Spent a whole day trying to unclog a pump with a garden hose

Our main suction line on the cutterhead dredge got a real bad plug of clay and roots. Instead of pulling the spud and opening the pump like we should have, I thought I could backflush it with a pressure washer and a garden hose adapter. Wasted eight hours and about $150 in fuel running the booster pump for nothing. Had to open it up anyway the next morning. Has anyone else tried a shortcut that just cost them more time?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan1348d ago

Tried to outsmart a clog once, just outsmarted myself.

nora5358d ago

Ever have that moment where you just knew it was a bad idea but did it anyway? Sounds like the pressure washer was a total waste of time and fuel. What finally got the plug out once you opened it up?

-1

jamiesingh8d ago

Yeah that "total waste of time and fuel" feeling is too real. I had a spark plug fused in an old mower. After stripping the head trying to force it, I let some penetrating oil soak in overnight. Next day, I heated the area around the plug with a heat gun, not the plug itself. That broke the seal enough that I could finally turn it out with a proper socket and a long bar for leverage. Patience and heat beat brute force.