My little buddy thinks it works pretty good also

The rest of us think the same thing. Is this the first time you ever sucked a sponge?

Just kidding

Use a large sponge ball, there remains too much concrete in the pipeline

You must have a good sponge. I use two with water in between.

But that is one Cool Dog.

Thank you he's awesome. yea i use a 8X8 square sponge works grb

Thanks for the pics and you are correct, sucking a sponge or “pig’ back through the pipe is the preferred way to clean a pipe line system. It proves the most reliable for all the variations of mud and skill levels. It is the only method outlined in a Putzmeister manual due to the reliability factor.

Of course even that can be screwed up by using a worn out or wrong size sponge, even leaking clamps and sucking back to fast will cause issues.

This is not to say it is the only way to clean out, and operators around the world have been quite creative in the variations.

The end result must be a clean system safely done leading to a successful prime the next pour.

P.S What is the name of your partner?   

I use the cube sponge too. LOL

creativity can be a good thing but nothing beats good old common sense and experience

that sure sounds like a waste of water everyday to throw away 100 gallons. And extra time on the clock that is not needed. Just suck it back right the first time and there are no rocks left behind. Slow and steady is the key.

I mostly water wash but on occassion do suck back a sponge to keep in practice. I like to put a rag over the ball so it fits tighter, that and there is less clean up of the ball when you are done.

I have my guys run a sponge and water back through the lines everyday at the shop. Good for seals and nice and very clean pipe! I think the time and water spent is ok versus time and cost of pluging on prime.

Well, there is no reason to plug on a prime if you know how to suck a sponge the right way. I understand that you say it will save the gaskets. But take that 5 minutes everyday being charged to the company plus the cost of water. How much cheaper is that than buying 4 or 5 swivel gaskets and the time to change them quarterly if they happen to wear out that soon. I do not see your logic. I feel in the long run, that your way is costing more money. As far as clean pipes..... they do not have to be so clean that you can eat off of them. But the tiny bit of residue will never plug a pump if sponge is sucked back properly.

I actually do operate a Z boom. A 40 meter putz. The line makes no difference because you wash that out separately. You are correct about to mud being too wet and leaving too much residue behind. But I just do not see how it is cost effective. But if it works for you then that is great. We are in a serious drought here and save as much water as possible.

Hahaha, the man from Sweden was probably me..... Yes, it´s known in Sweden that Bergen allways have rainy weather - and alot of snow in the winterseason combined whith dangerous steeply hills. Not so nice to drive a heavy vehicle in your area at winterseason. Some trailertruck-drivers i know have told me what a nightmare it is. 

.....And the police will give tickets if there is no snowchains on the drivingwheels. I suppose you know very well how to put on snowchains to the pump, whith a headlight and frozen fingers early in the morning. I´m not so jealous to drive on thoose road you drive on, at the winterseason.