[Neil kell]

I bought an Alltec Advance in January. I was on a job today and had to run down to the local hardware to rent out a Hegarty. Just to get me out of a jam, I know its sacrilage. Any ideas why the pressure could have went on me? The machine is still humming when I flip the switch, the red light still comes on. Just no spray when I depress the trigger. Is there much differ between Alltec and Prochem?

[Carpet Dawg]

an airlock?

have you tried a hand tool?

Tony

[Neil Grainger]

Ring Chris at alltec, he will sort. Did you empty the tank before the problem started. Sounds like an air lock to me.

[Neil kell]

On the alltec advance there is a component down beside the heating element that is just the same size as the hose. When I was emptying the machine last time, I unknowingly got this filter or whatever it is caught in the end of the hose, so it was in there when I attached the stair tool wand. I immediately knew something was wrong and found the blockage, reattached the filter through the hot water with gloves on etc. It worked for a while and then the pressure collapsed. It wasn't actually yesterday but the day before. I rented out the Karcher, hegarty type portable from the hire shop, to get me out of a hole.
It must be air trapped in the system from when that filter was reattached . I contacted my supplier in Enniscillen and e mailed Alltec themselves. No reply yet. I was shown how to remove an air block and was given a 3 foot hose with a clip on the end of it to do so. I just genuinely forget how that is done, or the procedure for it. Any hints, tips or tricks?
ta,

Neil

[Joe H]

Neil
Usually with an airlock, you get a standard hose connector with a shortish piece of hose connected to it but open at the other end.  Hopefully that is what you have.
Just connect it, put some clean water in your tank, put a bucket under the open end of the hose, run the pump for a minute or two until water pours out in a steady stream as opposed to pulsing (ie with air in it).
That should rid air out of the system.

[Neil kell]

Thank you very kindly Joe!
Mighty neighbourly of you. Thats why Willie in Enniscillen gave me that short piece, with the connection on the end, he did show me actually when he was running me through the machine. Great piece of tech. The hagerty was no comparison. I obviously didn't use their shampoo, I was just using that for pure extraction purposes combined with my chemicals, counter rotator, steamer and airmover. I made sure the end result was the same, but by God, I don't know how a member of the public, untrained could even be allowed to just rent out one of them and expect to get a result.

Thanks again i'll try that.

[Fintan_Coll]

I hope that works Neil, however you could have a more serous pump problem by what you say. Are you by any chance using powder in your solution tank?

[Ian Gourlay]

I do not know your machine but I just suck on my return hose as when syphoning dads car for petrol in the good old days

[Joe H]

Is it working Neil?

[murky]

Though it sounds like an airlock I havent had one on my Altec for years. They now have a self bleader device on it so you dont get a lock like you used to on the old errrrrrrrrrrr single vac called aaaaaaaaaa errrrrrrrrr.

Cant get it.

And I found its not a good idea to  email Altec you wont get an answer, not this week anyway, allways ring and ask for Chris in the workshop.

[Neil kell]

Thanks for all the support guys, I really do appreciate the help. I'm gonna bleed that first thing early tomorrow. I did e mail Chris and he got on to His man in Enniscillen - Hitec cleaning. I did get a response straight away. I should know anyway how to bleed it at this stage anyway, if thats all it is I hope and pray. It is a great piece of kit, for what I need it for. CC is a great add on for myself as a fitter for 5 years.
I had a question for Joe I put it in under on of the other headings, if you get a chance could you have a look at it please. It is in under a question you answered regarding back up machines.

Regards,

Neil.

[Neil kell]

I hope that works Neil, however you could have a more serous pump problem by what you say. Are you by any chance using powder in your solution tank?

Yes, I do use Alltec's 'Ultimate master' in with the water. Just a few scoops to 'wetten the water' you know. What do you use?

[Fintan_Coll]

As you did'nt get round to bleeding the pump yet Neil, lets hope it is nothing more than a simple airlock.
I was a big user of Ultimate Master at one time, and let me state it was one of the best powders I ever used for cleaning ability. However , when I was a big user or Ultimate Master I went through a lot of pumps, some maybe after four months, six months and if very lucky maybe nine or ten months. However since I stopped using it my main machine is now over three years old , original pump, working perfect.
Co- incidence or not, let the reader be the judge of that.
I discovered Microsplitters, then an even better product called m power ( menesis is a similar product), none of these products require the addition of anything in your solution tank, apart from plain water of course. Since moving away from powders  I have had no pump bother since.

[Neil kell]

As you did'nt get round to bleeding the pump yet Neil, lets hope it is nothing more than a simple airlock.
I was a big user of Ultimate Master at one time, and let me state it was one of the best powders I ever used for cleaning ability. However , when I was a big user or Ultimate Master I went through a lot of pumps, some maybe after four months, six months and if very lucky maybe nine or ten months. However since I stopped using it my main machine is now over three years old , original pump, working perfect.
Co- incidence or not, let the reader be the judge of that.
I discovered Microsplitters, then an even better product called m power ( menesis is a similar product), none of these products require the addition of anything in your solution tank, apart from plain water of course. Since moving away from powders  I have had no pump bother since.

Hi Fintan,

No luck on getting that rectified. It may be a fault or else a new pump is required. I'm gonna head up the north, need to get some new stock anyway. The machine is due a service.
I put the open ended shortish piece (connected) back into the hose. Stuffed a rag into it and switched on the machine in an effort to force out the airlock, do you get me? The water is still trickleing and spluttering out.

Regards,

Neil.
I hope I'm not gonna get R***ed on a new pump, The Alltec gear isn't cheap

[Geoff Jewkes]

What type of pump is it?

[ben fairhurst]

Hi Neil

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but, you mention that you managed to suck the filter off when emptying the solution tank. Is it possible that some muck got in and has blocked the jet/jets on your wand. Also, when starting the machine up do you prime the pump with an open ended hose before starting work?

[Fintan_Coll]

Yes, I get what you did Neil, you connected the short pipe to your solution outlet and put the open end in the waste tank inlet and switched on your vac motors and pump, this would normally fix an airlock, if the water is still trickling from the short pipe which has no tool attached anyway, it can only mean one of two things, either the pump is still airlocked or it has developed a fault.

[Neil kell]

What type of pump is it?

Its just a new machine Geoff so its a self contained new Alltec advance. Not brand new.

[Neil kell]

Hi Neil

Forgive me if this is a stupid question but, you mention that you managed to suck the filter off when emptying the solution tank. Is it possible that some muck got in and has blocked the jet/jets on your wand. Also, when starting the machine up do you prime the pump with an open ended hose before starting work?

Thats probably what did happen. I did'nt realise the filter had ben sucked off and was in the process of trying to extract. The hose was still giving some suction but obviously no where near as good. I took out the filter and replaced it. It worked ok for a while but but then the stair tool went dead i.e pressure was lost. The 2 issues are linked. That filter being sucked off - the machine being filled - Alltecs 'ultimate master powder added to the water -  then the filter being replaced through/ on top of the water - and then the suction pumps or pressure being lost. Its not an electrical fault, thats still on, its a relatively new kit.

[Neil kell]

Yes, I get what you did Neil, you connected the short pipe to your solution outlet and put the open end in the waste tank inlet and switched on your vac motors and pump, this would normally fix an airlock, if the water is still trickling from the short pipe which has no tool attached anyway, it can only mean one of two things, either the pump is still airlocked or it has developed a fault.

Thanks Fintan, I'll try to unblock it again, however it looks like I may have to head up to the supplier. I need some stuff any way, and just to see what he has in new. Will let you know what it was when I find out.