Foam gun won't foam

[NikonGuy]

So I just purchased a Gilmour foam gun (Amazon.com: Gilmour 75QGFMR Foamaster Adjustable Multi Ratio Cleaning Gun: Patio, Lawn & Garden



And it won't sud at all. I tried some generic soap I had laying around but noticed no suds. So I bought Chemical Guys Honeydew soap and same thing, absolutely no suds. I would expect a little bit but NONE. Do I just have a dud gun?



Could it be an issue with water pressure although I don't think my water pressure is any lower than your average.



Thanks

 

[Accumulator]

There are a number of things that can go haywire, let's see if I can think of 'em all....



-Be sure to test it at the strongest settings so it's easier to see if it's working



-Make sure your shampoo mix isn't too thick. Rather than pour shampoo into the reservoir I mix up a gallon of concentrate (six oz. shampoo, rest water)



-Make sure the siphon tube, and *especially* the screen/strainer at the bottom of it, isn't clogged. I like to remove the strainer/screen because it clogs up so readily



-Make sure the hole(s) in the sliding brass "mixing bar" isn't clogged. Unscrew the knurled knob on the end if you need to so you can slide it out of the housing



-Make sure the tiny little hole at the top of the housing, above where the mixing bar lines up with the siphon tube, isn't clogged



-Make sure the aerator (the black plastic "nozzle") isn't obstructed/clogged. That's kinda unlikely, but...



Other than those, I can't think of anything. I have had them go bad after a while...I'd try everything I could think of but no-go. Never had one that was bad right out of the box, though my latest one ("Wolfgang" relabel from AutoGeek) has never been quite as good as my other ones for some reason.

 

[Bill D]

Regarding those kind of clogs, I used a pin to clean them out. Luckily in my 10 years of owning my original foam gun, I only had to do that once.

 

[NikonGuy]

Yeah, its a new gun so you would think there were no clogs. From visual inspection everything looked fine. Regardless, I returned it and will try another gun. Thanks

 

[NikonGuy]

One other thing, are you guys putting in the soap full strength or diluting it. I diluted mine before putting in the dispenser. Some reviews on Amazon state they used full strength soap.

 

[Accumulator]

Regarding those kind of clogs, I used a pin to clean them out..

Sometimes I've had to use a small-gauge wire, some of those orifices are awfully small.

I returned it and will try another gun...

OK, probably a good idea, but a hassle, huh?

are you guys putting in the soap full strength or diluting it...

I dilute it. I make a gallon of concentrate with six ounces of shampoo and the rest water. I then adjust the strength via that mixing bar, more potent for dirty panels, less for cleaner ones. Most of the time I use the next-to-strongest setting for the first pass(es) and then one notch weaker for the final one(s).

 

[NikonGuy]

Amazon return was super easy. Just logged on and printed a UPS return label in 30 seconds. This is my first return from Amazon and I have been shopping there for years. Pretty painless.

 

[dfoxengr]

I love that gun and accumulator got everything I can think of except low pressure caused by a super long hose (more than 100ft) or a small diameter hose, mine is 100ft, 5/8" for reference amd works perfectly.

 

[mnewxcv]

i have the same one as well. make sure the brass slide that controls dilution is in a position. it will "lock" in position and you will feel it seat. if it is between positions, plain water comes out.

 

[vtextc]

No problems with my new Gilmour gun and CG Honeydew soap. I put it into the reservoir full strength before diluting it with warm water.



A

 

[Accumulator]

...[my hose].. is 100ft, 5/8" for reference amd works perfectly.

Wonder if it'd be even more perfect if you used a larger diameter hose :think: I'm all about flowing as much water (hence foamgun output) as possible.

 

[dfoxengr]

Sure would, but I think 5/8 is the biggest hose available locally. I just bought another (3rd) black hose from walmart last night. Turns out its also made by gilmour. Great consruction, but $38. Lifetime replacement policy, bonus.