hello everyone i'm new to operating pump trucks and don't know alot about it i'm having some problems with the pump clogging between trucks. with only about 5 minutes wait time do anyone have any suggestions of what i might be doin wrong.............

what pump are you runnin, Alliance, Putzmeister, Concord...

what size of pump, pea gravel Pump, Big Rock pump, Boom Pump. 28meter, 36meter 42meter....

Let us have a bit more info.

its a putzmeiser 32z, im using three quarter stone

Is this every job or just one. You gotta know your mixes (thats half the battle). If its every time, it may have build up or try reversing 1-2 strokes before each time you start a truck. Check your wear parts in the hopper. I'm not familier with putz cause all I have are schwings and if the pressure spring or kidney seal are wore out, it could make for a long day. Can you tell where its plugging cause if its towards the end, make sure the tip hose isn't coming apart inside. Lots of senarios (sp) Are all your gaskets good? Make sure there isn't grout spewing somewhere, tower????

yeah what Xforce said. I don't know what you are pumping, is it the same rm plant all the time? A lot of residential mixes will bleed when they sit even for a few minutes, usually due to lower cement content and poor gradation of sand in the mix.  usually reversing the pump for 2 or 3 strokes will get you going again.  My experience had taught me that 99 percent of pumping problems are with the concrete not the pump, no matter what the batch plant or mixer drivers tell you.  Learn to assert yourself when they try to blame you for their problems.     

the pump im operating has only 800 hours on it so i don't think it's the pump i say its lack of knowledge on my part. i have another question what's the proper way to center your pistons???????????

What is your goal for centering the pistons? Not sure what your trying to acheive. Let us know, we'll try to help. Nothing wrong with questions, we all need help sometimes and if you don't ask, you won't learn. You may ask a question that will save a "boom party" someday. (Party you don't want no part of if you haven't heard of it)

Go with what xrock and gforce said.More than likely a worn out cutting ring.That's the ring on end of s tube next to the cylinders in the hopper.When you wash out watch for water coming out from around it.You should have a spare one.And the gasket that goes with it.If you look in the putz book it will show you how to adjust it.Just make sure you bleed off accumalater pressure first,and take the key out of truck

Mix is segregating and last shot is all rock.  Keep hopper full as possible when truck empties.  Back and forth to get it through.  Mix is non air-entrained is the worst.

was on another job today and i thought the pump was plugged but i was lookin in the water box and when one of the pistons came all the way back it seemed like she wasn't switching over she just kept on trying to pull the piston up,i checked the limiting switches and all the lights came on at the correct time, so then i reverse the piston for only about three feet then switch it forward again and she would pump again. so that seemed to me that the pistons were off timing or something, another question my accumulator pressure is low so what trouble can that give me.........

Also, I havent had to use this...yet ;) but you might give this Free Pump Mechanic on left hand side of the site a call!  Looks pretty handy.

What I would do is call and give him a heads up, then call him when the problem is happening so he can talk you thru a few things.  You'll be amazed how much us pumpers love to talk thru this stuff and troubleshoot with a live body!

And definitly let us know if you do!

Agreed! No Nitrogen= pumpa sucka!!!!!!!!! On a schwing, there has to be 200 bar but not sure on a putz.

thanks guys for the info it is really helpful i will keep u posted on how my next pump job works out........

I purchased a set of gauges to check and fill my Nitrogen bladder on a Puzt its take 1,450 lbs becareful those little things are dangerous if it gets low it want shift over, but like these guys sain between trucks put a little water in your hopper if you need to swing back around to you hopper and pump into the hopper.

It could be as simple as the mix or drivers getting to much water at the end,or both.Boney mixes will produce the same results,then add to much water (like rinsing the chute) also.

i think my accumulator pressure is low we have someone comming in the morning to check it out.........

On a schwing its 200bar on the relief setting 100bar for the nitoren charge on the accumulator

And ?

Was it the accumulator?

an accumulator stores energy; when you shift your rock valve or whatever is on the back end, you need, for a splitsecond, a lot of oil, the accumulator stores that amount of oil needed; at the same time it reduces the size of hydraulic pump, since you only need the pump to charge the accumulator; make sure you maintain the gas charge;

If the accumulator checks out, Try changing the 2K238 relay. Top center of the combi-box, usually orange in color, but could be black.

i'm not sure what that relay is or where it is, also my accumulator pressure checked out at over 1400 psi, so someone told me it could be water reducers were using any suggestions on this????????????

2K238 relay is located in the combination box on the back of the pump mounted above the water tank(usually gray box with wires and circuits)....where your manual switches are.  If you open the door, it should be located at about the top center.  It will have a label around it saying 2K238.  Usually pretty cheap to replace.

Back to your previous post; was on another job today and i thought the pump was plugged but i was lookin in the water box and when one of the pistons came all the way back it seemed like she wasn't switching over she just kept on trying to pull the piston up,i checked the limiting switches and all the lights came on at the correct time, so then i reverse the piston for only about three feet then switch it forward again and she would pump again. so that seemed to me that the pistons were off timing or something, another question my accumulator pressure is low so what trouble can that give me.........

I'm wondering if you have trash in a check valve somewhere so try this before you put any mud in the hopper next job to pressure out the system:

With the hyd oil warmed up, start the pump in forward.  Adjust the speed to about 1 stroke every 3 seconds or so.  When the s-tube shifts, press and hold the interrupt on the remote.  The pump with shift back and hold the stroke and will sound like it is plugged. This will send max hyd pressure thru that cylinder's circuit and the pressure relief.  You can see this on the pressure gauge.  It will go to about 350bar and bounce back to about 330 and back and forth.

Release the interrupt and press interrupt again to switch the stroke.  Repeat for the other cylinder.

This will help push any trash caught in a check valve or wherever back to the tank where the filter system can catch it.  I used to do this before a long pour or at the begining of a busy day. 

Keep us posted! 

I THINK I FOUND MY PROBLEM I WAS RUNNING THE TRUCK ENGINE ON TO LOW RPM