EN
SB-2-545-L (5/2016)
8 / 12
TROUBLESHOOTING
CONDITION
CAUSE
CORRECTION
Heavy top or
Horn holes plugged.
Clean. Ream with non-metallic point.
bottom pattern
Obstruction on top or bottom of fluid tip.
Clean.
Cap and/or tip seat dirty.
Clean.
Heavy right or left side pattern
Left or right side horn holes plugged.
Clean. Ream with non-metallic point.
Dirt on left or right side of fluid tip.
Clean.
Remedies for the top-heavy, bottom-heavy, right-heavy and left-heavy patterns:
1) Determine if the obstruction is on the air cap or the fluid tip. Do this by making a test spray
pattern. Then, rotate the cap one-half turn and spray another pattern. If the defect is inverted,
obstruction is on the air cap. Clean the air cap as previously instructed.
2) If the defect is not inverted, it is on the fluid tip. Check for a fine burr on the edge of the fluid tip.
Remove with #600 wet or dry sand paper.
3) Check for dried paint just inside the opening. Remove paint by washing with solvent.
Heavy center pattern
Fluid pressure too high for atomization
Balance air and fluid pressure.
air (pressure feed).
Increase spray pattern width with
spreader adjustment valve.
Material flow exceeds air cap's capacity.
Thin or lower fluid flow.
Spreader adjustment valve set too low.
Adjust.
Atomizing pressure too low.
Increase pressure.
Material too thick.
Thin to proper consistency.
Split spray pattern
Atomization air pressure too high.
Reduce at transformer or gun.
Fluid pressure too low (pressure feed only).
Increase fluid pressure (increases gun
handling speed).
Spreader adjusting valve set too high.
Adjust.
Jerky or fluttering spray
*Loose or damaged fluid tip/seat.
Tighten or replace.
Material level too low.
Refill.
Container tipped too far.
Hold more upright.
Obstruction in fluid passage.
Backflush with solvent.
Loose or broken fluid tube or fluid inlet nipple.
Tighten or replace.
Dry or loose fluid needle packing nut.
Lubricate or tighten.
Unable to get round spray
Spreader adjustment screw not seating properly. Clean or replace.
Air cap retaining ring loose.
Tighten.
Will not spray
No air pressure at gun.
Check air supply and air lines.
Internal mix or pressure feed air cap and tip
Change to proper suction feed air cap and tip.
used with suction feed.
Fluid pressure too low with internal mix cap and
Increase fluid pressure at tank.
pressure tank.
Fluid needle adjusting screw not open enough.
Open fluid needle adjusting screw.
Fluid too heavy for suction feed.
Thin material or change to pressure feed.
Excessive overspray
Too much atomization air pressure
Reduce pressure.
Gun too far from work surface.
Adjust to proper distance.
Improper stroking (arcing, gun motion too fast).
Move at moderate pace, parallel towork surface.
Excessive fog
Too much, or too fast-drying thinner.
Remix properly.
Too much atomization air pressure.
Reduce pressure.
Dry Spray
Air pressure too high.
Reduce air pressure.
Gun tip too far from work surface.
Adjust to proper distance.
Gun motion too fast.
Slow down.
Gun out of adjustment
Adjust.
Fluid leaking from packing nut
Packing nut loose.
Tighten, do not bind needle.
Packing worn or dry
Replace or lubricate.
Fluid leaking or dripping from
Packing nut too tight.
Adjust.
front of pressure feed gun
Dry packing.
Lubricate.
Fluid tip or needle worn or damaged.
Replace tip & needle with lapped sets.
Foreign matter in tip.
Clean.
Fluid needle spring broken.
Replace.
Wrong size needle or tip.
Replace.
Runs and sags
Too much material flow.
Adjust gun or reduce fluid pressure.
Material too thin.
Mix properly or apply light coats.
Gun tilted on an angle, or gun motion too slow. Hold gun at right angle to work and adapt to
proper gun technique
Thin, sandy coarse finish
Gun too far from surface.
Check distance. Normally approx. 8".
drying before it flows out
Too much air pressure.
Reduce air pressure and check spray pattern.
Improper thinner being used.
Follow paint manufacturer's mixing instructions.
*Most common problem.
