billoz
I started out with a 5.5 hp machine, the only thing it had going for it was the A & R pump and that it was Honda, I went onto the Hilta Yanmar - diesel engined machines, of which I still have three and one engine.
From there the H & M machine was bought off Roger a couple of years ago and then last year the Thor, the Thor has just gone in for a oil leak on the gear box and it turns out that the gearbox had loosened itself away from the pump, knackered the gearbox, knackered the pump and all were replaced under warranty - why did this happen, because someone at Dual Pumps had not used loctite on the four main bolts, holding them together.
It's stuff like that you just don't pick up, you learn it, we have a weekly machine check system but never thought to check that the two were held together.
I am an advocate of Hilta machines, they are always second hand on Ebay, reasonably priced 15LPM @ 3000psi, mine are 200 bar and one is 170 bar (the knackered one).
I think most of the guys on here look for 21LPM machines, it just gives you the edge to clean just about everything and we work alongside two 21LPM Rapiers.
Don't buy crap - you will buy twice!
Rob