Screen, abrasive trap, 1"

The two usual suspects are the abrasive trap and the exhaust muffler — both sit in the machine's exhaust path.

1. Abrasive trap: a blocked screen or a trap full of abrasive chokes the exhaust. Empty the trap and clean the screen — Clemco calls for this at least twice daily, and a neglected trap is a major cause of system malfunction.
2. Exhaust muffler: the porous element body clogs over time. Replace the muffler element as soon as depressurization time noticeably increases — a plugged element can build enough internal pressure to burst.

Slow depressurization also causes a second problem: abrasive gets forced up into the blast hose while the machine bleeds down, which shows up as heavy surging at the next startup.

At least twice a day — more often if the machine is frequently cycled. Empty the trap and clean the screen with the air off, before blasting. Failure to clean the abrasive trap on a regular basis is a major cause of system malfunction, and a blocked trap is the first thing to check when a machine depressurizes slowly.

When servicing the trap: remove the screen and inspect it for wear and blockage, replace it when clogged or worn, and reinstall it with the smaller-diameter end facing up. The upper and lower caps are identical except the screen gasket is glued into the upper cap — make sure the gasket and both cap O-rings are in place before reassembly.