Canada issue Prochem Apex vs Prochem 405??help eh!

[Fdt281]

This is my first post but I have been quietly observing all of your posts for some time now. (BTW Some of your posts make me laugh)
I have a question and I have run it across people around me but it's a small industry in my area.

I have been a carpet cleaner for 21 years this May 24th. I am a very handy guy when it comes to anything mechanical. I operated a prochem when I first started but since purchased a Cleanco. It was a decent unit while it lasted but now the van needs replacement.
The problem looking to buy is a 3 year old Prochem Apex GTX for sale for $11000. It has like 250hours and basically just comes with waste tank. The 3 HX that come off the blower are blown. The previous owner left it in the Canadian weather and popped the stainless steel HX's. Heli coil is ok.

I also have a Prochem 405 I have been hanging onto. It has 3000hours and works pretty good. May need a freshen up using new hoses and some guages...but it seems to runs strong. (I have no history of this unit)

My questions is...which is the smarter choice? I do work for restoration companies and do avg. 12 hours a week of actual truckmount carpet cleaning and whenever floods happen.

Any advice will be helpful to me.

 

[mrotto]

well first off, check the prices of the heat exchangers. There are two high pressure and one low pressure. IF you can find them, the cost will make the decision easy.

Then there is the likelyhood that the heat exchangers are not the only thing that will need to be replaced.

The Performer (Nissan Engine) will last you forever.

 

[Fdt281]

well first off, check the prices of the heat exchangers. There are two high pressure and one low pressure. IF you can find them, the cost will make the decision easy.

Then there is the likelyhood that the heat exchangers are not the only thing that will need to be replaced.

The Performer (Nissan Engine) will last you forever.

I checked the prices. They are not cheap. I'd say all 3 would be $2500 US coin which is like a million or so dollars in Canadian. Lol which is ok I just dont even know if it's a good deal(the apex) to start from.
Why do you ask if I can find the parts? Is it hard to get parts to this unit?
Also do you know what the deal is with the nissan a12 speed governor? That's one of the only parts that freak me out. It's like $2000 on Jon don.

 

[mrotto]

I have had both machines. If the heat exchangers need to be replaced no way the Apex is worth 11,000.

Check other places for the governor. Maybe a Nissan dealer can steer you in the right direction.

 

[Fdt281]

I have had both machines. If the heat exchangers need to be replaced no way the Apex is worth 11,000.

Check other places for the governor. Maybe a Nissan dealer can steer you in the right direction.

So thanks for the input. Just to clarify that is like 8300 USA dollars. Yours saying that is too much? It's being sold at a reputable dealer.

 

[OxiFreshGuy]

So you'd be paying $11,000 plus another $8,300 American dollars ? You can damn near get a new machine for $24,000, so why spend almost $20,000 for used ?

 

[Fdt281]

So you'd be paying $11,000 plus another $8,300 American dollars ? You can damn near get a new machine for $24,000, so why spend almost $20,000 for used ?

Sorry if I wasn't clear. The unit will cost me 11k Canadian which is equivalent to $8300 USA money. Then it will need the 2 stainless HX and the copper HX.
It's the diesel Apex and has 250hr.
I should be letting the guy know tomorrow as he has indicated he was going to advertise it.

That's why I'm a bit stressed. Dont want to miss out if it is good. But my wife is sick of hearing about it so you guys are my only hope. Lol

 

[OxiFreshGuy]

So probably cost you about $13,000 total to get the HX replaced. Or you can switch to propane for heat ?

 

[Fdt281]

So probably cost you about $13,000 total to get the HX replaced. Or you can switch to propane for heat ?

I'd like to just get the heat exchangers one by one and not drop all that money on heat exchangers at once. I called prochem and they say I'll get 180f with just heli coil.

Do you think that 8300 USA currency a good deal for that?

 

[mrotto]

my question would be is if its being sold by a dealer, why doesnt the dealer put in the heat exchangers and sell it as a running unit.

Red flag

Dont worry you would not be missing out on a great deal.

Diesel on top of it.

 

[Fdt281]

my question would be is if its being sold by a dealer, why doesnt the dealer put in the heat exchangers and sell it as a running unit.

Red flag

Dont worry you would not be missing out on a great deal.

Diesel on top of it.

He told me he was looking to sell it as extraction unit only with cold pressure washer. He actually removed the heli coil. But he was not selling for carpet cleaning. He recommended it to me because I asked about a diesel unit.

