Another Surging Pump Question

I have a Udor 5.5 gpm/3500 psi pump gear driven by a Honda gx390. I just started noticing a mild surge. It’s hard to explain, but it feels like it’s starved for water. My pump is tank fed by a 3/4" line with filters at the tank inlet and also at the pump inlet.

I checked all filters today and they were clean. (The pump inlet filter did have some very small particles in it, but, nothing major). From the threads I’ve been able to find, it looks like possible some debris in a check valve?

Does anyone have any thoughts on what else could cause this all of a sudden?

Also, can anyone point me to a source of info for taking apart and the-assembling my pump? I don’t want to take it apart and create more problems since I don’t know what I’m doing!!

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
Atlas Services | Asheville, NC’s #1 Power Washing

Take your downstreamer out and see if that stops the pulsing…If you don’t know what you’re doing…take it to someone who does. Shouldn’t cost more than $300-$350 to rebuild.

Thanks for the help! I took the downstreamer out and it actually was worse…I’m guessing that’s because it was try to give me more gpms.

Do you think it’s debris somewhere in the system?

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina

Could be an air leak on suction side (feed from tank to machine), yes could be debris in check valves and simple to check.

Just make sure the line and filter from tank to machine is not leaking or drawing air…I think this could be the problem…now that the downstreamer is out, it’s pulling more water from supply side. Udor’s are very reliable pumps & I don’t think you have that many hrs. on it.

It’s the simplest things that give the most problems.

Thanks GuyB You’re right, I only have 115 hours on this pump! I talked to the guy at Udor today and he said it sounds like it’s starving for water, and that it could go for months starving without showing any signs.

He said to replace my 50 mesh filter with a 30 mesh (which I can’t find ANYWHERE!!!) and, as you mentioned, check for air leaks. I’m gonna re-check everything and see what happens.

Thank you so much for your help!

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina

I’m having the same problem with my pump, even my ds stopped working.

J&A Cleaning Solutions

Quick question: Wouldn’t an 80 mesh flow more than a 50 mesh?.. I’m thinking that he meant 80 mesh when he said 30.

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina

Is yours an Udor?

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
www.CallAtlas.com

As far as that mesh question is concerned, I found the answer through a Google search…the higher the number, the less it flows.

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina

We run a tight screen on our filters, unless it’s clogged with algae, I don’t think the filter is your problem. I would start at filter bowl…take it off…put a light coat of oil on o-ring…put it back together…then start checking hoses, hose clamps, & every connection from tank to pump.

Will do. Thank you GuyB!

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
www.CallAtlas.com

Mine’s a cat pump

J&A Cleaning Solutions

I don’t think mine is starving I have a 2" feed from the tank to a 3/4", but the 3/4 is only about a foot long

J&A Cleaning Solutions

Can you share a short video that shows what the pump is doing?

Alex @ Nothside Power Washing

Sent from my iPhone using Pressure Washing Resource

I would, but you can’t tell what it’s doing by watching it…you can only feel it, if that makes sense. The “surging” is VERY subtle. I’m just trying to take care of it before it gets really bad. I did have way too long of a hose from my buffer tank, so I’ve shortened it and I was also able to eliminate a couple of fittings, so I’m anxious to see if that solves the problem. I’ll be piddling with it Thursday afternoon and I’ll post the outcome ASAP

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
www.CallAtlas.com

5.5 gpm @ 3500 psi and a 13 hp engine does not compute.

This happens to my machines every time I clean out the water filters. If air gets into the water feed line it will cause this. Usually when I fill the tank to the top before restarting the machine then this will not happen because it has adequate water pressure.

True. I just wanted to make sure everyone had all the info about the pump I’m using. I keep the unloader set at 2500.

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
www.CallAtlas.com

Thanks for the info…I’m really hoping it was just some air getting in there (and that I didn’t damage any of the inlet seals in the meantime)

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
www.CallAtlas.com

Update:

I re-routed the supply hose and was able to eliminate some fittings, and I am air leak free!

Also, I realized that I had been introducing air into the pump each time I started it!!! Due to having a truck that’s on its last leg I drain my buffer tank after every job. Of course (duh), that leaves a whole bunch of air in the line! After I fixed the air leaks I turned the motor over with the switch off until pure water came out (about 5 seconds) and it ran flawlessly! Such a simple thing…how on earth did I miss that???

Thanks for all the help guys!

Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina