Prochem Apex fuel delivery problem

[roto-kleen]

If I could get pliers into the cap to pinch the little brass connector I would, cant get them in because the cap is hard plastic. I realize that is what holds the plug on not the current, all I was saying was the faulty coil may be causing the cap to pop off the plug some how, which is really strange.

New cap may be defective too, by chance (and my luck it would be). I've ordered the coil#1...all 3 are different, part numbers at least, so would not want to switch wires, think they're numbered for reason, no?
I'll try a different cap on the wire too.

 

[C&S]

blown head gasket?

 

[Able 1]

If I could get pliers into the cap to pinch the little brass connector I would, cant get them in because the cap is hard plastic. I realize that is what holds the plug on not the current, all I was saying was the faulty coil may be causing the cap to pop off the plug some how, which is really strange.

New cap may be defective too, by chance (and my luck it would be). I've ordered the coil#1 ...all 3 are different, part numbers at least, so would not want to switch wires, think they're numbered for reason, no?
I'll try a different cap on the wire too.

I just looked at mine, and the caps are real snug on the plug and air tight in the hole they fit into.. I think he was saying to switch the wires on both sides and see the cap pops off #1 say switch the wire from #2 that wasn't popping off(take pics before you start pulling wires). The numbers on the wires are there so you make sure that you connect the right coil to the right cylinder the actual wires are all the same except they maybe different lengths..

 

[roto-kleen]

Just replaced the #1 coil, seems to be running perfectly with load and during extraction. Cap is staying on plug securely now. I'm crossing my fingers and being mindful of things I do to set off Karma...firm believer in Karma! I'll keep posted. Thanks to all who assisted me in diagnosing the problem.

 

[Able 1]

Still running good?

 

[roto-kleen]

Machines I tell ya...it's acting up again. I am completely at a loss with this thing!

I'm starting to think the head gasket's blown as mentioned above by C&S. I'm pretty sure there's a leak...I've seen a small amount leaking. I hope it's just the head gasket and not a crack in the block.

Oh, and the #1 wire popped off again today while I was just getting started on extraction process...it started running rough again but intermittently and was making a weird wining noise at one point...like a plactic bag or piece of wrap was stuck in the hose somewhere, it only did it when the vac hose was plugged in though, kinda sounded like it was coming from the blower? I don't know...It got me though a pretty big job, but barely.

I'm going to call Prochem tech support and/or take it to Prochem dealer in Ottawa I deal with for parts...which is 3 hours away, one way!

What baffles me most, if nothing else it's the #1 wire cap...still popping off the s-plug...after I've replaced the wire, the coil, the cap and the plug...it's like...WHAT THE F!!!???

 

[XTREME1]

I had similar problems.

Does your battery ever die?
Have you just run from a gas canister for a day to see what happens?
are the plug wires tied away from each other so they do not arc out?
Is the filter between the blower and the machine clean?
Are your blower belts tight, so that when they are under load they do not jump causing the machine to bog down and not give it time to correct?
Did you pull all the plugs and clean out each of the plug holes?
Do you have the plug hole protectors in there (i pulled mine)?
Are both rule filters new"
Did you get a can of air and spray out the carburetor?
Get a fuel can add some dry gas and start there.

 

[Able 1]

Did in run well since you changed the coil until now? After I changed the one, another one went out.. The spark plug thing is weird though(it is in there TIGHT)!

 

[roto-kleen]

inline xtreme 1
No, but I've had it for awhile...and it has been depleted before, how does the battery fit into this scenario though?
Ran fresh premium fuel from gas can...no change
spark wires are not arcing out
blower filter is clean
blower belts are tightened to Prochem's recommendation, changed them about 200 hours ago
plug hole clean out I've yet to do...you mean because debris may have fallen in there?
what are plug hole protectors?
fuel filter is new for TM...van's isnt...would that matter?
sprayed carb cleaner no results
Can of dry gas? you mean water remover, carb cleaner?
Thanks

Able1
I think it ran fine for a bit then it started acting up intermittently. I changed the other 2 coils and wires and still no difference. It runs fine without load, when I throttle it up close the vac inlets and engage the water pump, it starts to run rough, like miss almost, and has a tendency to stall out, has belched a bit of black smoke. I've also noticed a weird sound coming from the blower that I've never heard before...like a wining sound, that comes and goes after I lube it with wd40.

 

[Able 1]

Switch wires and see if it still happens. I can't understand a wire coming off for no reason. Did you piss someone off who's following you. Nice soft rubber boots would solve the problem. They don't have to be dealer wires.

Gene

Weird as it may seem my Apex popped one of the wires off twice today.. I can't really figure why this would happen? Wish he would have followed up to tell us what fixed the problem. .

 

[dgardner]

Did you check for a guy hiding in the bushes, laughing at you as you tried to figure out what the heck was going on?

 

[Able 1]

We watched the whole thing.. Start up, ran under load, and it popped off before our eyes! Weird too say the least!! The only way I can see this happening is either spark plugs aren't torqued enough and allowing air to excape(highly unlikely ) or the spark blows it off(again highly unlikely ).. Real weird!

 

[dgardner]

The only other thing I can think of is the plug cap is resonating at a particular engine speed and the resulting vibration is popping the cap. If so, changing the rpm slightly will make it stop.

 

[dgardner]

If you can touch the plug cap with something non-metallic like a bone scraper, and slowly run the rpm up and down a few hundred rpm either way you will feel a marked increase in the vibration level at the resonant speed - if that's even the problem.....

 

[Able 1]

I did have a vibration problem.. We will see..

 

[FB19087]

are we talking the boots here?

air get trapped...heats up....pops off

lot of boots have a hole to let air escape

/sorry...didn't want to read whole thread

 

[dgardner]

Good idea. Something else to check. So, if you pop 'em back on while hot it lets the pressure escape and solves the problem?

 

[Nate The Great]

My old Kawasaki motor used to pop the spark plugs off when on the job.... It was after I changed the plugs too.... I bought new wires and made extra sure I put them on good..... That seemed to solve the problem... The only thing I could think of is the metal in the boot of the wire is stretched or worn out...

 

[GeneMiller]

After rereading the whole thing I noticed he said he only runs premium gas. Besides being a waste it's not good for these engines.

I can't imagine the brass letting go as tight as ever one I've ever had is. Most are a pain to get loose. If mine did pop off I'd use some high temp black rtv.
Gene.

 

[Able 1]

They are hard boots, but they have this seal around them.. they are air tight, you're probably right Fred..

 

[GeneMiller]

Throw that away and go straight to the plug. Why do you need that.

Gene

 

[Able 1]

This machine is pissing me off this year!! It always comes in waves.. I have tore apart this van like 4 times this year, usually only once a year.. BIG pita!!

 

[Nate The Great]

This machine is pissing me off this year!! It always comes in waves.. I have tore apart this van like 4 times this year, usually only once a year.. BIG pita!!

I guess the Apex isn't the best single wand machine, ah.....

 

[Able 1]

No the Peak is..

 

[laura@legendbrands]

This machine is pissing me off this year!! It always comes in waves.. I have tore apart this van like 4 times this year, usually only once a year.. BIG pita!!

Not sure if you have already reached out... But if you want to troubleshoot with our tech group give me a call and I will gather them together.

Ph: 602 327 9117

 

[Able 1]

The Apex has more lift, so it's hard to argue against that.. The Peak just does it's thing day in day out.. You can hardly push a unglided wand on my Peak..

To be fair, my Apex has 4,000 hours and it's been good to me..

 

[JS41035]

Just bought a 2011. Kinda curious how it holds up. Low hours.

 

[JS41035]

The Apex has more lift, so it's hard to argue against that.. The Peak just does it's thing day in day out.. You can hardly push a unglided wand on my Peak..

To be fair, my Apex has 4,000 hours and it's been good to me..

Do you leave it at 13"?

 

[Able 1]

laura@prochem" data-source="post: 4374731" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Not sure if you have already reached out... But if you want to troubleshoot with our tech group give me a call and I will gather them together.

Ph: 602 327 9117

I have talked to Chuck Coffee many times in my day, great guy! Chuck is the best.. Some things just can't be walked through over the phone
I'm up and running, just been a lot at once..

I will only buy and rebuild prochem units. Only ones worth a shit!

BTW why can't you delete smilies?

 

[Able 1]

Just bought a 2011. Kinda curious how it holds up. Low hours.

It will hold up for a long, long time for you.. The Kubota is a solid motor.. The kubota is known to go 12,000 hours..