How To Fix An Airless Sprayer That Is Not Priming. 

8 years later and this guy is still helping people with this video, thanks so much! Fixed my problem!

You saved my ass, today with this video. Thankyou! No one better than the Idaho Painter.

Thanks for sharing! Just got my friends 440i working after years being in storage using your video!

The way he talks and explain everything is very clear and professional, thanks for uploading your videos !!!!!!!

What a great video. This is truly the 2 ways you will be fixing 99% of your sprayers problems. Thanks Chris!

Perfect man! I just bought a titan xt250 that "wasnt spraying" for $100 bucks cause i thought i could get it to work and you fixed it, thanks.

Thanks Idaho, you saved me a lot of headaches , tried for 2 hrs to run denated alcohol and clean hoses etc. 15 mins after watching this and problem was solved and its running great!

thanks for all the advice, I work at home depot and I was in the paint department for a while, I recommended my customers to go see your videos because they are very clear and well explained, plus I work more or less the same way you do so I knew these were good advice. Keep on the good work

Thank a million, that was my property. Saved my butt on this job

Thank you so much, fixed the problem with my impact 440. I thought the prime valve had gone bad, but no, there was a chuck of paint against the ball.

Thanks, this video saved my ass today. I watched it months ago, then my sprayer stopped priming and I couldn't figure it out till I remembered your video, checked out the steel ball and sure enough a small piece of debri was between the ball and the seat. Popped it out with a toothpick and happy days! I probably would've spent big bucks taking it to the shop.

Hi This is Solomon from Australia. I watched your video and solved the problem with my spray. Thank you ❤

Thanks for taking the time to make the video, was ready to repack seals, watched your video, checked the ball and found the problem...mucho gracias

You have covered 95% of the solution and I thank you for that. I have never had this problem occur that wasn't settled with a light tap of a hammer or even a wrench! Today I was sending my primer out all ready to spray my finish coat when midway through spraying my primer back into a bucket with a water chaser everything stopped. I tried hot water and many hammer taps but to no avail. Finally I just just to shut everything down and go home to try and fix it myself. I thought the worst until I saw your video and a few others like this. Surprisingly two fellas went right into taking things apart after making sure the inlet wasn't ineffective and that the outlet hose of the prime cycle was clear without ever mentioning the hammer tap. If you get away with it once you are lucky but it is an indication of a larger problem, do you not agree? Time for a tuneup and thank your lucky stars you do not have to send your machine to the repair shop!

I have the titan 650 had the same problem and didn't know what to do. Your the best! Thanks for showing us what to do. :)

I wish I had your knowledge. I’ve professionally painted a lot,and successfully. Not bragging. I always take before and after pics. to show to my next potential customer. I’ve learned a lot from your videos. Thanks

T/Y Chris, My 17 y.o. Campbell Hausfeld, not used in years, was not priming, I cleaned a piece of paint off the valve(no ball) and 'primed' it with water. Works great now!

Thanks for the tip. This was a super easy fix on my used Titan 640. Loose paint in ball.

your videos have saved my bacon several times. I removed the hose like you recommended before watching. It didn't work. The hammer worked like a champ. Thank you for your videos.

Hey Chris, I'm running a ES 190 Graco Electronic Paint Sprayer and couldn't get it to prime for the life of me. Who knew all it needed was a few taps with a hammer. Seriously, thank you a ton! My boss thinks I'm a wizard all of the sudden haha.

Hey Chris after watching this video I was able to get my spraytech 2155 working again. I'll be honest I thought with the pump full of paint it was cooked. I was able to rinse it out and rebuild the prime valve. I had to put a new prime hose on it. Both balls were loose so I was freeking out. I bought a pressure gauge and a whip from you thinking I could rent a 440 and use my line and gun. All fixed now. Thanks so much for your videos. Bobrat

Thanks for the video! I had my sprayer back up and running in less than 5 minutes!!!

Thank you for sharing so much knowledge Chris, "Idaho Painter ". Also the group you've created, Paint Life Members, is awesome. 👍🙏

Your a true professional and very kind to share your vast painting skill Thank you sir I would like to work for you one day.

Thanks, brother. You just saved me a lost work day.

I second this. This is going to save me hours of frustration (and embarrassment as the motor goes on and on loudly). Thank you soo much.

Lifesaver for sure brother thanks I'm in the middle of a job. 2hrs away from home and my pump would not prime I didn't know what to do so I when to RU-vid thanks

Thank you, I was just about to bin it, but I've now got it working!!

Chris thank you a million for this video, I just used it to fix my machine, Very helpful and saved me a lot of time. Thanks again brother!

You're the man thank you for your time and generous information

BIG thanks from your friendly neighborhood painter man

great to find this solution, it worked straight away.

Thanks heaps.. worked a charm!! saved me a trip to the repair shop..

Hey your videos are On Point- concise- accurate- Very Helpful thank you

Thanks for your inputs....many blessings from a fellow painting contractor on the East Coast!

Thank you. You were a life saver today with this video. Appreciate you!

