My 12v pump (fatboy bandit) does not seem to be sucking in water. It started off hardly sucking in anything, and I could see air pockets in my connection lines. I have true blue thread sealant on all fittings, and it is all sealed very well. Hose clamps are super tight.
The pump has been use a handful times only, and rinsed out each and every single time. I use bandit dropsticks to go into my water and bleach tank, connected to a proportioner and then the pump. I do not know what could be wrong, any ideas?
So I guess I had a similar problem. I could see air coming through my line. I also use tru blue. I also have a proportioner, the one with the white knobs.
Here’s how I checked for leaks. I dropped the psi on the air compressor to 15psi. I removed the manifold. At the bottom of each knob, where the tubing attached (I removed the tubing) I blew air into the manifold after squirting soapy water all over the manifold. I figured if there was a crack the bubbly soap would bubble and show where the leak is. You can try that.
What I discovered is that the screw holding my white knobs into place, each one of them, was loose. I tightened down the screws. I repeated the process of blowing 15psi air into the manifold. Problem solved. It was just loose screws on the knobs.
I ended up finding out it was the proportioner. I have not even had the proportioner for long, maybe 2 months? The valves are not fully closing and sucking in air. Also, the banjo one way check valves are leaking. Is this normal as far as you are aware?
You know, I thought it was the proportioner as well so I permanently sealed every darn threaded fitting on the thing and it still wouldn’t prime. In my case an air pocket in the water line was just sitting there while water was flowing past it and the pump struggled to get it out. Like I said I had to ‘coil’ the line like four loops to get it to work.
In your case you may just want to use JB Water Seal on the threads and see if that works…just know it’s permanent.
I dread the thought of having to prime this darn thing in the spring.
Hijacking this thread for another 12V issue. I cannot get this pump to prime. It seems to be trying, but about 8" lift at most.
I removed everything between the pump and the water. All that remains is a 3’ 3/4 section of hose and a barb fitting that has a hose clamp tightened to the point of breaking.
Should I just put a check valve on the draw line and force feed it until it primes then never touch it again? Maybe I’m missing something really obvious.
I have a check valve on my proportioner, also a loop similar to a sink drain. I couldn’t get mine to prime with just a hose straight from the tank. That’s just me though.
