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Flojet pump not turning off (Solenoid stays open)

jaudas

New member
Appreciate any insight here. The solenoid for my tire cleaner in my SS keeps getting stuck open, so then the Flojet pump continues to run even after the bay turns off. I can disconnect power to the solenoid and the Flojet still runs. I take off the valves, clean out the plungers, rinse the manifold and it seems to work correctly for a week or so. Then gets stuck open again. I replaced the manifold block and solenoids, emptied and cleaned the hydrominder tank, took all the lines and fittings from the hydrominder tank to the solenoid off, rinsed them and replaced, but it continues to happen. Also it is mainly just on one station in a double bay. Any thoughts? Thanks again.
 
Is your tire cleaner going to the HP gun? If so, could be a bad check valve, allowing hp water back to your solenoid and causing damage
 
Appreciate any insight here. The solenoid for my tire cleaner in my SS keeps getting stuck open, so then the Flojet pump continues to run even after the bay turns off. I can disconnect power to the solenoid and the Flojet still runs. I take off the valves, clean out the plungers, rinse the manifold and it seems to work correctly for a week or so. Then gets stuck open again. I replaced the manifold block and solenoids, emptied and cleaned the hydrominder tank, took all the lines and fittings from the hydrominder tank to the solenoid off, rinsed them and replaced, but it continues to happen. Also it is mainly just on one station in a double bay. Any thoughts? Thanks again.
The only thing you haven't done is to change out the flo-Jet pump, try that and see what happens. Do you have a strainer on the discharge of your chemical tank. If you don't you want to install a 50 or 80 mesh strainer. https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-11...ner-with-clear-bowl-1-2in-80-mesh-screen.aspx
 
I had this happen last summer. I threw new solenoids at it 1st, problem stayed, new flowjet, problem stayed. Replaced every high pressure check valve on the roof in the trough and problem went away. The pressure was backfeeding to the solenoid causing it to jam the plungers in. Id probably start there.
 
Thanks, sorry I left out I replaced the Flojet. I do not have a strainer, I will add one there. And It does go to the HP gun, I will replace the check valve and report back. Thank you!
 
That's why you need to replumb the FloJet's air input to ONLY come on when a bay calls for product. You can use a PLC (or other multiplexer) to open an air solenoid when any bay requests product.

You'll do what I suggest, after you've pumped enough expensive soap down the drain for absolutely no good reason. Trusting a solenoid to dead head the pump is asking for trouble.
 
How many bays do you have? You could always build a relay board to control an air solenoid valve. They aren't very hard to build and it would a lot less expensive.
 
Thanks everyone. I replaced the check valve yesterday. I didn’t see it leak last night, so hopefully that was it. Thanks again. I do have a separate solenoid to run the air. Interesting, once I replaced the valve, I checked the bay and only had chemical coming out with no air. I found the solenoid on the air line had gone bad, so I replaced that and everything works great. My other station in the same bay didn’t have any issues. I was so concerned about the Flojet not turning off before, I am not sure now how long that solenoid has been out. Any chance that was creating any issue. I would not think so, but thought I would throw it out.
 
I'll chime in....What Randy is talking about is like whats pictured below. The first time I had a solenoid stick open and I waisted 5 gallons of presoak, this is what I came up with to fix it. For example, foam brush...You would need 4 relays for a 4 bay. Bay input goes to each coil in the bank of 4 relays. You wire in 24v in series to each of the relay inputs. (I stole power from one of my bay transformers). And the outputs would be wired in series to the solenoid controlling air. If noone is using FB, the air supply is shut off to the flojet. This also protects the Equipment Room if you were to have a hose failure inside the ER, Up to a point...If someone were to use a bay and you had a hose failure in the ER, you'd still have a mess. But maybe not as much...This setup is much like a multiplexer but cheaper and repairable if you would ever need it. These relays have millions of life cycles. At least you'd have enough $$$ to replace a cube if one ever did fail!

flojet_air_solenoid_2.jpg


flojet_air_solenoid_4.jpg
 
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