Sprayer Depot Blog

It's not unusual for the team at Sprayer Depot to receive product questions, whether it be by telephone, email, social channels, or in the comment section of our blog. We try to respond with the best possible, easy to understand information, including links to specific products, if available. In this post we'll highlight some of the various types of questions and answers that have been exchanged on our blog. 

Q: "My rig is pulsing and has very low pressure. It will start spraying perfectly, but then go back down to low pressure. I tried cranking up the psi, but it didn't  work. I've been working with a very frustrating rig. Please help! There is no clog in filter..my gun isn't the issue. I think motor is going out, but maybe you can help" - Joe M.

A: Intermittent performance indicates that you may have a bad pressure switch. This switch is located on the front of the pump and has two red wires attached to it.  Switch Assemblies are available for most models.

Q: "I'm starting up our Hypro Pump - D503 for the season. It will build up pressure to 400 psi but when I engage the nozzle, it drops below 200 psi or lower but returns to 400 psi once the nozzle is turned off. I've checked and tightened all the connections. Cleaned the strainer on the intake and it's good. Thoughts?" - Chris T.

A: A drop in pressure when engaging the trigger normally indicates an air leak on the suction side. We suggest making sure the suction strainer gasket is set properly to form a tight seal and the bowl is not cross threaded or over tightened. You may also try watching the intake line to see if any air bubbles appear when activating the gun.

Q: We have an  8000-643-236 Transfer 12VDC Pump that will run through a wand and then it takes longer and longer to pressurize. Eventually, it constantly runs and will not pressure up. Any ideas?

A: There are a few issues that can cause the symptoms you are describing. First, we would check the suction side leading to the pump and ensure there are no loose fittings or air leaks. If air is coming into the suction line it can get trapped inside the pump head or run through the pump to the outlet line.  This can cause the pump to not shut off or pressurize. If all fittings are tight and there is no air trapped in the system we inspect the check valves in the pump head for any swelling or debris. If the valves are in working order it may just be that the pressure switch on the front of the pump head needs to be replaced.

Q: We purchased a sprayer from you that has a Honda GX160 motor and a 410xl roller pump. We modified the system to have two spray guns, and with the added gun we are experiencing lower psi than we desire. What would be the best solution? Would the 6500XL-R work for us or would we need more gear reduction? Thank you for your help.

A: The best solution would be modifying the sprayer with a pump that has higher pressure capability like the Hypro Pump - 6500XL-R.  This pump does require a gas engine with gear reduction so you will have to change the engine and pump to make this work.  The 6500XL-R has a max pressure of 300 compared to the 150 psi of the 4101XL which will allow you to generate good pressure on both lines.  If you want to use the same engine you could change the pump to a diaphragm pump with a gear reduction built in. Options for this would be the Hypro Pump - D252GRGI or Hypro Pump - D30GRGI.

Q: I'm using a Shurflo 60 psi 3 gpm pump with a 250 foot hose. Can I hook up two pumps to get more psi at the end of the hose or would one higher psi pump like a 100psi be better?

A: The higher pressure pump would be your best option.  Combining the two pumps in one system could cause issues such as cycling and cavitation leading to premature failure.

Q: We spray a lot of bleach with handheld pump style sprayers. However we go through a lot of them because of corrosion. Do you have something that is of a higher quality?

A: Bleach can be very corrosive and eat away at the seals of most handheld sprayers.  To combat this Solo manufactures a 1 gallon Bleach sprayer.  The Viton seals and poly wand increase the corrosion resistance and should increase the life of the sprayer.  Here is a link to it on our website: http://www.sprayerdepot.com/Shop-by-Category/Solo-Handheld-Sprayers/405B

As you can see we a lot can be learned by reading our blog posts.  Additionally, you can always feel free to contact us at 800-228-0905 or email us directly with your questions at info@sprayerdepot.com.