Dadnatron
Veteran Member
Purchased a new (to me) used sprayer and have been going over it.
I had everything seemingly working well, and sprayed alfalfa yesterday without problem until about 3/4 through the last tank. I noticed a pressure drop (not exactly sure when it happened, but couldn't have been more than a second or two without looking at the nozzles) and saw a change in the nozzle spray. Pressure had been running right at 60psi and all of the sudden was around 10-15. I thought a hose busted, as that is how it was acting... as if there was a pressure release somewhere and the spray was just what was left over. I stopped, checked over all nozzles and hoses, and everything looked good. But as soon as I started ANY of the booms to spraying, the pressure dropped from 60-70 to 10. My pump was capable of pumping a 70 psi (as monitored on the in cab gauge) And previously, the in cab and separate boom gauges were within a psi or 2.
Turning on any boom segment caused an immediate drop in pressure. I thought that the issue could be at the manifold with a big leak there... but I can't find one. I was able to wimp out the remaining 30-40 gal, but the spray was extremely course and the psi was about 10. I rinsed the tank with an additional 20-30 gal (240gal tank) and sprayed it on a safe area.
I'm stumped. If something was clogged or closed down, the pressure should be high or some boom segment shouldn't be working. But all were spraying... just really poorly. If there was a leak.... (which is how its acting) I should see something.
I can't think of anything in the manifold/valves which would cause this issue. I won't have time to take a look at it again until the weekend but man... if you have any ideas, I'd sure like to know.
This is the manifold and I can't remember the type of valves, but they are common basic valves.
I had everything seemingly working well, and sprayed alfalfa yesterday without problem until about 3/4 through the last tank. I noticed a pressure drop (not exactly sure when it happened, but couldn't have been more than a second or two without looking at the nozzles) and saw a change in the nozzle spray. Pressure had been running right at 60psi and all of the sudden was around 10-15. I thought a hose busted, as that is how it was acting... as if there was a pressure release somewhere and the spray was just what was left over. I stopped, checked over all nozzles and hoses, and everything looked good. But as soon as I started ANY of the booms to spraying, the pressure dropped from 60-70 to 10. My pump was capable of pumping a 70 psi (as monitored on the in cab gauge) And previously, the in cab and separate boom gauges were within a psi or 2.
Turning on any boom segment caused an immediate drop in pressure. I thought that the issue could be at the manifold with a big leak there... but I can't find one. I was able to wimp out the remaining 30-40 gal, but the spray was extremely course and the psi was about 10. I rinsed the tank with an additional 20-30 gal (240gal tank) and sprayed it on a safe area.
I'm stumped. If something was clogged or closed down, the pressure should be high or some boom segment shouldn't be working. But all were spraying... just really poorly. If there was a leak.... (which is how its acting) I should see something.
I can't think of anything in the manifold/valves which would cause this issue. I won't have time to take a look at it again until the weekend but man... if you have any ideas, I'd sure like to know.
This is the manifold and I can't remember the type of valves, but they are common basic valves.