I am having pump problems on my Lesco Spacesaver

[cod8825]

Ok I know that some of you will say that was your first problem getting a Lesco tank sprayer vs Gergson or whoever but here is my deal. I bought a unit from a gentleman that was three years old and he was selling it with a brand new pump (He showed the receipt to me and all) well I was using it for my second round and about after 200 hours of spraying I brake the connecting rod ring on my pump and all. I call the guy that I but it from and he tells me that he had the exact same thing happen to him with the old pump what the heck.

Here is my real question this is the second Hypro D403 diaphragm pump to go out on this unit. Should I
1) Buy a new D403 pump and have on of the old ones rebuilt and continue to use it.
2) Buy a new pump and sell the unit.
3) Try and put a different pump from a different vendor on. If I go this route how in the world do I get the information to get a compatible pump.

All help is greatly appreciated.

[Victor]

There's a guy in this forum that's always singing the praises of Gregson-Clark. Hopefully he won't see your thread and chime in. I'm wondering though if Lesco might warranty your unit at all.

If you have more time than money, I'd probably buy a new D403 and have your broken one rebuilt, so you could use it as a backup. If you have more money than time, I'd sell that Space Saver and buy a Gregson-Clarke in a heartbeat.

[Hissing Cobra]

Those pumps are relatively easy to rebuild and you can order just about any part for them. I'd look into buying the part and replacing it yourself. If it's prone to breakage, buy a couple of extra parts and keep them on hand. Just my .02.

[cod8825]

Is Hypro a relatively on average good pump and maybe got a lemon or are my expectations to high.

[Hissing Cobra]

They are good pumps. I worked for a company and we had 80 trucks, some with the space savers and Hypro Pumps and others with multi-tank systems and Hypro Pumps. Every winter we would rebuild every single pump and would replace every part that needed replacing. We would generally get 3 seasons out of them before full replacement. After 3 or so seasons, the salt/acids in the fertilizer would "eat" the aluminum on the pumps and it wasn't worth buying new housings as they cost almost as much as the pump itself.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

All I've used are space savers... but I hate them. Diaphragms failing left and right, o-rings, ... just crap. But then again, maybe every other sprayer out there sucks just as bad.

Americanlawn uses Tuflex and swears by them. I'd like to try one of those...

[cod8825]

Has anybody bought a unit then replaced it with a different brand of pump then what they bought.

[Victor]

All I've used are space savers... but I hate them. Diaphragms failing left and right, o-rings, ... just crap. But then again, maybe every other sprayer out there sucks just as bad.

Americanlawn uses Tuflex and swears by them. I'd like to try one of those...

Proud owner of a V-200 Gregson-Clark skid sprayer and can't say enough good things about it. There's nothing sucky about this unit.

[teeca]

i've ran the hypro d30 and d50 for 1000's of hours with out any problems other then diaphrams (replaced yearly), and maybe a seal or too. they have had some corrosion issues, but nothing that was to expensive to repair and the parts are easy,quick to get, and at a good price. i have a udor on my aquatics boat and have had a few problems with it (it does not see nearly as many hours as the hypros do) other then replacing the diaphrams in the winter. the one thing that does need replacing every spring is the pressure regulator assembly ($125). guess the copper sulffate, glysophate, and diquat really mess that thing up. i have the d403 on a space saver, not realy that impressed with it, other then it is smother then the twin diaphram pumps

[PSUTURFGEEK]

First question, Did you really buy it from a three year old?

[cod8825]

First question, Did you really buy it from a three year old?

Smarty

Well you get the idea, no I believe that I meant to say is that the unit was three years old.

Matt

[tmac43]

I've had nothing but problems with my D-403s. I've probably been through a dozen on my 10 trucks in the past year, each lasting a matter of weeks or months at best. Diapragms are the most common, followed by broken connecting rod rings. In my opinion they're junk. I've started retrofitting all units with a D-30. They are cheaper right now anyway than the 403, but you have to replace the regulator as well. Even then that assembly is cheaper than just the 403 pump. Good luck

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I've had nothing but problems with my D-403s. I've probably been through a dozen on my 10 trucks in the past year, each lasting a matter of weeks or months at best. Diapragms are the most common, followed by broken connecting rod rings. In my opinion they're junk. I've started retrofitting all units with a D-30. They are cheaper right now anyway than the 403, but you have to replace the regulator as well. Even then that assembly is cheaper than just the 403 pump. Good luck

I hate mine, too. Let us know how the retrofit turns out. And what type of different maintenance the D-30 requires.

[heritage]

I hate mine, too. Let us know how the retrofit turns out. And what type of different maintenance the D-30 requires.

BGrass,

D-30's are Awesome and super Dependable.

Change the Diaphrams Yearly and use Non-Detergent 30w oil.

Keep oil sight glass full to bottom of site.

Keep Min. of 30 PSI's in the Chamber.

Change the lil' "Hockey Puck" in the Regulator once a year of more often if you use Powder Blue or other abrasives.

I have 2 and LOVE them.

Always have the spare Diaphrams/O-Rings/Hockey Puck/Oil/Check Valves in the truck.


Change all above in 30 min or less......So Easy, a Caveman could do it :drinkup:.

Enjoy,

Pete

[tlg]

In my opinion diaphragm pumps are complete over kill for lawn spraying. For tree and shrub work they are great, but for lawn spraying the pressure they produce is really not needed. We use both diaphragm and centrifugal pumps for lawn spraying. The diaphragm requires a lot more maintenance and cost a whole lot more to replace. The centrifugal pumps are low maintenance, last longer and are inexpensive to replace. Before buying another diaphragm consider an alternative.

