[Dan Williams]

I left my machine in the van the other night and the next morning when I went to work my machine would not spray, I defrosted the hose pipes and hey presto it worked for 5 minutes and the spray stopped working again! The whole bloody pump doesnt work now. I have seriously learnt the hard way just because I could not be asked to put my equipment inside!

Any knowledge about what could be wrong with it, if it is not the pump? I have changed the fuse aswell. I have an ALLTEC AQUA 40.  and has anyone else froozen up?

Cheers

[Karl Wildey]

if it defrosted it can not be blocked any more. If the vacs work, then no probs with mains power, so either its mains power to pump, or your pump is dead.

[Spot On cleaning]

I bet the end of the pump has burnt out. On the surflo pumps, you have a device on the end to cut the current and stop the pump pumping when the trigger has stopped being pressed.

This happened to me once. I checked the fuses, the current then the pump.

If you take the pump off the machine, you will see a square like thing held on by four screws if i remember. Be careful to note the order that it comes apart. It will then become apparant how it works. Inside this square assembly there is a slimline micro switch; the type you find in washing machines. This usually burns out, and not the pump.

How the thing works is thus. When you first turn the pump on, it rumbles for a bit, then stops. What it has done, is to draw water from the tank, filled the pipes with water and the pipe on your wand or handtool. If the trigger is not being pulled, then a plunger in the pump body hits a coorresponding piece in this device to cut the power to the pump, otherwise it would carry on pumping and burn out the pump itself.

If the microswitch is faulty, this can happen. I hope in your case it's just the microswitch. If you took the pump to a specialist, they would probably renew the whole pump when theres no need. Check it first by smelling the end.

Hope i aint confused you with this explanation.

Dave

[craigp]

i got aqua 50, few weeks back same problem started pump, it struggled for couple of secs then died, i deforsted with hair drier tryed start again, dead. changed fuse, it was fine then, i was lucky fuse did its job and protected it.

ive had this before,

its ok if water in the pump freezes,(ive found at least) but you got to be sure its deforsted before you switch on.

i find if the water in your hoses is frozen (you can feel it) so will your pump be , if so fill with hot water and also suck some hot water into your waste tank cus the pumps just below it, and give plenty of time before starting.

i take mine indoors now save time messing around on first job of day

ps. as dave said inspect your pump, i ve not know a pump break through freezing.

[cleaning co]

 really not good idea to let your machines freeze , water expands when it frezze  ,on the little pumps it can ripp them to shreds ,crack tanks, burst pipes push u hose connecters off etc etc  also if it dos frezze let it defrost slowly not with a hair dryer on it !!

[craigp]

opps!

i been lucky so far then!

ignore me, . get them machines in.

[Karl Wildey]

You can by pass the micro switch to check it, you have a brown wire goes into the switch and another comes out of the switch and into the pump, just connect the first brown wire directly to the pump, where the second brown wire joins. ie forgot the micro switch is there. If pump runs you have a broken switch.

You need to have a good sense of electrics when playing with any electric bits and bobs, don't be foolish you may lose your life.

[Spot On cleaning]

Sorry

Forgot to add that bit to my posting, safety safety safety

Dave

[craigp]

yeah, dumbo heres had 2 shocks playing with machines!   it makes you jump alright!!!

dont make my mistake, unplug the machine