does anyone  know how to stop my pipe jaming, most of my jobs seem to need to start from my trailer pump, and work away, brilliant for cleaning up at the end of the job, but a git for jamming!, i grout as much as i can but you can only do so much and ive tried wetting the pipe but still does it, ive only been pumping for about 5 weeks now, so any useful hints would be very welcome, iv got 250 metres pipe all steel 4inch pumped by a 97 sidewinder. hope someone can get me out of this mess. thanks. herman in the uk.

im  pumping 20mm rc35, its a very smooth mix nearly creamy if you like, the primer i use is self mix cement slurry i make it quite creamy aswell, but like i said, most of my jobs start at the pump and work away. how do i prime all the inside of each pipe as i add on?   

Can you put the pump on the other side of the placement? You really have to prime all your line at the start of the job and break down as you go. How long have you been pumping concrete.   

the problem i have is that i have only been pumping for 5 weeks, i have been on farms and diggers for most of my life, still im only 30 now! im trying to keep costs down and do most of the work myself, just till i get things off the ground, then i will look at getting someone in to work with me.

so in the mean time i get the builders to help me which they are more than happy to do, as i am cheaper than most in liverpool and surrounding areas, so i like the idea of blowing out my line with air. it makes it quick and clean as you will know. so thats my problem. what do you think i should do? 

where are you based seed?

The first two years are tough. When you are new in this business. you will do just about anything because you really do not know the dangers. Pumping concrete is very dangerous. This site is a great reference. Be sure to read all the post. Reverse the pump before breaking down for a plug, Wear safty equipment. I have been pumping for only eight years and I still hate to use air! Make sure you have a ball catcher. Prime all your line at the start of the placement. Good luck keep up posted.

got a catcher, and saftey is top of my list, thanks for helping seed.

I am on the east coast of the USA.

speedy thanks for your reply, i have only got two three mtr flexy pipes on the end, but on monday i will order a longer length in one, that has been a great help to me.

this has got to be the best site ever, because all the companys ive tried over here just try and sell you what ever they can to make money, and not to make your life any easier.

thanks a lot guys. 

the best way of line pumping is to start from the farthest point. but i have have some tips that might help you in your situation. try setting the line up to where you can prime all at once but loop the end back to where you want to start that way when you start pumping you just work your way back without breaking the line down. depending on what you have its sure to work for alot of jobs. 

when i go out alone on my truck i usually dont get help from nobody. so i make up my own system of pumping solo the easy way for me is to first look how you want the hose to move. using pins to stop line surge place the couplers in the way you want the hose to move then pin them down. now all you do is let the surge move your hose. you may have to run back and forth to keep the slack away from things that cant be disturbed like screed pins forms plumming and ect. if you got guys to help you on the job then good you can get them to do that. also i dont know if you guys reduce your lines there but we usually run a max of 100 ft of 3 inch hoses to pump 3/4 inch mixes any longer we run 4 inch lines at the pump. i run 4 legths of 3 inch hoses 25 ft long. i usually take them off 2 legth at a time and just drag them back to where the 4 inch lines are. say if my run is 200 ft long im using 100 ft of 4 inch line and 100 ft of 3 inch line i would break the first 2 legths of hose and depending on how long it might take to hook them back up  i will either dump them or just drag them to the pump. if you dump the hoses dont wash the inside. when you use them again just put a little water it will lube the line better then just plain water. when your pulling your hoses back loop them to the side of your pipes that way the next break down all you have to do is pull one end back to your first 2 legths of hoses. make sure you pump out the hose if you dumped it befor you reconnect the line. now the end that was hooked up to your reducer becomes the end. take off the reducer make sure you hooper is low so you can suck back your pipline. take pipes off then reconnect hoses and pump. i know it sounds hard but its really fast and easy.

and i also DO NOT like using air it is very dangerus.

i have been pumping for 5 years now operating a trailer pump. if you need any more help just leave me a message. if you havnt seen my slide show ceck it out here http://www.concretepumping.com/index.php?mode=people_card&p_id=730  you can see how we do it here in honolulu hawaii.

nice truck they dont have them like that here!

ive taken all of your advice in and will try it out this week, as i have a new build foundation job to do, not the biggest job ever but it all helps.

thank a lot for helping me out mate.