FlatBroke
Well-Known Member
I will share a few tricks I have learned over the years, while pulling a pneumatic tank. This will include unloading, unstopping a plugged line, and making a hose quit leaking.
Also this must be mentioned as I have before, I do not know if these tips will work on a food grade pneumatic tank. I have not pulled a food grade so use it at your own risk.
1.) When you first hook up to the silo to begin the unloading process, build your pressure to about 10 lbs. then open your line air full blast. Check your line air pressure gauge and make sure it is not riding at the same pressure as your tank pressure gauge. If it is the line is stopped up or they have a valve closed. Shut the blower down and..call someone at the company you are delivering too. Their line is their baby, besides it will probably make a mess when you try to unstop their line. They make the mess, they clean it up.
2.) While you are in the process of unloading, the gauges should stay equal or the line air gauge will ride a few pounds higher than the tank pressure gauge. If your tank pressure gauge starts rising, give more line air pressure, shut the aerators off (if possible) and force all the air through the line pressure. If the pressure continues to rise, then you are stopped up.
If the pop off valve has not released yet, go ahead and open the blow down valve, and close the product valve, shut off the aerators (if possible).
Let all the pressure off the tank. Shut down your blower. When all the pressure is off the tank, leave the blow down valve fully open, shut the line air pressure all the way, keep aerators off (if equipped).
Restart your blower at an idle, the pop off valve on the blower will be popping off since the line air valve is closed.
Walk to the line air valve and open it full, then close it off and repeat. If the line air pressure gauge is still up there, then fully open line air pressure and walk to the closest product valve to the rear of the trailer. Should be your pocket with the least amount of product in it. With the line air fully open, quickly open the product valve and close it repeatedly, this will cause a suction and you will be able to suck the entire blockage back up into the tank. If it is stopped up really bad this might take a few times but it will work.
Once the line air pressure drops back to 0 then the line is cleared and you can start to unload again.
4.) A product hose leaking will make a big mess really fast. CHECK to make sure the rubber seal is in place, they will fall out. Check to make sure the rubber seal is in good shape if not replace it. If the cam locks are worn out..you can open the cam lock and place a small shim in the lock and close the cam lock, this will tighten it up.
If it still leaks, get some water and pour onto the leak this will form a seal and stop the leak.
If it continues have the hose end replaced, also check the end of the product line on your tank, it may need to be replaced.
On a side note, these tanks are aluminum they will eventually get cracks in them. If a crack appears while you are unloading the water trick will work on this also, depending on the size of the crack will determine how much water is needed. Once unloaded take to the garage and have it welded.
On another side note....DO NOT hit these tanks with a metal hammer...period.
5.) Can't get the hose up on the product line enough to get the cam locks to close?
Get one side up on the line, lock the cam lock down and take your hammer and hit the opposite side of the hose while pulling on the cam lock, this will drive the hose end up on the product line and the cam lock will close.
6.) In the summer time buy a can of PB Blaster and spray and clean your hose ends a couple of times a week...they will work a lot easier.
7.) Always remember to have a good pair of leather gloved on when handling any of the hoses, they will get very hot and burn you.
I hope these few tricks will help someone out sometime...If I think of anymore I will add to it. If you know of any tricks please feel free to add them as well.
Also this must be mentioned as I have before, I do not know if these tips will work on a food grade pneumatic tank. I have not pulled a food grade so use it at your own risk.
1.) When you first hook up to the silo to begin the unloading process, build your pressure to about 10 lbs. then open your line air full blast. Check your line air pressure gauge and make sure it is not riding at the same pressure as your tank pressure gauge. If it is the line is stopped up or they have a valve closed. Shut the blower down and..call someone at the company you are delivering too. Their line is their baby, besides it will probably make a mess when you try to unstop their line. They make the mess, they clean it up.
2.) While you are in the process of unloading, the gauges should stay equal or the line air gauge will ride a few pounds higher than the tank pressure gauge. If your tank pressure gauge starts rising, give more line air pressure, shut the aerators off (if possible) and force all the air through the line pressure. If the pressure continues to rise, then you are stopped up.
If the pop off valve has not released yet, go ahead and open the blow down valve, and close the product valve, shut off the aerators (if possible).
Let all the pressure off the tank. Shut down your blower. When all the pressure is off the tank, leave the blow down valve fully open, shut the line air pressure all the way, keep aerators off (if equipped).
Restart your blower at an idle, the pop off valve on the blower will be popping off since the line air valve is closed.
Walk to the line air valve and open it full, then close it off and repeat. If the line air pressure gauge is still up there, then fully open line air pressure and walk to the closest product valve to the rear of the trailer. Should be your pocket with the least amount of product in it. With the line air fully open, quickly open the product valve and close it repeatedly, this will cause a suction and you will be able to suck the entire blockage back up into the tank. If it is stopped up really bad this might take a few times but it will work.
Once the line air pressure drops back to 0 then the line is cleared and you can start to unload again.
4.) A product hose leaking will make a big mess really fast. CHECK to make sure the rubber seal is in place, they will fall out. Check to make sure the rubber seal is in good shape if not replace it. If the cam locks are worn out..you can open the cam lock and place a small shim in the lock and close the cam lock, this will tighten it up.
If it still leaks, get some water and pour onto the leak this will form a seal and stop the leak.
If it continues have the hose end replaced, also check the end of the product line on your tank, it may need to be replaced.
On a side note, these tanks are aluminum they will eventually get cracks in them. If a crack appears while you are unloading the water trick will work on this also, depending on the size of the crack will determine how much water is needed. Once unloaded take to the garage and have it welded.
On another side note....DO NOT hit these tanks with a metal hammer...period.
5.) Can't get the hose up on the product line enough to get the cam locks to close?
Get one side up on the line, lock the cam lock down and take your hammer and hit the opposite side of the hose while pulling on the cam lock, this will drive the hose end up on the product line and the cam lock will close.
6.) In the summer time buy a can of PB Blaster and spray and clean your hose ends a couple of times a week...they will work a lot easier.
7.) Always remember to have a good pair of leather gloved on when handling any of the hoses, they will get very hot and burn you.
I hope these few tricks will help someone out sometime...If I think of anymore I will add to it. If you know of any tricks please feel free to add them as well.
