During the slow season (Feb 1st-Mar 31st) I always do a lot of yearly maintenance, rebuilding, sanding, repainting and updating. Here are a few things I want to do and would appreciate any advice; 1) I want more flow at the wands. Considering changing out my pumps and using higher temp, higher gpm unit. Duane says that changing a pulley will do the same thing? Can someone explain what sizes and what is involved needed? 2) Tired of chemical pump failure. Never know from day to day if it will work. Frustrating and probably why most cleaners just clear water rinse. I see some pumps on the internet have "downstream" chemical injection. Can someone explain that? There has to be a better more efficient way to accomplish the chemical feed system without all the headaches associated with the ones manufacturers use today. Do they just go the cheapest route or what? 3) Going to add a lot of quick disconnects to interior machine hoses and have back ups on hand. Sometimes hoses fail that run inside the units on my WhiteMagics and Prochems. I have learned which ones fail and want to add quick disconnects to reduce downtime. I will go to the hydraulic hose place and have some back ups made. Then in the event of failure, I will switch out with one that quick disconnects. I hear Butler has set up all their units this way. Makes sense. Any advice appreciated. How about anyone else. Gonna make any changes or updates? Rob
I've got a couple tips for you. Do you carry fresh water tanks? If so just put your detergent or whatever you rinse with in the fresh tank. I have not used a chemical injection system in 20 years and I know my mix is accurate all day long. Regarding disconnects, go with open flow ones. They flow more water through them. Check your rpm's on your pumps. You may be able to increase the rpm's for more flow without changing them to larger pumps for more flow. To increase rpm's you need a larger drive pulley or a smaller driven pulley. Change any internal 1/4" hose on your machine to 3/8" for more flow.
Funny you mention adding more quick connects. At one time quick connects got to be the number 1 reason for my machines to break down. So I got rid of all the quick connects I could. Only have 3 in the whole system now. One at the water presure regulator. One at the beginning of the hose run, and one to the wand or upholstery tools. Now the number 1 reason for a machine not to work is something cloging one of the tips. Which doesn't happen very often.
Many companies discourage you putting anything in your fresh water tank. Have you had any mechanical failures doing this?
I did an update yesterday.... I will post it in a new thread shortly after I finish reading the new post.
What is the difference if I put my detergent in the fresh water tank or meter it into the mix tank? It still goes through the pump and heater. And no, I have not had any problems doing this. A good quality emulsifier is not going to cause any harm.
