[irving]

Hi, I am looking to buy a new portable to replace my Ashby's Ninja 400, what would you recommend, what is a better machine! The Ninja is good when it don't give me problems, but there have been to many problems in the 3 years I have had it! Any recomendations!
Many thanks

[Jamie Pearson]

Other than reliability what do you want to improve about your current set up?

Weight
Length of Hose Runs
Capacity
Heat
Ease of maintenance

[JandS]

What problems you had...only problem I've had
is replacing vac motors...oh and pump seals and
mine's nearly 4 years old.
For the spec I'd go for Alltecs 1200psi one with
triple vacs but the weight puts me off and paying
that much for a porty you could get a second hand
Prowler.
So Ashbys Enforcer ticks the boxes for me.

[james roffey]

I had the Ninja a good basic machine but in my opinion seriously let down by service from Ashby's so i got rid of it, been using a Cleansmart Airflex turbo for the past two and half years, it's a very good workhorse for me more powerful than the Ninja so i can use two inch hose which is great, always leave it outside homes and keep up to 150ft hose in the van for every eventuality, cant fault it at all when i have carried out maintenance Frank the engineer talked me through it step by step, although the vac motors when they do go are so easy to change because everything is easily accessible, it's basically a well designed, powerful, and reliable machine backed up by excellent service from Mat who runs Cleansmart. do not under estimate the back up once you have the machine,for me it ticks all the boxes and to top it all it looks good too.
Of course other machine are about and the owners of them love them too, i thought the Ninja was about the best and this turned out to be an expensive mistake so choose carefully, good luck

[William Sharpe]

Ive had my ninjas for 5 years now they have never let me down i've replaced 3 vac motors, 2 bell ends and 1 pump in all that time between both machines. I do my own servicing and repairs, drain and rinse out tank after every clean, Run the vacs for 3 minutes after every clean, run clean water through the system once a week and never overfull the waste tank. I am totally happy with the ninja. Check your wiring on a regular basis as they do corrode and replace them with new lugs.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

After speaking to alltec I think they are discontinuing the triple vac for the 2 x 6.6 vac evolution which is a bit lighter and easier to work on, but like Jamie says, get a list of things you want from a new machine and then tick them off.

Shaun

[Chris Straker]

Providing you live nowhere near me, I would suggest the Jaguar 6.6 but if you do live within my working area ....... go for any other machine out there 

[john martin]

If you want a 6.6 machine i would go for the Alltec Evolution  for the following reasons ...

Quality design   ,  proper waste tank design  , quality switch panel  , proper silencing  , proper accessibility to components  .  Two water heaters . Immersion + Inline
Quality in general .

This vid shows some of the Alltec design features  and accessibility  ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5H7GID39g

It really puts the pretentious plastic pram to shame   

[Griffus]

I have the Alltec Advance 600psi and it's great.

It is heavy but this is omly noticable when you have no choice but to take it up stairs. Most of the time you can work from the ground to third floor with no noticable issue with performance (aside from solution not always the hottest by the time it gets down).

Happy to recommend this machine.

[Chris Straker]

Not needing to get into a debate over which 6.6 is the prettiest or most powerful but I understand the contract cleaners at Parliament are using Alltec machines and clean @ a third of my price ........ odd that I do a lot of apartments there and will be cleaning the most important areas in advance of the state opening  

ps ......if you do use detergent chemicals that require high temperatures, then the heated machines will be best suited to your needs.

[irving]

Ease of maintenance because I live on the Isle of Wight and the cost to get to the mainland! Wednesday I sent my Ninja 400 by currier to Ashby's, but it never arrived, machine have got lost in a traffic accident I am been told and the only compensation I will get is £ 84.50, that is what they are saying! The blinking machichine cost me £ 4500.00 for 2 years ago! I don't knw if this is correct bjut the currier have told me I am only insured for £ 1.50 per kilo!!!! Thanks for the replyes!!! Got a bit of a bad head!!

[Chris Straker]

Sorry to hear of your experience with courier    Luckily for me, Solutions will send a tailor made case for Jaguar so you load in, close, sign and send straight back etc.

Watched that video for Alltec machine and it shapes up as a good solid machine, if you like the dated design ......... 20 kg heavier than Jaguar 6.6 and I noticed it would be £475 extra for the auto fill / auto dump options ..... on a machine that is already £590 dearer to start  

My last three portables all had single or double heaters ....... only used them to test they worked, so even they were a wasted cost !!

