[squeaky]

On paper this looks a good machine and good value,
does anyone have/or used one of these machines ? and if so a bit of info would be appreciated.

mark

[Dynafoam]

Mark,

I bought one of these to get the case for an own-build but played with it first.

The build quality was very good and the performance was all that could be expected from a twin-vac machine with a 100psi pump. the casing is extreamly rugged an the long diagonal from the handle to the front caster wheels make for good leverage (casters on metal step at back of van, rear wheels on ground, lift handle to load).

Other 'incidental' plus points are thet the hose connections are both at the top-front and the discharge at the rear. The overall physical balance is very good and the case hinges open for easy access to major components, and this can be done with the solution tank full. I have replaced motor brushes outside a cusomers' house without moveing the machine and the only disconnections being the vac hose and mains plug.

From the design point of view, the biggest failing with this and many other porties, is ventilation. In order to fit a fan, due to double-skinning on most of the case, the only option is to remove the metal plate that carries the mixer valve etc. for the heat exchanger and fabricate a replacement with a fan. If an external heat exchanger is to be used (eg Ashbys' Steamate) the loss of these parts is immaterial.

Another, less crucial, failing is that the hot exhaust from the vac units is directed at the pump, causing it to run hotter. This is easily overcome with a simple deflector plate.

Before this critique spurns a flood of posts from Cheyenne owners, saying it's the best machine ever, I should say that I got into cleaning as a result of designing machines in the mid-sixties and therefore my view of any machine will differ from the average rug-suckers'.

You could do much worse than buy one of these ( or for an extra £1000 you could go for a Recoil 3HP)

John.

[Mike Halliday]

John the Cheyanne design must have changed since you looked at it

The vac exhaust points down expelling the air out of the metal grill not towards the pump. as for ventalation I think the cheyannes is excellent because the full floor is a mesh grill which allows lots of air to curculate.

I think the biggest design flaw with the Cheyanne is having the vacs in series I changed my to parrall and found they lasted longer. I also had to remove the plastic ball out of the filter as it kept getting sucked up and cutting off the vacuum ( which says to me the vacs where pulling harder as this never happened when in series).

if anyone has the cheyanne, when a vac motor goes replace it with a 2 stage vac ( putting the 2 stage first inline) this works out cheaper and stops the 2nd vac taking more heat) the performance is'nt noticebly reduced.

Mike

[rob_s]

Hi All,
     I've just sold my Cheyenne. I found it to be a fairly good machine, had the power etc. But the inline water heater was a bit temeramental and it was difficult to clean out the waste tank.
    I've been looking at the Alltec Advantage to replace it. 2x 145mm 3 stage vac,135 psi pump ,3kw heater and splits into two for ease of movement.

 Regards   rob -s

 P.s, also a second-hand CFR PRO 400

[Dynafoam]

Hi Mike,

Maybe they have moved the pump - the one I looked at (about 4 years ago old) had the pump on the metal grill but directly under the vac exhaust.

On the ventilation issue the main concern was when the motors are swiched off (hot soak condition), being mounted at the top and with only ventilation at the base, they were sitting in hot air with no active cooling.

As you probably know, most motor failures due to coil-burn ocurr during the hot soak period. As I wrote, this is far from uncommon on HWE machines.

I have had to weight the shut-off ball on many machines to reduce sensitivity.

John.

[carpet_bright]

No real problems with my Cheyenne other than weight!
It's a good portable but not so portable upstairs. I use my steameasy up and Cheyenne down where possible.
The large solution tank is another plus compared to other machines.

