[Total shine cleaning services]

i have a Honda gx 390 and fsc from Qwashers, did a medium sized block pave drive yesterday and there were lots of weeds, the fsc will cut into them but I'm constantly finding that I have to do really slow pass overs countless times to get them below surface level, I switched to a turbo nozzle in the end, my question is-is this possibly the angle of the nozzles or am I expecting to much from it, it flies through surface dirt and moss build up on the joints but struggles with weeds, also I have a twin feed on the pressure washer and it takes the water out of the bowser really fast, I'm constantly playing catch up and on certain jobs has cost me nearly two hours even if I knock the revs down, any advice would be great

Graham

[wpclean]

When I have used an fsc on blockwork, afterwards I use a vario nozzle to rinse down, and you can change the setting on the nozzle to clean anything that the fsc has missed.

[JetVac Cleaning]

The flat surface cleaner will not remove the weeds in my experience. Use it to remove all the surface muck and rinse off. Then turbo the debris that's left with a turbo nozzle. Doing it like this minimises the muck the turbo flicks up!

[Total shine cleaning services]

Cheers guys

Graham

[Smudger]

Sounds like you have the same set-up as me

Honda gx390 21lpm 3000psi from qwashers I got a FSC from them as well turbodevil, great for most things except heavy weeds, but from reading on here that was only to be expected. If weed are involved I go straight for a turbo nozzle saves any double cleaning and saves time

Darran

[Rob_Mac]

Pressure washer putting out 21 LPM, FSC splitting the flow to 11.5 LPM on a double arm and 7.3 LPM on a triple arm.

You have no chance of clearing anything other than the top surface of weed growth if splitting it at those flow rates.

Rob

[Total shine cleaning services]

that's exactly what I did on the last job Darren, Rob what would be a good upgrade on the machine I've already got, I want to get on and off the jobs quicker than I'm doing at the minute, I also realise if I go to a 30Lpm machine I'm gonna have to take water with me to get a head start, I'm often struggling for water on the gx390, tap pressure in MK is crap

Graham

[Rob_Mac]

No that's not the case.

We have a water supply 80 metres away for tonights work, decent flow. We will be able to start within 5 minutes because the water in is faster than the water out.

Even on a standard supply you should get about 15 - 20 LPM so you will slowly lose. Get half a tank full and then start pressure washing. Get your set up done and you should be nearly good to go.

It is your set up that gives you the speed. I don't know what yours is. Once I have a water supply I can be starting within 2 minutes of getting there.

Back doors open (no jokes), pull fill hose to tap/supply - turn on water.

Back to hose reel - extend high pressure hose, connect lance etc.

Is the supply going to keep up - yes - turn machine on!

No - give it 5 and give the client some 'blarney' about something and then make a start.

Give yourself a half tank start with your set up.

If you have a 21 LPM machine that will be more than adequate and is much better than I started with. It is the things that connect to the job that get you away from there quicker, not just the machine.

Rob

[Smudger]

We have poor water pressure here, some villages I can empty my 250 ltr water tank in under 45 minutes from full  with the mains water running.

I have to wait until at least 1/2 full if not completely full otherwise I will always run dry

Darran

[Jettaway]

We in general have a good flow here.  The biggest set back I have is set up and knocking down time as im a wheelbarrow setup. Would love to be a full van set up.

[Smudger]

We I  general have a good flow here.  The biggest set back I have is set up and knocking down time as im a wheelbarrow setup. Would love to be a full van set up.

Agreed, loading, unloading does cut into your day, esp. Small jobs that would only take around 1/2 hr if you could pull up and start.  Van mount is most likely the next purchase for me

Darran

[Total shine cleaning services]

what should be on a checklist for a van mount.?
my van is big enough, I've just bought a transit t350

Graham

[Matt Gibson]

You can van mount any machine. You just need to buy a separate hose reel, and possibly one for your fill hose and you need to think about placement of the machine etc.. then just fit a tank and run all the hoses and return hoses and away you go.

Or buy a skid mount and you dont have to do anything.

[Total shine cleaning services]

would you protektacote the floor first and what about fumes from the pressure washer, or just site it next to side opening door?

Graham

[Matt Gibson]

I didnt bother with protektacote but i suppose you could if you wanted. My exhaust faces the side door.

[Total shine cleaning services]

cheers Matt
will definately look into this, would be great just to pull up and start washing, can you recommend a good hose reel, I have 30 metres and another 10 metre section I can add on also

Graham

[Matt Gibson]

Cox reels are good apparently and so are redashe reels. I have never used either so only going off other peoples views.

[Rob_Mac]

Cox reels are good but don't go for the basic ones.

Graham - A plus point for larger machines, I was working on a storefront last night and removed 95% of the chewing gum on a cold wash - couldn't do that with a smaller flow unit.

Rob

[Rob_Mac]

On list for van mount - (you've got 1500 Kilo of payload)

Tank as big as possible
Fill up hose & reel

Both from the side door

Rear door

Hose reels on a shelf directly above the two washers, one either side of the door, with the exhausts facing out. If they are the wrong way round get some flexi exhaust and bend it out to the doors.

If you put it through the floor make sure it is at the right angle or you will burn holes through Tarmac directly underneath or mark any other flooring.

Downspouts cut to accommodate, lances, extending lance, WF poles etc fixed down the length of the roof (internally)

Ancillary stuff - on this you can go on and on and on.

I have fire blankets, fire extinguishers and lots of other bits & bobs.

Rob

[Total shine cleaning services]

Thanks Rob
gonna be putting a 500L baffled flat tank between wheel arch at the rear, this will be alternating between pressure washing and window cleaning (will be flushed thouroughly on wfp days) , shelving straight over the top of this and possibly placing pressure washer on the floor next to this in the mid section of the van or on top, I'll stick my 30 metre hose on the reel and have a 10 metre spare as well, I'm doing more pressure washing these days than window cleaning so got to get this right, also turning to many small jobs away because of my set up time so would be great to open the doors, fire her up and earn £40-£50 for half hours work, will eventually go the skid mount route and then put the gx390 into my other van which does most of the window cleaning
anyone know of the cheapest place for the hose reel and will 40 metres total be ok ?
suppose I can always pull the pressure washer off the van again for the longer jobs, everything is also on quick release and I'm thinking I will need a link hose from pw to hose reel.?
appreciate the help and thanks to everyone who has answered..!

Graham