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Sprayer Cleaning
3 Main Steps:
Relieve pressure
Flush Coatings
Water for latex paint
Mineral spirits for oil-based materials
Clean
Pump
Hose & Gun
Filters, Tip and guard
PRESSURE RELIEF PROCEDURE
Pump OFF
Pressure lowest
Reverse the spray tip
Trigger gun to release pressure
Prime valve down (prime or drain position)
FLUSH COATINGS
Remove the tip and guard
Remove the fluid intake and drain tubes, wipe any excess paint off
Intake tube in clean water
Drain tube into a waste pail
Prime valve horizontal (spray or open position)
Gun pointed into paint bucket - trigger the gun
Pump ON
Increase pressure while continuing to pull the gun trigger
When paint flow ends and you see flushing fluid appear, turn pump OFF and release the trigger
CLEAN THE PUMP
Trigger the gun into the flushing bucket
Pump ON and cycle the pump until the flushing fluid runs clear
Pump OFF and release the gun trigger
Prime valve down (prime or drain position)
Pump ON
Circulate until the drain tube runs clear
Raise the fluid intake out of the bucket above the flushing fluid
Pump OFF
CLEAN THE HOSE & GUN
Prime valve horizontal (spray or open position)
Pump ON
Trigger the gun into the flushing pail to purge the hose
Pump OFF
Release the gun trigger and engage the trigger lock
Pressure reduced to the lowest setting
Disconnect power
Remove the filters from the gun and sprayer
CLEAN FILTERS, TIPS & GUARD
Clean the filters along with the tip and tip guard with flushing fluid and a soft bristle brush and inspect them for any damage
If you’ve flushed your sprayer with water, flush it again with mineral spirits or Pump Armor to leave a protective coating which prevents freezing and corrosion
Wipe your sprayer hose and gun with a rag soaked in water or mineral spirits
Properly cleaning your sprayer and storing it in a safe, dry place will ensure your Graco sprayer ready for your next job.
Alternative process (remove filters first):
Alternative process (remove filters first):
Turn power OFF
Pressure lowest. Trigger gun to relieve pressure.
Prime valve down (prime or drain position)
Remove gun filter and assemble gun without filter.
Remove guard and Tip.
Clean filter, guard and Tip in flushing fluid (water, paint thinner etc.).
Remove siphon tube set from paint and place in flushing fluid. Use water for water base paint and mineral spirits for oil base paint.
Remove manifold filter assembly. Install filter housing without filter. Clean filter.
Turn power ON
Prime valve horizontal (to closed position).
Hold spray gun against inside of pail. Take trigger safety OFF. Trigger gun and increase pressure until flushing fluid appears.
Move gun to flushing pail, trigger gun to thoroughly flush system (until flushing fluid runs clear). Release trigger and engage trigger safety.
Prime valve down (prime or drain position)
Circulate water for 1 to 2 minutes to clean drain tube.
Raise siphon tube above flushing fluid and run sprayer for 15 to 30 seconds to drain fluid. Turn power OFF.
Note: If flushing with water, flush again with mineral spirits or Pump Armor, but do not repeat 8. or 14. This leaves a protective coating in the system to help prevent freezing or corrosion.
Install manifold filter, hand tighten. Install gun filter, hand tighten gun handle.
Wipe sprayer, hose and spray gun with a rag soaked in water or mineral spirits.
Sprayer Prime Problems
Sprayer Prime Problems
Inlet Ball - Debris can clog the inlet ball and totally stop the prime.
Tap - couple taps to the bottom of the fluid section when it's running can loosen the ball.
Clean - may have a clump of dried up paint from the the sprayer. So, remove the bottom of the fluid section from the sleeve (remove the suction hose, remove the large nut and lower the bottom of the fluid section. Loosen the ball in its cage by lightly tapping with a hammer and screwdriver. Be careful to not lose any parts.
Inspect - latex paint is very abrasive, be sure the inlet ball is not excessively worn (see below)
Upper Ball Valve
Upper Ball Valve
Rarely the upper ball will stick when it should be releasing. To fix this you just need to pop the piston outlet ball up with a long narrow screwdriver. Be careful not to nick anything in there. You will know if this is the problem because when you pop that ball up you will feel and hear a very slight pressure release.
Packings
Packings
Leakage indicates that some good ol’ maintenance is needed. Between 200 and 500 gallons is a rough guide. Primers, thicker paints and cheap paints with sediment can all destroy packings quicker. Regular use of throat seal oil is the best way to protect your pump’s packings.
Maintenance Videos
Maintenance Videos
"My gun is spitting all the time"
Graco Contractor II spraygun rebuild - U Repair
Graco Contractor II gun rebuild - Idaho Painter
Parts: gracopartsbook.com
Best Practices
Best Practices
Filter the paint (paint sock, old nylons, etc.)
Remove filters when spraying elastomeric or block filler - filters create restrictions
Long Term Storage fluids
Mineral spirits
Pump Armour
Don't store the sprayer with water in it - rust (check balls stick)
No freezing temps - transducer (glass wafer) will crack, pump inoperable
TSL - a few drops regularly to save throat packings
acid based product (not a lubricant), keeps paint from drying on the displacement rod
Prime valves - can be cleaned, NOT repaired
Graco Ultra models - have a thermistor (slows motor speed when not enough power (cord too small, need 12ga cord)
When paint leaks at the top - REPACK! Rod or cylinder get damaged after the packings go!
Extension cords - 12 ga only! (16 and 18ga cause the motor to torque which results in the motor overheating)
Motor - Total enclosed fan cooled (TEFC) electric motor - requires air ventilation to keep cool. Do not cover with bags, boxes, etc. as that cuts off air supply.
Tips
Rac5 - cheaper, lower quality, DO NOT BUY
Rac X - 2X life, better quality carbide
Rac X LP - 1/2 pressure, less overspray, 2X life
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