what is the best possible way to prime a boom with about 20m of rubber 3 1/2 inch line with a slight downhill

i use slick prime and i always seem to plug up about 5 or 6 metres from end  , i use about 15 litres of slick, and i have a t piece on my deckline, so i know the prime is ahead of the crete

Put a ball in front of the slurry.This will hold the slurry so it doesnt run away from the mud.

thats the ticket.

Ahhh the old plug in the line caper.Well alot depends on many things.the speed in which you prime,how wet mud is,primer pack,angle of system.When I was in those situations I always added an extra an extra slick pac.I took enough of a stroke backwards to get rock to throw and half stroke back,then throw forward.By what you discribe is a classic of to wet on prime and seperating.By catching that 1/2 reverse stroke helps insure the primer gets back to the mix.Remember that if all your primer is pushed ahead of mix you can bank on problems,rock pack.

That's the best way when you have to go down hill

Pumpon,another thought for memory.Years ago I pumped on the Alpine slide at Breckenridge,Co.The pushes were 1200 uphill and 1200 downhill.I told these folks I wanted 4000 psi w/grout for uphill pushes and 5000 w/grout for downhill pushes.I was promptly told by supplier I was nuts.Well the ski area bought my story and never a problem.When pushing that far uphill a little wetter and still get strength.downhill you need the fines and a bit drier (seperation).I did all the downhill towers in 1 1/2 hours,they expected 5-6 hours.Was it worth it? go figure hey.

when you say put a ball in system , where do you put it  and whats size ?

Pumpon,I would say your 1st hose out of reducer.It doesn't have to be a ball,a bunch of rags,wad up newspaper and tape,your shirt (I have),anything that will slow down the flow of grout or primer.If it is to much it will tend to pressure out pump,lord knows what happens next.Remember your objective is simple,just slow the primer down so it won't run away from your mix.Hope it helps

prime the pump into a couple of five gallon buckets with a gallon of water to separate the rock out to make grout, put it in the line and hook up. arrange the hose in a fish hook shape and dump lime slurry in the tip, then follow it up hill to coat the top of the hose like 80% coverage. bomba

The best way is to place a thin gauge plastic bag, (the ones you get off a roll in the fruit & vegy section of the food market) every 4 or 5 pipes .... kinda like a membrane, over the pipe and held there by the clamp gasket.

The bags hold back the prime and will bust as the mix passes through. Newspaper will also work. Also prime fast.

Digger,

The plastic "speed brakes" sound like an inovative/great idea. ;~)

you know i was thinking about using shopping plastic bags today before i read it on the post cause , when i clean my line after i blow out with water , before i fold up iwith hose connected i put a plastic bag over end of hose and hold it on and seal it with gasket from clamp

i have a whole bunch of plastic bags on mhy pump

 diggers trick is the only way i pump down hill pours i pick up classifides from the drive ins here when we eat lunch. stock them when i run out get more. best part is its free.

 if you use grocery bags make sure you dont double it up 1 layer is enough.

Cool ideas, hehe everyone seems to have great ways to make it work, I hate line but have done 350ft strait, but get the butterflies when buddy says I want no plugs hehe.

Dumb mudheads.

try a 2 to 1 grout thats all you need sometimes people in here make things harder than they need be have never had a plug when using 2 to 1 could push crete from perth to china without a problem if you use correct prime

Digger, I like that, sounds like Vasa's way of priming with the plastic bag on his boom pump.  BRILLIANT!!! 

the best way i found out is to use water my dads been pumping concrete for 26 years and he has be usein water and haveint had a prob wen i started every one thought the slick willie was the best but it well just mess ya up in the long run but try just water next time trust me it wont trun ya down more the better i wood say

Pump Kid

Steven Gall