Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

3/8" All-Flo vs Delavan 5850

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

12v suck for everday cleaning.JMHO

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Eric,..Nice and to the point Ha,Ha,.. Do run your Water Dragon a your main roof pump now?

Jeff

Liberty SoftWash · PWS Vender

Yes we run a udor as our main soft washing pump. We rinse with a 8gpm pressure washer. We haven't had any problems with the Udor and I really like the size of the machine.... The only problem i have seen is when the pump get started it should be in prime mode, I run mine for 5 mins when setting up.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Eric,..I use an 8 GPM washer to DS. I only use the roof pump for roofs. I did put together a 2 GPM 12V hand truck rig last year which I really like,..great for patios and any concrete or flagstone spraying where the roof pump is too much but DS'ing isn't enough percentage. Filled the gap nicely. Was just kicking around the 5850.

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff, I have not used the 5850 but have used the Fat Boy with great results. I always remove the pressure switch and use a auto solenoid. I tried an accumulator once and found it to be worthless. Bob at PT sets up his Fat Boys at what I feel is way to low pressure and the accumulator is somewhere around that pressure. They need to be close so if you change the pressure you have to change the accumulator as well. They don't last long and the diaphragm is not a replaceable part item. I do not know how long I was using it with a rotted out diaphragm. I have only had one head failure and that was due to Dumb & Dumber who are long gone.

I would love to go to the Udor but that will have to be after adding a proportioner that will get rid of two tanks and free up some space. Then, a major rebuild since I use a box truck. For now, everything is working well for us.

Brett

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Brett,..what hose length and size are you running with the Fat Boy,..also,..which size nozzles.

Jeff

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Thanks Brett,..what hose length and size are you running with the Fat Boy,..also,..which size nozzles.

Jeff

From the tanks 5/8" and from the pump to the real, 5/8". The spray hose is 300' - 1/2" with this gun that seems to last forever. In the three years I've been using them, I have only had one fail. One is set up with 0030 shooter tip, 1530, 2530, 4030 the other is 0040 shooter tip, 1540, 2540, 4040. I have one more with a mix of 50's and 60's that come in handy at times.

Brett

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Good info Brett on the hose and nozzles! Yea,..I use those triggers as well.

Jeff

Dave · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I run the 5850 and a fatboy. 3/4" feed lines, and 1/2" hose from the pump. The 5850 is not enough for big 2 stories or 3 stories.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Dave,..good to know about the 5850.

Jeff

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Been using the 5850, but I just switched over to the Fat Boy. I think I like it better

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks for the input Art. Brett mentioned switching the pressure switch for the automotive solenoid,..have you done that? And is the Fatboy pressure switch THAT bad?

Jeff

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Yes Jeff I switched it over to a plow solenoid. Its a bit noisy but it works. Heres a thread from Bruce on how to hook it up.http://nationalsoftwashalliance.activeboard.com/t59475256/how-to-setup-a-solenoid-to-a-roof-cleaning-pump/

[video=http://youtu.be/FeFbgEsgT9M ]

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Art.

Jeff

Ed Thompson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

The accumulator is like tits on a bull as far as I'm concerned. It's designed to lesson the unavoidable cycling. So instead of your pump burning out at x amount of roofs, it will burn out x + 3 more roofs. Either way you should always have a spare wired up, fitted up and ready to roll. The con is that is can leak, which they alway have wound up doing.

You can never really tell if the thing craps out. I remember when I serviced hot water heating systems you can flick the expansion tank. If it rang it was good. If there was a dull thud then you know the bladder broke and its filled with water. Plus the pressure relief valve would open up. So there was a clear malfunction to not having a properly working expansion tank. With the accumulator you have no idea. Everything seems to work the same. Therefore I say the thing is useless.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Maybe next year I will get what Erik has but I have used the 5850 and the fatboy. The 5880 is used 98% of the time....2 story walk ables it is fine, rinse 5 gals after every job. The fatboy may get used once a year but is good to have on the truck for tuff ones or when the 5880 goes. Once i had to go about 300 ' from the tank and up 2 stories and the 5880 couldn't do it....had to plumb the fat boy in line to pump with the 5880 and it worked fine.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Guys,..my air system is rigged and ready to go,..and is pretty bulletproof. The ONLY reason I was thinking 12V was to trim some fat so to speak. We shall see.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Sunday 21st of February 2016 05:56:29 AM

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Jeff Wible wrote:
Thanks Guys,..my air system is rigged and ready to go,..and is pretty bulletproof. The ONLY reason I was thinking 12V was to trim some fat so to speak. We shall see.

Jeff

-- Edited by Jeff Wible on Sunday 21st of February 2016 05:56:29 AM

Here's Barry Landis' wiring for the relay. I like to give people credit where?when it's due

DirtyRoofcom · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Ive had the 5850 for quite a few years now. ive only gone through 2 pumps in about 5 years. i dont rinse as much as i should but i dont do the volume of work that most of you do. I think the 5850 is a great pump for basic roofs. but when it comes to head rise the results diminish fast. Trying a fatboy this year but a lil hesitant because of the solenoid issue.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Erik you will get 100 roofs from the Fatboy without a problem.

Brian C Jackson · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have run both the Electric (Fat Boy) and All-flo (3/8). I will not go back to electric because of all the issues electric has. My all-flo will be on its 5 season with very few issues. Now is I had problems with room and I was moving into a smaller truck them electric is the way to go. Maybe all the little issues with electrics have been solved over the last few years but my all-flo is what Im staying with.

Jeff Wible · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Thanks Brian,..appreciate the input. Didn't you buy one of the Versa-Matics? The one I had had a problematic leaking issue. Maybe it wasn't you that bought it.

Jeff