How strict are max ratings on surface cleaners?

CCC

CCC

New member
Just received my Northern 32" cleaner today. It was listed as 4200 max psi on the site and I'm using a 4000 psi rig. The box, manual, and warning sticker on the deck all say 3000 psi max. Is it safe to use? Will it hold up?
 
If they advertised it as 4200, it'd better do it.
 
wait a minute...

Most websites have a disclaimer about mistakes in the wording. Northern's reads "Northern is working hard to ensure that the information provided on the Northern site or in any Northern catalog or advertisement is accurate and up-to-date but due to the risk that the information may be compromised by software or procedural errors, Northern does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided on this site or in any Northern catalog or advertisement ."

This is their escape clause for errors like this. If the manual states 3000 PSI, I would bet that is all it is rated for. In that case, applying 4000 PSI will cause the equipment to fail and likely void the warranty. At the very least, you will be into a long fight with them to get any warranty coverage.
 
pb4ugo said:
Just received my Northern 32" cleaner today. It was listed as 4200 max psi on the site and I'm using a 4000 psi rig. The box, manual, and warning sticker on the deck all say 3000 psi max. Is it safe to use? Will it hold up?
Click to expand...

wait until you need a replacement rotary union :(
 
I hear all the fears on Northern all the time. After being thoroughly impressed with the trailer of theirs I ordered, I began to discount others' negative statements about them. Yes, I have used other more respected names of equipment and still feel my trailer rig surpasses them.

Since I had the positive experience with the trailer and I can't afford the vacuum recovery spinner I want yet, I figured I'd give it a shot at least temporarily. I'm really regretting it now. I just fired it up and the spinner flexes all around like a flimsy piece of aluminum. I think I'm putting too much through it. I'll probably just make enough money with it to get the one I truly want, then sell it off to a contractor with a smaller machine.
 
I have 2 from Northern Tool and they are both junk. After all that I got a Big Guy and a Landa, much better quality in both.
 
That's what I was getting at. If it's a loose rating, I'd just run with it instead of shipping it back and all the time waiting for another. If it will self destruct due to overpowering it, than I'll have to go through the waiting game.
 
As an owner this is a risk management decision that you will ultimately have to make. I would return it because in my opinion the risk is too high. There are a lot of good surface cleaners on the market.
 
Return it. If you have a warranty issue the first thing they will ask you is "why didn't you return it when you saw it was wrong?"

May want to read up on what the big flat work guys use before you order another. They've already made all the mistakes.


FYI some of the red surface cleaners are Mi-T-M.
 
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