Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 22, 2014 Hey guys so I just tried out my setup and my 5850 is refusing to prime even at 8ft suction. Any suggestions? The pump has very minimal use on it, it is 3 years old but was only used a very few times. The battery appears to have a full charge and even with the battery charger connected it still doesnt prime. thanks in advanced Dustin gaspard 1 Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted April 22, 2014 Hey guys so I just tried out my setup and my 5850 is refusing to prime even at 8ft suction. Any suggestions? The pump has very minimal use on it, it is 3 years old but was only used a very few times. The battery appears to have a full charge and even with the battery charger connected it still doesnt prime. thanks in advanced Dustin gaspard Pull the feed tube out of the tank, and pour a pitcher of water in the feed hose, see if it primes ? Then, quickly stick it back in the tank. Sometimes, you can get a vapor lock condition, this should help./ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stay Clean Report post Posted April 22, 2014 Buy an attachment so that you can hook up a garden hose to your suction line. Run water through the pump. Then use it like you normally would. It should work. Idk why but mine has done this once or twice too. Maybe its airlocked. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Frisson Report post Posted April 22, 2014 This is the main reason why i love air pumps so much, this almost never happens. Inbetween mixes & jobs this could happen to you frequently, you might need to draw from the bottom, somewhere at the lowest point of your tank if this is an ongoing problem for you 2 Grime Busterz and Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I gotcha, Ill try all of this later on today. I would love to do an air setup, but not at this time. More description of problem: When I turn the pump on with suction line (8ft) submerged in 55 gal drum of water, all I can hear is the pump sucking, but will not prime. If I attached a water hose to it, which i've done already it will pump that way with no issues. I have even turned water hose on had it to where it shut off by itself removed water hose, filled suction with water then stuck into tank, still wont suck. I have a 1'' suction hose on it with very secure connection at the pump, so I don't think it can suck air. I'm going to try another battery today and see if that helps. I'll be back! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roof Cleaning Virginia Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I gotcha, Ill try all of this later on today. I would love to do an air setup, but not at this time. More description of problem: When I turn the pump on with suction line (8ft) submerged in 55 gal drum of water, all I can hear is the pump sucking, but will not prime. If I attached a water hose to it, which i've done already it will pump that way with no issues. I have even turned water hose on had it to where it shut off by itself removed water hose, filled suction with water then stuck into tank, still wont suck. I have a 1'' suction hose on it with very secure connection at the pump, so I don't think it can suck air. I'm going to try another battery today and see if that helps. I'll be back! You have an air leak on the intake. Reterminate ALL connections, ensure they're 100% air tight and 99% of the problems will be solved. ;-) 1 Grime Busterz reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I will try that, but Im more than certain this is air tight as it gets. I only have one fitting from the drum to the pump and thats the 1'' barb x 1/2mpt that has a band clamp around it, tightened down pretty tight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I gotcha, Ill try all of this later on today. I would love to do an air setup, but not at this time. More description of problem: When I turn the pump on with suction line (8ft) submerged in 55 gal drum of water, all I can hear is the pump sucking, but will not prime. If I attached a water hose to it, which i've done already it will pump that way with no issues. I have even turned water hose on had it to where it shut off by itself removed water hose, filled suction with water then stuck into tank, still wont suck. I have a 1'' suction hose on it with very secure connection at the pump, so I don't think it can suck air. I'm going to try another battery today and see if that helps. I'll be back! What is hooked to the OUTPUT side of that pump, when u are trying all this ?? 1 Grime Busterz reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I have the output plumbed 9 inches to an accumulator then 200' 5/8 hose with ball valve. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stay Clean Report post Posted April 22, 2014 Take the 9" whip hose off n try it without any restrictions. You could try it not hooked up to accumulator too. You probably already know this but when its all connected and you first turn on the pump, have the ball valve open to release air pressure. 1 Grime Busterz reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 22, 2014 I will try all of these guys, keep them coming. I tried taking the whip line off and still does not prime, I will take a video of it when I get home to show ya'll exactly what its doing. If this is a common problem with electric pumps I will most likely make a air pump setup in the near future when this all works out, I cant accept this being a common problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stay Clean Report post Posted April 22, 2014 If this was common nobody would be using these pumps day in and day out. I never had this problem with any of mine and I was running 12ft of 1/2" hose. You said its been sitting for 3 years so maybe the internals have been worn out. But you also said it pumps fine with a garden hose connected so idk wtf to think other than air leak or bad seals or clogged intake hose. Time for a new pump lol 1 Justin Richards reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ksroofs Report post Posted April 22, 2014 thats odd... sometimes if I switch the intake line from tank to tank I will lose prime.. And with all my hose out it doesn't build head pressure... So I have to walk the nozzle back to the pump and then it will begin to draw.. Worse comes to worse the 5850's are very inexpensive... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apple Roof Cleaning (813) 655-8777 Report post Posted April 22, 2014 thats odd... sometimes if I switch the intake line from tank to tank I will lose prime.. And with all my hose out it doesn't build head pressure... So I have to walk the nozzle back to the pump and then it will begin to draw.. Worse comes to worse the 5850's are very inexpensive... If this was common nobody would be using these pumps day in and day out. I never had this problem with any of mine and I was running 12ft of 1/2" hose. You said its been sitting for 3 years so maybe the internals have been worn out. But you also said it pumps fine with a garden hose connected so idk wtf to think other than air leak or bad seals or clogged intake hose. Time for a new pump lol It might be time for a brand new 12 volt roof cleaning pump my friend. Keep us all posted Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeakOfPerfection Report post Posted April 23, 2014 If you need a new pump and decide to stay electric, I have two new in the box FB 2s that I would sell for $165 ea. plus shipping. Air is the way to go long term, but you need to make money cleaning roofs to buy an air setup and a FB2 will pump just shy of double a 5850 meaning you can clean more roofs to raise the money to buy a big air pump setup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grime Busterz Report post Posted April 23, 2014 Peak, I'll PM you in a minute. This afternoon I finally got this thing to prime, I actually think I have figured it out. It won't draw unless I help it prime, once its primed it seems to stay regulated. I haven't put any air in the accum yet I ran out of daylight I'll let you know for sure if its fixed tomorrow. I ran about 35g through it today, tomorrow I will try to run 110g through it only stopping to switch tanks.I also am developing my own tank stick that ill shortly have material to make, see my other thread. Thanks for the input guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ksroofs Report post Posted April 23, 2014 I wouldn't run 110 gallon through it straight... they have a run time on them and they can/will over heat 1 Roof Cleaning Virginia reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
