NORTH STAR SPRAYER

[lenray]

I HAVE this North Star 25 gallon spot sprayer I bought from Northern Tool. It runs off a 12 volt battery...I have a VERY DIFFICULT TIME PRIMING THE PUMP...Any thoughts or suggestions??? I have tried filling the pump with water--blowing air into the suction hose--non of that has worked....

 

[K Effective]

I have four of those type 12V pumps in service on weed sprayers. All mine self-prime when water is supplied to the inlet side. Even after a couple did not get anti-freeze filled for the winter, they still worked fine.

 

[Mark-Mi]

I have two of those 12 volt diaphragm pumps mounted on top of the tank sprayers. Which makes for more difficult priming. Primed great when pumps were new but as the years went by would no longer prime.
What works for me, take a part suction line, pressurize suction side of pump with garden hose(I have a tapered brass hose end that works great to jam in the hose).Run pump at the same time, this gets pump working then reconnect suction line.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Try shoving a big gob of Vaseline into the pump and run it dry for a few seconds . I can't explain just how it works or why but it's fixed two for me so far .

 

[caterpillar guy]

Mount the pump down to the level of the bottom of the tank and away you go. Flow will prime it for you. A shut off valve if you think it needs it. Dad has a 10 gallon set up like that with no problems of leaking when full.

 

[Russ from MN]

I have a 15 gallon with the pump mounted on top of the tank, has only been a problem priming once in 25 years, used it yesterday, worked great. We use it on our atv's. Do you have a suction strainer that might be clogged?

 

[rockgrower]

Some chemicals don't play well with the diaphragms over time. The other suggestions will work to get it primed. To repair it you might be able to run some appropriate cleaners for chemical through pump followed by clean water. If that doesn't work you may need to replace diaphragm. It is a good practice to flush with clean water after use. Haven't heard of the Vaseline mentioned below.

 

[grizz02]

I think you have an air leak on the suction side of the pump , look for cracks in the pickup tube in tank and the hose to the pump