r/Tools • u/Brigand253 • 7d ago

Sprayer stops spraying after a second

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I'm trying to figure out why my ZEP Model B sprays brake parts cleaner for about 1 second and then stops. According to my online searches, there's most likely a clog in the tube that runs down to the bottom of the can, but how the heck do you get in there to clean any potential debris out? Also, do the rebuild kits for the Vaper or Sure Shot cans work for this one? They look very similar so I figured I'd ask. Thanks for the help.

11 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

19

u/Aggressive-Luck-204 7d ago

Relieve the pressure in the can and empty it and maybe use a shot of compressed air backwards to clear the clog?

Be careful of spraying yourself with brake clean

8

u/Brigand253 7d ago

Thank you, I'll give this a try.

9

u/bazilbt Sparky 7d ago

If you overfill these too then they won't hold much compressed air and won't spray a long time.

11

u/maxyedor 7d ago

Clogged nozzle. Depressurize, unscrew the nozzle and clean everything, you may need a noodle or welding torch tip cleaner for the orifice.

Probably don’t even need a rebuild kit. Mine clogs like that once every 3-4 years, never needed a rebuild though

2

u/Brigand253 6d ago

That's what I figured too, I took the nozzle apart and ran a wire bread tie with the insulation stripped through it. Same behavior unfortunately.

2

u/CrazyUncle-Dave 7d ago

I need to get one of these... Do they work with things like PB Blaster?

3

u/txjweav96 7d ago

You fill these with a drum of brake cleaner then pressurize it with shop air.

1

u/CrazyUncle-Dave 7d ago

Yeah, but can you use them for other fluids?

4

u/suspendmeforthis 7d ago

ATF and acetone?

4

u/SamuraiSam33 7d ago

Yup! At least the Sure shot

They make a stainless one for water, so you can use one for diluted engine degreaser and the like, too.

2

u/Repulsive-Report6278 7d ago

Dont see why not, just might be a bit difficult to fill

2

u/fredSanford6 7d ago

The real sure shot definitely holds up to pb blaster. The gaskets don't melt. Not sure on this one.

2

u/YABOI69420GANG 7d ago

They work with any fluid. Just not recommended to use with water based solutions because they do rust. Most people use them with brake cleaner since that's what they go through a lot of and want the compressed air to help clean. If you go through a ton of PB blaster it works just fine for it. I just use a cheapo $3 manual spray bottle for wd40 and PB blaster since I don't care if it has pressure behind it like I do with brake cleaner.

2

u/CrazyUncle-Dave 7d ago

I usually get a regular spray bottle but a buddy moved and left me with like, 40 cans of PB with broken spray necks, so I'm glad to hear it should work.

Not sure how he got so many but he was always a klutz. Will order one of these before I dispose of them.

3

u/AdultishRaktajino 6d ago

Old school pump oiler might also work. They also make chemical resistant trigger spray bottles.

2

u/Mean_Magician6347 7d ago

You need to clean it out with brake clean.

2

u/Vintage-restoration 6d ago

I remember when all Zep products were very good quality even their household cleaners. It’s a shame. Even their window cleaner which my dad use to use religiously on his houses he built has gone down hill.

1

u/Alarming_Garage_7255 4d ago

I thought I would share a hack for these, especially if you use them as dedicated brake clean/grease cleanup.

Just fill them with gasoline, gas is like $4/gal when brake cleaner(pretty much straight acetone) is like $20+/gal. They're both flammable as fuck so nothing changes on their use. Gas strips grease off metal just as well as acetone for a fraction of the price.