I bought a Dynachem 300 unit used and have used it on a half dozen jobs or so. The last job I had, when I would warm up the unit and switch the bypass off I wasn't getting pressure on my gauge or at the wand. I let it run and switched it back and forth for a couple minutes from bypass on and off and eventually the pressure came up and I used it. Now same thing when i started it, can't get pressure to come up, not at all now. I thought maybe the pump wasnt primed so i made sure to have a full holding tank and started it and ran thru the bypass and stuck the bypass hose in the vacuum port and sucked a bunch of water thru it, no dice. I can just put a straight open hose on the bypass valve and open it up and spray it out onthe driveway and it will just spray and then sputter, then cough and spray some more then sputter, stoppping occasionally etc... I have checked my inlet lines and lines up to the bypass valve for obstructions and nada. Is the pump bad? What else can I do or try to trouble shoot this? I have a big job on saturday for a good friend in his restaurant before a big visit from corporate headquarters so I need to get up and running... anybody???
Doesn't sound like a clog to me. Sounds like it's sucking air. Make sure you don't have any holes or cracks between your water tank and the pump. Also make sure that anywhere the hose plugs into a fitting you have hose clamps on there, and that they are tight. Or if your truck has ever frozen you could have gotten a crack in a hose somewhere, or brass fitting. The pump may need to be rebuilt, which sounds horrible but it isn't too bad. Takes 20 to 30 minutes if you know what to do. Anyway, sounds to me like you're sucking air somewhere.
Eyeball may be correct. But you could check and see if the valve filter is clogged up. I have a Dynachem DC-534- here is a picture of my dema valve- to remove the cap- mine takes a 15/16 socket- once you remove the cap the filter is inside. Just something you can check- but you might be sucking air somewhere- like Eyeball said. Let us know- what you figure out. The dema cap is right beside the ball valve that is turned on- or straight up and down- in the picture.
I have clamps everywhere, but will check all of my hose in between the pump and water tank... it got down to -10 here a couple weeks ago, truck was in garage with a heater but it still got pretty cold in there, could have cracked something... thanks for your input guys
Sometimes even if the pump doesn't freeze hoses and fittings will still crack. Small enough you would never hardly find them. Hopefully it's something simple like that. If you do find a crack or split somewhere don't panic, the pump could still very well be ok. Hope it works out for you!
OK, pulled the cap and checked the screen, it looked good. Will check out the fittings and hoses for air leaks this afternoon, was too late last night to fire up the Honda in the neighborhood, working out of my house right now so limited on time without pissing off the neighbors.... although they never seem to complain about the Harley will let you know what i find tonight, hoping its a leak and the pump still works fine, thanks again guys.
if you have a job on sat. you may want to buy the rebuild parts now or at least make sure the parts are readily available in case it is not a simple fix. --Kevin--
Notice the pictures that 2 clean posted. One ball valve is open and the other is closed. They have to this way to get water. The way he has it set in the picture he is drawing water from his tank. Just a thought.
Eyeball was right, was sucking air... starting eliminating possibilities until i tracked it down, works like a charm now! Thanks for all your input guys, I'm back in business!!!!
where is larry cobb? he posts selling his stuff here shouldnt he post answers to breakdowns with his machines
Larry has answered several PM's in the past for me and his shop guy Jason has BENT OVER BACKWARDS over the phone to help me with several other problems I've had as I got up and running, and considering I bought this equipment used and not new from Cobb I really appreciate all their help. I feel like they have great customer skills as far as I'm concerned.... I'm sure if Larry had seen this thread he probably would have chimed in.
