Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neil Williams on February 10, 2012, 06:40:11 pm

Title: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 10, 2012, 06:40:11 pm
Anyone know what the HP rating is for the Prowler?
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 10, 2012, 07:06:17 pm
it was fitted with the Honda gx90 13hp engine or a 15hp kohler ( i think)
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: carpet_care on February 10, 2012, 07:09:31 pm
Mine is 13hp Neil but there is also 15hp. Mine is going up for sale in the next week or so i am dropping the price from £3500.00 to £2800.00 its a bargain :P


 Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 10, 2012, 07:11:53 pm
Thanks guys.
I'll consider the offer after I've seen how the one I have my eye on pans out.
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 10, 2012, 07:15:24 pm
So that would be 13 HP against the Blazer at 18.
How much difference would that make to working lets say 100 foot away?
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Mike Halliday on February 10, 2012, 07:23:29 pm
its all down to what blower they use and what rpm it turns at

I think now they both use a 36blower turning at 3500rpm so not taking into consideration any restrictions they are the same ( not counting the Hg the vac relief is set at)

but a 18hp engine produses 35% more exhaust gas than a 13hp engine so theoretically will have more heat to transfer to the water..... so should be hotter
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Jamie Pearson on February 10, 2012, 09:21:06 pm
but a 18hp engine produses 35% more exhaust gas than a 13hp engine so theoretically will have more heat to transfer to the water..... so should be hotter

Would that depend on the heat exchanger design. A bit like solar water heaters. The longer the route the hotter they go.
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Jim_77 on February 11, 2012, 12:39:08 am
Neil I wouldn't get too hung up on HP ratings.  A prowler is what it is - a basic entry-level TM and it is also a compromise, which shouldn't be forgotten.

If you're stepping up from portable electric machinery to the prowler you'll be more than happy.  The main factor is the way a positive displacement blower is so different from how electric motors work.  Heat isn't such a big deal, it'll no doubt be a slightly different grade of hot compared to a slide-in 18HP unit but still hot nonetheless compared to a porty, even with a heat exchanger!

Having never used a prowler I still can't get my head round the fact it doesn't use a waste tank but I'll have to take peoples' word for it that it works, after all nobody has said it's a problem!  I just can't compute how it is so bad for any other TM's blower to have water or foam going through it but the prowler's waste passes through its blower by design.

If you get the machine you'll certainly have top-notch advice on hand from JK should you need it, which is worth its weight in gold.

I would get an experienced TMer to go and view the machine with you if you get serious about it.  If the seller can't/won't demo it for you running and working properly, walk away.
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: will_turton on February 11, 2012, 10:53:52 am
hydramaster will be selling my boxer 421 soon, knock the socks off that prowler, and will be about  what andy wants, and with a warranty hose reel, waste tank, fresh water tanks,
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Craigp on February 11, 2012, 12:07:10 pm
Horse power does matter even with the same blower

A blower is directly driven by the engine this is why a electric vac motors can not compete. Put your hand over the vac port and you will hear the engine bog down - it's under load.

Yes at 3500 rpm and a 36 blower when NOT under load your get the same air flow regardless of engine hp.

But a 36 blower with 20hp engine will have less kick under load than a 36 blower with a 40hp engine. The latter will bog down less and pull harder under load.

It's when it's under load that matters ie. Your wand is locked onto carpet
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on February 11, 2012, 07:07:08 pm
Craig you are spot on, cfm is a measurement that sounds good but this is based on an open port with no load, wand to carpet or as the Americans call it wand to carpet interface WCI then that's where it should be measured.

Nothing wrong with a prowler It boxes well above its weight but you should get the machine that you intend to do the work for not just buy on price or convenience, the correct machine will make you pounds more all you have to do is get the work for it.

Shaun
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Chris Hawkes on February 13, 2012, 08:37:36 pm
Mine is 13hp Neil but there is also 15hp. Mine is going up for sale in the next week or so i am dropping the price from £3500.00 to £2800.00 its a bargain :P


 Andy Locke.

Andy

Where are you in the UK?
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: carpet_care on February 13, 2012, 09:10:43 pm
Chris am in liverpool the prowler is with John Kelly in newcastle until the end of the week.

 You can give me a call though if you want to ask me anything about it my contact number is on the buy and sell section under the prowler post if you go back to the end of last year.

   Cheers Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 18, 2012, 05:46:21 pm
Thanks guys.
I'll consider the offer after I've seen how the one I have my eye on pans out.

Oh well didn't get it in the end.
On the basis the ebay seller couldn't supply age or hours done I bottled it at £1600
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on February 18, 2012, 06:33:37 pm
Thanks guys.
I'll consider the offer after I've seen how the one I have my eye on pans out.

Oh well didn't get it in the end.
On the basis the ebay seller couldn't supply age or hours done I bottled it at £1600

I think you had a lucky escape Neil
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 18, 2012, 06:41:23 pm
I think you had a lucky escape Neil

Quite possibly. Being an ex mechanic I was willing to take a chance on an unseen and untested piece of kit, knowing I could manage any repairs myself, but there's a limit ;)
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Steve Gunn on February 18, 2012, 06:52:42 pm
It was my old machine that I exchanged for a chemspec 494, you did have a lucky escape as I hammered it 3 heat exchangers, regulator replaced every six months, high pressure hoses replaced. It started to breakdown on a regular basis hence the reason I got rid
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Craigp on February 19, 2012, 09:16:41 am
Just get a Hydramaster TM.  ;)
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: MAX Carpets on February 19, 2012, 09:24:59 am
Prochem's not far from you Neil, why not get a Blazer ?
Title: Re: Prowler HP rating?
Post by: Neil Williams on February 19, 2012, 08:26:52 pm
£12k yeh
If I had customers qued up to April then it would be a good idea, but I don't and please don't anyone tell me if I had a TM that suddenly I would have a nice que developing ;)