walker.grace•3mo agoProlific Poster

Found a way to clear a clogged suction line without shutting down the whole pump

We were pulling up a lot of old roots and muck in a canal near Jacksonville, and the main suction line kept getting blocked every couple hours. Instead of stopping the pump to pull the whole line, I tried reversing the flow for about 30 seconds by quickly switching the valve setup. It pushed the clog back out into the cutter head area and cleared it. Has anyone else tried something like this on a standard hydraulic dredge?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_robin3mo ago

Ever notice the best fix is usually the simplest one?

the_richard3mo ago

Sounds like a great way to wreck your pump seals and stir up all the settled solids you just pumped. That sudden reverse pressure spike is brutal on the system. You might clear the clog but you're trading a quick fix for way more wear and tear on expensive parts.

jake_anderson243mo ago

Pumps are built to handle some pressure changes, it's not like they're made of glass. A quick reverse flow won't instantly destroy seals if it's not a daily habit. Seems like a bit of an overreaction to a common field fix.