Having problems pumping over 200' with out plugging the line.  I pump with a Schwing P 305 with 2.5 inch lines.  i use to pump with a smaller P 88 and had no problems pumping over 200'.  I prime my lines by pouring 1 bag of Slick Wille 2 into the hopper and fill with water above cylinders and mix. I pump the prime down as far as i can then fill hopper with concrete.  Any suggestions?

do you put a sponge ball in the line before you mix,  to help prime the top of the pipes.

Forget what you did with the ball valve pump on prime up.

I always suggest putting the prime in the line directly after the hopper outlet ...... not in the hopper.

Always pump a bit faster as well when priming, never had any success putting water in the hopper or line. Because you are stroking slower than the ball valve unit it pays to stroke an S-tube faster ....... this prevents the mud falling to bits.

I have a saying that "you can take a ball valve guy and put him on an S-tube" but "it's hard to put an S-tube guy on a ball valve"

Don't make a fool of me.

Happy pumping

I use a very similar set-up.  I, too, use 2.5 inch gear and find that it's a great help if I mix my primer (Slick Willie 2, as you) and pour half in the hopper and prime just through 100' first.  I put a whole sheet of newspaper in the line right after the reducer as well as another sheet (crumpled up, of course) at the end of the fifth hose (the section making up the 125th foot.  Once you see primer and good mud flowing out the 100th foot of hose, fill the fifth hose with the remaining primer that's in the bucket.  The piece of paper will act as a pressure-creator so that the primer actually coats the entire line, as the sponge others have mentioned would do as well.  As far as how fast, I use a very modest rate, about 10 seconds a stroke.  That way if you do have a clog, it's not packed by two or three strokes.  Good luck! 

when you stopped pumping you were done and need to clear the line before you start up again

i would use a little slick pac in the hose and where it stopped is where i would plug in the second hose every dam time so i stopped using it, but i do try to carry it just in case the driver starts washing up in my hopper before i pump down i can sprinkle a little and stir it up that has saved me a couple times.

prime your pump out to the first piece of hose ( this keeps the mess off the street ) into a six gallon feeder pan that has about ten inch high sides, pour that into a five gallon bucket with one gallon of water then go back and forth about four times to seperate the rock, this makes two gallons then put it to the line and your hopper will be full to go the distance.

i would pump faster with less fuel with my 30 YPH ball unit than i do with my 40 YPH slippy tube - brian

I use Portland cement to prime line. They always spread it out on the deck. It is cement so it works great as long as there is not too much water. Then the last of it mixes with the concrete so you have a sweet slump to prime with.   Good luck, Keep us posted.

Hammer,

I pump with a P305, and use morter clay as a primer and put it in the hose only not the hopper. Your material is only going a very short distance through the hopper,cylinders, elbow and reducer. If you prime in just the hose you get the concentrated slurry that coats the entire hose system as opposed to diluting the mix introducing air and thinning out the mix by running it unessarily through the hopper. I frequently pump over 200' prime with morter clay directly in the hose use no water and no sponges or papers, and never have a problem. Hope that helps.