1) Diaphragm airless sprayer
daily maintenance:
a) Always clean your airless
sprayer thoroughly inside and out, make sure that after you have flushed
clean water throughout your airless sprayer and airless gun that you
remove any excess paint build up from the suction hose and pipe. This
also includes removing your suction hose filter and gun filter to ensure
that they are both spotless. If you can't clean these two filters it's
time to replace them.
b) It is recommended that
with a diaphragm airless sprayer using a flexible suction hose set that
this be removed after flushing the machine and have clean water run
through the hose from each end using a garden hose. You will be
surprised how much paint is still inside the suction set even after the
machine appears to be clean. The build up of paint inside the suction
set will eventually dry, flake and begin fall off over time causing
blockages in your suction valve.
c) Once you have finished
thoroughly cleaning your airless sprayer, set everything back up and
test the airless sprayer with water. Ensure that the machine primes and
build pressure, spray the gun several times and hold the trigger open
and make sure that the machine holds at a constant pressure, most
diaphragm airless sprayers will build to about 3000psi and when using a
517 reversible airless spray tip the pressure drop should be somewhere
around 200-500psi with water. Use the gauge on the machine to monitor
any pressure fluctuation, if the needle on the gauge is bouncing up and
down then your machine may be in need of a service, contact your closest
dealer for advice.
d) Once you have pressure
tested your diaphragm airless sprayer and everything seems to be OK
without any leaks, it's time to add some pump saver to your water for
the final flush. Pump saver is a corrosion inhibitor that helps prevent
rust and scale from building up on the inside of your airless sprayer.
We don't recommend kero or petrol as both of these items are flammable
and if you are transporting your airless sprayer inside a van or station
wagon the fumes can be annoying or dangerous.
2) Diaphragm airless
sprayer monthly maintenance:
a) If you are a heavy
airless sprayer user then a monthly strip down of the components in the
head is recommended, if your airless sprayer is only used occasionally
then this could be stretched to a six monthly interval.
b) Remove your suction
set including return hose, remove your suction valve and ensure that no
debris or paint build up is occurring on the inside of this valve.
Remove the outlet valve and check inside the same way. While both valves
are removed check the valves for wear or pitting, if in doubt contact a
dealer for help. If you have access to compressed air, try and blow
clean air into the ports to blow away any rubbish and debris.
c) Remove the head of the
airless sprayer and inspect the condition of the diaphragm for cuts,
cracks or wear. Also check that the under side of the head has no damage
to any of the sealing rings machined, pressure can cut across these
sealing rings can cause leaks and damage to both the head and diaphragm.
Refit the head back onto your airless sprayer and using a torque wrench,
correctly tension the head bolts to the manufacturers specification.
d) Refit both your
suction valve and outlet valve and be sure to clean all threads and
apply marine grease to ensure easy removal next time for the same
components.
e) Make sure that
everything your removed is replaced back and tight. Be sure not loose
any seals or copper rings and do not use thread tape, if you need to use
thread tape then you are making a mistake, you must use the correct
seals.
f) Your airless sprayer
is now ready to pressure test, slowly build the pressure making sure
that no leaks appear, if you have a leak turn the machine off and fix
it. After building pressure in your airless sprayer make sure that it
holds pressure as discussed in 1(B).
g) Flush pump saver
throughout the entire airless sprayer and put the machine away in
storage.
2) Diaphragm airless
sprayer yearly maintenance:
a) Follow the procedures
as outlined above in addition to changing the pump oil and inspecting
the airless paint hose for external abrasions, kinks or damage.
Replacing a paint hose while performing routine maintenance is much
cleaner than replacing a burst hose on the job with paint that has
sprayed out in every direction. Airless paint hoses are cheap at about
$99 each, consider changing these over time.
b) Have your machine
checked by a professional service agent, as good as you may think you
know airless sprayers, we know them better. Dealers repair airless
sprayers every day, we know what problems occur and how they occur.
In summary, keep your
airless sprayer spotlessly clean, early detection of problems will be
easy to see if the machine is clean and cheaper to repair. Down time
cost's more than a service because you can not schedule down time on a
job.
