Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Making a 4gpm PW into a 5gpm PW

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

One other bit of info when changing the pulley, the PW gains GPM but losses psi. The psi drops from 4000psi to 3500 psi, but I'm after GPM increase and don't care about the psi decrease

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yea, Brian,..5 GPM at 3500 will out work 4 GPM at 4000.
Are you going to have a buffer tank? I ask this because the machine as it sits will be bypassing the water back into the pump inlet. When they're setup like this they tend to heat up when let in by-pass mode for extended periods. It may have a thermal release,..but as a professional machine it is better set up so it will by-pass into a buffer tank,..that way it can run all day long in by-pass and never heat up.

* You may have already been aware of that,..but just thought I'd mention it.

Jeff

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Also Brian,..if this is your first round at DS'ing,...I suggest you getting a 4 way nozzle holder,..I buy the one with 4 and weld on another one so I can have 5 different nozzles at hand. You don't use these with a wand,..just use them right at the trigger gun.

They sell these ready to go for your machine, or you can buy these and the nozzles separate and and save a few bucks.

http://www.pressuretek.com/jr4waynoho.html

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Friday 24th of January 2014 09:44:38 AM

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff I was told by a PW Mechanic that running a longer bypass hose back to the pump would help cool the water. What do you think of this theory? He said to add about 3'

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yea, Art,..I have a friend who races dirt late models and I gave him an old washer I had from a trade deal,...anyhow,... I hooked it up that way for him. Yes, that helps I'm sure,...also make it a bigger diameter hose.

* Being aware of the potential heating up problem is the main thing.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Friday 24th of January 2014 09:43:36 AM

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff

I will have a buffer tank and it will be hooked up with a bypass, but you are also right that it is equipped with a thermal overload and it will dump water out if it is over heated. But I'm running a buy pass to my buffer tank so it won't be an issue.

Art

I was told if overheating was an issue to just put a longer hose on and use a bigger hose and it will stop the overheating. Im not sure of the length of the hose or the size but I will ask when I pick up my PW on Monday

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Brian C Jackson wrote:
Jeff
I will have a buffer tank and it will be hooked up with a bypass, but you are also right that it is equipped with a thermal overload and it will dump water out if it is over heated. But I'm running a buy pass to my buffer tank so it won't be an issue.
Art
I was told if overheating was an issue to just put a longer hose on and use a bigger hose and it will stop the overheating. Im not sure of the length of the hose or the size but I will ask when I pick up my PW on Monday

I added about 4' on my 4gpm direct drive last year, seems to work OK. I have it rolled in a coil shape. It has to be better then the 1' they give you.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Brian, you will also want to get a high pressure swivel for the trigger gun inlet,...makes a HUGE difference in "Ease of Use" and also takes stress off the hose,........Or better yet,...use it without it for a while and then buy it,..then you'll see how well the money was spent,Ha,Ha..

I used to buy the cheap swivels,..then I bought one of these Mosmatic,...BIG difference,...these Mosmatics work very well and seem to hold a long time.

http://www.pressuretek.com/modgvsw3x3.html

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Saturday 25th of January 2014 04:23:21 AM

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Another thing you will need for DS'ing is a whip hose for attaching the injector in the line before your main line.

Jeff

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff

Thanks for all the hints, the swivel is somethingI overlooked. I bought hose and hose reel and whip line from Bob last year. I also bought a trigger gun and one of Bobs (4way) jrod holders and downstream kits last year. I had a PW last season but it was an old 3gpm piece of #%&$. I never downstreamed with the old machine, I applied House wash with all-flow and rinsed with small PW.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dultmeir has a good deal on in line swivels #aa7080 $11.22. I just got the cataloge and there is some good pricing in there. I just paid $26.60 for a ST2000 Gun and they have it for $21.18

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Art, those $11.00 are only ok if you just can't afford them,..performance wise though,..the Mosmatic are in a whole different league and do what they're supposed to do,..allow,..totally free swivel of the trigger. I used to use those $11.00 dollar swivels and wouldn't even consider going back.

Yea, those ST-2000 guns are the best as far as I'm concerned. They used to be called the "Big Hand" gun,..maybe they still are. I know this,..they are the most comfortable I've ever used and they are tough as nails.

Jeff

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dultmeir seems to have good pricing if your a shopper

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dultmeier is also where I buy my spray wands for pump sprayers. I modify them to couple with 1/4" QC's. This is so I can rinse the wand without having to empty the jug.

The wands are only like $8.00 and really nice quality.

Jeff

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff I just ordered one of those swivels this morning.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

You'll like that swivel Brian,..they swivel under pressure the same as they swivel without pressure.

Jeff

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff

While you and Art were posting about Guns I remembered that I might have a few new ones hanging around. So I went to my garage and looked through my boxes of leftovers and found 2 new guns I haven't used yet. Next week I'm going to spend a whole day looking through my boxes of leftovers. I tend to just order stuff and not check to see if I have it hanging around. I get lazy and not check.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The guns don't last long. So its always good to have Extra's

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Speaking of those cheaper swivels and the talk about these trigger guns,..I found an old picture of an example of a modified gun. I still modify my triggers the same way,..with the exception of the cheaper swivel. The zero is in there for bees nest mostly and the yellow fan pattern just looks nice in there.

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Saturday 25th of January 2014 02:16:40 PM

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff your like McGiver with all your inventions or maybe like inspector Gadjet.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Ha,Ha,..Thanks Brian,..It's a great feeling being lumped into the same category as those guys and their one of a kind ideas.

I have a a friend who does driveways and parking lot sealing,.....and I've always told him that the best part of our kind of work is being able to change the game as we see fit. I told him he will learn more and be more creative than he ever would have been by having a regular 9-5 job.

Jeff

RIP Rapid HotClean · Eternal Member

If left running in bypass mode (no buffer tank), how long before it gets hot enough to cause damage?

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Hey Ted,..I don't know how long it can run in bypass without a thermal dump or buffer tank. Probably Russ could answer that over at PWI. If the washer doesn't already have a thermal dump,..they can be purchased and installed very easily.

Jeff