Hey Good Man, thanks for chiming in sir.

I've been spraying for over 20 years and in that time I was always taught to clean all the filters and lower fluid ball/pump area during the cleaning process after u run a few gallons through tuen off power release pressure and pull filters clean by hand make sure Lower ball is clean after u repressor switch to clean water run prime and spray for 10 min and you will get clear water and a sprayer that last for ever

Thank you bro! IM SO SERIOUS, Gotta job tmw havent started mine and was literally so damn PI$$ED OFF! (Fellas u understand) watched this and can finally stop fighting with this machine and get some rest! Thank you! 💪🏾🤝💯

Saved my life. I give 1k thumbs up.

The Idaho Painter has helped me a lotta times on job sites, been following him for a few years I believe and any question, type it in , he answers it with very informative answers and physical examples , thank you man , you are appriciated for handing down years of experience. Just another Painter in LA.

Another one of your great videos. You seem to have a lot of knowledge and a lot of common sense.

TY SIR! Mine was actually stuck from years of non use. Got it free and it works great! I was about to smash the damn thing! TYVM!!!

My sprayer didn't prime and there was no retention spring, but was able to unscrew the large housing to get to the lower ball (lower ball was in the housing when taken off the pump). But after unscrewing the lower ball I found a smaller ball further up in the head. I removed it with a 19mm socket and cleaned both and it's now working good. Thanks.

bro because of u IV been able to continue is this trade I love !!! thanks for all the helpful tips !!!! much love from Cali 🤘😎

Great video this just helped us solve our problem. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for your video, it helped. I have a Titan 290 and have not used it for over 4 years. It would not prime paint OR water so I did what you said but I could not find the ball. So I used the garden hose, and used the water to free it up. I tried it from the bottom and the from the paint hose. Works great. I think this will be a little preventative maintenance from now on.

Honestly I doubt anyone watches this video unless They’d fully cleaned out there sprayer / filters and still won’t prime so this video probably only helped someone who didn’t know how to clean a sprayer

i TOOK MINE APART TWICE. IT STILL DID NOT WORK. TOOK MY SOFT HAMMER AND HIT IT HARD MULTIPLE TIMES. IT WORKS. THANKS.

Somebody gave me a Titan XL250 about 5 years ago and told me it needed a bushing. I decided to pull it from storage today and after taking a few things apart I discovered it just had a little old paint clog. Works like new.

well done very simple and clear keep up the great info

Bro thank u almost lost my mind I did u saved the day thanks

legend, dude! this fixed our issue, cheers!

Hey Chris great videos man. Im the Louisiana Painter I enjoy watching your videos, great work

This video saved my day today!!! Thanks!

Super super helpful! Thank you!

I can't hear the wind chimes in the background good enough, would you please add a few more. and great video by the way very informational and relaxing.

what you told us was my problem Thanks saved me a lot of money

Thanks Chris. Very informative

Every once in a while my 440i just quits, i take the side cover off and unplug the data lile "phone jack" plug, and plug it back and it goes, but i used it today and had some trash in the ball that drove me nuts. Finally it got thru.

Awesome I think Chris just solved my problem!!!

this maybe a cheesy question, but I was using a 695 or bigger (totally painted over) and I put in a 411, it clogs, but i cant rac the tip, i have to grab a wrench and take the tip off and change to a 517 and it shoots fine, awesome tutorial! im trying that first thing in the am on the titan 440ii at the site. Thanks ahead in adance, you have a great video series, Ive watched a bunch!

Thank you that's exactly what it had...easy fox...thanks again!👍

Thank's chris you just saved me $500 i have a spraytech rig i repacked and replaced prime valve and still would not prime was getting so frustrated and it ended up being a tiny rock in the bottom of piston.

Thanks for your tutorial it was very helpful 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

The way you stand bro!! “ the Idaho painter” Lmfao keep on keepin on Idaho

That solved problem ! Thanks !

I seldom have problems with my Graco 395 like that but its not too different than the 440i. Its my 1565 that has the problem. I use the hammer, take the sprayer out of the paint, flush it with lots of water then reload it with paint. If that doesn't work I take the pump tube off(its all metal not rubber as its a cart style sprayer). The lower ball sits enclosed in a chamber at the top of that. If there is something there, its easy to remove by flushing it out. The culprit seems to be the upper ball which is enclosed at the upper end of the pump. I use a four inch nail to poke up there.It is hard to see if anything is there. Sometimes I put oil paint through the sprayer but usually latex but with cleaning you need paint thinner. Its possible the thinner loosens some trapped latex in the tight spots of the sprayer especially if the thinner sits in the sprayer for a period of time.The bits from that get stuck in the pump and even sometimes the gun. I am not equipped to take the entire pump off to examine the upper ball properly. It is an older sprayer I got in 2003 so the pump doesn't come off easy like newer sprayers. The only way to perhaps prevent the problem is to use a dedicated sprayer for oil paint only. The packings can also be shot but thats usually the last case scenario. Pain is the ass though as "no spray day no pay day".

