Pulling the Trigger...

JimFergerson

JimFergerson

New member
This may be the one...

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/bfs/2053300451.html

Granted, it's only a PGHW4-3000, but it only has 1700hrs. on it and it's in excellent condition!

With only 3.5GPM i realize that we're limited as to what we can do with this machine. We will still be doing concrete with a smaller surface cleaner. I may be doing some plumbing and adding a larger pump in the future?

Got the guy down to $3,000 and my wife is drawing cash out of the bank as i type.


Any last minute thoughts before we drag it home?
:bow-down:
 
U will be very limited
 
You cannot add a larger pump without installing a larger engine. If you want to do that, look about $700 to $1200 for just the engine and then about $400 to $600 for the pump, it might or might not fit in that frame, you will have to ask the experts to know as that frame does look smaller than the Landa frame I have for the 5gpm at 3500psi with the generator.

Then you have the size of the coil and burner, they might not heat the water hot enough if you ever do run more gpm's through it as it is made for only so many gpm's to get hot. You might get a shop to do some mod's to it and it might work, maybe swap out the burner for a larger burner and some adjustments and their labor for some hours work, maybe looking at $600 to $800 for the burner and labor, maybe a little bit more or less.

I would make sure that it does make hot water because there could be problems with the burner or generator.

Figure running a 16" or 12" surface cleaner with only 3.5gpm, nothing larger as it might be done but walking very, very slowly and that is only a maybe.

If you are looking at commercial work, I would look for a larger unit as it will get old very fast using a 12" or 16" surface cleaner on large areas.

The price might be ok if you are going to stick to residential and pop a few pieces of gum here and there but running a small surface cleaner on huge areas of concrete will wear you out.

There is a good rule-of-thumb that you run about 4" of surface cleaner for every 1gpm of flow you have so 3.5 x 4 = 14" of surface cleaner would be a good start.

Not trying to bust your little bubble here, just showing you some reality that you might not have thought about.

Good Luck.
 
Looks nice to me, but I wouldn't use it for flat. :yes2:
 
Dont buy it its too expensive. Stalk the CL adds and wait for a good deal. X-mass is around the corner and people will sell off alot more for less. You need to have min 5gpm for large flatwork IMO. Good luck
 
Dude, not bashing you. You seem to be motivated and all, but your posts indicate you don't have a clue about pressure washing or the equipment and procedures necessary to complete a project and retain a customer base.

I recall myself and at least one other local contractor offering you our help. To date I have yet to receive a call, email or PM.

I, for one, and always eager to help a newcomer get started in his/her business venture. You need some real time, on the job training, and a well written and thought out business plan before you invest a dime of your money.

I am slammed busy these days, but I will do my best to make myself available to you for a couple hours this week and answer your questions and help you out. I'm sure Ron would be also.

I am known for being very blunt and speaking my mind. Do not be discouraged or taken back by my comments. I hope you take me or the others that have offered their assistance up on their offers.

There is more used inventory of PW equipment available today than probably ever before in history. That said there is a lot of plain junk and units not worth spending a dime on repairing (like the unit you were looking at Superiors yard. I talked to Greg about that unit last Thursday when I met him up in Arcadia).

Give me a call, I will make time this week to get together with you and help you out the best I know how.
 
I stand corrected Jim, just started checking my emails that have piled up over the past 24+ hours and you did indeed send me an email. I have responded to your email, and once again suggest we get together in the near future.
 
Well, it looks as if we still have lunch money...

004.jpg



I'm actually just getting back from talking to Rodger at Superior. He ran the serial number to help get some history on the machine. It was one of six rigs purchased back in '06 by a local pressure washing company. They specialized in cleaning bus benches. Records show that the units were serviced regularly there, and this would help explain the fine shape of the machine.

I also discovered that future pump modifications to get more than 4GPM was not in the least bit feasible.

I must say, it is an awesome machine for what it is.
And our search continues...


Thanks again to all those that posted!
:victory:
 
you might check out cold water machines and add a hot box. Russ Spence had 2 hot boxes for sale. You might check to see if he still has them
 
Ditch that manual and stick to perusing PWI! Every single reply has been trying to point you the right way.
 
Must have been Shelter Clean. You are probably lucky. From what I have seen, they have a habit of tearing things up. It is curious, though, I thought they bought hydroteks in 2006.
 
They did, through AAA. And AAA does their maintenance, or should I say rebuilds. They destroy pumps. Saw a 24 HP Honda motor in there about 2 months ago, had less than 200 hours on it. The idiots seized it (no oil). Monkey see, monkey do.

Scott Stone said:
Must have been Shelter Clean. You are probably lucky. From what I have seen, they have a habit of tearing things up. It is curious, though, I thought they bought hydroteks in 2006.
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