Chug Chug!!! what going on with my machine?

[gawashman]

Had been using my 5.5 GPM unit all day. All of a sudden, the pressure drops as I was soaping down a house. Nothing is coming out from gun. Go to the unit and nothing seems out of the ordinary. There was plenty of water in the tank. Took the filter out and it was pretty clean. Cranked the machine and water began spurting as I let it run out from the hose. It would develop a steady stream but then starting chugging again. I even let it run for about 5 minutes but it still chugged in between steady streams. I am puzzled! Hopefully nothing serious.

 

[Russ Johnson]

It sounds like it's sucking air. Check all your inlet fittings to be sure everything is tight.

 

[gawashman]

The filter is on tight. That's the only inlet I can see. The hose clamp is also tight from tank to machine.

 

[Russ Johnson]

Get a garden hose fitting to fit the end of the suction line that's attached to the tank and pressure feed it to see if it leaks.

 

[gawashman]

Good Idea. Will give that a shot. Thanks.

 

[extremecleantn]

Also make sure that the hex nuts on the pump are tight they will work there way out and start sucking air like Russ said

 

[Kiloman]

Trash in the low pressure side of the check valves take them out and see if one has trash or is cracked?

 

[gawashman]

Update....10/31/12
Apparently the unloader had failed. A visible sign is an unusual high flowrate in the return line feeding into the tank when the system is under load. A new unloader was installed and the pressure was adjusted. All is well again. Thanks for all of your inputs.