Do you use a 'factory' ball?  Or a store-bought ball?  Like a Nerf soccer ball.

Hard, medium or soft?

Or a cylinder?

Or an 8 x 8 square?

How many use 'go-devils'?  I know Vasa has his own creation for a go-devil.

I figured I'd milk this kind of topic while it has so many hot under the collar.  LOL

If people know too much to learn any more they probably quit learning in the 10th grade. Sponge is very important. If you go with what they put in the manual or tell you at the store its not right. I had a 42 meter a couple years ago and was sucking a 5" soft ball. The one they sent from Schwing. Just try to prime rot gut footing mix with a hard ass big shot contractor breathing down you neck and three trucks lined up when you pack in the third section (because your pipes have build up). Yes this information is important. Also interesting. Since I figured out to suck two balls with water in between I can prime dry if I feel like it. Oh, and the ball I use is a POOF foot ball from Target.Best sponge I've tried.

I use an 8X8 damp sponge every time never had an issue.

I now use 8 x 8 cube after problems with soft balls not cleaning pipe, mostly buildup in elbows.  Cube really works well with our 37 m.

pumpjockey

Are we having problems? Is this just an informational question?

No, no problems. 

 I just wanted to make sure that we cover the basics every couple weeks from here on out, in case there are new pumpers coming up with all the prime used iron out there. LOL

I've been sucking 2 sponges back like Alto. I know how to water wash as well, I've never done a bucket wash. The last 2 times, I've cut balls, the $20.00 orange ones, so I'm switching to the Wally World 'POOF' soccer and basketballs, they are different sizes and densities. The first ball always gets by the ball catcher, I may have to modify it.

that's what i'm talkin 'bout,experimentation,good for you

come on man, factory sponges are what they were designed for. try blowing back a cylinder sponge or a nerf ball on a placing boom, you'll have build up in every 90, its all how you were taught but I think a hard "schwing" ball is something every operator should have on his pump, how you wash it determines how long it lasts, quit listening to les andwaiting for the ball to float in the hopper, Ive had the same ball for 2 months.

Priming port with a stopping pin is awesome for NOT cutting balls.
Or just set the cutting ring so loose it don't cut the balls, like on a pump I ran once... lol

What size balls do you guys use?
I like to use 7" ball for my 5" pipe, 6" for 4" system and 4" for 3-2".

Pumpjockey I don't use "My" godevil more since I got a Putz 46-5 , betwen boom 4 and 5 the 90 bends have a thighter radius so it won't pass them... But if I rebuild it and have more space betwen the disc it will work . Now I use two medium 5.5" balls with water betwen them , and it works fine . Prime with water (10 liter , about 2-3 gallons) and it works to 99.9% of the start , sometime if I have a 3" endhose I get a rockpack in the reducer , but if I prime the boom first and conect the 3" after it is no problem. And I have a ballcatcher so the balls hold for 1-2 year depending how much steelfibre I pump .

it really dos'nt matter what you use to clean out.the key is how slow can you go? if the object go's to fast it will leave build up in elbows,hense- causing plugs. the manuals say extend boom full out,insert sponge and raise boom while sucking back.never had problems using this method.and i have used almost anything that can be balled up from the shirt off my back to news paper and alluminum cans.SSSllooowww.

I carry a few different things on the pump with me.I have the 5.5 inch hard ball..(dont much care for that one).I have an 8x12 cylinder (not to shabby).Got a 12"x12"?? Sponge (works pretty dern good.Also have a 6 inch medium ball that I soaked in diesel for a couple days to swell it and loosen it up a little (like that one on best of all my apparatus')..But mostly I am a water washer...Ready mix companies here are cool with letting me do it in their drum and contractors love how little of a mess I leave after wards!! Now as for "pulling a ball" back (I refuse to tell people I "Suck a ball"!!..Sucking balls is for hookers) I will lay the fourth section down almost flat towards at the hopper,spray in a bunch of water,Make sure to try and get between the last 2 90's cleaned up good (as they do the most swiveling),Bring the truck just barely up off an idle,Volume at about 25% and start my pull,Stand the boom straight up and the bring it back down and listen to the end..We all know the sound change when the ball gets in the swing 90 right,AND by pulling the ball back that slow I have NEVER cut a ball up,I have had the same ball for almost 2 years...(oh and I always recirculate and get the mud at about a 6 inch slump whan pulling a ball or sponge back)

A too hard or too big ball is not good either. It will get stuck in the elbows.. Then build up a huge under pressure and when it comes loose it will fly with 200mph through your pipe leaving a lot of sh*t behind. It should go smooth. I use a medium 5'' ball. but i let it lay in a bucket of water at all times. It will than expand a bit so it will be a bit stiffer and bigger. 2 bals with water in between is perfect but you might risk cutting one. A hard ball is the worst but you can use it in addition. Never just the hard ball. Want to get a real shiny inside of your pipes for when you have a really important day tommorow???? Pump a load of water through your system and suck a ball again. :-)