Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mike Osbourne on August 23, 2006, 02:09:28 pm
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I've just booked a job next week for the whole of a thrid floor flat. I've just been trying to haul the ninja up my stairs for practice and on the 2nd stair I just tip over. Is this a two man job, technique or am I just a weakling?
At a push I could use 75ft of hose but want to do as best job I can heat and suck wise.
Cheers
Mike
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no m8 the ninja is difficult to get up stairs.it will do ya back in eventually 2 man job but price accordingly good luck!
1
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All of the larger portable machines can be a bit difficult to take upstairs, particularly if the stair has a winder. You need to be careful not to catch the dump valve on the wall as you go round the corner.
Having said that, I have been using Ninjas for many years and have no particular problems taking them upstairs when necessary, and I am not a young man !
I guess there is an acquired knack to it, as in 20 years I have never overbalanced on the stairs !
Bryan
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Me neither. Have two machines at present and find the ninja to be easiest ive ever used! Over years have had many machines with different layouts and the ninja is definately best! Sounds a bit daft but you arent trying to take it up full of water are you? :P
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I'm strong, but a bit of a lightweight. I have a diving belt in the loft. :D
Will employ child labour for this job and I'll be the one it falls on if he lets go.
No, it is empty. Just thought though my stairs are quite steep. Don't want to risk it, it tipped onto the wastepipe which is very vunerable.
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Mike i am over six ft tall and never go above twelve stone so its not your mass thats a problem! Are you mentally worried about it and therefore are afraid of marking walls etc? I fit carpets aswell so to us we just bend twist push pull-whatever gets the job done! Strength does help of course! i had to lift my ninja over a child gate yesterday on my own. But technique plays a major part! Just drag it up and earn money mate!! ;D
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Seems you are not leaning back enough. You need to be standing 2 steps above the m/c. Just roll the m/c up onto the step below you whilst leaning the m/c backwards to balance it, then step up the next step & do the same again.
I find it much harder with two people, if one person is lifting the m/c from the bottom, as it seems to put a hell of a strain on the legs.
I find it much easier to do on my own.
A bit of practice will solve the problem ;D
Bryan
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I've recently bought a Ninja with auto dump and in line heater. Its a hell of a weight. Before, I have used an Altec Pro Plus and Extracta Excel and managed stairs and any other obstacles ok. But this Ninja is another story all together. I've had to use a ramp to get in and out of a van, its so bleeping heavy. I'm waiting for the inevitable stairs or long steep stepped path to negotiate. I dont think I'll attempt them. Apart from the Ninja's weight I cant seem find good holding positions as I did with the previous machines. I chickened out of some steep steps the other day and left it in the street with extra hoses attached .
Chris
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Use the lift. ;D
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Most times their is someone there who can help give you a lift, better to ask than do yourself in :P
Don't get someone with a dodgy back tho :o
steve
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Over the years I have had quite a few different machines.
The key is that a machine should have a fixed solid handle and large rear wheels so that when it is tilted back the weight is firmly over the wheels.
For an old fogie like me I have organised my life so that my machine doesn't very often have to negotiate stairs... but when it does I have found my cfr machine fit for the purpose.
Years ago I carried machines with folding handles up stairs sideways as to pull them up was downright dangerous...mind you lifting them up sideways wasn't too clever either...but needs must
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You stil use a porty then Derek?
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Getting a porty up a flight of domestic stairs should be possible to most people,but getting it up to a 3rd floor flat will knock the stuffing out of you.
Be very wary of asking a stranger to give you a hand with lifting,if he injures his back or slips you would be liable for a compensation claim against you.-John
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Hi Damian
Yes I certainly do...maybe if I was a good deal younger and I was doing more commercial work I would have considered a Truck Mounted unit.
Then again I wouldn't want to work nights and weekends again
I have two ,what I consider to be, top level portables and they will last for as long as I want them...unless I go to a trade show and get tempted yet again
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do what i do with my truckmounted ninjas , take 50 ft hose and put it out the flat window then rejoin it to rest of hose , easy and works a treat
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I was just going to suggest that.
I find the problem is not going up the stairs but coming down.
So most times I avoid situation .
If I have no help available and going through windows does not work.
I get out my Rug Doctor.
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when I used a portable I left it at the bottom of the stairs, used extra hoses but at the end I used a 10inch single jet wand this was greal for getting round beds and toilets and with the smaller wand head the remaining suction was more concentrated so worked well
Mike
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if there is no lift and the hoses don't reach, then i personally would'nt take the job on, only ever turned down one job for this reason,
for what the job is worth, i would'nt risk putting my back out trying to lift the porty up the stairs
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absolutely agree with Colin
angie
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talking ninjas we want to get one we were advised to get the top notch
400 psi this it says can take up to 200ft of hose,most places you could use 50ft save carrying up stairs etc what do you guys think as you use them ???
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I woud use buffer and pads like I do in a bungalow, up steep drives, down slopes , 4 stories up and down, in and out the van 4 times a day, it makes no odds to me it weighs 20 kilos, just get a buffer, vac, rakes, pads, spraying unit, 15 years experience and you can make all the £££££££ you want. I NEVER lift a porty.
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Terry,
I read that the other day. They used to say 100ft max. Personally I am happier with 25feet, and just keep adding 25 feet when required, I do not think I would be confident with 200 feet.
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Some of these high end portables are not really designed to go up the stairs due to the extra weight, larger pumps, more vacs and instant heating elements.
It may be be worth your while to invest in a smaller less powerful machine to use on these sort of jobs if you have enough of them.
