Cleaning roller pump

Laminarman · May 23, 2006

I have a Hypro 8 roller pump and want to clean it out after using Roundup. Do I flush with water through the tank then lubricate it by running diesel through the tank as well? Or do I disconnect all the darn fittings and clamps and pour lubricant (diesel or antifreeze) in the ports and hand turn it? Seems I can't find this answer, and looks like a lot of work after each use! Thanks in advance.

Laminarman · May 23, 2006

I have a Hypro 8 roller pump and want to clean it out after using Roundup. Do I flush with water through the tank then lubricate it by running diesel through the tank as well? Or do I disconnect all the darn fittings and clamps and pour lubricant (diesel or antifreeze) in the ports and hand turn it? Seems I can't find this answer, and looks like a lot of work after each use! Thanks in advance.

Bird · May 23, 2006

Personally, I flushed mine with water, then filled it with antifreeze and left the antifreeze in it until the next time I was going to use it. But I didn't have many "fittings" to disconnect because mine was plumbed so it just amounted to about the same thing as unscrewing a garden hose from a faucet.

Bird · May 23, 2006

Personally, I flushed mine with water, then filled it with antifreeze and left the antifreeze in it until the next time I was going to use it. But I didn't have many "fittings" to disconnect because mine was plumbed so it just amounted to about the same thing as unscrewing a garden hose from a faucet.

mpeterson · May 23, 2006

laminarman:

The right way to do it is to first slosh it out with water and some soap, drain, then put in water and amonia mix at about one gallon per 100 gallons. Slosh it around, spray a little through the nozzles/pump; let sit 6 hrs (or overnight). Then for round up they recommend a product called nurtosol that neutralizes the acids in the roundup (you can skip this for most 24D or Milestone or Clopyd). You can then run either diesel through it or the rv winterizer.

Now that is what the "textbook" approach states. I personally just do the water soap slosh, drian, amonia water mix, let it set over night, rince it one more time with water, and then drain the hoses etc with air (or if I am going to use it in a month or so when it won't freeze don't drain). I then run a little diesel in the pump (just turn it by hand, dump some in the inlet).

This should work...

mpeterson · May 23, 2006

laminarman:

The right way to do it is to first slosh it out with water and some soap, drain, then put in water and amonia mix at about one gallon per 100 gallons. Slosh it around, spray a little through the nozzles/pump; let sit 6 hrs (or overnight). Then for round up they recommend a product called nurtosol that neutralizes the acids in the roundup (you can skip this for most 24D or Milestone or Clopyd). You can then run either diesel through it or the rv winterizer.

Now that is what the "textbook" approach states. I personally just do the water soap slosh, drian, amonia water mix, let it set over night, rince it one more time with water, and then drain the hoses etc with air (or if I am going to use it in a month or so when it won't freeze don't drain). I then run a little diesel in the pump (just turn it by hand, dump some in the inlet).

This should work...

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

I have a 4 roller pump. After cleaning pump I alway add a couple cups of propylene glycol based antifreeze to keep pump from freezing up with rust. This antifreeze is not sweet like ethylene glycol based antifreeze. It will still kill any lawn it is spilled on. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

I have a 4 roller pump. After cleaning pump I alway add a couple cups of propylene glycol based antifreeze to keep pump from freezing up with rust. This antifreeze is not sweet like ethylene glycol based antifreeze. It will still kill any lawn it is spilled on. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

PineRidge · May 24, 2006

Ron I assume here that when you go to use the pump the next time that you pour out the antifreeze and reuse it when you again clean the roller pump.

Or do you just pitch the used anti-freeze once drained?

PineRidge · May 24, 2006

Ron I assume here that when you go to use the pump the next time that you pour out the antifreeze and reuse it when you again clean the roller pump.

Or do you just pitch the used anti-freeze once drained?

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

Reuse?????????? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I guess I failed that test. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Need to put a note on tank. "Save antifreeze for next storage. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

Reuse?????????? /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
I guess I failed that test. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Need to put a note on tank. "Save antifreeze for next storage. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Bird · May 24, 2006

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I actually did save mine and reuse it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Of course I was using regular old Prestone so I didn't want to dump it where any animal might find and drink any of it.

