Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Peter Dawson on July 16, 2007, 07:01:48 am

Title: Which agitator
Post by: Peter Dawson on July 16, 2007, 07:01:48 am
Hi, noticed a comment yesterday in a reply about the Duo being a light machine for agitating. I have used one since starting about 8 months ago and it is sounding a bit 'clunky'. Is it worth spending money on spares or is there a better machine on the market. ::)
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: stevegunn on July 16, 2007, 08:12:28 am
Get yourself one of these, the pic shows the old design the new one is a lot better
http://www.restormate.co.uk/epages/Store.sf/?ObjectPath=/Shops/15094/Products/endri1
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: ianharper on July 16, 2007, 08:17:05 am
great machine
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Paul Simpson on July 16, 2007, 06:18:12 pm
Not sure if its a trait of these Peter but my Duo is the same,  used for approximately the same time and sounding a bit clunky. 
Anyone else got any other moderately priced suggestions on this?
Cannot justify spending that amount for an agitator at the moment.

Thanks Paul
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: nevil on July 16, 2007, 06:35:37 pm
Mine too. Although it now lives in the shed, never to get near the van again unless on the way to the dump.
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Atlantic Cleaning on July 16, 2007, 07:32:24 pm
I have to say mine is the same, seems to work ok but clunking all the time, very nervous using it at the moment. I stripped it down the other day as i thought it would the drive belt slipping but that seemed ok. Any Ideas as to what it is and is it worth repairing?

Duncan
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Ken Wainwright on July 16, 2007, 07:53:50 pm
When you consider that a Sebo Duo is being used outside it's design parameters ie agitating wet carpet as opposed to it's purpose of agitating dry carpet with a powder compound, and bearing in mind that it only costs from about £175, it would not be unreasonable to regard the Duo as a consumable rather than a capital item. It's life expectancy will probably be months rather than years.   More substantial capital items cost from around £800, but even most of these are not designed for agitating damp/wet carpet.

Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Mike Halliday on July 16, 2007, 08:01:44 pm
which would produce more drag on the Duo, a dry carpet or a damp carpet?

I think the way we use them is less stressful on the motor, so they should last longer.

Mike
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: CARPET KNIGHTS on July 16, 2007, 08:15:01 pm
mine does this from time to time and it is the belts slipping although they do look ok when inspected they are slipping when in use. Replace the last to belts in the train, the ones that go to the brushes and that should solve the problem.

Cheers Goron
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Ken Wainwright on July 16, 2007, 08:54:39 pm
I'm thinking more along the lines of the motor, bearings, wiring etc. possibly being exposed to a higher humidity than they are designed for. The same applies for the larger, more expensive machines too.  This is almost certainly the line that manufacturers would take in the event of a warranty claim.

Safe and happy cleaning :)
Ken
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Peter Dawson on July 16, 2007, 09:21:15 pm
Thanks everyone, form Kens's analysis even the £800 machines are limited. How long have you had your envirodry Steve?
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: carpetguy on July 16, 2007, 09:43:44 pm
There are other options, such as, the rotary pad or brush systems and they would certainly not have problems, caused by humidity.

I have on ancient ( about 20 years old ) rotary, which has done a lot of work and is still on the original motor,

There are a number of smaller rotaries, 13 and 14 inch, including two that oscillate, they retail at around the £400 mark and come with pads, or brushes.

rob
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: AquaMagic on July 16, 2007, 11:26:20 pm
We have two duo's we baught the second becuase no matter how many times we changed the belt on the original we had a problem, we believe that the actual gears have bent, if only a mil or so but this causes slippage of the belt which makes the clunking sound.

Dene
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Jason Hedges on July 17, 2007, 12:26:49 am
Had a duo for 18 months, made that horrible noise from about 13 months (just outside of warranty as usual).

Bought an envirodri, what a difference!

Sebo duo - Good points - Lightweight, okay for most domestic jobs, easy to service, cheap!

Sebo duo - Bad points - Too lightweight for some domestic and most commercial jobs, dodgy switch, bit flimsy, brushes expensive and wear out quickly!

Envirodri - Good Points - Excellent for agitation and dry compund cleaning, different brushes for different tasks, heavier for better penetration, better built!

Envirodri - Bad points - Heavy (especially getting up stairs), 4 x more expensive (but you get what you pay for), brushes more expensive (but last a lot longer).

Neither machines are made for agitating pre-sprays or being in a wet environment so using for that purpose will invalidate any warranty. however, I (and most others)  use them both for agitating pre-sprays and both serve a purpose.

If you're on a limited budget get a duo, good little machine.

If you've got a slightly bigger budget go for an envirodri or host, better machines.

Kind regards,
Jason.



 
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: stains-away on July 17, 2007, 12:35:24 am
If you think duos are a bit light gently apply 20 stone by keeping your left foot on it as you agitate, that speeds up the process a tad but tends to make them make proper funny noises after a while  ;D
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: Jason Hedges on July 17, 2007, 12:43:41 am
Ha ha Andy,

Surprised it took 13 months to start groaning ;D

20 stone under each foot! Wow I wish (wheres the slimfast) ;D

Motor in the duos can take some stick though!!
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: carpetguy on July 17, 2007, 08:00:20 am
I have mentioned another machine before, which is fantastic for this purpose and has two contra rotating discs ( two grades of brush )

Made in England, by Wasp Engineering, it's known as the Klanz.

I wish I still had one.

rob
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: stevegunn on July 17, 2007, 08:15:19 am
Thanks everyone, form Kens's analysis even the £800 machines are limited. How long have you had your envirodry Steve?

I've had my envirodri machine nearly 5 years now still going strong but looking a bit battered now.
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: jacko on July 17, 2007, 08:58:43 am
Envirodri for me too. Mine is 3 years old and needed to replace bearings  6 months ago.
The manufacturer line is that if the machine is used for wet cleaning then the warranty becomes void. (Even though Envirodri advocate the use of their own  prepspay)

I have a Sebo duo too, again three years old and running fine. I use this on small jobs and sometimes rugs...
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: gwrightson on July 18, 2007, 07:24:16 pm
Rotowash , anyday great for aggitation , and does a multitude of other jobs , see below
a flooded gym in a secure hospital .
A little on the heavy side but well worth it
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: nevil on July 19, 2007, 06:54:12 pm
Rotowash for me also. it's the daddy of them all. ( All the ones Iv'e tried  :))
Title: Re: Which agitator
Post by: des on July 19, 2007, 09:33:54 pm
I use a brush from columbus that fits my dry fusion machine ,I also have brushes on my rotovac with spray jets to apply the prespray Des