Sirocco Jerry
Active member
There are several factors in "Operating Costs"..
Starting point.. Who can you trust ??
.. Being a do it yourselfer will either make it real easy to waste time "making your own mistakes"
..on half the right info, with NONE of the real-world “tricks-of-the–trade” experience,
OR,
.. if you are a really good listener, and are cooperative in nature,
it can be REALLY easy to get help from an experienced troubleshooter
EVERY time you need it. If you can be "lead by a leader", and pay close attention to the details,
..AND keep good notes on what we tell you,
..you will enjoy reliability, and the RAPID elimination of downtime.
If you don't listen very well, you will not get the “best” support possible.
And By the way.. Share your successes.. call back, and thank whomever helps you..
Helpful people do it for the appreciation.
..and always prefer to buy from the business that helps you the most.
Always remember, pressure wash equipment is a “high-performance Race-Car”.. not a refrigerator.
You NEED the “pit-crew” ..and preferably VERY close by.
That brings us to equipment “planning”..
A name-brand “bean-counter’s” idea of what you should have,
Is about their profitability in “simplistic manufacturing”..
That is Inconsiderate of..
Reliability, serviceability, and especially.. Long-Term-Low-Cost.
The biggest “marketer” of the past 35 years has made millions calling their customers
on the 48th month, and telling them what they can get in trade-in value..
Our machines need their first or 2nd set of seals, and are EASILY serviced..
Why on earth would you want to trade in a machine that could easily last 20 years ??
Here’s the deal..
An experienced troubleshooter is going look at a machine, new or used, like this..
1. Are the major components BEEFY ? ..
NO chinese engines, NO European style heaters,
avoid direct drive, avoid aluminum-alloy rods, and How thin is the frame ?
Is there a pressure relief on the pump? ..and on the heater too ??
Is the unloader removable ? ..do NOT EVER buy a pump with built-in unloader !
..and about electrical systems.. you’ll have to call me on this..
The examples would sound too much like a “roast” of my competition.. I won’t do that.
2. Can I rebuild this easily ? ..because of serviceability, and common parts ??
Are the repair kits affordable ?? ..parts for AR, Comet, Giant, Udor,
and some General ..are very competitive. Some “others” are an insult.
Will it take more than 5 minutes to change v-belts ?
Is there a belt tensioner that works ??
Is ALL the electrical accessible ??
Is the pump where I can have the head off in 5 minutes or less ?
Can I drain oils without making a mess ?? ..filters too ??
3. Is the pump plumbed for reliability ?? ..
Are there ANY “flow-restrictors potentially starving the pump ?
How big is the inlet filter ? how easily can it plug-up ? ..got a clear bowl ??
4. How Easy will it be to troubleshoot ?? ..
Can you get to the electrical “test-points” Do you know what those are ??
How fast can you pressure-feed the pump if it’s set up for tank-feed ??
Does the heater have a fuel pressure gauge ? ..and the pump have a pressure gauge ??
If you don’t get ALL of these right.. they will kick your a$$ to the curb,
Month after month. ..at a hundred dollars an hour..
..in front of your best customer ..interrupting an otherwise “compelling demo”.
I total respect the well-grounded do-it-yourselfer,
but the “do it alone’r”.. is a helplessly flailing idiot, that is never going to achieve
.. Long-Term-Low-Cost.
Starting point.. Who can you trust ??
.. Being a do it yourselfer will either make it real easy to waste time "making your own mistakes"
..on half the right info, with NONE of the real-world “tricks-of-the–trade” experience,
OR,
.. if you are a really good listener, and are cooperative in nature,
it can be REALLY easy to get help from an experienced troubleshooter
EVERY time you need it. If you can be "lead by a leader", and pay close attention to the details,
..AND keep good notes on what we tell you,
..you will enjoy reliability, and the RAPID elimination of downtime.
If you don't listen very well, you will not get the “best” support possible.
And By the way.. Share your successes.. call back, and thank whomever helps you..
Helpful people do it for the appreciation.
..and always prefer to buy from the business that helps you the most.
Always remember, pressure wash equipment is a “high-performance Race-Car”.. not a refrigerator.
You NEED the “pit-crew” ..and preferably VERY close by.
That brings us to equipment “planning”..
A name-brand “bean-counter’s” idea of what you should have,
Is about their profitability in “simplistic manufacturing”..
That is Inconsiderate of..
Reliability, serviceability, and especially.. Long-Term-Low-Cost.
The biggest “marketer” of the past 35 years has made millions calling their customers
on the 48th month, and telling them what they can get in trade-in value..
Our machines need their first or 2nd set of seals, and are EASILY serviced..
Why on earth would you want to trade in a machine that could easily last 20 years ??
Here’s the deal..
An experienced troubleshooter is going look at a machine, new or used, like this..
1. Are the major components BEEFY ? ..
NO chinese engines, NO European style heaters,
avoid direct drive, avoid aluminum-alloy rods, and How thin is the frame ?
Is there a pressure relief on the pump? ..and on the heater too ??
Is the unloader removable ? ..do NOT EVER buy a pump with built-in unloader !
..and about electrical systems.. you’ll have to call me on this..
The examples would sound too much like a “roast” of my competition.. I won’t do that.
2. Can I rebuild this easily ? ..because of serviceability, and common parts ??
Are the repair kits affordable ?? ..parts for AR, Comet, Giant, Udor,
and some General ..are very competitive. Some “others” are an insult.
Will it take more than 5 minutes to change v-belts ?
Is there a belt tensioner that works ??
Is ALL the electrical accessible ??
Is the pump where I can have the head off in 5 minutes or less ?
Can I drain oils without making a mess ?? ..filters too ??
3. Is the pump plumbed for reliability ?? ..
Are there ANY “flow-restrictors potentially starving the pump ?
How big is the inlet filter ? how easily can it plug-up ? ..got a clear bowl ??
4. How Easy will it be to troubleshoot ?? ..
Can you get to the electrical “test-points” Do you know what those are ??
How fast can you pressure-feed the pump if it’s set up for tank-feed ??
Does the heater have a fuel pressure gauge ? ..and the pump have a pressure gauge ??
If you don’t get ALL of these right.. they will kick your a$$ to the curb,
Month after month. ..at a hundred dollars an hour..
..in front of your best customer ..interrupting an otherwise “compelling demo”.
I total respect the well-grounded do-it-yourselfer,
but the “do it alone’r”.. is a helplessly flailing idiot, that is never going to achieve
.. Long-Term-Low-Cost.
