Need input please?!?!?!?

Disciples

Disciples

New member
ok heres the deal when doing surface cleaning with the cleaner I try to overlap 1-2 inchs so I dont miss a spot.BUT I end up with a lighter(cleaner) section where it overlaped. Called Ron (thanks for the time) and as he sugested I replaced the tips in the cleaner. still ended up with the stripes.....

will attach a vid when I figure out how to edit the sound out and upload it (for timing) I am not rushing to finish and usualy an gettting passed by snails...

Neway here are some pics of my equipment and the streaks i am refering to.



what can I do to keep this from happening?

My customers are happy with the work but I am not happy with the quality.



BTW thats my son in the last pic he wanted e1 2 know he is my photographer.:rolleyes:
 

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How big is your surface cleaner? What chems are you using? Your machine might not be putting out enough gpm. When we get overlap stripes like that, it is usually a very dirty surface that needs chemicals or a stronger chemical mix.
 
Ron Musgraves said:
No cleaner is going to work proper if its leaking... it looks like you have three nozzles
Click to expand...

Haha your right! I didn't even see that. That would definitely cause a problem.
 
ckingclean said:
How big is your surface cleaner? What chems are you using? Your machine might not be putting out enough gpm. When we get overlap stripes like that, it is usually a very dirty surface that needs chemicals or a stronger chemical mix.
Click to expand...

I belive its an 18 or 24 inch cleaner (havnt checked but will.....)
cant remember right now what the gpm is for my machine im to tired as its been a loong day and im falling asleep as i try to type.

Have tried 2 different chems te 1st was the stuf called purple power a degreaser. 2nd is a mildew remover.

Appling with a red pump sprayer like the bug guys use.

and yes the jobs were very dirty.

Heres 2 of the before pics.
 

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Ron Musgraves said:
No cleaner is going to work proper if its leaking... it looks like you have three nozzles
Click to expand...


its a small pin size hole looks like it was bent at one point and some tried straighting it out...

now for the newb question...would that small of a hole cause that much of a problem?
 
Disciples said:
its a small pin size hole looks like it was bent at one point and some tried straighting it out...

now for the newb question...would that small of a hole cause that much of a problem?
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Yes, your machine is probably putting out 4gpm which is minimal for pushing a surface cleaner. Any loss of flow at all will cause a problem. Try a new bar and tips. Make sure the tips are sized properly for your machines gpm.
 
You do not have enough cleaning units. Whether its pressure, GPM's or heat. In your case with the photos, I would think its a combination of GPM and pressure.

If the spray of water is too thin, then you will have to lower the psi to prevent etching the cement. However, if you raise the GPM's you can raise the psi without damaging the cement. This would increase the cleaning units and remove the uncleaned areas. 90% chance of working.

If this is not an option for you, then rewash it several times or use chemicals ....... eventually it will get clean.

Another thing is change your technique of walking with your surface cleaner. Try mixing it up by moving it in a circular motion instead of a straight line all the time. Not saying this would work very well, but it might help. I give it a 20% chance of working.

Oh and fix the leak !

That's my 2 cents.
 
You have to first fix that leak. Second make sure your tips are in line with the bar and that they are the right tips for that machine. I have a similar surface cleaner and had two different size tips on there (got in from someone) and when I replaced them it worked a whole lot better. Most likely its that leak thats causing you that problem. BTW what size water tank are you using? I have the same size trailer and similiar set up and that tank looks a little big. Does that trailer pull it OK?
 
Exterior Attack PW said:
You have to first fix that leak. Second make sure your tips are in line with the bar and that they are the right tips for that machine. I have a similar surface cleaner and had two different size tips on there (got in from someone) and when I replaced them it worked a whole lot better. Most likely its that leak thats causing you that problem. BTW what size water tank are you using? I have the same size trailer and similiar set up and that tank looks a little big. Does that trailer pull it OK?
Click to expand...


will take care of the leak....
just put 2 new 25 tips on it before i did the job the pics are from.
The top mark onn the tank is 200 and i think if i fill it completely its 215.
havnt had any problens pulling it altho i am a little more exp with trailers than most thanks to 14 years of trucking. also my pathfinder is a standard and when I am braking i downshift to save the brakes and rotors.
 
leaks are NO good, buy a new bar , probably no more than 60 bucks, go ahead and replace the tips as well (less than 10 bucks) then go back to work, try to do a light spray of sodium hypochlorite before or after to help eliminate the problem, also remember no concrete is the same, some cleans differently than others.
 
Jim@Garagecleaning said:
You do not have enough cleaning units. Whether its pressure, GPM's or heat. In your case with the photos, I would think its a combination of GPM and pressure.

If the spray of water is too thin, then you will have to lower the psi to prevent etching the cement. However, if you raise the GPM's you can raise the psi without damaging the cement. This would increase the cleaning units and remove the uncleaned areas. 90% chance of working.

If this is not an option for you, then rewash it several times or use chemicals ....... eventually it will get clean.

Another thing is change your technique of walking with your surface cleaner. Try mixing it up by moving it in a circular motion instead of a straight line all the time. Not saying this would work very well, but it might help. I give it a 20% chance of working.

Oh and fix the leak !

That's my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

Go with both of these solutions! With a 90% chance and a 20% chance of working, you're guaranteed a 110% chance!! You cant go wrong!! :p
 
ok how?

Jim@Garagecleaning said:
You do not have enough cleaning units. Whether its pressure, GPM's or heat. In your case with the photos, I would think its a combination of GPM and pressure.

If the spray of water is too thin, then you will have to lower the psi to prevent etching the cement. However, if you raise the GPM's you can raise the psi without damaging the cement. This would increase the cleaning units and remove the uncleaned areas. 90% chance of working.

If this is not an option for you, then rewash it several times or use chemicals ....... eventually it will get clean.

Another thing is change your technique of walking with your surface cleaner. Try mixing it up by moving it in a circular motion instead of a straight line all the time. Not saying this would work very well, but it might help. I give it a 20% chance of working.

Oh and fix the leak !

That's my 2 cents.
Click to expand...




How do i go about increasing the gpm?
the equipment i have is attached.
 

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heres the vid for thee timing like i said its not like im rushing..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-WORq97Tvk

cant get the embed link to work
thanks for the pointers I will fix the bar monday when the Pwstore opens
 
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Russ Spence said:
leaks are NO good, buy a new bar , probably no more than 60 bucks, go ahead and replace the tips as well (less than 10 bucks) then go back to work, try to do a light spray of sodium hypochlorite before or after to help eliminate the problem, also remember no concrete is the same, some cleans differently than others.
Click to expand...

After you get the new bar, don't let Russ use it. Trust me
 
I just bought another rig and it came with the same surface cleaner. It's a 20 in. Change that bar and get rid of the leak. Not to bust your chops but how long does it take you to do a driveway? Ya gotta move faster than that or you will be making about $1.25 per hr. I use 4000psi @ 4 gpm and it only takes me 25 min to do a 20x30 with sidewalks and front entrance walkway. You gotta use the right chems or you will continue to be there forever doing 1 job. I also noticed the date is from 1-2003 on your camera. Is that when the pic was taken or is the date just wrong in the camera? Ya may want to set that to the correct date also for customer viewing. I'm not intentionally trying to bust on you. Please don't take it the wrong way. :)
 
Get a new bar and put down some stronger/better chems. You'll be going faster in no time!
 
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