Just a question for you z boomers, when you first start out pumping do you put the boom in an A frame to prime and when your cleaning out do you put it in an A frame or do you just put the balls in and suck them back?

You can prime in either A or Z configurations. It can be a bit tricky in Z if you pipes arent squeaky clean. You can suck a sponge either way as well but in my opinion it isn"t wise to do so in the Z configuration. It just leaves too much to chance that something will be left behind...

Working for a larger company at the moment, I've had the opportunity to work with a number of Z-boom pumps of different sizes and different brands. I have never had any trouble priming them in Z configuration but I prime a little bit faster than I normally would with a roll and fold. That being said, on the larger machines, I don't push my luck. I prime up in roll and fold and then configure into the Z position. It would also depend on the mix as I'm sure you understand the science behind priming a pump and how priming in a Z configuration goes against normal theory about concrete pumping we have believed to be true in the past.

As far as cleaning out is concerned, again, it probably depends on the machine. I've been on machines where they don't want to suck back in Z and machines that suck back with no dramas what so ever. I'm sure cleanliness of pipes and airtight ness of your system plays a role as well but do whatever works for you. To be more efficient as far as time is concerned on the Z-folds that don't suck back very easily, I will usually put my sponge in, proceed to start folding up until my boom sections are horizontal or until the boom is positioned so gravity is working in your favor and proceed to fold up the boom while you are sucking back.

I never prime in Z. Why take the risk? Then I rather put 1-2-3 up and 4 down..

I always prime in z,sometimes 10 feet off the bumper just cause that was the only spot,I prime nice and slow maybe a 1000rpms and about 2 or3 on the volume ,cleaning out I will put my sponge in and get every thing straight up you'll here the ball come back when your straight enough.

when you prime in z never have section completly vertical and if you work inside you can also such your sponge completely flat boom it works but only one sponge at the time... after first sponge such put water and another sponge to clean prefectly pipe and its also easier to prime with a very clean pipe. I got a cap and i put than at the end of the boom to keep pipes wet. 

Ok.. Here is the sience:

The reason why we have always put the boom in A frame is this: You start pumping through the pipes standing up, water ahead of the concrete.. A thin layer of slurry will hang in the pipes so the first lets say bucket of concrete will loose a lot of slurry which leaves rock and water.. No problem when pipes are standing up in an angle.. the rocks will kind of role ahead of the concrete..  Once you get it over the top the rock and water will just fall down the pipes standing down so no plug.

In Z these rocks and water will come to a stand still in the botom of the 2nd section. Rocks and water is not pumpable so this can cause a rock plugg when the rest of the concrete comes after and starts to push.

Maybe you get lucky 199 out of 200 times but one day you will get a bit shity mix and it will bite you in the ass.. You want that? Or do you play safe?

Do it the way you want but if it was my building site and a pumper would plug trying to prime in Z I would defenately not pay for the hours and mixer trucks waiting etc..

O yea.. And don't believe people that say they NEVER have a problem. I know several pumpers that talk like that.. But the customers tell me very different stories

I prime out in A or Z in my opinion it should be an open Z I haven't had the balls to try a tight Z yet. I'll suck back in A or Z aswell when sucking back in the Z the sponge will only suck back when the boom lays down in the cradle in my expieriance anyway, I usually suck back a little past 2 on the vol. I've never had a problem priming out when I suck back in the Z it never leaves anything behind. To each his own though. 

I seem to be able to suck back much slower A framed when I suck back z folded the ball leaves some concrete behind.  I feel the A frame does a much better job of cleaning the pipes. As for priming I've had good luck both ways but I've also plugged both ways. 

I have noticed that these times I plug the boom on prime (maybe once every 2 years) I can always blame it on myself.. If you follow the basic rules to the bone you should be good.

Once I primed in Z and plugged. 

Twice I had 1-2-3 horizontal and 4 slightly down..

Once I stoped and closed the aircuf to early.. Mannaged to stop all the rock and water on top of the aircuff which caused a rock plug in the last 2 bends..

Once I got a hopper full of rock and still tried to prime instead just dumping the sh*t..

Etc.. All these situations could have been avoided if I would have sticked to the things I learned over the years..

I've been able to prime the 32ZZ Alliance that we have in all sorts of Z Boom configs and only ever been bit in the ass a couple time due to excessively rocky mix from the same supplier we consistantly have mix issues with. I hear Slick pack works well. Haven't tired it. This particular pump is nice for pulling a sponge back to. I just pump out, fold up and set boom in cradle and put sponge in and go. As for bigger booms. I'll always A frame as best as I can for priming and suckin a sponge.