[Pristine Clean]

To all you WFPers,


What has gone wrong when you have been on the job?


Did you look stupid/ Unpressional that you had no spares...?

What spares do you recomend carrying?

If you have had the spares, could you have carried on?


Dave

[Spruce]

Hi
Just after I started WFP 3 years ago, I somehow broke the plastic y coupling to the jets on my brush. I reckon I lost a day hunting around looking for a replacement that cost 50 pence.
I eventually found a replacement in a localish motor factors and swore it would never happen again - but it did.
The first WFP system was a trailer with the pump in a sealed plastic electrical box. Big mistake as the outlet pipe developed a leak and filled the pump box up with water - waited 2 days for a new pump. Drilled a hole in the bottom of that box incase in ever happened again.

Now I have a 2 man system in my Citroen Relay and my son runs a Peugeot Partner with a 1 man system. Each item on his van is identical to mine.
Now I have a spare of everything, from replacement cones and inserts for our Unger poles, replacement hose, brushes and adaptors right down to cable ties. If I have a pump failure I can just swop outlets and carry on.

At home I have a spare Shurflo pump, replacement Varistream and a fully charged replacement Leisure battery. You try and find a replacement Leisure battery when you need it? I will cost you half a day's work getting one - and that day will be the best window clearing weather of the year.

I also carry the tools I need to fix what ever goes wrong in the street rather than the come home to do it. 

I have fitted a split charge relay to both vans so only need to charge batteries once a week - charger at home. My son's van has a change over switch which allows him to draw of his van battery if the leisure goes flat - has done once. I also got a change over switch for my van but need to fit it still.
I carry spare filters for my Ro unit as well as Resin. The only thing I have to order is spare membranes and RO Man didn't have the 150gpd membranes in stock when I last ordered them - had to wait a week for new stocks to come in.

Sods law says that if it's going to break it will be the day before the long weekend and the suppliers will not have it in stock. So I carry it.

My son by the way thinks I'm mad. 

Spruce

[Pristine Clean]

That really made me chuckle Spruce!

So basically what you are saying is buy 2 or more of everything...?

Dave

[matty72]

pressure switch for pump, second one just gone only lasted few months,, am waiting as we speak to be delivered.

[Spruce]

Hi Dave
Yes, especially hose couplings, 'O' rings and washers for Hozelok fitting etc., as they are not very expensive so I may order 10. Trouble is a couple of the local lads also know that there is an aladins cave in my van. One of the lads told me the other day he was going to change his microbore fitting to the same make as I use as he is aways guaranteed a local spare parts outlet.
 

[Spruce]

Hi Matty
Yes, I forgot that.    Wasted my time with micro switches from Maplin - hence the varistreams - no bother since then.
 
Spruce

[Pristine Clean]

Hi Dave
Yes, especially hose couplings, 'O' rings and washers for Hozelok fitting etc., as they are not very expensive so I may order 10. Trouble is a couple of the local lads also know that there is an aladins cave in my van. One of the lads told me the other day he was going to change his microbore fitting to the same make as I use as he is aways guaranteed a local spare parts outlet.
 

Hi Spruce everyone will know now you said... on here... in fact are you in the South East.... as if you are give me the name of your kit as it sounds a good idea... or if you far away purhaps you could set up mail order...

Keep us going as well just in case.

Dave

[chrismroberts]

I carry a few spare hoselock connections, stop taps especially, O-ring clips, Y piece connectors for the brushes, and most importantly (if you use one) a spare plastic angle adaptor for the end of your pole, kinda vital!!

[baldeagle]

My Varistream came fixed to a board, and the electrical supply was via a fuse, of the "Car" type, [coloured plastic, with two flat "blades"]

It blew one morning, don't know why, it's never happened again, but you wouldn't believe the number of filling stations that sell coal, deodorant, lottery tickets, crisps,  newspapers, even petrol and Diesel, but no bl**dy fuses!

I carry 4 or 5 now......

Baldeagle

[AJ]

My brain being as it is, I keep a cigarette lighter plug with cable and croc clips, that way when i forget my battery I can run off the van. very useful!

[Chris Galloway]

My Varistream came fixed to a board, and the electrical supply was via a fuse, of the "Car" type, [coloured plastic, with two flat "blades"]

It blew one morning, don't know why, it's never happened again, but you wouldn't believe the number of filling stations that sell coal, deodorant, lottery tickets, crisps,  newspapers, even petrol and Diesel, but no bl**dy fuses!

I carry 4 or 5 now......

Baldeagle

Yeah i had that, ended up taking one out of the van's fuse box to use the wfp then replaced it when i needed to use the van again. ended up buying a few packs of fuses from halfords *just in case*

@ AJ, thats a good idea.. i have one of those spare and i have forgot my battery once..