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misuchel · Guest

All-flo problem

Aug 8, 2010

I have had the same problem. I've got my compressor set at 125psi and my external regulator set at 98psi. I've been giving a good couple of shots of WD-40 into the intake side of my pump.(The air line) once every 2 weeks or so and havent had any problems with it since. Dont be afraid to spray it.

misuchel · Guest

OK maybe that is my problem I just shot a little -will do it again good to know it's not just me. Thanks!

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Aug 8, 2010

Roof Cleaning Palm Harbor FL 727 543 3276 wrote:

I have had the same problem. I've got my compressor set at 125psi and my external regulator set at 98psi. I've been giving a good couple of shots of WD-40 into the intake side of my pump.(The air line) once every 2 weeks or so and havent had any problems with it since. Dont be afraid to spray it.

I have 2 all-flo pumps and one of them has that identical problem. I showed one of the the all-flo rep when I visited Lori during the Tampa event. He showed me how to disasemble the 2 diaphrams on either side of the pump. I did that to mine but could see no problem. He made no mention of the WD40 so I will have to try that. I sometimes get mine to work by repeatedly connecting and then disconnectig the air supply.

He did mention not to run the pump above 90 psi. 98 will blow a seal..

Guest

i thought the max was 120 psi i run mine at 100 psi have been for the past year and a half.

Roof Cleaning Katy Texas (281) 392-2304 · Aug 8, 2010

Better read the instructions or call Lori. Bill ran his too high and it blew a fuse... I guess that you have been lucky!

misuchel · Guest

It does say that the pumps can handle a max of 120psi, but Rex said keep it no higher than 90.

Indiana Roof Cleaners · Guest

Our company paid a visit to All-Flo last week at their headquaters in Mentor, OH. We explained the same problems to their experts that you all are having. Their engineers recognized the problem and stated that the "stalling" was common in their 3/8" pump. They admitted that the spring assembly sometimes bends too far one way or the other and gets struck. They also have to unplug the air line and reattached it in order to "jump start" the pump. They stated that this was a weak point in their design. I highly recommend anyone able to make a trip to All-Flo should do so. We gained tons of knowledge and know how and their team was more than happy to teach us anything about the pumps.

guest

That is good to know. Cleveland Ohio is my old stomping ground I am headed back that way soon. I also wanted to visit Bob From Pressure tec while Im in the area

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · Dec 15, 2010

Didn't know all-flo was up here, but I have visited Bob a couple times. Great guy.

Dec 15, 2010

Indiana Roof Cleaners wrote:

Our company paid a visit to All-Flo last week at their headquaters in Mentor, OH. We explained the same problems to their experts that you all are having. Their engineers recognized the problem and stated that the "stalling" was common in their 3/8" pump. They admitted that the spring assembly sometimes bends too far one way or the other and gets struck. They also have to unplug the air line and reattached it in order to "jump start" the pump. They stated that this was a weak point in their design. I highly recommend anyone able to make a trip to All-Flo should do so. We gained tons of knowledge and know how and their team was more than happy to teach us anything about the pumps.

Very good to know Danny. Thanks for sharing the info with us. I will say as I said before though, (and this came directly from Steve at All Flo) a couple of shots of WD-40 in the line (before the pump) has seemed to solve the problem for us. We use the pump on a regular basis and only seem to have to do this once a month or so to keep it running smoothly.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Here in the 34 degree tundra we have been spraying a little windshield deicer in our pumps as the air valve's freeze from condensation in the air line. Other than that the W-D fixes the all-flo jamming from dirt and oil. We have found that an inline filter and moisture trap at the pump will help a lot with these issues. I recommend a trap at the compressor and a trap/regulator and in line filter at the pump.

Indiana Roof Cleaners · Guest

We haven't tried WD 40 yet, but will definately give it a shot.

Thanks,

Danny
Indiana Roof Cleaning LLC

RCIA Founder

Indiana Roof Cleaners wrote:

Our company paid a visit to All-Flo last week at their headquaters in Mentor, OH. We explained the same problems to their experts that you all are having. Their engineers recognized the problem and stated that the "stalling" was common in their 3/8" pump. They admitted that the spring assembly sometimes bends too far one way or the other and gets struck. They also have to unplug the air line and reattached it in order to "jump start" the pump. They stated that this was a weak point in their design. I highly recommend anyone able to make a trip to All-Flo should do so. We gained tons of knowledge and know how and their team was more than happy to teach us anything about the pumps.

