Vibrating and no pressure wash.

[carwashfng]

Have you reached out to CAT?

Update. Yes, I reached out to CAT for some advice. I supplied the part number and pictures. The triangular opening on the mounting flange (Pictured above) has 2 set screws inside the opening. There is a second opening on the bottom side of the flange, which is not shown. My set screws happen to be on the bottom opening. Maybe a half rotation of the shaft would get the set screws to the topside opening. 5/32 allen wrench is called for the set screws. I will be working on this in the coming days. Hope to have this figured out soon.

 

[carwashfng]

Hello. Been a long time since I have updated on this. Unfortunately, I still do not have an answer or solution. Work I have completed. Changed out electric motor and paired with existing CAT pump. High pressure spray worked great for one round. After one round of good pressure spraying....right back to low pressure. Any additional high pressure attempts were low pressure. Purchased new CAT pump. Paired to the new electric motor. High pressure spray worked great on "high pressure soap" function. Changed dial to "high pressure wash", erratic spray with varying pressure. Any additional attempts at either HP Soap or HP wash resulted in low pressure with what appeared to be the pump not engaging...as though the pump was acting strictly as a water manifold and passing the static water pressure from the water service through the line and out the tip, similar to a low pressure function. I found a fitting connecting a 3/8 rubber hose that I thought maybe was sucking air, swapped it out. Made no difference.
I am starting to think possibly this is not a mechanical issue, but maybe an electronic function issue? I just don't know. I have been running 3 of 4 bays for months now, trying to figure this out. Summer season is about to hit and I need to figure it out. If anyone has any more suggestions I will gladly listen. So far this bay is kicking my butt.

 

[Cwajciec]

I’m by no means an expert but this sounds like a water supply issue I had once. A check valve was stuck shut which periodically starved the gravity feed water to the pump. It got better on soap since it was also sucking soap which increased water feed. I diagnosed by replacing the inlet water pipe with a completely new one with reliable feed water and nothing valves or restrictions.

 

[carwashfng]

Thanks Cwaj. I will definitely look into the water supply. I am right there with you....I am no expert! Thank you for checking in.

 

[carwashfng]

I replaced this piece. Not quite sure of the name. Nothing changed.

 

[Randy]

I replaced this piece. Not quite sure of the name. Nothing changed.

That's called a Dole valve.

 

[Randy]

Hello. Been a long time since I have updated on this. Unfortunately, I still do not have an answer or solution. Work I have completed. Changed out electric motor and paired with existing CAT pump. High pressure spray worked great for one round. After one round of good pressure spraying....right back to low pressure. Any additional high pressure attempts were low pressure. Purchased new CAT pump. Paired to the new electric motor. High pressure spray worked great on "high pressure soap" function. Changed dial to "high pressure wash", erratic spray with varying pressure. Any additional attempts at either HP Soap or HP wash resulted in low pressure with what appeared to be the pump not engaging...as though the pump was acting strictly as a water manifold and passing the static water pressure from the water service through the line and out the tip, similar to a low pressure function. I found a fitting connecting a 3/8 rubber hose that I thought maybe was sucking air, swapped it out. Made no difference.
I am starting to think possibly this is not a mechanical issue, but maybe an electronic function issue? I just don't know. I have been running 3 of 4 bays for months now, trying to figure this out. Summer season is about to hit and I need to figure it out. If anyone has any more suggestions I will gladly listen. So far this bay is kicking my butt.

Try this. Disconnect the water supply from your gravity tank. Connect a hose from the city water feed directly to the pump and try running the pump. If it works fine, pump builds pressure then you know you don't have a water feed issue.

 

[cantbreak80]

High pressure spray worked great on "high pressure soap" function. Changed dial to "high pressure wash", erratic spray with varying pressure. Any additional attempts at either HP Soap or HP wash resulted in low pressure...

Just guessing here...

Because the system has a Dole valve, I believe your system features hot water wash/cold water rinse. If true it’s possible you have an open circuit in the coin box wiring that energizes the cold water solenoid valve.

So, after the new pump was installed, the first successful “test” was HP Soap…indicating the Dole valve’s hot water solenoid is working.

Then, you selected HP Rinse which resulted in your low-pressure condition. This indicates the Dole valve’s cold water solenoid valve is not opening, or the cold water supply to the Dole valve is restricted.

When the cold water Rinse selection starved the pump it might have air-locked the pump. That air lock must be relieved so the pump will function properly…easy fix: remove the bay’s trigger gun and turn on the bay to HP Soap. Once a steady flow is achieved, reinstall the trigger gun and run the pump again.

To determine if you have an open circuit on the cold water side of the Dole valve, select Rinse and check for 24v AC at the cold water coil. No power? Look for a disconnected wire on the second stack of the rotary switch’s Rinse terminal.