Troubleshooting Guide: Chrome Cannon 2.0

The Chrome Cannon 2.0 is engineered to deliver rich, consistent foam with minimal effort—but like any precision tool, performance can be affected by water flow, soap dilution, or wear on key components. If your cannon isn’t foaming correctly, pulling soap, or performing as expected, this guide will help you quickly identify and resolve the issue.

1. Foam Is Too Thin or Watery

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Dilution is too weak:

  ✅ Try a stronger soap mixture in the bottle (e.g., 1:10 instead of 1:20 for Chem-X soaps).

  ✅ Make sure you’re using a soap that’s formulated to foam, like Stars, Stripes, Old Glory, or Snake Oil.

• Incorrect orifice size for your pressure washer:

  ✅ Ensure the installed orifice is 1.25 mm, which works best for 2.5–5.3 GPM systems.

  ✅ If using an electric pressure washer (below 2.3 GPM), consider swapping to a 1.1 mm orifice.

• Insufficient PSI or GPM:

  ✅ Minimum requirement is 1,100 PSI and 1.8+ GPM for proper foam generation.

  ✅ Check your pressure washer specs—lower outputs may not generate thick foam.

• Fan blades or injection knob fully open:

  ✅ Adjust the top injection knob counterclockwise to increase soap draw.

  ✅ Narrow the fan blades for a tighter, denser spray.

2. Foam Cannon Is Not Drawing Soap

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Collapsed or kinked draw straw:

  ✅ Inspect the weighted pickup straw—if it's bent or stuck, it may not be reaching the solution.

  ✅ Make sure the weight moves freely and the tube is not pinched inside the bottle.

• Chemical injection knob is fully closed:

  ✅ Turn the knob counterclockwise to open it and allow soap flow.

• Blocked metering orifice or internal passages:

  ✅ Soak the cannon head in warm water to loosen dried soap or debris.

  ✅ Use compressed air or a soft brush to clear blockages near the orifice.

• Orifice or mesh filter clogged:

  ✅ Unscrew the cannon tip and remove the stainless steel mesh filter. Rinse thoroughly and reinstall.

3. Spray Pattern Is Uneven or Jetting

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Fan blades are misaligned or clogged:

  ✅ Twist the nozzle collar to adjust between vertical and horizontal spray.

  ✅ Clean around the front nozzle opening to remove dried soap or grit.

• Worn or damaged internal mesh filter:

  ✅ Remove and inspect the filter inside the cannon body. Replace if damaged or corroded.

• Mineral buildup (especially with hard water):

  ✅ Flush the cannon with distilled white vinegar and warm water to dissolve buildup.

4. Water Leaking from Cannon Head or Quick Connect

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• O-ring damage or missing O-ring in QC fitting:

  ✅ Inspect the 1/4” quick connect plug and replace the O-ring if worn, flattened, or missing.

• Loose fittings or over-tightening:

  ✅ Ensure fittings are snug but not over-torqued.

  ✅ If using Teflon tape, avoid over-wrapping threads which can cause cracking or misalignment.

5. Cannon Is Not Threading Onto the Bottle Properly

Possible Causes & Solutions:

• Cross-threading or misalignment:

  ✅ Start threading gently—do not force. Align the cannon straight on the wide-mouth threads.

• Debris in threads:

  ✅ Clean both the cannon collar and bottle neck thoroughly and check for burrs or grit.

• Deformed bottle neck from high heat or pressure:

  ✅ Avoid storing the bottle in direct sun or hot vehicles. Replace if the bottle shape is warped.

Maintenance Tips to Prevent Issues

• ✅ Rinse thoroughly with clean water after every use—especially when using high-alkaline soaps.
• ✅ Store indoors, upright, and out of direct sunlight to preserve bottle shape and seal integrity.
• ✅ Periodically clean the orifice and mesh filter to maintain consistent spray and foam.
• ✅ Lubricate O-rings with silicone grease to prevent leaks and extend the life of quick connects.

Need a Replacement Part?

We offer replacement:

• Orifices (1.1 mm and 1.25 mm)
• HDPE bottles
• Pickup tubes and filters
• Mesh filters and seals

Contact Chem-X support for help identifying the correct component for your system.

Still Experiencing Issues?

Our tech support team is here to help. Email orders@chem-x.com with the following info:

• Your pressure washer specs (PSI, GPM)
• Photos or video of the foam pattern
• Your current soap dilution and application method

We’ll get you dialed in fast.