Hello I am new to  concrete pumping I have been working doing this job for 1 yr now. I have  10 plus yrs of exp first with driving a mixer then on a belt truck and then telebelt and now on a pump. I was let go from a company because the owner of a company was enraged because I did not like using a soft ball to clear the pipe and the 2 operators that taught me used a square sponge. I need to know what is the best way to clear your pipe soft ball or square.

When the s... hit the fan and I opened a pipe it was about one fifth full of hard concrete long before I ever was on this pump The owner said I did it but you could tell it was there for at least 6 months and I tried to explain the soft ball was going past it he did not believe me and well that was that. Now this was on a roll and fold I am now operating a Z boom and find it almost impossible to suck a sponge when in  Z pattern and always have to stand it straight up to clean it  The pipe always comes clean but what am I doing wrong 

It is possible to suck a sponge back in Z fold, however you need to have the boom extended more on the first and third sections. alan is right. Use little nerf soccer balls and add 5 gallons in the tip hose after the first ball is back, both balls should wind up in the hopper, orone in the hopper and one in the transition. Your pipe will be ttally clean after that. I never have any build up.

Russ

If you have problems getting the correct Ball for cleaning out. Wait while the boss is round the corner listening the the guys talking. Then say 5 gallons of hydraulic oil through the boom does it for me. Then hide.