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Swap Santos for viton

jfreak53

jfreak53

New member
Previous owners have all the flojets with Santos parts, the tire cleaner pump is lasting me like 2 months and I have to clean it out for it not to stick, driving me bonkers. Currently I've got one on spare to quick swap but its nuts so often.

Can I swap out the innards for viton without a whole new pump?

Also where do I find viton innards, kleenrite I'm not finding the diaphragm and check valves in viton, only santos?

Can I also put it on quarterly checklist to flush with water from a bucket to keep clean longer or wont it help any?
 
There are better options than using a Flo-Jet pump. Replace the Flo-Jet pump with a Procon Pump controlled by a IDX AT-MX8 controller or build a relay bank to control the motor. We have one Flo-Jet left and on the Foam brush system.
 
1) Flojets aren'te worth the hassle of rebuilding. Just get a new one

2) I would talk to your chemical rep for a recommendation on which Flojet to use. Rule of thumb has always been that the more corrosive chemicals like tire cleaner and some presoaks need Viton but the way chemistry has advanced that's not holding true as frequently.
 
I don't have any kind of automatic blow off valves on our air compressor, I only drain the tank about once a month. We have very few problems with Flo-Jet pumps. Jfreak53 have you tried using a Kalrez diaphragm pump?

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Randy said:
I don't have any kind of automatic blow off valves on our air compressor, I only drain the tank about once a month. We have very few problems with Flo-Jet pumps. Jfreak53 have you tried using a Kalrez diaphragm pump?

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No I just saw it while digging through parts on kleenrite, but not much of a description I could find. Whats the difference?
 
jfreak53 said:
Doubtful since out of all of them only one does this regularly. I know its not the pump itself since I've swapped with others while I clean.



Could you expand on what you used and how you hooked up, kind of curious?
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https://www.mcmaster.com/products/air-line-filters/compressed-air-filters-for-particle-removal-7/ item 4958K47 Since air heats as compressed and warm air holds more moisture than cooler air as it travels from the compressor it cools and water condensates out. So, the filter drain should be as far possible from the compressor. There is an air line that feeds the pumps on the stand. It has a T with regulator for each pump. On that line just before the first T is where the filter drain should be.

This is one of my Tunnel set ups but the SS used the same plan.
 
jfreak53 said:
Doubtful since out of all of them only one does this regularly. I know its not the pump itself since I've swapped with others while I clean.
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OK, if others are lasting and this one isn't maybe moisture isn't the issue. But I bet air moisture takes 10X more pumps out than the chemistry of a diluted product running through it. After putting in a refrigerated dryer I'm getting multiple years out of pumps. Something else you said- you had to disassemble and clean it out to keep it from not sticking. The pump stalling is the primary symptom of moisture in the air line. You can build a moisture trap right before the feed for Viton pumps and put a $25 amazon auto drain on it to also help with moisture.

I use an IBA tire cleaner in my self serve that contains sodium hydroxide and solvent. I use it a strength that is much stronger than most operators use. It will eat through brass fittings eventually. I know I had a santoprene pump last over a year in that application. But Viton is indeed best suited for application.
 
Greg Pack said:
The pump stalling is the primary symptom of moisture in the air line. You can build a moisture trap right before the feed for Viton pumps and put a $25 amazon auto drain on it to also help with moisture.
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Yeah literally I'll come in one day and tire cleaner doesn't work, others are fine.

Do I put the the trap before just that pump, like after its regulator, or my feed line at beginning of all pumps?

We are only 3 bays I can't see investing $1500 into the dryer for our application, I can clean pumps and dry em for cheaper since its just one pump causing me headaches.
 
If this is only happening on one pump out of several, I seriously doubt it's a moisture in the air issue. Moisture will kill a Flojet and no amount of cleaning it and letting it dry out will fix it.
 
Dan kamsickas said:
If this is only happening on one pump out of several, I seriously doubt it's a moisture in the air issue. Moisture will kill a Flojet and no amount of cleaning it and letting it dry out will fix it.
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Dan it's very possible you're right, but it's only $50 to build one and see if it helps. It's a tee, a long nipple and a cheap Amazon auto drain.
 
Greg Pack said:
Dan it's very possible you're right, but it's only $50 to build one and see if it helps. It's a tee, a long nipple and a cheap Amazon auto drain.
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Agree, I strongly suggest them all the time if you don't want to spend on an air dryer but this thread seems to have drifted to moisture absolutely being the cause when that's highly unlikely. Moisture would kill all the pumps, not just the same one over and over.
 
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