[Russ Chadd]

I had a Jag 6.6 for about 18 months, fantastic machine and Nicks service is second to none.
I recently decided to move the machine on and retire my Prowler (which is still for sale!) as it was still in good condition and after many weeks of researching... i decided on the Enforcer.
Only used it on a few jobs so far, loaded with the new Electro 5.7 motors it performs very well indeed.

[john martin]

Chris ...  dated design ?   the jag is the recoil /revolver body from the 80's or sometime BC .      If you like it thats great  , i just cant see how anyone would choose it over what else is out there now .


Russ  ,  a detail review of the Enforcer would be great sometime  ...  how do you find series performance  ,  did you get a heater onboard .

[benny d]

and will be cleaning the most important areas in advance of the state opening  

I saw the Sate Opening last year. when Black Rod slipped over, and was overheard saying, "sodding wet carpets!" 
 

[Russ Chadd]

Hi John

Like i said its early days and i am still kind of getting to grips with the machine.
I decided to downscale my business due to other commitments, however after using a TM i kind of got used to the heat it produced and required a machine which could offer high heat.
Im not going to make a comparison between Enforcer and Jag... two completely different machine and both with their separate merits.

I can only tell you what i think of it so far...

I opted for the two 5.7 motors, one HD and one standard both are plumbed in "series"
Also had the 3000w in tank heater, auto fill and the auto drain feature fitted as an extra.
A quality remote control setup was also added which works very well... even through thick walls.
A new V2 steam mate was also added.

Yesterday morning i cleaned an 80/20 using 50' of 2" hose, pressure was set to 200 psi, 90 deg c heat on the V2, auto fill and dump connected.
Carpets were moderately dirty and i decided to use MPower with a a light agitation.

I have to say where the Enforcer may lack the CFM of the parallel machines, it makes up for in the increased lift, at the end of the job the carpets were about the same moisture level as they would of been if i had used my jag... maybe even drier because of the added heat.
In the after noon i cleaned a 2 seat settee (usual acrylic DFS type) the enforcer's increased lift definitely left the fabric drier rinsing at   150 psi with my 5" CFR tool.
The auto fill works very well and is mounted to a recessed fresh water lid, any drips simply fall into the lid and is drained back into the tank.

The auto dump works extremely well... simple gravity flow, when the vacs are turned off a one way check valve allows the waste to pass, emptying the entire tank in a matter of seconds... This can all be done by the remote control which also cleverly triggers an electronic delay system which starts each vac motor one after the other to avoid overload.

So far i like it...

[Shaun_Ashmore]

That's a nice review Russ as you're not comparing any machines just looking at what you want and like about the machine.

Tbh ashbys customer service does let them down but their machinery options and special ideas ie v2 make you want to buy more, keep us posted there will be of course plus and negative points but everyone do need to know.

Shaun

[Chris Straker]

John, I only suggested dated design as the Alltec machine, put me in mind of my old Prochem SteamEasy 400 ......fibreglass bodied !!

I think the Jaguar 6.6 shape reminds me of an old Stimvak Toto machine I used to use ......back in the 80s (AD)  

If I was younger and not wanting a lighter, more manouverable machine, or if I needed heat .... then my machine choice may or may not be different.

[Paul Moss]

All the new machines over the past few years are great and will do a good job. Its like buying a car some like bmw, some like vauxhall or ford but at the end of the day the are all more or less the same. They all have good points and bad points and as we are all different and will like some and not others.
 I must say service does make a big difference and i recently  bought a storm as i like the look and design of the machine for what i  want.
Chris has opted for the Jag for different reasons but again from a supplier with great service.

 Guys dont get too worked up with the different machines as they will all do a great job and more or less similar in performance. However if you are lucky enough to live near a decent service supplier then thats the one you buy  

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Personally I preferthe fibre glass bodies to the dustbin on wheels look.

My Altec was undoubtedly the most relaible machine I have owned and I like the fact I can drive there in 90 mins if I have problems.

I would never dispense with heat.

I know you can replace it to a certain extent with agitation but it is a long winded way of going about it.

I know Jim has been very pleased with his Airflex and of the 'plastic'
 machines it definitely looks the best

Cheers

Doug