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Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · May 12, 2011

RE: Fatboy issues, any ideas? Pump will not start.

bnkeenan · Guest

I purchased a Fatboy in a box from Bob about 3 months ago, and finally hooked it up this week as a backup to my all-flo AOD pump, just in case. Wanting to trying to try it out, I used it yesterday. After about 30 minutes of use, after stopping to do a rinse, I opened the ball valve to start soaping, and noticed it had a lot of pressure coming out - for about 3 seconds, then it quit.

I went around the front of the house where the truck was, and the first thing I checked was the fuse - which was blown. I've read dozens of posts here, and on PT State over the last year about this issue with the FB, and other issues with the relay etc, which to me seems like it was not a very robust pump, and why I chose to go the AOD direction......

I did not have a fuse, so I just switched back over to the AOD and finished. I setup a 3-way valve with two inputs - one from the AOD, and the other from the Fatboy accumulator tank, with the output feeding the Titan hose reel, so I can switch back and forth.

So, this morning, I get some new fuses, and when I insert the fuse into the holder, it ARCS, and the Fatboy starts PUMPING!!!!! The on/off switch is OFF, and It does not stop the pump, which is pumping deadhead against the 3-way valve I mentioned above which was in the AOD pump position. I have to scramble to unscrew the terminal leads from the battery as I hear the the 3/4 vinyl tubing on the output of the accumulator starting to stretch..... and then BOOM, the vinyl tubing blows a hole and shoots house wash strength mix all over the place.....

Unknown to me, the frickin relay had fused SHUT the day before on the job (first job ever used), when the pump quit, when the fuse blew. Even with the switch OFF, the pump was running, and it all happened too fast for me to disconnect the battery.

The fuse never blew this time, and I am lucky I did not get sprayed in the face with anything. I finally stopped the pump by unscrewing the battery connections, which got HOT!!!!

I call Bob at PT, and his opinion is that I should not be using 3/4 hose to feed the FB, that its too much, and everyone here and at PT state that says bigger is better, and dont use 1/2" does not know what they are talking about, and that I am the only one that is having these problems...........

He also insists that me using a 3-way valve to switch pump inputs to the hose reel "is way too complex, and thats likely what caused your problem".

I dont need a system that is so finicky, and unreliable, and unsafe... I will be returning this pump to PressureTek.......

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Bob, I switched to 3/4 hose from the chem tank to the pump and he thought that may have been my problem too. It makes sense, but this is my 2nd FB in a little over a year, so I'm trying a different pump when this one bites the dust.

That situation you described sounds insane man, I couldn't help but laugh visualizing it, but I bet you were pissed!

Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC · May 13, 2011

I use a 1" hose for my intake and haven't had any problems.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Damn! That thing must suck like a... Well, it's probably good!

bnkeenan · Guest

I originally setup a 1" feed line last week, with a 3/4" dip tube through a bulkhead in the top of the tank, but the pump WOULD NOT PRIME with the 1" line.... Bob at Pressure tek said "Dont use a 1" feed line!!!" "its not necessary, and the guys on the boards dont know what they are talking about." "1/2" is all you need"

I finally switched it over to a 3/4" in line - vinyl PVC flex tubing, about 6' from the tank to the FB input..... still would not prime... just gurgled a bit. I finally took the middle of the hose and kinked it in half, and that was enough to get it to prime....

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Guys, I installed the relay and now the pump continues to run, so it is blowing fuses left and right within about 30 seconds to a minute.

I tried adjusting the pressure switch, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything? Is it possible that the pressure switch is bad, too, or maybe I wired the relay incorrectly?

SEE OUR WORK HERE!!! · Guest

Phil, I would think that if your blowing fuses, it may be wired incorrectly. Is your new relay the same as the old one? I know when I was searching for a replacement relay I couldn't find the exact type locally.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

IT should be the same since Bob from Pressure Tek sent it to me.

SEE OUR WORK HERE!!! · Guest

This helped me understand how the relay works and you may be able to check your wiring from it. RELAYS

SEE OUR WORK HERE!!! · Guest

Phil, I just went out and looked at my spare Fat Boy with the stock Relay, here's how it is wired- #30 on the relay is connected to the black wire into the pump. #86 on the relay is connected to the red wire that goes to the pressure switch. # 85 on the relay is connected to the black wire that goes to the battery. There is a jumper connection between #85 and #87 on the relay (this is where I had the problem trying to find a matching relay) if #85 and #87 on the relay are not connected then you need to add a wire between the two.

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Barry, that is a HUGE help. I am going to check this as soon as it is light enough outside to work. I haven't been able to sleep because of this damn pump! I did notice the two jumpered together yesterday. Well, there is also a huge monthly janitorial bid that I submitted yesterday and it's got me wired (no pun intended).

Thanks for your help, I'll update this thread after I check the wiring out.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD on Saturday 14th of May 2011 04:09:43 AM

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD · guest

Barry, thanks a ton man! I had one if the wires on the wrong pin. You are the man! Where do I send payment? Lol

SEE OUR WORK HERE!!! · Guest

Glad I could help.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

138394, 138394,

bnkeenan · Guest

Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD wrote:
Barry, that is a HUGE help. I am going to check this as soon as it is light enough outside to work. I haven't been able to sleep because of this damn pump! I did notice the two jumpered together yesterday. Well, there is also a huge monthly janitorial bid that I submitted yesterday and it's got me wired (no pun intended).

Thanks for your help, I'll update this thread after I check the wiring out.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD on Saturday 14th of May 2011 04:09:43 AM

Exactly. "Not able to sleep because of the pump...." Thats not the type of equipment I want on my rig that I depend on. This was my first and last experience with a Fatboy...... Thing fails within 1/2 hour of its first use..... blown fuse, fused relay.....and this is the "pump in a box" setup from Bob at PT.... complete with spaghetti wiring with a cooling fan, relay etc...

NUMEROUS - more than a couple people have had these problems with blown fuses, and bad relays..... cmon, this guy has been selling these fatboys for years, you would think he could ship a system that does not die so quickly. But according to Bob, "Nobody else is having these types of problems you are having".

He has offered to fully refund my purchase price for the FB, which I am shipping back first thing Monday, so I appreciate the customer service aspect in that regard, but as for the product.... leave me out of it.

The whole thing is just not robust enough for my use.

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