wentalong Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 Hey all, Im having some weird times with my fog machine I got for a fiver off a mate, it's a martin magnum 1200 (exactly like the junior 700) and the machine works but when it shoots fog out, the pump sucks the fluid but you can see the fluid and bubbles go back and forth in the pump, and if you listen to it it sounds like it gains and looses power as the bubbles in the pipe and fluid go back and forth, the fog doesnt shoot very far out to, it goes about 1 foot, maybe 2. I took the pipe off the pump and blew through the heating element's pipe which it was how to see if it was that and when I blow it is fairly hard to go through and I can feel preasure on it going back and forth when I blow on it with my mouth, I've ran nearly a pint on vinegar and water through it and the machine hadn't improved at all, anyone got any suggestions?!?!? Thanks :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidlandsAudio Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 yeah, dont buy fog machines off your mate for a fiver http://www.blue-room.org.uk/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 hehee yeah I know, but it's worth at least tempting to fix :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 It sounds like the pump needs replacing, jem service will sell you a replacement. The seals in the pump gradually wear out and weak pumping is a classic sign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 should have said I just replaced the pump with a brand new one :D the machine got a little better with the new pump :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 should have said I just replaced the pump with a brand new one :D the machine got a little better with the new pump :D ah ok, well it's probably bunged up then inside the block. Bin time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 yeahh thats what im thinking, even though fog comes out and I can blow through the heater with moderate ease considering its size, if nothing else works im gunna open the element to see what blocked it ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 yeahh thats what im thinking, even though fog comes out and I can blow through the heater with moderate ease considering its size, if nothing else works im gunna open the element to see what blocked it ;) er, good luck with that, as it's cast inside a block of solid metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyro_gearloose Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 You'd be better off using a thin piece of wire to break up any blockages. A thin piece of copper wire works quite well as the tube through the heater probably bends back on itself so you'll need some wire that will follow these bends. If that doesn't work then the next thing to try is caustic soda. Obviously you should only use caustic soda when the block is cold, and be very careful about getting any on your skin or in your eyes. You'll need to let the soda sit for a while to do its work, and then you'll need to flush it out with plenty of cold water and then flush it out again just to make sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Hopefully it won't be too bad, I had a Jem 24/7 Hazer that the pump had gone in last week, replaced the pump and it still wasn't sucking haze fluid through, took off the connecting pipe at each end of the heating element, blew all the crap out (it was black and dirty) put it back together, ran it for 20 minutes and it was working like brand new :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 thanks for the replies guys :) and maybe I'll leave my grinder bee if its cast metal lool ;) and I'm not too sure if I've got any copper wire but I tried a paperclip and the pipe bends down on itself as you said, is the tube inside the element straight? or are there loads of places it can get blocked? also, if it comes to it I'll use some caustic soda, its worth atleast attempting to fix with it being a half decent brand, and probably very expensive in its time :D maybe I could hook it up to a preassure washer some how.... maybe that'd 'blast' it out :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 I've got a video here to show you all what it does/sounds like, as even if it was blocked I dont see how the pressure could go up & down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigclive Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Oh, it's not a solenoid pump after all? What sort of pump are they using? (Does it look like it's the original component?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wentalong Posted May 8, 2012 Author Share Posted May 8, 2012 the pumps actually a 24v VDO car screen washer pump :D it's exactly the same as the origonal one I replaced but it has a different bracket on the back that is used to screw to the machine (doesnt change performance at all) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Pearce Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 The magnum 1500 uses a solenoid pump. I know, I have a slightly charred one sat on my desk waiting for replacement. It failed noisily! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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