12 v sprayer pump redo

I have been spraying a lot the past years with the RTV and 12 v sprayer. It has handled many many miles of fence spraying etc. I noticed the other day that the spray wasn't going as far as it once did and then appeared to be getting really "tired"- hardly providing any coverage. I didn't want to spend the $ to get another pump so decided to tear it down and look inside. That is how I learn anyway- because it sure wasn't much good like it was. I tore it apart and this is what I found... It is good to have a strainer on the inside of the tank and to make sure that the bottom of it hasn't come off. (it had) Repaired it and put it back... After I found all of the pump parts in good condition, I cleaned out the debris and put it back together. I was expecting a wonderful ,long jet of spray as I turned on the console switch but no, Not happening..... Then, I switch the Y control to pump the bypass back to the tank and see the pressure is there....lots of it... The tip is clean.. as is the nozzle end... ok one more place to look.... I take the hose off where it attaches to the wand and the nipple fitting is almost completely stopped up with corrosion ....maybe a toothpick sized opening. I rod it out after removing it from the wand (debris on paper towel) just to see how much I could get out and replace it with a plastic one... now it works great with a long span of spray. I am to blame as I put on a "temporary" metal fitting a year or more ago when I broke the plastic one. The steel fitting and round up didn't get along well.... Then bottom popping off the in tank strainer... I didn't notice... I will be keeping an extra plastic fitting in the toolbox though- might run across a brass one next time at Lowes. This is a Hi Flow brand pump and is made well as the heck I put it through can attest to- it is also an "on demand" pump which comes on when I squeeze the wand handle.. Nice and quiet otherwise. I sure like them. won't ever get the always on kind again-- these run less and last longer in my opinion because of that . ........... Good Luck and God Bless, bordercollie

Great fix bordercollie,

......... some of that debris looks like the "foil seal" on top of
herbicide bottles. I don't know how it happens, some of that foil
always ends up somewhere where it needs NOT to be.

Matter of fact, there is much "debis" that I can't identify in tanks and
other things around the place, and don't have any clue how it gets in
there. And can't blame it on nobody but myself.

Oh yes, might want to go to your local Tractor Supply.

They have some good work shirts, summer short sleeve on sale.

Have a Good Day !!!!

......... two guns

Two Guns, Thanks. I just noticed that they opened a Tractor Supply in Canton. I hope they sell youth sized stuff to fit me.
I once had one of the foil seals stop up the intake on my old 12 v 60 gallon I use to have. They sure know how to cause trouble don't they.Some of this stuff was plastic like from when the tank had been factory drilled out for the fittings.... No excuse for not getting back to spraying fence lines now that it is ready to go- bordercollie

It doesn't matter if it is a powered pump or a manual one they all get debris in them and clog the wands. Seems like a every other year deal to get them spraying right again.

What!!! NOT throw it away and buy a NEW one?? Golly who that was born after 1955 knows how to repair something? Surely not anyone that has graduated from high school after 1980, as that is when they pretty much started deleting the "shop" classes from school systems. Ask a kid to make change let alone how to add 3/8 + 5/16.

lolol

To acquire the common sense to just jump in and figure out a repair/maintenance is a lost art and one that I am surely glad that YOU, Bordercollie definately are a whiz at..........Your Daddy is surely watchin over you and is totally proud......God bless......Dennis

Thank you Dennis, Yes indeed, Daddy was a real inspiration as was my Mama. Each grew up poor but had good parents and learned how to do stuff , fix it or else do without. Mama always said her Daddy would pick up a bolt when he would find one , oil it and put it up for when needed... (he was a tenant farmer) I guess that is why I am a pack rat of "good stuff" that is too good for the scrap iron place... at least in my opinion. haha
I tried the sprayer today and I can shoot a 20 ' stream as I drive the RTV along at a steady pace. I think it is working just like when it was new. No telling how long that stuff was in the pump but the worst problem was the occluded fitting going into the wand's hose- no telling how long this had been reducing my spray output. I am pleased today. I was always cleaning the tip but as the last resort, checked that fitting .It was sort of like the power you got when cleaning the spark arrestor on the RTV ... vvroom!! well ...almost haha. bordercollie

Bordercollie, thank you for your post and information on fixing the sprayer! I'm planning to get a sprayer to use with our 12 acres on the tractor later this year, and while I used to do all my own mechanics, I quit due to lack of time, a place to work, and the general laziness I have developed in my old age. And not having dealt with sprayers before, I wouldn't have a clue, probably. Now I know I will just need to go through the sprayer every year or so, and clean it up to keep it serving well. Thanks again.

Thanks Greenwannabe. I would make sure that it is a round up ready pump. That stuff is hard on pumps that aren't made for it. The ready ones cost a little more but will hold up much longer with good care. Features I look for are a rubber covered switch also. Just in case I splash it while filling. I always flush and clean it every Fall and then drain the hose after running a weak solution of anti freeze through it before storing for winter. If you are using a boom , look at the gpm output also. This place has parts and pumps to consider after reading reviews elsewhere like Amazon. There are other pumps listed- this is just the one I pasted.. http://www.pwmall.com/p-132489-5275704-fimco-diaphragm-pump-12-v-45-psi-38-gpm.aspx bordercollie

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