I just got a new 38z and I'm having problems plugging at the reducers. I use slick pac to prime and have a 5 to 4 reducer then 4 to 3.5 reduced hose. The water and slick pac come out the end followed be alittle material but then it usually plugs. I've tried stopping when the water comes out and letting material slide down the 4th also tried pushing through the plug but can't seem to get it. When I take the hose off it is always in the short reducer of the hose or at the end of the 5 to 4. Well i have to say after getting the plug out and using that 3.5 hose it really seems easy to handle for the guys but not worth the trouble for me if it plugs all the time. Anyone have any suggestions?

mmmm,that's something your gonna have to play with.It could be to much water for prime,mix,pump speed priming.You didn't say about your old pump so no comparison is available,only speculation.

I really wouldn't believe that much difference between old and new.I have had that happen to me before,caused by brain melt.

I never liked those 3 1/2" hoses with the bell reducer ends. Get standard 3 1/2" ends in your hose and buy a 4x3 1/2" reducer. End of problem.

Good thought Bob.I had forgot about some of those hoses that came reduced,Yuk.Yeah,always use the 4x3 1/2 reducer.

five to three and a half is too short i know that you can not hang more system but if you had some four inch run it would work out. i was doing some boney stuff going right to the two and a half hose and would plug after three strokes so i put some three inch hose on that i carry to get it to the ground it is eight feet long and does the trick.

Well this can be 50/50 I have done it 2 ways

1 get rid of the short reducer use a long reducer and Prime as normal but before you attach the hoses put some water/slickie through the hoses roll it through attach and pump slow if it plugs hit the plug with a sledge if it plugs take it apart.

2 Pre wet hose with water/slickie attach every thing but DO NOT suspend the hose in the air at all begin to prime as normal you will here it as it goes through prime slowly I have gone weeks without plugging on prime and then well shit happens.

3 Never and I mean never suspend  any  or all the hoses in the air first of all the boom was not made for this and it is a disaster waiting to happen. I seen a 40m pump around Edmonton Alberta boom straight up and 4 25 footers hanging straight down I know who the company is but wont mention the name. I was driving in my car and when I seen that I put the hammer down and was out of there.

I can tell you this in the same area a diff company who I wont mention did the same thing and was primming and plugged and the plug let go and hose went through a brick wall and filled a high end SUV with concrete.

What gets me is you will get these finishers site supers or who ever.. who know everything about pumping and will try to say oh so and so does that and sometimes you will have to stick to your guns I always try to explain it nice and if that does not work I say get me a bank draft for the cost of the pump plus a 50 million more...to give to the widow or widows and there children and have who ever is giving you a hard time and have them call there other half and say I might not be home for a few yrs to a few decades because I thought I knew everything about pumping concrete. AND I WAS WRONG BUT it is to late.

38zman

4  -  25ft hoses hanging off the end of the boom............ for real?

i dont know why everyone has trouble with this hose,I USE ONE EVERYDAY WITH A 5 TO 3 1/2" REDUCER! IF YOUR USING A 4 TO 3 1/2" REDUCER MAKE SURE IT'S NOT ON UPSIDE DOWN !

nice looking rig by the way there buddy!!!!

About you plugging ordeal; how much newer is that tip hose that the 5 to 4 reducer? If you are trying to get a few more yards out of an older reducer but using a nice brand new tip, you're asking for trouble.  I'm all about trying to get our $$ out of our equipment while it's safe to do so....

But your problem might as simple as that...  The inner diameter of the nice new tip is actually smaller than the inner diameter of the 4' end of the reducer.  I don't care if it's only 16th to an 8th inch difference that's enough to plug you up on a harsh mix..??  

Also, please try and find yourself a straight steel 4 to 3 and half reducer {yeck of a lot more safer}  Here in Colorado, I use a 3 1/2 TIP on 100% of my residental work and have not had a single problem in 7 years other than the occasional fin fish....

There are guys here that use reducing 5 to 4 hoses quite abit, but my argument is WHY??????? IF something comes through like a fin fish or other similiar item that could plug you up, do you really want it to plug and release in the flexible hose,  I HOPE NOT....  I'd much rather have it plug in my steel reducer and just plug me up.  Take it off and beat it out and put right back on.....  NO cat tail hose killing the crew!!!!!!!!!!!

Please think about it!!!  Reducing hoses are super dangerous.....

Sorry for going off on that tangent!!  Let us know, is it an older reducer and nice new tip???

Once again, nice looking rig!!!

truckshow--

Here is an idea. I do this sometimes when i put on some dry hoses. Prime the boom out first. Then put on all of your reducers and hose. Pick up your boom and then let the concrete slowly gravity drop thru the reducers and hose. Then it will be all lubed up for you. This really does work well. It is better than trying to prime thru the reducers with segragated concrete.

Save up and buy a rough neck hose 5-3". Also, rolling your mud in from the side to push the slurry in is a trick. I usually fill to an inch up on the bottom of the barrel. Then Start slow a couple strokes to get the slurry in. I prime fast and don,t let up till you get a stroke out of the other end. If I can I prime in the footing so not to make a mess. It's hard to pump with a 5-3 metal reducer. plugs are no fun.

I have to say that I have never pumped one cubic foot of concrete through a CF Reducing hose. I have watched. I saw a guy prime out fast through one and when the plug was good and solid; the hose looked like a banana, and was hard as woodpecker lips.

Message to self: Pump slow through reducing hose.

Well thanks for all the input, I have a few things to try. Oh it is a new reducer and new hose with steel reducer built right in. She's got a few nice hammer marks on it already though. I believe it's reducer 4, me 0...but I'll keep at it.

Thanks

If it's one of those 3 1/2" tip hoses with the reducing end,bingo.Try using a 4x3 1/2 reducer that's about 18" long.CF has tons of them.

There maybe other reasons? But If I Was u! Leason to truckshow. He is right on the money.

Oh it is a new reducer and new hose with steel reducer built right in.

That was my question. Those hoses with the "built-in" reducers are a pain with any but the sweetest concrete. A real 18" 4x3.5 will solve that problem.

That banana saves you sometimes. Lets you know a plug is starting. Can usually reverse and pound it out. what kind of sponge clean out is 38z useing? Dirty pipes will make priming harder. I switched to a 6" soft, or a 5" hard sponge (ball). 5" soft isn't enough leaves buildup which makes it hard to prime. Also,talk about a back saver, no more cleaning metal reducers. One hose to clean, and hook up makes the day alot easier.