LOL, so much for a "Non Stalling Air Valve" huh ?
My Yamada Air Pumps stall too, but Yamada has a button you push to reseat the air valve. You can do the exact same thing by putting an inline air valve before the pump, and simply turn it on and off if you don't want to disconnect the air, OR put quick disconnects in so you can zap it with WD 40 easily.
ALL air pumps stall, from time to time, and they seem to degrade in performance over time. I am still looking at some alternative roof cleaning capable pumps. But even with all their 'problems' the Air diapraghm pumps are by far the most reliable roof cleaning pumps I have used, so far.

Ron Musgraves · National Cleaning Expo's

misuchel wrote:

I have a new All-flo, and I am running it with a limit of 90psi on the filter, but I have a problem.Sometimes the pump just stops, even though the pressure is fine and the compressor is working great at 150psi.If I manually back down on the line pressure, the pump will start back up on it's own and then work sometimes for a good while.It stopped like 4 times on a 7 hour job.I sprayed in a little WD-40 where the air goes in as suggested by Rex, but still same problem.Is there something I need to do, or is this a defective pump?

Call Paul very Late at night on this number 440-840-8625 Tell him Ron said to call

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Also guys try Steve from All-Flo. He designed the pump. He will know a lot more than any distributor will as it is his pump! He is a great guy to talk to. I ran mine @ 110 when I blew it up on purpose to see how long it would take. It broke a metal assembly in the air chamber. It was only $30 to replace the air chamber.

This is funny like Chris said, they are non-stall?? Well it seems true that they do not stall from air deadhead very often, but they get clogged, so......

My Ingersoll Rand 10gpm 3/8 kynar pumps (retail $295) blow those all-flos away for price, dependability and stall. I gave one away for RCIA in Tampa. IR is a much bigger company than all-flo so it has been easier to find parts, they have torque specs on their diagrams and they are just built better as they have been in use a lot more.

Pick one up as a spare if you can and give it a try the next time your all-flo craps out.
10GPM!!

They also have a Teflon diaphragm kit backed with a santoprene diaphragm. Haven't seen this anywhere else. The all-flo's and IR both tend to come with santoprene and this is one of the best diaphragms to use as it is resistant enough to the SH and can handle the mechanical wear. The Teflon is an A rating for SH, but tears faster from the mechanical wear.
Teflon diaphragms--$47 each
Santoprene diaphragms--$5 each

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Here is a place that will build them to any spec you want!!

http://www.aroexp.com/Compact-Pumps-3-8-Non-Metallic.php

For guys that know only!! If you don't know what your pump should be made of this not the place to go.

Reliable Roof Cleaning Jacksonville FL · Guest

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 wrote:

My Ingersoll Rand 10gpm 3/8 kynar pumps (retail $295) blow those all-flos away for price, dependability and stall. I gave one away for RCIA in Tampa. IR is a much bigger company than all-flo so it has been easier to find parts, they have torque specs on their diagrams and they are just built better as they have been in use a lot more.

Pick one up as a spare if you can and give it a try the next time your all-flo craps out.
10GPM!!

Bill,

It would be a big help if you could supply the model number for the $295 IR 3/8 kynar pump. I checked out the site you posted above and I could not find a kynar pump in that price range.

Also are you talking about kynar being the material for both the manifold and seat material or just one of the two?

PD03P-AKS-KAA Kynar manifold with kynar seat, santoprene ball & santoprene diaphragm $440.73

PD03P-AKS-PAA Kynar manifold with Polypropylene seat, santoprene ball & santoprene diaphragm (this model number not found)

PD03P-APS-PAA Polypropylene manifold with polypropylene seat, santoprene ball & santoprene diaphragm $290.70

Thanks,
Charles

Doug R · Guest

Is there a reason you use WD-40 and not a lubricant that is resistant to water? Would any spray lubricant work?

Guest

Doug,..I would think any lubricant would work to keep it from sticking. But like Larry said,..the WD-40 does work. I had the same problem earlier this year and sprayed it before the next job,...it didn't stick at all that day,..or for the next several. I got into the habit of giving it a shot once a week and now it never stalls.

So in a sense,..they are still non stalling,..with proper "maintenance". Giving it a shot of WD-40 once a week is like oiling your air tools from time to time,...it's just part of using the tool.

May try an inline oiler this year,..with a light oil being used instead of the typical line oil.

On another point,..I run mine at 100 psi. To get the true reading when setting air pressure on any tool,..you must adjust the pressure while the selected tool is running.

Jeff

-- Edited by Raystown Roof Cleaning Central PA 1-800-236-0322 on Sunday 16th of January 2011 09:00:13 AM

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum
"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"