I have pumped a few yards of concrete. I have watched a few yards get pumped by other operators. I have an observation and opinion about many of the hose whipping incidents. This was not discussed in committee. This was not read in any book. This is a real world, on the job truism.

Most of the hose whipping (on initial start up) that I have seen myself has happened for all the right reasons, albeit the wrong results.

Sure, there is always the odd/stupid start the pump in reverse and think that you can ‘pressure’ your way out of it but the bears share is for one reason.

The operator sees the water or prime come out of the tip hose and turns the pump off too early… WHY?... because he doesn’t want to make a big messy pile of wet, sloppy concrete on the job and piss off the contractor. The result is that the washed out, over wet, segregated mess is left in the last pipe going UP and separates/plugs while he swings the boom over to the soon to be covered in grout hose man. The resultant mess may make it to the tip 90s and no further. And sometimes to the 5x4 and no further.

Now comes the fun part; back it up two strokes, which does NOTHING for the plug, and shoves it back into forward pumping and POW!!! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

Don’t turn the pump off until all of that prime is on the ground.

It is easier to clean up the pile than the hose man. ;~)

When concrete comes out not slurry not water but pure concrete is when i think u should stop.

10-4

--Also knowing the pump you operate-- counting and knowing that it takes XX amount of strokes to prime...the pump I run takes 10 strokes...I stop at 11. 1 stroke of concrete on the ground isn't going to stop the world...besides, what are they going to do--beat me up???

I agree wolfman!

It's easier to clean up a mess or as Bob said,  a hose man.  To me, it's not worth any of that. Go ahead and get good mud flowing. It sure does beat getting stopped up too!!!!   

when i see it ends up beeing about a wheel barrow

takes about 6 strokes to get over the top

when i'm priming my pump on any job and in any pump i feel that it is the most important thing that is going on at that job.  with out me everything comes to a halt.   so if i dont prime the pump right or i plug it up we got big problems.   i will keep pumping until i get nothing but concrete that looks like the mix that is coming down the chute of the mixer coming out of my tip hose..  play it safe out there.  we are the professionals out there dont let the contractor dictate how you should be doing your job.  make them happy but be safe about it

i started out on schwings' and now running a 2008 putz i like the grout port to prime out. fill it up with water and away we go. now to the  real question? as long as you get it past the turett and up the main you can stop. as the start ones out there not all the way up the main (you big bumb me) . meaning that once the mud falls there is no turning back of course if you water washed the nite before.

Several outfits have adopted this safety policy: NO ONE is to be near or around the point of discharge when priming, Line pumps included. I've made this a personal rule. Its a good one. If I gotta prime in a barrel or the mixer, I man the hose

I prime out until there is good concrete coming out. I then move the boom to where they want me to sart. I tell them once again to stay away until I get a good stream out of the hose. I have seen many times after the prime a plug occour in the hose. Just a safe measure I take helping to save lives.

my pump is about 7-8 strokes so i stop it about 9-10, then they say i put a yard on the ground but i say hey i prime out , what do u want me to do plug?