Sprayer diaphragms,

[TBradbury]

I have a John Deere trailed sprayer and it’s on its second set of diaphragms this year, having done 5-6000 acres since they were replaced in the spring. It’s not left with spray solution in the tank overnight and washed out using the rinse cycles after every days spraying,
Any ideas what the crack is with it?

 

[Lincs Lass]

Limescale in the mains water ,,its terible in this county

 

[DrWazzock]

There are different materials available from what I’ve read. Maybe try a higher spec material?

 

[DrWazzock]

Viton better than nitrile?

 

[TBradbury]

Viton better than nitrile?

Thanks, the limescale sounds like it, there’s plenty for gunk in the old water tanks, anything that can mitigate it?
I’ll ask the the guys at John Deere about it then thanks.

 

[Lincsman]

I am in Hard water and the pump on the Knight has only needed new diaphragms after 10 years, I forget the make of the pump?

 

[Exfarmer]

Never had an issue with pump seals odd one went after years but nothing like that. Would suggest it could be pump bearings

 

[davidroberts30]

Running dry for too long?

 

[TBradbury]

Running dry for too long?

I guess it’s a possibility although I do try and minimize it, it probably could be improved but it’s rarely longer than a minute or two when starting filing,

 

[davidroberts30]

I guess it’s a possibility although I do try and minimize it, it probably could be improved but it’s rarely longer than a minute or two when starting filing,

I changed mine this year the sprayer guy said the wrong oil can also f**k them up too

 

[tullah]

I changed mine this year the sprayer guy said the wrong oil can also fudge them up too

What's best oil? Different sprayer repair people say basic 20-50, 15-40, and sae 30.

 

[davidroberts30]

What's best oil? Different sprayer repair people say basic 20-50, 15-40, and sae 30.

think he said straight 30
but defo said not use engine oil

 

[Elpresidente]

think he said straight 30
but defo said not use engine oil

Sprayer guy (probably from the same place given our location) also told me don’t use eco pto as the higher start up speed doesn’t help.

 

[tullah]

Sprayer guy (probably from the same place given our location) also told me don’t use eco pto as the higher start up speed doesn’t help.

So that rules out using the pto as the the shut off and on in field work.
ive found using the pto instead of the electric that the desired flow rate has always come up much quicker when setting into work.

 

[2wheels]

Sprayer guy (probably from the same place given our location) also told me don’t use eco pto as the higher start up speed doesn’t help.

used the eco speed on a landquip for years and never did any harm.

 

[davidroberts30]

Sprayer guy (probably from the same place given our location) also told me don’t use eco pto as the higher start up speed doesn’t help.

Probably some tractor start with a bang rather than feathered in

 

[JeremyD]

What speed do you run the pump at? I only run our JD 732 pump around 400 rpm as that's more than enough.

 

[tullah]

500 rpm in the hope that the flo rate comes up quicker each time setting in.

 

[SilliamWhale]

Sprayer guy (probably from the same place given our location) also told me don’t use eco pto as the higher start up speed doesn’t help.

Really? Been using that for years and to be fair I diaphraghm doesn't seem to last longer than 3 years

 

[Lofty]

IME, there are two thing that damage pump diaphragms. Number one is cavitation when you run the pump with it starved of liquid either by turning the master suction tap off or a blocked suction filter etc. The second is over speed. Chassing the tractor down the road with the PTO in 540E or even better 1000 will bugger them up very quickly whatever the make of pump.