The priming process is crucial in any painting job. It ensures that you leave a high-quality finish and without it, you might have to deal with issues like peeling paint plus a bad rating.
If your Graco paint sprayer is not priming, there are a bunch of reasons why this could happen. In this guide, we have shared the reasons for this as well as the fixes you can try.
Graco Paint Sprayer Not Priming: Likely Causes
The common causes for a Graco paint sprayer not priming include:
Airless sprayer tip is clogged: If the tip of the sprayer is clogged, it can prevent paint from flowing through the system and prevent the sprayer from priming.
Suction tube is clogged: The suction tube could also be the problem. The function of this part is to pull paint from the container and into the sprayer. If it is clogged, the sprayer will fail to prime.
Damaged or worn seals: With continuous use, the seals in the sprayer can become damaged or worn. When this happens, it would lead to leaks and cause the sprayer to not prime.
Clogged or damaged pump: The pump might also be faulty. The pump is designed to pressurize the paint and propel it through the system. If it is clogged or damaged, the sprayer will have issues with priming.
Power supply issues: If the sprayer is not receiving enough power, it may not be able to prime. This can be caused by a variety of issues, such as a faulty power cord or outlet, or a problem with the sprayer’s internal components.
Graco Paint Sprayer Not Priming: DIY Fixes
1. Clean the Airless Sprayer Tip
To fix the issue with the sprayer tip, you can try cleaning the tip with a soft bristle brush or a tip cleaning tool.
To clean the tip:
- The sprayer must be turned off and unplugged from the power source before you get started
- Remove the tip from the sprayer by loosening the collar or nut that holds it in place.
- Use a soft bristle brush or tip-cleaning tool to gently scrub the inside of the tip.
- Rinse the tip with water and dry it with a clean cloth.
- Reinstall the tip onto the sprayer, making sure it
2. Clean the Suction Tube
To clean the suction tube:
- Start by turning off the sprayer and ensure it is not plugged into the power source.
- When you locate the suction tube, follow it back to the paint container.
- Use a thin wire or small brush to gently scrub the inside of the tube to remove any clogs.
- Rinse the tube with water and dry it with a clean cloth.
- Reattach the tube to the sprayer and test the sprayer to see if it is now able to prime.
3. Replace Damaged or Worn Seals
Replacing the seals is a more advanced repair that may require the services of a professional. However, if you want to give it a go, you can use the steps below as a guide.
- Start by turning off the sprayer and ensure it is not plugged into the power source.
- Refer to the owner’s manual for the specific location of the seals in your sprayer model.
- Using a seal removal tool or a flat-head screwdriver, carefully pry the old seals out of their housing.
- Clean the housing and surrounding area with a clean cloth to remove any debris.
- Insert the new seals into the housing, making sure they are seated properly. Reassemble the sprayer and test it to see if it is now able to prime.
4. Clean or Replace the Pump
If everything else checks out and you think that the pump is the cause of the issue, you may need to clean or replace it.
To clean the pump, follow these steps:
- Start by turning off the sprayer and ensure it is not plugged into the power source.
- Refer to the owner’s manual for the specific location of the pump in your sprayer model.
- Remove the pump from the sprayer and disassemble it according to the instructions in the manual.
- Use a soft bristle brush or a small tool to clean the inside of the pump, removing any debris or clogs.
- Reassemble the pump and reattach it to the sprayer.
- Test the sprayer to see if it is now able to prime.
If cleaning the pump does not fix the issue, you may need to replace it.
Follow these steps to replace the pump:
- Once again ensure that you’ve turned off the sprayer and unplugged it from the power source
- You will have to refer to the owner’s manual for the specific location of the pump in your sprayer model.
- Remove the old pump from the sprayer and disassemble it according to the instructions in the manual.
- Get a replacement pump that is compatible with your sprayer model.
- Install the new pump according to the instructions in the manual.
- Reassemble the sprayer and test it to see if it is now able to prime.
5. Check the Power Supply
Finally, you might want to check if the issue with your Graco paint sprayer is related to the power supply.
- Follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem.
- To check the power supply, follow these steps:
- Ensure that the power cord is properly plugged into the outlet and the sprayer.
- Check the outlet to make sure it is functioning properly by plugging in a different device to see if it powers on.
- If the outlet and power cord seem to be functioning properly, you may need to check the internal components of the sprayer.
- If you’re having trouble here, refer to the owner’s manual for instructions on how to access and check these components.
Conclusion
If none of these steps fix the issue with the power supply, you may need to get the Graco paint sprayer to a professional. They will be able to diagnose and repair any problems with the internal components of the sprayer.