[teeca]

In my opinion diaphragm pumps are complete over kill for lawn spraying. For tree and shrub work they are great, but for lawn spraying the pressure they produce is really not needed. We use both diaphragm and centrifugal pumps for lawn spraying. The diaphragm requires a lot more maintenance and cost a whole lot more to replace. The centrifugal pumps are low maintenance, last longer and are inexpensive to replace. Before buying another diaphragm consider an alternative.

wow, wish i was spraying whay ever it is you are..

[tlg]

wow, wish i was spraying whay ever it is you are..

I worked for a large company for 13 years. We had 15 trucks and serviced over 8000 customers. Every truck had a spray rig we built on our own and every unit had a centrifugal pump. They were idiot proof. We set the pressure, calibrated them and sent our guys out. These pumps lasted for years and years with little or no repairs. We ran urea, weed killers, pre-emergent etc... through these units. They worked well then and they work well today. If your tone is disbelief, which it seems like. I would suggest you keep an open mind as there is always different ways of doing things.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

In my opinion diaphragm pumps are complete over kill for lawn spraying. For tree and shrub work they are great, but for lawn spraying the pressure they produce is really not needed. We use both diaphragm and centrifugal pumps for lawn spraying. The diaphragm requires a lot more maintenance and cost a whole lot more to replace. The centrifugal pumps are low maintenance, last longer and are inexpensive to replace. Before buying another diaphragm consider an alternative.

Forgive my ignorance, but tell me more about the centrifugal pumps. Do any manufacturers offer these? Just curious. I'm a big fan of doing anything I can to prevent unproductive downtime...

[tlg]

Forgive my ignorance, but tell me more about the centrifugal pumps. Do any manufacturers offer these? Just curious. I'm a big fan of doing anything I can to prevent unproductive downtime...

Just about any company that builds spray rigs can build a unit with a centrifugal pump. A spray rig only needs to produce pressure for agitation and pump the liquid to the spray gun. There are all kinds of different centrifugal pumps that can handle just about any material out there. One of the units we have for example is Hypro centrifugal pump powered by an 8hp Honda. This is a belt driven pump. We have used it for years. Changed the belts one time. Other than that NO other repairs.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

One of the units we have for example is Hypro centrifugal pump powered by an 8hp Honda. This is a belt driven pump. We have used it for years. Changed the belts one time. Other than that NO other repairs.

How much use does this unit get?

[ToniDavies]

The most popular centrifugal pump system we sell is the Hypro 1538 direct driven to a Honda 5.5 Hp. We have manufactured a whole bunch of spray units using this pump/motor combination with very good success. There is one drawback this setup is perfect for one person spraying at a time. If you have two guys with two reels/two guns there is not enough pressure for both to spray at the same time.
This is the link to the pump/motor - http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=153
Toni

[tlg]

How much use does this unit get?

It's used everyday. It's got lots of hours with no problems. It's done thousands of applications with millions of sq ft sprayed. They are completely reliable.

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

It's used everyday. It's got lots of hours with no problems. It's done thousands of applications with millions of sq ft sprayed. They are completely reliable.

Wow! I'm not replacing mine until it's shot, but that's something I'll have to plan for, definitely.

Anyone else out there disagree with this concept?

[heritage]

Wow! I'm not replacing mine until it's shot, but that's something I'll have to plan for, definitely.

Anyone else out there disagree with this concept?

Looks ok to me if you can deal with a max psi of 80. For turf thats great and the GPM flow is nothing short of awesome for keeping things in suspension.

Please someone post a photo of the Comfiguration and Throttling Valve.

Thanks,

Pete

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Just revisiting this thread.

As I look at rebuilding my Lesco Space Saver's pump (the Hypro D403) for the bajillionth time, I am thinking I want to make a switch to something requiring FAR less maintenance.

The Hypro 1538 Centrifugal Pump (http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=153) suggested earlier has potential, but I'm ignorant when it comes to pumps...

I am wondering the following:

* Is there a better unit than this one? (I strictly spray turf with this unit: preemergent, fert, herbicide, insecticide).

* How many extra parts will be required to make the pump transition? (I believe it's just a matter of adapting the existing plumbing into this new pump... or is there more I'd have to do?)

* Will this pump fit onto the Kawasaki motor that came with my Lesco Space Saver? (It says it requires a motor with a threaded shaft, and I have no idea how to determine if mine is or not...)

* And, finally, what kind of maintenance should I expect to do with a pump like this?

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

I just noticed that centrifugal pumps require a low mounting point - which isn't an option with a space saver... Any one care to dispute that?

What about the Hypro D30? I hear good things about them. Recommended rebuild is every 1-2 years (instead of every 3 months).

http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/product.asp?PG=95

Would this unit be a direct replacement for my D403?

[RigglePLC]

Whoop--you are right. Centrifugal pumps are not at all self-priming. They can lose prime if water level is at the same level as the pump--say when the tank is one-third full and you slosh the fluid around as you drive. If air gets in the line--flow of liquid stops. Pressure not above 80 psi. The pressure control uses a throttling valve--not a pressure relief valve. You don't use gear reduction--they run at a higher speed. Main wear part is the shaft seal--replaceable.

[MStine315]

D30 is a great pump. Very easy to rebuild. I can't tell you about adapting them to the 403/Kaw setup. After this season, I may look into switching over to a Honda/D30 combo. I just spent way too much money getting my 403 rebuilt and now I'm kicking myself for not swapping out instead.