12V Sprayer pump.

[TCowner]

My Flojet 2100-808 1.8 gpm pump on my tractor supply sprayer failed after 7 years of service. The exact replacement pump runs around $130 so I decided to try and save a little money, or I thought I would save some money.

I found a new Flojet 2100-884 pump on the popular internet auction site and made an offer of $38.00, plus $9.00 for shipping, which was accepted. The pump is rated at about the same psi as the original and has just a little more output at 2.1 gpm. The pump arrived in about 3 days.

I installed the pump and everything seemed to be working fine for the first 3 minutes or so. The pump seemed to function normally but then stopped moving any fluid. The pump was still running but nothing coming out of the spray wand. I shut the pump off with the fender mounted switch on my X748 John Deere, wait 30 seconds or so, and it work again for about a minute. Each time I shut if off it would restart pumping but only for about a minute.

So I realized I had purchased a pump without the "on demand" switch so it runs continiously. The original pump has the on-demand switch so it only cycles on when the pressure drops.

Is it a matter of the pump builds up too much pressure or too much heat?

I ordered a new pump (sureflo not flojet) with the on-demand switch from Tractor supply as I need to use my sprayer now. But I would like to know if the problem is related to the continious operation or to something else.
Thanks, Terry,

 

[catfishdaddyengineering]

My "on-demand" pump will also do this if the following occurs:

1) filter screen clogged

2) the sprayer nozzle is too tight

Either cause too much pressure just like if the handheld sprayer is let go and not being sprayed. You might could have adjusted your nozzles just enough to relieve the pressure since it is a higher flow pump.

 

[rswyan]

Being the utter maintenance fanatic that I am (not), my Fimco ATV 25-71 sprayer got put away the last time I used it (hmmm .... couple years ago mebbe ?) .... after I cleaned it out and rinsed it with Nutrasol and then plain water .... repeatedly .....

Then I stuck it in the polebarn ..... outta sight, outta mind ........ never winterized it with RV anti-freeze (although I may have blown out the 65' of EPDM hose for the wand with compressed air (dim recollections) ......

Today, I pulled it out, filled it with water, and turned the pump on in an attempt to pressurize it ..... pump turned on ....... but no flow/pressure ..... played with the various valves to the boom, spray wand, and return to the tank ..... still nada ..... so ......

I pulled the pump off the unit and disassembled it to have a look at the diaphram and check valve .... they looked pretty clean ..... nevertheless I disassembled the check valve and tossed it into some hot water with dishwashing soap in it and let it soak.

Then I scrubbed off the diaphram with Q-Tips with the hot soapy water .... pulled the soaking check valve out and cleaned it with a toothbrush and Q-Tips .....

Put it all back together, stuck it back on the sprayer, and ..... nada ...... pump motor runs, but still no output ....

I didn't check the pick up screen .....although I really should have .... but the insides of the tank looked clean and I just figured .....

Anyways, I thought to myself "This thing is just not priming ..." .... so I grabbed the air hose from the compressor and dialed down the pressure to 20 psi and pulled the plastic tether out of the tank lid, leaving a hole that I could stick the blowgun in ....

Tried that ........ and still nada .....

So I pulled the clip for the output side of the pump and disconnected the line there .... and went back in and cranked the pressure regulator on the compressor up to 40 psi .....

Flipped the pump on and stuck blowgun in the tank lid and shot it the juice .... and water came shooting out of the output side of the pump

Removed the air and it continued to pump .... shut pump off and restart - it still pumping :licking:

Makes about 45 psi .... but it doesn't pump enough quite enough to shutoff .... either that or the shutoff pressure switch needs adjusted ...... seems like I remember it previously hitting around 48 to 50 psi and then shutting off ..... but now it just runs up to 45 psi and sits there humming along ....

Possibly the check valve is a little dicey .... I figure I'll run it some more with soapy water and exercise it a little and see what happens ....

BTW, after it did eventually start pumping I ran a few gallons of water thru it and it dumped a bunch small black particles back into the tank thru the return, and out of the hose for the spray wand (maybe the boom nozzles as well - but I didn't notice)

I'm in the process of completely disassembling and cleaning the boom nozzles and spray wand - I got just a ton of similar crap out of the spray wand ... will post a pic later maybe ....

Moral of the story:

Long dry pumps may not prime so well (even thought they are supposed to) ..... and even though it seems dead, it may not be .... but it's likely gonna take a little TLC to breath some life back into it .....

 

[barborcutt]

My gosh, what a wonderful idea - priming the pump with an air compressor - IT WORKED! My Flojet pump on a Fimco trailer would turn on, sounded fine, but no pressure. Couldn't afford a new one. I can't tell you how many times I have taken every bit of that pump and all the lines apart and cleaned everything in the last 1&1/2 years - I could probably do it in my sleep now. But nothing worked. I thought - one more try, and checked on this site today and came across your solution and ran out & tried it and Bingo! Worked like a charm! I was able to do it through the hole on the tank top, quick & easy. It had always self-primed in the past and I never would've thought of this. I can't thank you enough! You folks are the best!