How many operators when they have to move and re setup move with concrete in the pipes , I have always while bringing the hose around to rinse off and put the drip sponge in the end reversed my pump until its sucking air, this way pipe is 90-95% clean , cylinders are 99% clean, reason for asking twice this year , we have had concrete flash in pipes due to operators not using this method , just asking , is this not common practice for most operators ?

I've run a 32 m Schwing for the past eleven years and have moved that truck countless times in the middle of jobs.  I usually pump the hopper down as low as I Can and then reverse it 2, 3 maybe 4 times to get the line as empty as possible. Let it drain and then fold up.  Usually only takes me 15-20 min max to fold down and then set back up.  I hardly mess with putting a ball or plug in the hose, I have learned how to fold up and then unfold with out much mess. If I know I have to move the truck, then I spray some form oil on  section 3 and 4 where they pivot to help keep concrete from sticking to it if some does run out during setup.  I then just spray that part off with water if some does run out.

Know your mud

Let me give you guys a bit of advice , how much trouble is it to reverse pump until its sucking air ? this empties your pipe plus your cylinder are pretty much empty, both times this has happened it was with supposed fresh loads of mud, but it is 95+ degrees here right now , I have done this for 25 years and never once had a issue, and I agree about knowing your mud , but to me its senseless to even take the chance when it causes you no more work to just empty the boom , why wouldn't you ? And I am asking if there is a reasoning behind why you wouldn't.

If I havent seen the setup on the new lot I'll suck my sponge back just in case there is any issue with the setup or concrete not being there like its supposed to. One time had a scare. I left the boom full and moved then spent 20 minutes trying to get the pump into pump gear. 

yes move the pump fast and safe as possible. never empty your last truck before you move. keep a couple of yards in the truck if you dont trust your mud. than move and you have some mud to push through your pump.

If Im running a small boom I make sure to have m3 left in truck before a move. I pump hopper down a little then back stroke till hopper is full, then fold up and haul ass moving to the next set up location. If im running a bigger boom I dont even chance it. I make sure my hopper is good and wet, pump up and suck a sponge back before folding up and moving. If a customer ever gives you grief about the time to do this, just remind them about the $$$ and time it cost to replace boom pipe on top of the job not being completed because of a boom party.

I used to run around from job to job to job for years without sucking a sponge back but always reversing the pump to empty the boom. We were privelaged enough to have great communication and working relationships with the concrete companies so we often would get them loading for the next job before we made the decision to fold up without sucking back a sponge. Our climate consisted of freezing temperatures in the winter and 30-40 degrees celcius in the summer time; concrete with low fly ash content all year round and accelerators and hot water in the winter. Some pours there was absolutely no chance I would do it but it was all about being familiar with the producer's specific concrete and reading the concrete's stage of its setting cycle. I was successful doing this for years and the chances I was taking were possibly a breakdown and not being able to clean the boom due to this breakdown or misreading the concrete. I was successful with this method for 10 years in that environment. Now I am in a different part of the world pumping crete and it's not necessary, I will do it moving on the same job site but thats about it. Where I work now, every pump is equipped with a slurry cap so you won't make a mess taking out the sponge (if in an area where you can't open the swing 90); I am provided a (linehand or labourer) on every pump I operate so he can take out the sponge while I'm folding up so I don't lose any time, the market is less competitve that I work in now (also work with a company with a large number of pumps) so the customers aren't looking at their whatches if you show up 20 minutes late and carrying on about it all pour long, threatening to use the cheaper competitors

just a few thoughts , less concrete gets harder quicker ? misconception , more concrete , more heat , reason I'm saying this is ,I've seen it , its a lot easier to push out remnants of concrete than it is stalks that have to go thru 90s , not happening , but it does depend on climate , mud, and other variables , and 2 instances this summer both times concrete left in boom trucks waiting and booms locked up when they unfolded and tried to pump , 20 minutes max from folding up to unfolding , I like the idea of sucking the ball back I have done that on occasion also when the next setup ws unseen , but mainly this post was to warn young operators of the hazard of moving with concrete left in the boom and to see what the majority due in these situations , my opinion is if you have any doubt suck the ball back , and always reverse the pump and get as much of the mud out of the boom as possible , hold a truck if possible, I would also like to ask traveltek a question , I know a pump can unfold with concrete in them but is there any detrimental harm done to the boom by doing this on a consistennt basis ?