Thanks for the videos. I have a video request for you. Next time you do a rebuild on your sprayers,do a video with close ups of the parts being installed. I can't find any good close up airless repair vids. I'm rebuilding a titan 440i and can't figure out how to get the prime valve off. Also have a graco 595,ultra 750,speeflo 5500 and spraytec diaphragm pump. I always strain the paint and final rinse with pump saver to make the packings last longer,but I always forget how to do it when its time. Keep up the videos. Thanks again

You just saved me man!

Wit you take better care of your pump, you will never have an issue. When I clean my pump, I let clean water circulate by propping the trigger on my gun and placing it in the clean water that the pick up tube is pulling from. I clean the bleeder off and wipe the pump down and clean up the area , letting the clean water circulate for at least 5 minutes. Then I run some pump saver in it until it reaches the gun and I see blue fluid come out the gun.. And I always use a strainer sock over the fluid pick up so that I don't get any chunks. These processes only take about an extra 3 to 5 minutes of time once you've made it a habit. It saves so much money that gets wasted on unneccasary parts , labor, and down time. You would be able to purchase another pump for,your fleet in a year or so.

You're a life saver thank you!

Thanks!! Got to try that tomorrow!!

very well explained, thank you for video.

Thank you for the great advice. It helped!

Great info,but never had grass, twigs,leaves, trees, Bricks, in my Paint ,but this Video will work. Just Pick'in with you Brother.😀

Thanks a million gotta getter done now

Thanks for your video and your tips.

This guy rules!!!

Thank you, you saved my life!

I had the same problem yesterday. And i thought maybe i needed to oil the machine because i notice an oil cup on the side. Does the machine needs to be oiled? Thanks

Chris, watching your video to troubleshoot a graco 257025 model. Wouldn't prime the day of spraying and changed to plan B - roll and cut. Took it in for repair the next day and 1 week later still no repair - so here I am saying I can do this and watching your video. Can't be that complicated. My machine is used infrequently and I don't think much can be wrong. I think your idea is probably correct. I'll find out tomorrow. Thanks for the common sense solution. Let you know.

Was trying to see how retention spring goes in, couldn't see, but thanks for the video

Good video

thanks man this is a good channel.

nice video. very helpful. thanks

Chris, i've learned a lot by watching your videos and first wanted to say thanks! i'm a DIYer and I have rental properties so i'm painting quite a bit. A client of mine gave me his old Titan 440i. Unfortunately his son left paint in the system and all over the body to dry. It's been sitting in his garage for about a year and a half. When i wiggle the intake hose some liquid and paint comes out. When i unscrewed the front face, there's dried paint all over. Is the system trashed? Or is it worth having someone repair the system?

Fixed. Thx

this guy is a pro!!!

thank you saved my day!

10 4, thanks! good thing i happened to buy an extra hose when i had some money.

Maybe you would have some general idea of what to look with my my titan 440i. The motor keeps smoking and blowing the fuse. i pulled it apart and see that the brushes on the motor are heating up and smoking then blowing the fuse. Pulled out the brushes and they seem to have alot still on them.

Very helpul Mr Idaho... Chris..How do I know if my airless needs a new diaphram ?? Dennis

Muchas gracias alfin arregle mi maquina

Future mother in law asked me to help pain her house, I show up and she has about three brushes, and paint, I painted one house in my life and my best ability that time was power washing a house, so long story short I said to her nope we will postpone and I got on Amazon and bought a sprayer... then of course I found your channel, I walked up like I was a saavy veteran today and we were off to the races... paint being slung then whamo, half way through sprayer just kept on pumping, I sent her off to get more paint not knowing what in the heck was going on, I cleaned everything, ran water through the pump and still same thing ugghhhh! Brought the unit home and started digging in and guess what... same dang thing.... so here I am thinking I am sending this sucker back it's 11 pm and then it hit me... The Idaho Painter duh... presto here is this video... I take my hose off, take off the outlet and the ball comes out... kinda play with it, check it out put it back in lock everything down and fill up my sink with water, got it primed up and then change the switch to the paint setting and guess what... motor stops, the sprayer was back to brand new, I went running into the room shook the girl and said tues game is back on, you call your mom and tell her you aint keeping this dude in the dog house, anyway sorry for the long wind but buddy you got a fan... hell I'm thinking of including painting into my rain gutter business because your videos are so informing, I know baby steps!!! Thanks again you rawk

Tnks this video save my money :)

Does the spray tip and hose have to be connected before you prime it

well my sprayer is really clean, the lower fluid ball, the hose, main filter and everything and still having this problem, i have to use hammer every 2 minutes to make it work, what do you suggest?

My issue is that my sprayer has power but it seems like theres not enough power. When I turn on the sprayer the piston barely moves. It wont keep moving, as there is still power to it. Could the motor in the back be the problem? It does have paint around it but it isnt too bad. Is it hard to remove the motor and clean it and then reassemble it?

i borrowed a graco magnum lts17 and was watching the video on how it works and the primer valve wont move its just pointed forward, didnt want to turn it on or do anything since its not mine