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Arnco Tech Tip No. 2

Cold Weather Flatproofing

When the weather turns cold it’s important to remember that certain measures need to be taken to ensure your pump keeps working correctly. The first thing you should think about are the seals in the motor and connected parts which contract in colder weather. Worn seals plus cold weather equal leaking material and off-ratio polyurethane mixtures. And nobody likes that during the holiday season. The second thing to think about is the PU material itself. In cold weather the material thickens which makes the pump move slower and work harder.

The best way to avoid problems that can occur during cold weather is to pump in a heat room at 72 degrees F (22 C). At this optimum temperature the material will be less viscous and therefore pump faster, the air motor won’t freeze and the material will cure faster. If you have any questions about pumping during cold weather or setting up a heat room please contact us.

Tips for pumping Arnco Superfills:

• Re-tighten the oil-cup. Loose cups will leak material and cause problems. Use “tooth” type tool for tightening.
• Clean out your oil cups and fill the half full with fresh lubricant.
• If you are pumping without a heat room and your pump is running slow DO NOT increase your motors air pressure above 100 psi (6.6 Bar). The pump is running slow because the mixture thickens in the cold weather. Increasing the air pressure will not make your pump run faster, it will only make the motor freeze up. If you pump freezes up decrease your air pressure. You can also use a de-icer or anti-freeze on the air motor to help the pump operate faster.
• DO NOT point a gas burner or flame heater at the pump because it could cause a fire.
• Make sure the desiccant cartridge is correctly positioned on the isocyanate side to absorb the moisture in the air. Replace the cartridge when the crystals in the window turn pink.
• Do not place filled tires onto a cement floor to cure. The floor will act like a heat sink, instead place the tires on a pallet in a warm area. (refer to chart below for cure times)
• Place sample cup or bag with the filled tires. The sample will be a good gauge as to how the tires are curing.
• We strongly recommend that your pump seals be changed at least once a year to optimal pump performance. This procedure is done on site and takes only a few hours, contact us to schedule an appointment.
  

Information in article provided by Matt Pearson