Guys,

 ShortStik already ended this conversation. If you know your mud you know what to do. sometimes you have to suck a sponge, sometimes you dont.  

Well said

Know your mud ? what about a rookie ? Know your mud , 25+ years of doing this and I am pretty good at it , 3000,4000,5000 we all learn to recognize what each means and what problems each can bring up for a pump operator , but each day I still learn , and unfortunately most learning experiences cost people money , because we are to egotisitical to listen to things others have seen or done, this is not bitch session or anything other than talking about my experiences and things I have learned so others may also learn , to each his own but know your mud doesn't end it , you go to move and your fuel solenoid goes out , you get stuck , etc. there are so many facxtors that can happen that know your mud does not end the converstation. In fact that should be the starting point of the conversation.

Beast if you KNOW YOUR MUD  and your fuel solenoid goes while moving ya blow out the boom and call it a day. This because you know your mud  has a shelf life that is reasonable enough to the move pump without a sponge back. Lifes to short for what ifs all the time. Mitigate your risk and pump on. 

and yes i understand concrete can flash but this can screw you without moving your pump as well.

me and you pedro may would do that but a rookie hard to say what they would do , and yes concrete can flash at any time , you all say know your mud , I know concrete , that shit sometimes is as unpredictable as a woman with these suppliers here you never know if they loaded on top of 2 yards of mud been in mixer , but hey pedro to each his own , keep the mud moving and have a good weekend.

if your worried about a mix, before moving circulate some delay set first before folding up

I agree with pumpnfinnish. Thin layer of concrete sets faster specialy when its freezing cold. In the cold the best is to keep as much of your pipes full of concrete. I just cap the endhose and work fast.

must say there is a bit difference between moving a smaler boom like a 20-42m and a big boom like 45-101m...

How would we do that?? Moving a 80+m boom??

haha Dipstick I think I would suck back a sponge every time moving any of the new real big stuff. I highly doubt there is anything quick about moving those machines.

id would hope moving the 55m+ means going home

I agree with freezing temps but in a hot situation I do believe more is better , and 101 meter I dont see moving that one very much , our problems have been from 45 meter to 61 meter.

damn, u movin 45+ with mud in the boom.  ballsy, i would not do it.  if the contract cant measure out the mud right to put a hold on concrete for the move he can eat the lost mud.  i would not be moving big booms with mud in the pipes unless my employer/boss/owner told me too.

4 section roll n' folds or Z-boom no prob, lift main open 4th and ur at the hopper.  Small 5 section pretty much the same.  big 4 and 5 are not so quick if things go sour on the setup.

FYI, having little bits of dry concrete in the boom is dangerous as fuck if you dont take the drop hose off on start up, espeacially a rookie.

The staatement above, "Know Your Mud!" is the key here. Is it old, high strength, hot, these are all factors. You can move and do everything the way you have for years and get bit because the mud got you. Know your mud, make the right call. If that means you have to tell the contractor you wont move with mud in the truck because it is old and hot, then so be it. You are the "ASS" when this doesn't go right so don't put yourself in these positions. I have been told that everything was moved for my pump and when I was moving, I saw it wasn't. I reset up, washed out and was folded up and waiting before they moved everything out of my way. We have a lot of responsibility. We can cost our companies thousands of dollors by making poor decisions. I'd like to see more rewarding and recognition of safe opererators by their companies instead of the customer is always right, do whatever they want you to do.

pumpfinish

if you're the boss and tell me to move,  i'll do my thing with SlowWilly and rock on.  best   until then a spong is coming back with the big sticks.

to the newer ops, keep in mind that 1 yard mud is 200' of 5"pipe.  thats is an extra 4000lbs + 1000ish lbs in the hopper your driving around with. 

I recirculate with "recover" every time ! It's cheap insurance but you still need to know the mud that's in the pump

10-4

Yepp thats what I ment to. Nothing to get stressed about. I have driven on the road with mud in my deck pipes in case of emergency but thats nothing I would recomend to anyone