I am new to the site.I am a crane operator by trade. I have been pumping for about 3 months now, and I can say it is interesting a bit more than I am use to.I have a new 32z and want to keep it clean, the pipe.Where is the best place to buy 5 inch balls and is 5 inch what I want. soft,med,or hard. lets keep it clean thanks...

Hey, i can't really help u with that, but it's cool to know there are other new guys out there! Me and my brother are buying a Schwing 32XL, its supposed to be ready on Thursday, I havn't run a boom much, been line pumpin for a couple years so i guess we'll see if boomin is as much fun as u guys say it is.

Let me till you a secret, Don,t laugh at this. Go to toys are us and look for the mini soccer balls, I think those work great.And a lot cheaper also. I hope this works for you.

Check these out. I think that there are about 25 or so in a box... and you can not beat the price. ;~)

http://www.shoplet.com/office/db/CSIRD7.html

TOYS-R-US IS MY SOURCE. HOW I WASH OUT IS STILL EVOLVING  THE WATER WASH CAPTURED MY ATTENTION AND SOMETIMES IS USED (SOMETIMES I EVEN NEED THAT LAST 1/4 YARD TO AVOID A CALL BACK.) THE SEATTLE BUCKET WASH I USE SOMETIMES. THE TWIST I ADD IS SUCK BACK WATER FIRST TIME. SECOND ROUND SUCKBACK  COUPLE STROKES AND REACH DOWN AND STICK MY BALL IN.  DON'T DO THIS OFTEN BUT IF MUD WAS HOT I LIKE THAT LITTLE EXTRA INSURANCE.

TOY-R-US DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME INVENTORY SO YOU MAY HAVE TO CHECK MORE THAN ONE STORE OR CHECK BACK. I DO GET A FOAM BALL. I HAVE A ROUGH-NECK 5 TO 4 AND IT CAN BE A PAIN TO GET BALL STARTED ON ITS WAY BACK SO A REAL HARD BALL IS OUT. TRIAL AND ERRER. SOMEGUYS ALWAYS TAKE THE HOSE OFF.

is 7 inch to big and you must chew those up fast.

in regards to shoplet.com

7" is the correct size.

The exercise is to clean the pipe; and that includes the 6X5 reducer. I used these, and sold these for years. They are difficult to start in a 5" hose... if it was easy little girls would do the job. They clean very well. If you are a good pipe 'tapper' they last a long time. If you do not pay attention the valve will cut them in half; your choice. And NO, they will not go into a reducing hose.  

THANKS

been using the same 7" ball for just over 1 year now still in good shape cleans pipe&reducers no probs

Thanks for the help i just ordered a few. I will let you no what I think...

I was just siting here thinking about what i said. I know I messed up with the toys are us thing. What i meant was the Nerf mini soccer balls, I got at toys r us. Sorry for that

Cifa Z,

The folks at Cifa make it easy, they provide the "Ball stop" right in the swing out 90.

Good feature. ;~)

Cifa Z,

One nerf ball has lasted you over a year now?

WOW!!

I have been using the same two sponge balls all this season....Like Bob says, be a good "tapper", I tape on my deck pipe just before where it drops down toward the hopper.  If you are sucking back at the lowest rpms, and lowest volume the sponge shouldn't get sucked in and chopped up.  When the sponge reaches the back of the hopper the pipes get larger and the air then passes by the sponge and it will be sitting there everytime.  The key is low and slow....if you go fast it can be sucked into the cylinders and then possibly chopped up.  Fast sucking can also cause the sponge to collapse and not clean the pipes well.

I got to use a Reed Dragonfly last year, it also had a prime port and a ball stopper pin.