So i Show up to pump today. The readymix truck was a hour late to begin with, the i got a clog in my manifold not once, not twice but three time! in all it was about 40 mins before i finnaly got to pumping. when i gave the guy the bill he said it would be $50 less because his guys had to stand around because of the clogg. I just said ok because i need the work. IS THIS NORMAL OR DID I JUST SCREWW MYSELF. Oh and the mix i was pumping wasn't good. So what should i do next time?????

Sounds like you did the right thing. Smile and keep relations. Word of mouth is by far more important. Why did it plug? What kind of pump and mud were you using? Sounds like something wasn't right?

i have a mayco c30hdn, the mix only had 800lbs of peagravel per yd. and the slump was about a 7. i dont think the company that supplied it does not have a pump mix though. i use another ready mix company and have never had a prob, other than maybe seperation at the end of the hose to start off. so i dont know why this company's mix doesn't pump well.

Thats not much rock. The more sand the more cement needed, but sandy mixes usually pump fine. How do you prime? Its very important to coat the hose. I dump 5 gallons ( bentonite well drillers slick) in the hose directly. Then don't put anything in the hopper. that way there's no segregation. If it primes out then the mud is Ok. Or pumps later then it's not the mud it's the priming method. I don't use slick pack it's water based and segregates the mud and plugs. Masonry mix works well also.

how much sand did you have and how much cement and flyash ,you should have had at least 500 lbs of cement and 150 lbs of flyash per yard with a 7 inch slump it should have a greasy look when laying in the hopper also make sure you peagravel will pass a half inch screen, pumping is fun plugging is hell.

Brian a C-30 will only pump 900 lbs at the most I was a dealer for a while then I found out about all they are good for is grout.

Yeah but you can make them work, push is push. Problem is they sell them with 2" hose. that's hard with any pump. The mix has to be right for sure.

this company doesnt use flyash, i think thats the problem. and the hose didnt plug to day. i have been trying slick pack as a prime i got some free samples. but even with a sponge it seems to run way ahead of the concrete. I think air is pushing it.? today i just kept packing in the manafold where it reduces from five to three inches.  and the driver thought it was to dry and i told him two weeks ago i pumped a 4500 mix at about a 4 to 5. it was so dry that the guys finishing it wanted it wet up after they saw it come out of the hose and i didnt have a problem at all with pluggs from start to finish.

I have a 305 Schwing, a small s tube pump. I have a problem priming with slick. Like i said i use bentonite, but the next best thing is just masonry cement. Mix it to a consistency of a milk shake, that way it'll coat the whole hose. Yes a sponge usually gets pushed out by air. And any dry hose will plug. Masonry cement will coat your hose and mix nicely with the concrete to keep the fines in. It's just a little more work to mix a bucket of cement every time but its much easier than plugging. Keep your slick pack for an add mixture if needed to make bad mud pump. Just throw a bucket full in the truck and mix. Makes it more pumpable. Emergency only.

Here is something to try when it want pump carry some plain liquid dish soap put one bottle in the mixer and have him spin it for 10 min's it will ad air bubbles but only in a last rezorte. as soon as you can get rid of the 2 inch hose, take your 3 inch to 2 inch reducer and cut it where its 2 1/2 inch buy a 2 1/2 inch weld on thats what I used everytime using my line pump and save some money.

thanks guys i really appreciate th tips. and where can i pick up some of the benonite?

Do you have a concrete tool business where you live, plus a well drilling supply its about 10.00 a 50 lb bag.

Find a well driller or supply and get it from them. i think its called quick gell.

Remember your trying to chase water with mud.Water moves with less resistence and espeacially a bad load without many fines in it. Try using a small peice of insulation not so big that it wil plug the hose but will let a lot of air by. Sounds pointless but it slows down the water by blocking it a little and also lets enough air by so it doesnt get push out by air. Use your descretion on the size. Remember if you dont prime fast enough to push the water to fill the hose than your only coating the bottom and if you have a long push your hose will ubsorb any moisture in the mud and give you a nice plug or pack. Thicken up your water with watever works well and take into consideration distance (how many hose,etc.). I used old oil, diesel, soap waterd down, super greasy rags. Just remember lube up and prime out fast with whatever pump. Your chasing your prime so it coats the hole thing.

Also, if you plugged in the manifold, or reducer? Right at the pump, you must have dropped the mud into the water slurry? Then it segregated and plugged right away? Thats why I dump it in the hose and put nothing in the hopper or pump the slurry threw then add the mud. Spray diesel oil in the hopper for easy clean up and rust preventative. It'll pump, it just takes more experience with this type of pump.