Pop Off Valve/Regulator Problems

[Ed@PreClean]

A couple weeks ago I posted this same problem.

I have a Hydro-Tek SC33005V with a Max PSI rating of 3300. The max pressure I can get under load is 2350 PSI. If I try to adjust the unloader above this the valve on the HIGH side will release and will only reset after I shut-down and turn the pressure down. Feedback from my earlier post said it was a bad Unloader, another said I needed to descale. Well I descaled, and took unloader apart and found just as I expected, nothing damaged. I inspected all lines and found NO leaks anywhere. The unit only has 55 hours on it now and 27 when I bought it. I called Hydro-Tek they say it's the Unloader. I went to the nearest dealer they said pop-off valve problem. I am a retired Army Blackhawk Helicopter Mechanic and Technical Inspector and VERY well versed in troubleshooting procedures and wrench turning. I am also not in the habit of buying and installing parts just to see if it fixes the problem. I like to fix the problem right the first time. Hydro-Tek will not warrenty the unit because I bought it used (you'd think they would for an $8000 unit with only 27 hours on it). One guy I talked to said the pop-off valve was out of adjustment???? Can it be adjusted. I thought they were set to a certain pressure when built.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Thanks
Ed

 

[A1PW.LLC]

Hey Ed,
Blackhawk's huh! Cool. Well I use to work on safety relief valves for ten years. (Or pop off valves as some call them). And if it is is popping it's because it has reach the set pressure it was set to start relieving. Most of them can be reset. I don't know what type of valve is on there, but there should be a cap on top. Take the cap off and there will be an adjustment screw or allen screw under that. Let me know or give me a call, if I can help you more. If the max on your unit is 3300 psi and the valve is relieving at 2350 psi you might be able to get 3000 psi out of the valve.

 

[Mark]

You can always remove the pop off valve, and place a plug in its
place, then fire machine up and see if your pressure increases.

I suggest you re=adjust or replace the pop off valve if this is the problem.

[hello]

 

[Ed@PreClean]

Problem Solved

Just as I thought! Well it WAS the valve. Hydro-Tek and their field rep. kept insisting it was the unloader and never told me to check to see if the valve was adjusted to 2350 PSI. I took the valve off, took it apart/cleaned it and back together. As I expected it was adjusted to relieve at the set pressure. After about 2 minutes problem solved. Pressure is up to 3200 now and working just fine.

Thanks [white] [white]

 

[Mark]

Glad you got it working Ed.

 

[Larry L.]

Don't forget Ed tray tips don't last forever,when they start wearing out the psi will drop little by little.

 

[Ed@PreClean]

Thanks Larry, I keep a new supply all the time. Ebay is a good source for them at better prices I have found anywhere. Is there a place near us to get supplies? I have tried D-N-W, and a few other places in Jonesboro. Not much to choose from around here. D-N-W put me in a bad mood the first time I went there. I was looking for for a surface cleaner. The "PW" guy wasn't around and this other guy was lost. It took him 30 minutes to find their catalog and would not let me see it to choose one after he did. Said it had their prices in it and wasn't for "Public Eyes" to see. I told him I knew what a fair price was for most of them and just wanted to compare a couple. Still refused to let me see it. I told him he just lost a sale because he wouldn't!