Bird · May 24, 2006

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I actually did save mine and reuse it. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Of course I was using regular old Prestone so I didn't want to dump it where any animal might find and drink any of it.

PineRidge · May 24, 2006

Bird and Ron it may have sounded like a strange question but I am really curious since I'm currently getting the parts together to make a 3 point sprayer and currently know zip about them.

I just figured that since you first flush the pump w/water that you are only adding anti freeze to keep the pump from rust or corrosion that the anti freeze might easily be poured into a container and put back in the pump the next time around topping it with fresh to keep it filled while in storage.

6 roller 8 roller what's the difference (besides the number of rollers that is)? I want a PTO driven pump for the project but don't think I need the best or the most expensive pump either. It will likely be used no more than 3 or 4 times a year tops. Unless of course I decide to add a gun/wand to fertilize the vegetable garden. I see a real advantage in being able to give the sweet corn a shot of Urea mixed in solution with water to help it along.

PineRidge · May 24, 2006

Bird and Ron it may have sounded like a strange question but I am really curious since I'm currently getting the parts together to make a 3 point sprayer and currently know zip about them.

I just figured that since you first flush the pump w/water that you are only adding anti freeze to keep the pump from rust or corrosion that the anti freeze might easily be poured into a container and put back in the pump the next time around topping it with fresh to keep it filled while in storage.

6 roller 8 roller what's the difference (besides the number of rollers that is)? I want a PTO driven pump for the project but don't think I need the best or the most expensive pump either. It will likely be used no more than 3 or 4 times a year tops. Unless of course I decide to add a gun/wand to fertilize the vegetable garden. I see a real advantage in being able to give the sweet corn a shot of Urea mixed in solution with water to help it along.

Bird · May 24, 2006

( I just figured that since you first flush the pump w/water that you are only adding anti freeze to keep the pump from rust or corrosion that the anti freeze might easily be poured into a container and put back in the pump the next time around topping it with fresh to keep it filled while in storage. )

That's it exactly. I didn't put antifreeze in it to start with, and the inside corroded bad which seized the pump. Sometimes I could simply loosen the 4 bolts holding the housing together and turn it a couple of rounds, then tighten the bolts back as I turned it. Once I let it corrode enough that I disassembled it and thoroughly cleaned everything in the glass bead blaster cabinet before re-assembling it. And that's when I started using the Prestone and it was always ready to use next time. Of course mine was a 6 roller pump, and I'm assuming the 8 roller ones are about the same.

Bird · May 24, 2006

( I just figured that since you first flush the pump w/water that you are only adding anti freeze to keep the pump from rust or corrosion that the anti freeze might easily be poured into a container and put back in the pump the next time around topping it with fresh to keep it filled while in storage. )

That's it exactly. I didn't put antifreeze in it to start with, and the inside corroded bad which seized the pump. Sometimes I could simply loosen the 4 bolts holding the housing together and turn it a couple of rounds, then tighten the bolts back as I turned it. Once I let it corrode enough that I disassembled it and thoroughly cleaned everything in the glass bead blaster cabinet before re-assembling it. And that's when I started using the Prestone and it was always ready to use next time. Of course mine was a 6 roller pump, and I'm assuming the 8 roller ones are about the same.

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

My pump is a 4 roller run by a 3 1/2 hp Honda. Running just above idle. The output is very high, 8' boom sprayer with 6 nozzles. Sprays a 10' width. Still a lot of bypass from pressure regulator. This helps keep solution mixed. If you have a 20' boom or larger. You will not need a large pump. More rollers, equals more volume. I have had this sprayer for over 20 years. Still using the original pump. Like Bird, I found out the hard way. You must put something in pump to stop corrosion no matter how clean you get it.

ronjhall · May 24, 2006

My pump is a 4 roller run by a 3 1/2 hp Honda. Running just above idle. The output is very high, 8' boom sprayer with 6 nozzles. Sprays a 10' width. Still a lot of bypass from pressure regulator. This helps keep solution mixed. If you have a 20' boom or larger. You will not need a large pump. More rollers, equals more volume. I have had this sprayer for over 20 years. Still using the original pump. Like Bird, I found out the hard way. You must put something in pump to stop corrosion no matter how clean you get it.