The other option would be to have a low moisture system ie: Dry Fusion, Tex, Charley Pads, or perhaps the OP system.
Derek
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dear mike,
i did a job on a second floor flat two weeks ago, and i had to call in help to get the machine up the stairs and i have a ninja too.
i did however manage to get it down the stairs on my own after the job, but it took ages, i bruised my ankle and shin, pulled a muscle in my wrist. trust, i wont do that again. 1st floor is my limit
unless theres a lift!
rob
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i have a ninja...........................i have no problems getting the machine up and down stairs.......but as previous post stated becarful with the dump valve catching the wall............dont want to pay for decorating someones stair case with gold leaf wall paper!!!..........i think thats it is all in the technique..............step then pull step then pull..........that said if u can have some one to help then use them
:D:D:D:D:D
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Terry, who gave you that advice?
Was it ashbys by any chanch?
I went to ashby's a couple of years ago to look at the ninja and made a point of bumping the 400 psi model up the stairs they had there and then back down again(which as has been said Was worse) it was a compleate nightmare and was the reason I did not buy their machine.
Regards Michel
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Hi,
Why not leave all porty's downstairs and add hose extensions ;)
According to porty manufactures they claim that their machines can be operated from 25 feet - 200 feet distance working from machine ;D - what is an honest and realistic distance and what min specs would be needed to leave the porty downstairs amd work upstairs obtaining the desired results ??? assuming of course that you pre-vac pre-spray and aggitate
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Thats fine in a two/three story property...but if you have to gain access to a property above ground floor level (ie flat/maisonette) there may not be an alternative...unless you go the TM route
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ashbys do say the 4oopsi ninja can take up to 200ft you would only
ever need an add on of 25ft making the 50ft in total just saves carrying it up the stairs,I spoke to a fellow cc who uses the 400psi he says best model to go with :-\
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Use a Prowler :)
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impressive john 5th floor
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Not mine Peter, customer. He pulled hoses up using climbing rope.
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much easier to lower the hose down isnt it? best Dave.
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Apparently it was a long walk to the actual entrance which was on the other side of the building. And carrying 5 lengths of hose up 5 flights of stairs isn't that easy.
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the power of that must be good ???
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Don't forget Terry you also have gravity on your side.
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Cleaning company, how do you work your truckmounted ninja/s then? Do you have a generator in the van? Also do you carry fresh water with you? If so how do you heat it up? What length hoses do you use?
Cheers
Damian.
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I know when we get the ninja I will leave it on the van unless I have to take it off,its got the power for sure ;D
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Never had too much of a problem, I try to bend my legs and then try to lift without pulling on my back, I do feel if the handle was higher or could extend it would be easier. wouldn't it be great if you could fit stair climbing wheels to a ninja, the ones with three wheels that rotate as you go up each step.
I had one of the original ninjas fitted with a stainless steel fold over handle, which meant you could keep your back straight.
I do feel that punters should be made aware by the suppliers of the problems of adding on all the extras and health implications I've only got a solvent kit and that's heavy enough. ;D
Paul
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One item that is not covered on training courses that I have been on is lifting.
Is there a correct way for taking a machine upstairs and bringing it down?
Could be Im doing it wrong.
When the machine drops a level it bumps is this not bad for the machine?
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Hello Ian,
My wife thought I should respond to this, partly due to the stete of my back, partly due to my experience in remedial therapy.
I have the 135 model, but it has the dry solvent system, built in, making it pretty heavy and normally I left it outside, using up to 100 ft of hoses when necessary.
This enabled me to work 2 levels up and by attaching the inline heater at the join closest to the tools I got exceptional results and am teaching my son to follow suit.
In spite of my back I was able to take the machine up the occasional flight of stairs, without mishap, but you must have footwear, which is non slip and use common sense when pulling up / easing down stairs.
Using body mechanics, and avoiding jerky movements anyone of average fitness / strength should have no problems.
The obvious alternative, is to have a lightweight extraction machine for difficult access jobs, we have used the little Karchers for years and in spite of rubbish tools, they have earned a lot of money.
Best wishes
rob m
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Thanks for the replies, lots of options now on how to tackle it. I'll let you know what happens. Hopefully I will have some 'extra' help as it's to do the flat of the Vicar's mother in law.
My machine is 135psi with the hot solvent kit (which I haven't used yet). I am weary of my back as I have had trouble in the past but it's been fine since I strengthened it and had some corrective work.
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just seen the last pic, wouldn't it be funny if someone nicked the van, followed closely by cc.
hehe, sorry for going off topic
Paul
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What is the matter with some of you lol. I done a job for a friend of ours who lives on the top of a 4th floor aparment block i carried my rhino 500 psi model up there on my own aswell as my drier, sebo bs36 and a load of other bits and pieces. My machine weighs about 55 kilos. The job was a complete nightmare aswell inch thick very dense turfted carpet (which was black) and very badly stained, aswell as a very stained hallway. Produced very good results but recently had to go back and redo for free as some stains had re-appeared this meaning carrying all my equipment back up to this appartment on my own. Probably not a great idea doing this on a daily basis though,
matt
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In the end found this. Now I have no problem.
http://www.charlesatlas.com/
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;D ;D ;D
Cyber Charlie.
Cant belive he`s still around.
Where do I sign.
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With the Alltec advantage you can take the moters out and put them back again in 5 mins makeing it easy to lift. If you have someone work for you there is also a maximum wait that they can lift due to health and safty i think.
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we just put the other hose on we try to avoid lifting the ninja up stairs
when poss,50ft no problem still get the suc and performance ;D :o