Sprayer Malfunction

[mburke121]

I went out to spray some Roundup around the property today. Filled the tank on my Schaben 3-point sprayer with water, added Roundup, and fired 'er up. But nothing came out, and there was no pressure on the gauge.

I used the sprayer back in May, and it worked perfectly. When I finished with it in May, I flushed thoroughly, and even ran some Nutrisol through it.

I checked all of the connections and valve settings - "A OK". I took all of the hoses off to make sure they were not plugged, everything was clear. I opened up the pressure regulator on both ends, and again, clear, and appeared in good working order. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm thinking the pump is bad, but before buying a $100 pump, I thought I'd see what the TBNers had to say.

 

[beenthere]

Can you disconnect the outlet hose at the pump and switch it on to see if anything is being pumped?
If not, see if anything is going to the pump.
If yes, then it is the pump. IMO

If no, then go upstream from the pump to the tank.

 

[638]

Did the suction tube inside the tank fall off ?

 

[EarPlug]

I had a similar problem recently - no pressure and no output. Tore apart the whole system and after about the 3rd time I found the input screen/filter covered in slime.

 

[Alan L.]

Me too on the slime - check the intake screen.

 

[mburke121]

Thanks for the all of the suggestions. It still amazes me that I've gotten 4 or 5 replies within 2 hours of posting.

I did pull the filter/screen on the bottom of the tank - there was a leaf in it, but I cleared it, and still no pressure. The screen was in like-new condition - no slime at all.

To answer another poster, the tank has bottom outlets, so it doesn't have an internal inlet hose. I think I've checked all of the hoses and valves. I'm leaning more and more toward the pump.

 

[beenthere]

Which pump do you have?

 

[mjncad]

Silly question on my part. Did you open the valve between the tank and filter on the suction line. Since Schaben is owned by FIMCO, I assume it is the same one as my FIMCO 55-gallon sprayer and that silly little valve has such a tiny on/off handle. Or is that valve broken?

 

[mburke121]

Beenthere, I have the Hypro 6500 pump. While the one I found on Tractor Supply is not identified as a Hypro, it looks identical, and it costs $105. It's rated at 22 gpm.

 

[mburke121]

Mjncad, I did check the valve at the filter. I never turned it off when I used the sprayer in May. Since I discovered the problem with the sprayer after I had filled the tank, when I removed the filter to clean the screen, water was flowing freely through the filter (and onto the ground, with my Roundup).

 

[blueriver]

Another idea ... sometimes those rollers in the pump stick ... loosen the bolts on the back add a few drops of oil and hand turn it.

Just a thought before you go out and buy a new pump ...

 

[beenthere]

mburke
(if blueriver's plan doesn't work...... )
Then I suggest tear it down and put a repair kit in.

Rittenhouse | Repair Kit for Hypro 6500 Pump - 3430-0380

is one parts place for a kit. Repairing the roller pump after not storing it with oil in it was often the routine. I have a 12v pump now.

 

[mjncad]

I fill the pump with straight antifreeze after I'm done using it. As others have suggested, you night have a stuck roller or two.

Have you tried turning the pump shaft by hand? It should turn freely with no binding.

 

[mburke121]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I worked on the sprayer today - and figured out that the pump had indeed seized up. The PTO connector had actually spun on the pump shaft, and the set-screw had etched a circle in the shaft (wearing through the flat part of the shaft.

I replaced the pump, and everything worked fine. I probably could have rebuilt the old pump, but it was in pretty bad shape, so I tossed it.

 

[higgy]

as stated above fill that pump with anti freeze when you store it even in the summer. It will last a lot longer.