That’s the k1 unloader right? Check and make sure the water is flowing the right direction aka the unloader isnt backwards. The other day when I was setting mine I had my block set up just like yours and the way the fittings were set up on the unloader it made sense to put it in backwards so I did and no matter how much I adjusted it a small mist came out and the setting screw was super hard to turn but turning it around the right way made it so adjusting did what it was supposed to do and was easy to turn the screw
Direct drive you need your buffer tank higher than your pump so its gravity fed. Or hook it directly to a pressurized hose bib. I’d try a spigot off your house first and see if it changes anything, Imo those k7 unloader are quite finiky. I’d also look into scraping that direct drive and get a gearbox and new pump.
I removed the zk1 unloader and just tried it normal with the buffer. It kept pulsating.
I then went direct from house spigot to the pump. It worked fine.
I had jobs lined up so I ran it like that to get the jobs done.
I’ll mess with it one more time to see if I can at least gravity feed the direct drive. I had my buffer filled to about 140 gallons and it still wasn’t pulling right.
So if I can’t get it going after another try, I’ll go with a gear drive.
The pump on a direct drive runs to fast to suck water because the pump is directly bolted to the motors shaft at 3000 rpm with no reduction in speed, We belt, gearbox guys are at 1450 rpm. A direct drive is over 3000 rpm , but alot of direct drive ppl set the buffer outlet higher than the pump inlet to create a pressurized gravity feed and to save $ to not buy direct or belt drive setup. Good luck in doing that but alot of ppl give up and go with a new pump with gear box in the end. Go call dultimeyer.com they have the best prices on a new udor gear box combo. Good luck @qons.
And I thought you bought a new hot machine and trailer anyways.
Hotshot is absolutely right you must have the tank raised slightly and fittings right underneath the tank where you get the most positive pressure due to weight of the water, you need a 1” barb adaptor fitting screwed straight on the inlet, your only restriction on the inlet side should be the inlet itself, yours chokes where it shouldn’t choke. These setups absolutely work provided you don’t plumb it like a belt/gear drive.
@qons Mike, you can also try force feeding that pump with an inline 12v pump. Some people claim they’ve had success with that. My biggest concern with that would be the pump quitting and then all it is is one major restriction. Best bet–throw a gear drive 5.5 on it and be done.
I did. My oldest son is helping me out this summer. So it made sense to have two machines going. This machine was my first. I abused it to death and it kept refusing to quit. So I felt like I owed it the opportunity. Lol. That, and if I didn’t need to drop $600, why do so? But looks like I’ll be dropping some coin.
Yesterday I just hooked direct to the customers spigot. I did the house. He did the fence. We finished about the same time. It was nice. In the past a helper has only been helpful to me when I’m staining a deck. So two machines should change that.