 

[Mama Fen]

He told me he was looking to sell it as extraction unit only with cold pressure washer. He actually removed the heli coil. But he was not selling for carpet cleaning. He recommended it to me because I asked about a diesel unit.

Heh heh, he removed (and probably sold) the coil so he could sell it as an extraction machine, but now you're having to look at replacing parts to make it a cleaning machine again.

If you look at it that way, the only person for whom it's a good deal is the dealer.

I agree with the rest of the guys, after repairs you'd be so close to the cost of a new machine it doesn't make sense.

 

[Fdt281]

Heh heh, he removed (and probably sold) the coil so he could sell it as an extraction machine, but now you're having to look at replacing parts to make it a cleaning machine again.

If you look at it that way, the only person for whom it's a good deal is the dealer.

I agree with the rest of the guys, after repairs you'd be so close to the cost of a new machine it doesn't make sense.

Well I'll take all your advice into consideration. There isnt much selection in my area. Not like your guys. There in NO available cleaning units.
A new Prochrm Apex diesel here is 35-36000 thousand Canadian. I can rebuild this and buy it for $14500 and it has 250hours.

So I dont know. I have been using an old unit for a long time and would love a newer one instead of using another old one.

I very much thank all of you. Dont hate me if I dont take your advice. (Not saying li will be buying it. But at least in Canada 11k is fairly cheap for a decent unit)

Also to answer you the pictures of the cracked coils were shown to me. The system was used in restoration and it cracked up cause they leave it outside while working...its Canada!

 

[Mama Fen]

Well I'll take all your advice into consideration. There isnt much selection in my area. Not like your guys. There in NO available cleaning units.
A new Prochrm Apex diesel here is 35-36000 thousand Canadian. I can rebuild this and buy it for $14500 and it has 250hours.

So I dont know. I have been using an old unit for a long time and would love a newer one instead of using another old one.

I very much thank all of you. Dont hate me if I dont take your advice. (Not saying li will be buying it. But at least in Canada 11k is fairly cheap for a decent unit)

Also to answer you the pictures of the cracked coils were shown to me. The system was used in restoration and it cracked up cause they leave it outside while working...its Canada!

May I suggest a trip to one of your friendly southern neighbors in the states, during which you pick up the unit of your choice? I know some of the guys on this board can whip up a mean dinner. Heck, if you're willing to come all the way to the Carolinas, you can experience barbecue the way it's supposed to be done, and do some fishing with the best!

 

[LARRY THE CARPET GUY]

Ok here’s my advice. Don’t buy a diesel apex. They vibrate, They take along time to heat up. Also they blow soot in the heat exchangers and clog up about every 1000 hrs. The 405 is bulletproof actually the best machine ever made.
This diesel advice comes from my tm mechanic and he’s top notch! I love diesel and that all I’ll drive but he said don’t do it.

 

[mrotto]

No good TMs in your area? Now your finding reasons to buy this machine.

The last machine I bought I went to Las Vegas, Nevada. My current machine I picked up in Tampa, Florida. I live in Appleton, Wisconsin. Look on a map and see how far I traveled. BUT these two TMs are the best in the industry and I never had to put any money into them to get them up and running.

But if I was a betting man, Id say your mind is made up and you will buy this POS

 

[Fdt281]

Haha. a little. You know me mrotto. I do like it. Smell concerns me for sure. I like the diesel and I like I wont need a fuel cell.

I'm not stuck on it by any means. In Ontario there are like 2 maybe 3 dealers. One of them I dont like as i have dealt with them a few years ago and wasn't too impressed. Privately there is a 2012 Nissan nv and a diablo with diesel burner for sale for $39000
There is a cleanco 2008 with 140000km and its $25000 and he wants you take take his monthly burden of 700 bucks a month for 3 years.

There is a Ford transit with a saphire 460 with 1500 hours with $60000 and there is one more....
A 2010 GMC savana with namco? Unit installed and he wants $7500.

Oh and a 2009 GMC savana with 150000 km with prochem legend. And it has 2800 hours. For $14000

Not to mention I cant leave Canada because here the insurance companies will not cover you on any out of country travel if you have a prexisting condition. Which i do... In 2015 I went to the hospital for a angiogram and during the procedure they hemmhoraged my vein near my brain stem leaving me with stroke symptoms. Long story short I cant just travel to the states and get a unit.
I love carpet cleaning though and the local insurance companies like my work.
So....yes I like the unit. But I like my already owned prochem 405 too as it's cheaper. Lol

 

[mrotto]

good choice