Unloader: Pressure or Flow - Which do you use?

Which type of unloader do you prefer?

  • Total voters
    9
Well I'm one of the rare ones that switched to a K7 flow unloaded and I love it. Yes it was buggy at first and I solved it, back to that in a moment. Reasons I love it are 1) It is so much easier on my hand on a long day. 2) It seems so much easier on my equipment and hoses. 3) I sell and am about softwashing. A trap unloader even with large nozzles still has that first huge burst of pressure.
How did I solve the bugs I had with it? My main problem at first was to get it to even come out of bypass mode when I was using high pressure nozzles. First my supplier sent me a smaller bypass orifice that marginally helped. Then Russ advised me to stretch the spring some in the bottom cylinder that helped a good bit but was still buggy and I was still hatin. The final solution that made it work for me and made me fall in love. Take the bottom four bolts out and lube the cup or cylinder and the o ring on the piston with silicone grease. Takes less than a few minutes and only have to do it every couple of months when it starts acting up. Very simple solution.





Pat Norman 662-316-7685
 
Unloader Valves

This thread could be VERY usefull to the community.. Let's keep this thread educational.. in detail..
Please post your take on what you like and dislike WITH CASE-STUDY info..
tell us your volume and flow rates,
WHERE you have a pressure gauge mounted,
how LONG are your hoses, how OLD is the system (..and corroded are the components).
You will be surprized at how critical some things are in "the Life and Times of a common unloader valve"
..don't just post "I like my VB-7" without telling us, you only use the machine an hour every month.
..don't tell us you tried a K-7 and hated it, without admitting you have a permenantly mounted chemical injector on that hose reel.
GOOD JOB Pat Norman !! ..great post ..but you shouldn't have had to "modify" the unloader..
call me for more details, and you shouldn't have to grease the bypass cup again.


Here's my technical add-in..

Flow actuated unloaders..
K3, K7, K9, by Interpump,
Giant 22600 series,
are flow actuated, but very flow "sensitive".. match the volume and nozzle size of your system, or these can be very finiky.
the ZK1 by Interpump, is flow actuated, but can be used on a range of flows.. MUCH less finiky !
..this should be better for multi-gun systems

FLOW actuated unloaders are MUCH SAFER for you guys with pressure switches controlling your heaters !!
..THINK about it !!!

about Multi-Gun Systems..
the ZeroMatic by AR, (so as I'm told,) is AMAZing at controlling pressure-spikes..
more on that as I get details from engineering.the VB10 I need to test
General's HM unloader needs 2 B tested 2

VB9, VB10 are "Compensating" Unloaders,
.. pressure actuated, but with reduced (to 25%) pressure in bypass mode.

almost everything else, is a pressure actuated unloader..
and be clear.. the ONLY reasons Pressure Actuated unloaders are "more popular" than Flow actuated versions..
1. PRICE
2. less finiky,
3. available in hight flow capacitty and pressures AFFORDABLY..
.. again, PRICE driven..
Pressure spikes allowed and caused by pressure actuated unloaders are KILLing pump systems prematurely,
blowing heater coils, blowing hoses, guages, couplers, pressure switches,
..and the component suppliers LOVE this..

Now I'm going to post an "opinion"..
you should ASK your next pressure washer supplier to quote a system with a FLOW-actuated unlooader,
or a reduced-pressure unloader, for less system stress, and "Long-Term-Low-Cost"
If you want to understand more about Long-Term-Low-Cost..
attend my "Pressure Washer TroubleShooting and BulletProofing Class"..
I don't care if you've been the service manager for a fleet of 50 cleaning systems.. you will learn something valuable.
 
Last edited:
We have one machine with a k7.

I love it.

Unfortunately when cleaning some coils we need the ability to dial it down with the ball valve which is impossible with the K7.

I think I might either do what Tom Cusick has done and put all the unloaders on quick connects so they can be changed out fast depending on which kind of job we are doing. Or maybe make a Y connector to switch back and forth between them.

We can use flow unloaders on about 75% of our work.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
 
Okay Jerry, I run an 8gpm X 3500 psi hot skid with 200 feet of hose. A downstream injector mounted with qc couplers at my hose reel. And pressure guage mounted right past my unloader.

P.s. Oh yeah Rex told me I should be using 1/2 Hose i/o 3/8 but I didn't want that extra work.

Pat Norman 662-316-7685
 
I have to use trapped pressure unloaders, because I have two machines linked together, and that is the only kind of unloader that will work with that setup. They get the job done, and are cheap to replace if needed, so they're cool with me. Just point the wand away from the house before you squeeze the trigger. Had a K7 on the machine I gave you, and it was kind of cool, but gave me a lot of grief. I'd think I had everything adjusted and working right, and then after a couple days it would stop putting out pressure again. Could never get it quite right. Now if I bought a brand new 8gpm unit, setup properly from the factory, and didn't have to jerry rig stuff, I would probably like the flow actuated ones.
 
JDhomeservices said:
I have to use trapped pressure unloaders, because I have two machines linked together, and that is the only kind of unloader that will work with that setup. They get the job done, and are cheap to replace if needed, so they're cool with me. Just point the wand away from the house before you squeeze the trigger. Had a K7 on the machine I gave you, and it was kind of cool, but gave me a lot of grief. I'd think I had everything adjusted and working right, and then after a couple days it would stop putting out pressure again. Could never get it quite right. Now if I bought a brand new 8gpm unit, setup properly from the factory, and didn't have to jerry rig stuff, I would probably like the flow actuated ones.
Click to expand...


Josh, do you downstream with that setup?
 
Tony Shelton said:
We have one machine with a k7. I love it.

Unfortunately when cleaning some coils we need the ability to dial it down with the ball valve which is impossible with the K7.
.. ..
We can use flow unloaders on about 75% of our work.
Click to expand...

Tony, try the ZeroMatic by AR, minimized pressure spikes, low pressure bypass, and adjustable flow.


Pat,
you might go to an adjustable venturi injector to help solve the unloader issue,
and yes, going to 1/2" hose for the first 100ft will help too.
another reason to consider this.. fuel economy..
a system using less fuel makes more money.
.and if you ever buy something I make..
I'll send you a free guage.
:{)
 
Jerry I even had issues originally when the injector was pulled off. I am however piqued by the Chem injector you've mentioned lately. Will definitely be trying one soon.

Pat Norman 662-316-7685
 
We predominantly use flow sensitive unloaders as it makes it easier to handle the hoses. With low pressure in the hoses when the trigger is released, the hoses are easier to pull, turning off and on the ball valves to change out tools is easier, swivels work, hose reels don’t spin up when you release the trigger and so on…..
For you guys that have higher flow and higher pressure machines and would like to be using a flow sensitive unloader have a look at the VB 80/280 Zero – Flow sensitive unloader valve. http://www.altecparts.nl/UserFiles/File/Shop/200514.pdf
And if you are a rich contractor who likes nothing but the best have a look at the VB 60/600-400-250 Zero – Flow sensitive unloader valve. http://www.pa-etl.it/download/mantecce/vb60-600-400-250 zero-eng.pdf

Weather in North Qld Australia.
86F with the chance of showers. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top