Happy cleaning

Paul - Carpet Bright

[chrisw]

I got my Cheyenne last year, the vac outlet had been diverted for me, so no problem with pump being overheated. Have renewed the vacs and the pump brushes, dead easy even if you aren't sure what to do! Waste tank cleans ok with a spray hose. Take care filling solution tank as lack of patience leads to water ending up near pump electrics, but as I say with care this is not a problem. Big brute of a machine but very robust, using 50ft of hose you shouldn't need to take inside house too often. Inline heater is crap though  , looking to replace mine, any ideas what is suitable as a replacement, anyone? To sum up, I'm very happy with mine  
Chris

[Len Gribble]

Chris

Your comments on filling are well justified it not only applies to this machine but to all portables.  A good machine used one for a week while mine was on the road so to speak, but not too sure about the 50ft of hose?
Len

[Lee_Pettengell]

Cheyenne has now been discontinued and replaced by the Steempro Powerplus with a solution tank of 65litres 2x3 stage vacs  100psi pump. List price is £1895, the in line heaters on the Steempro range  have been improved. I know of many operators who use between 50-100ft of hose on these machines.

[Dynafoam]

Chris,

For about £500 you can get an Ashbys Steamate.

It's much less temperamental and not being attatched to the machine, can be placed in the soution line near to where you are working rather than have 50ft of hose with water cooling off behind you.

John.

[Len Gribble]

Lee

I was not having a pop at your machine but this type of portable which includes mine running at 50ft which I questioned, then you replied some are running at 50 to 100ft on 2x3 vac and a 100psi pump, it’s the distance that what I questioned, not being a Tec buff surely a 2x3 and 100psi machine would lose vacuum lift & pressure at this distance.

Lee I stand to be corrected I wait your reply with anticipation


Len

[Dynafoam]

Len,

You are right to question 100ft hose run with such a machine. It is useable but the suction loss would be noticable.

Another factor is that the internal volume of this length of hose means that if the wand seal to carpet is broken, it will take several seconds to develop full potential vacuum, so unless wand tecnique is modified to accomodate, the first section of each stroke will be less effective.

I have not tested this, but feel that with 50ft of hose, this machine would still out-perform a Steameasy with 25ft.

John.

[Len Gribble]

John

I have no doubt that this machine will out perform some on the market on vacuum what about pressure at the wand?

Len

[squeaky]

Lee,
It is interesting to see that the Cheyenne has been replaced by the Steampro power plus.
Although it has'nt been altered on the Uk website.

I need a machine that can stay outside and run 50 to 100 ft of pipe.

I was very interested in the Cross American recoil 3 but the Uk price puts me off ( considering the price in the states)
How can I get more specs on the steampro power plus.
regards

Mark

[Dave_Lee]

I used to own a Cheyanne 3. Got it new 4 years ago.
Great machine, I also got a new Pro Plus a yeasr later to use alongside the Cheyanne. Cheyanne had twin 3 stage (smaller) vacs in series -Pro Plus had twin 3 stage (Larger) vacs in parrallel. The Cheyanne had more pull than the Pro Plus but the Pro Plus vacs and pump lasted longer. I liked it but my biggest gripe was the downward vac exhaust which did exit directly over the pump untill I dverted it. Because the hot humid air expelled through the grill at the base of the machine - if it was parked on a cold floor like tiles, vinyl etc. the floor would get really wet with condensation.
Dave.

[Nigel_W]

Mark,

You are looking for the impossible! A portable machine that will run 50 to 100 ft but costs less than £2450.  Let me know if you find one and I will take one too!!

Nigel

[Len Gribble]

Nigel

What Mark is looking for is mission imposable, but I don’t blame him, isn’t that what our customer expect from us and we expect from our supplier!

Len

[Lee_Pettengell]

Dear all

  The details of the S'Pro Powerplus are available in the new Prochem catalogue. I know of many carpet cleaners who use 50-100 ft of hose with either their S'Pro Powermax and Powerplus!

[Nigel_W]

Lee,

A couple of questions spring to mind:-

Have you ever cleaned a carpet with a Powermax at 100 foot? If so were you happy with the performance?

I have a Powermax as well and I would not use it with more than 25 foot.  I like the machine because it is quiet and looks good. However I think to claim it is capable of cleaning to a high standard  at 50 to 100 foot is completely ridiculous

Nigel

[Lee_Pettengell]

Nigel

    I have cleaned an aircraft using 50ft of hose with a Powermax and I know of other cleaners who have used 100ft of hose. If you have the machine then use it to its full potential. Just because its sold with 25ft  doesnt mean it can only be used with 25ft.