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preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Nightmare Day....
« on: January 19, 2006, 03:54:04 pm »
Today was the start of the first of my power washing contracts.
First job, I was up bright and early machine ready for action and away i went.
Got to the job and started.
Ten minutes into the job 'Bang' the hose to my lance exploded, steam and hot water flying all over the place.
Turned off the machine and connected lance no2 up.
20 minutes later a repeat performance.
So what started off at a £120 job ended up costing £119 and I still have to go back tomorrow and finish off.

garyj

Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2006, 04:07:10 pm »
Bad luck, we all get 'em though.

I took on a lady last year and she left a few months back, her husband and she have been calling me constantly for the last few weeks for some work. On Friday I was short and phoned her and she turned up, no problem. She was due to start more work Sunday at midday and phoned at 11:50 to say her kid was ill, dropping me right in the cart. I was picking her up ( !! >:() at 9.30 Monday morning and got to her house to find no-one in, so phoned her to find out she was taking her new dog for a walk and would be ready in an hour after having a shower  >:( >:( >:(. An hour later with me ready to let rip, she text me a message  to say she can't work today after all. AAAAAaarrrrghhhhh
Phone call from her last night asking if I had any work for her. Nearly laughed my head off.

Don't let it get you down, good luck for tomorrow.
 

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2006, 04:30:23 pm »
Just got off the phone with the guy who was second on the list today asking why I had not turned up.
I told him the tale, and explained how I called him up but go no answer.
He told me that he had been in all day waiting, I then told him to check his mobile for two missed calls and one text that i sent him.
I dont really think that he believed me but I will sort it out with him tomorrow when I go.

mobile valeting & Power wash Services

  • Posts: 182
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2006, 06:02:41 pm »
Gary it could have been a lot worse  ???, at least it was the hoses and not the machine that went bang.
Malky
Power Wash,polish & shine

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2006, 06:43:42 pm »
Do you know Malky I have a sneaky feeling that its was some sort of frost damage that has done it.

mobile valeting & Power wash Services

  • Posts: 182
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2006, 06:56:54 pm »
More than likely as the same thing happened to one of my hoses prior to my episode with the machine, I may add that the hose on my machine looked an old one so it may just have been that.
Just to let you know I have found a Karcher Agent to fix my HDS 1000 for £300 +vat should be ready in 10 days as parts have to come from Germany nice bloke though, even offered to lend me a cold wash in the mean time which I declined, has some good machines for sale including a diesel Karcher HDS1000 but wants 2 grand for it year of manafacture 2000 ???. 7 grand to buy new but comes with a 12 month warranty parts and labour.
Malky
Power Wash,polish & shine

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2006, 07:30:58 pm »
£300 quid certainly sounds better than 2 grand.
But you know your machine and are very confident using it, also you know its strengths a weaknesses.

2 grand and most probably its been overhauled and 12 months warranty. Sounds good to me.
But the only thing with karchers is they very rarely go wrong, but when they do it bloody expensive.
                                   Gary

mobile valeting & Power wash Services

  • Posts: 182
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #7 on: January 19, 2006, 07:55:04 pm »
At least I will not have repair bills to fork out for this year which has to be a bonus  :D, I will most likely keep the petrol as a spare just in case. As you know I have spent several weeks looking for another machine with no luck so I might just go for this one when I pick up my own machine (no vat to pay on the purchase  ;)) I must have spent hours on the net most nights sending out e-mails to different companys regarding purchasing a new machine to date only 3 have replied, (which surprised me) and the 3 that did once the vat and delivery is added they were not cost affective the second hand market is non existent even e-bay has nothing at the moment so will give this a lot of thought can you e-mail me the price of the Lombardini you were looking at just being nosey as usual.
Malky
Power Wash,polish & shine

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #8 on: January 19, 2006, 09:56:25 pm »
Karcher Machines like the ones we use are few and far between second hand, due to their reliability, no vat no delivery your surely onto a winner especially with a years grace, parts and labour, I have looked for a second hand machine like mine for over six months have never found one.
You can buy the cold washers but hot are like rockin horse s hit.
Decided against the Lombardini as its now in bits getting done up but he wont give me an absolute price until its finished but he was looking at taking my machine and a lump of cash.
But since getting the little cold washer overhauled I decided that this was good enough for my domestic drain needs.
                                 I am glad for you malky that you have finally found what you were looking for.
                           Gary

*Chris Browne

  • Posts: 863
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #9 on: January 19, 2006, 10:09:29 pm »
Today was the start of the first of my power washing contracts.
First job, I was up bright and early machine ready for action and away i went.
Got to the job and started.
Ten minutes into the job 'Bang' the hose to my lance exploded, steam and hot water flying all over the place.
Turned off the machine and connected lance no2 up.
20 minutes later a repeat performance.
So what started off at a £120 job ended up costing £119 and I still have to go back tomorrow and finish off.


just remember one thing....it can only get better!!reminds me of my very first day, when my car broke down (i had bought for the business) of all days! and you know its been purfect since and ive still got it.

chris

www.scsf.co.uk

mark bowditch

  • Posts: 142
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2006, 12:05:11 am »
Hi Gary,
Bit of bad luck mate could have been worse have a look at link high pressure hose on ebay thats not far from you, [it might be ok for a spare]
All the best
Mark
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HIGH-PREASURE-HOSE-REEL-POWER-WASHER_W0QQitemZ7582702014QQcategoryZ112391QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Pressure Washing and Maintenance
http://www.grimeforce.co.uk

mark bowditch

  • Posts: 142
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2006, 12:08:47 am »
Hi Malky
If you are interested in a Karcher HDS 1000 brand new I spoke to Jan at Tech Clean earlier this week and she said that she has one for sale for £3.500
Regards
Mark
Pressure Washing and Maintenance
http://www.grimeforce.co.uk

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Nightmare Day....
« Reply #12 on: January 20, 2006, 09:35:14 am »
Cheers Mark, but I dont need anymore machines as I have three at the moment well two thats working and one thats in the project mode at the moment.
My next investment is going to be a harben trailer system or similar.