Procon Pump Question

[trinityspeedwash]

And another new issue popping up for me.

I have a procon pump for the triple-foam. However, when the pump fires up (and is humming), I have nothing that is coming out of the pump side.

I checked the input lines (the three colors) and they are pretty dry too.

My question is:
- Does the Procon pump self-prime and "suck" the product through the lines?
- Or should the product already use gravity to come from the higher ground and arrive at the pump?

When I look at the solenoids of the product, they do open, but it is not a massive amount of product that drains out hence my questions as to whether this is might be a pump problem, or whether this is a solenoid problem upstream?

Picture attached.

 

[OurTown]

Procon pumps should be flooded/gravity-fed.

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Never, never, ever run a procon pump dry. You'll destroy it in short order. Pressurized feed to the pump is ideal.


Russ

 

[Greg Pack]

First check for badly clogged inlet strainers in the three color tanks.

Take the pump off the motor by loosening the clamp and pulling off. Go start the bay and make sure the motor is indeed running. You should also be able to twist the pump shaft with your fingers. If you take the pump hose inlet off and start the function in a bay there should be chemical flowing through the hose feeding the pump. Depending on age of the system the solenoids may need to be cleaned out or replaced.

 

[Rudy]

FWIW, If the motor is not turning, check the capacitor (if it's a single phase). Sometimes a $20 cap will bring things back to life.

 

[trinityspeedwash]

Thanks everyone. Closing this one up. I was able to diagnose the product valve that was not opening, and so no product was coming down (the gravity fed path) to the pump. I replaced the valve and now the product is flowing to the pump and it is still pumping.

As always, appreciate everyone here to help me where to look.

 

[The Waterboy]

You dodged a bullet not burning that pump up.

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Yes indeed. I suspect it is not long for this world.