Davey PORTABLE SELF PRIMING PUMPS Firefighter 5 Series - Manual (Page 4)

Air Tight Suction: In permanent installations this is something usually achieved once and
forgotten about. The use of correctly applied thread tape is usually the key. In portable pumps, it
is something more frequently encountered, so attention to some simple rules will make it easier
to achieve:
1. Always keep rubber gaskets in good condition, especially important on hose tails and quick
connector.
2. Where gaskets have to seal on the face of the inlet, ensure the mounting face is flat and not
damaged.
3. Make sure suction hoses do not have holes or splits; just because water does not escape
from the hole does not mean it won’t allow air into the hose when priming.
Evacuate the Air: Even the most powerful pump will experience problems trying to evacuate
the air from itself and its suction line if it has nowhere for the air to go. To help clear the air and
properly prime the pump:
1. Make sure the pump has an open discharge to atmosphere nearby to allow the evacuation
of the air. Use one of the outlets equipped with a ball valve if possible.
2. Isolate the rest of the discharge pipework until the pump is properly primed. This is
especially important in self priming installations where the pump may regularly be needed to
pump water through a long discharge line. Once it is clear the pump has established prime
the outlet to atmosphere can be shut and the major discharge line opened. Note: Failure
to isolate the major discharge line during priming may result in a “false” prime or failure to
prime at all. This may result in closed head operations – see above notes.
3. For engine driven self priming pumps, it is very important to run the pump at full speed
during the priming operation. Failure to run at full speed may result in failure to prime etc.
Allow up to 3 minutes for long or deep suctions.
If the pump fails to prime, then it may be due to the pump flap valve not seating properly, an air
leak in the suction pipe or fittings, a blocked suction pipe air locking (as above), or the bottom
end of the pipe embedded in mud.
NOTE: When transporting your Davey Portable Self Priming Pump,
water from the casing may leak back past the priming flap. Before
attempting to self prime the pump you may need to check that the
pump casing is full of water.
PUMP OPERATION:
High performance can be obtained from these pumps if the engine speed is increased, however,
we do not recommend the pumps be operated over 3600rpm for extended periods, as this may
overload the engine and reduce its working life. Operating the engine at full throttle for extended
periods will shorten engine life and may result in premature failure. For operations such as
irrigation or dam and tank filling, the throttle should be closed to around 3/4 maximum. This
should correspond to around 3000rpm maximum.
AvOIDINg PUMP DAMAgE:
Pumping water containing sand, dirt or other abrasive materials will result in accelerated pump
wear and seal failure. Damage of this kind is not covered by guarantee.
Pumping water containing chemicals or high concentrations of salt may damage pump
components. If the pump is used for this kind of service, life will be extended by always washing
thoroughly with clean water after use. However, Davey cannot accept responsibility for damage
caused by chemicals, salt or corrosive fluids.
Pumping hydrocarbon based liquids, even in diluted form, is likely to cause damage to internal
pump components and such failure is not covered by guarantee.
Davey ensure their pumps and the engines they fit to them are matched, and this is confirmed
by engine manufacturers by programs such as the Honda’s engine matching test and approvals
program.
BE PREPARED!
Even with the best equipment though, other things need to be considered at the start of every
fire season to ensure the pump unit and associated equipment is ready if needed. Here’s a
checklist for your pump and equipment.
PRACTICE
Simply having the best golf clubs does not guarantee outstanding performance around the links.
The same rules apply to you fire plan:
Make sure you and all your team are competent in the use of the equipment:
• Can they start and correctly operate your pump unit?
• Can they operate the hoses correctly?
• Do they have a clear understanding of risks and what to do to ensure safety?
Run drills; practice and make sure everyone understand the fire plan and their part in that plan.
FUEL - PETROL
Modern petrol engines very seldom actually have starting or running problems due to fuel
vaporising, the usual fuel related problem is due to old fuel.
Most people are unaware that petrol has a limited life, it loses its volatility or quite simply it goes
“stale”. This may mean that if you have a petrol driven pump unit fully fuelled and ready to go
in September, by December it may not start. There are some important procedures to follow to
ensure your petrol engine is ready to start and operate correctly:
• Change your fuel every two months: While in perfect conditions the shelf life should be at
least three months, are you prepared to take the chance? Changing the fuel over can be by
usage or by draining the fuel from the engine. It also applies to fuel you have stored, even in
approved containers.
• Use a fuel stabiliser to extend the storage life of the fuel: Both Honda and Briggs & Stratton
offer fuel additives or stabilisers which dramatically extend the shelf life of petrol. These
additives must be added at the time of purchase of the fuel, and they will work on two stroke
fuel as well. They will NOT renew already stale fuel.
FUEL – DIESEL
While diesel fuel has a longer shelf life, it is still limited, contrary to some miss beliefs. BP
Australia recommends that:
Under normal storage conditions diesel fuel can be expected to stay in a useable condition for:
• 12 months or longer at an ambient of 20ºC.
• 6-12 months at an ambient temperature higher than 30ºC.
Keeping stored diesel fuel at lower temperatures in containers free of air and water, and out of
contact with zinc or copper (or alloys including them) can help extend the storage time. The main
problem is the settling of sediments and gums, which in the case of small diesel engines can be
a very serious issue and can do major harm to the engine.
Another very important thing to remember with diesel fuel is cleanliness, dirt in the fuel can do
serious damage to the fuel injection pumps, and in prolonged situations can lead to complete
engine failure. Correct fuel filtration on the engine’s fuel tank is absolutely critical.
For more information on keeping your diesel fuel longer refer to the following BP website:
http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/australia/corporate_australia/STAGING/local_assets/
downloads_pdfs/f/Long_Term_Storage_ADF.pdf
ENgINE OIL
The use of good quality, correctly rated engine oil is very important to the long term dependability
of your engine, especially when you need it most. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations
for the correct grade of oil and stick to their recommendations. Do not use a synthetic, multigrade
motor vehicle oil in your small engine, it simply is the wrong oil for this type of engine.
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