Bad mac valve? Thanks.

 

[DiamondWash]

Slash,

More than likely it's a bad mac valve not opening for the Follower raise valve. I soooooo hate those Mac Valves and replacing them, I too have had this problem and it was the Mac Valve.




I didn't say that enough................................................Mac Valve LOL

 

[slash007]

I figured it was the mac valve. It is annoying to change as you have to room other items to get it loose. Starting today the follower won't drop at all now.

 

[DiamondWash]

What do you mean? you are going to keep it raised from now on or it just won't come down? because if it just won't come down then that is a flag problem inside the follower.

 

[slash007]

Well I would find it just all the way down about once per day but it worked fine otherwise (automatically raised/lowered). But today, it just stays up after a wash and won't even drop. Usually that is a stuck flag issue, but with the previous issues of staying down randomly, I'm confused.

 

[DiamondWash]

Replace the Mac Valve for the Follower Raise valve and spray PB Blaster on both flags make sure they both move freely then test the dryer, then go home crack open a beer put your feet up and relax.

 

[Ryko CS]

If it's not dropping, it could also be a photoeye. If the PLC isn't seeing the input, it won't drop the follower to prevent it from falling on the hood or windshield.

 

[slash007]

If it's not dropping, it could also be a photoeye. If the PLC isn't seeing the input, it won't drop the follower to prevent it from falling on the hood or windshield.

I did put some PB Blaster on the flags and got them loose and it's dropping again. Haven't change the mac valve yet though. Where are the photo eyes? I have another bay that the follower wont' drop and oiling the flags didn't help.

 

[Ryko CS]

Photoeyes are usually installed on the dryer legs. The emitter will be mounted about 4' up, and angled downward and across to see receiver which will be mounted low. It's not uncommon for someone to bump them while working on the equipment, or to just be dirty.

 

[DiamondWash]

Do you have the old style Thrust pro with side pluems or the newer style with oscillating side nozzles

 

[slash007]

Must be newer style as they have the oscillating side nozzles. I haven't ever seen any photo eyes on them.

 

[DiamondWash]

Photo eyes are on the old Thrust Pro model you have the newer version without photo eyes so you can eliminate that possibility. When manually testing the dryer can you see the ratchet system working? there are teeth that lift up allowing the dryer to drop then come back down after a few seconds, also I've seen the follower pushed up so hard that the ratchet system won't release to drop the dryer.

 

[slash007]

When it was stuck down, I could hear the ratchet working as I pushed it back up. It's not stuck up anymore after I lubed the flags.

 

[slash007]

The dryer in question wouldn't work after lubing anymore, so I went ahead and replaced the switch the flag is attached to. Works fine now. My issue is my other ThrustPro dryer. I thought it was a flag issue as well so I replaced one, but after it didn't fix the issue, I realized the problem is that the 2nd dryer motor is taking too long to kick on. On my working dryer, the 2nd motor seems to kick on after about 3-4 seconds. On this one, I don't hear it kick on until after about 10 seconds, which is the reason it's not dropping. Is that something that can be adjusted, or an issue somewhere?

 

[DiamondWash]

If I remember correctly the top left fans turn on first which trigger the left flag then that signals the right side fans to kick on triggering the right flag that controls the ratchet to be pulled up and allows the follower to drop.

 

[slash007]

That seems logical. If that is indeed how it works, would it mean there is an issue with the flag/switch on the left? It seems to be clicking and moving freely.

 

[Ryko CS]

The left and right top fans start first, and at the same time. If the flags do not provide the input to the PLC within 15 seconds to indicate the fan is up to speed, it will prevent the follower from dropping.

 

[slash007]

The left and right top fans start first, and at the same time. If the flags do not provide the input to the PLC within 15 seconds to indicate the fan is up to speed, it will prevent the follower from dropping.

Considering my issue, what should I be looking for? When this issue first started about 3 years ago, it would either drop half way or not at all. Then after about 3 months of that it stopped dropping all together. I hadn't done anything to it since, but now I want to get it fixed. Thanks.

 

[Ryko CS]

It could be a number of things. Through the controls, there are 3 things that would prevent a follower from dropping. These include the follower no-drop signal from the activation system, the photoeyes not working thinking a vehicles is already in the dryer, and the follower flag switches. Any of these would prevent it from falling. From the mechanical side, it could be the pivot bearings bound up and preventing it from falling, and it could also be the air cylinder not pulling the ratchet pawls back and away from the ratchet to allow it to fall.

When you describe it would fall halfway, that sounds mechanical. If not falling at all, I'd suspect photoeye alignment first, flag switches second and something shorting the 24VAC to prevent the ratchet solenoid from pulling in all the way third.

 

[slash007]

Thanks. I have loop detectors instead of photo eyes. How would that factor in?