Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: nevil on October 20, 2007, 09:08:11 pm

Title: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 20, 2007, 09:08:11 pm
I fired up my machine today for the first time.

The first thing I noticed is the pulling power of the blower. While not being the biggest blower on the market (sutorbilt 3006) it is imense compared with my twin vac porty.

I'm getting visions of the carpet dissappearing up the wand while i am cleaning.

I am hoping one of you can tell me how to get over the next hurdle.

When I applied the vacuum from the blower to the waste tank ( simulating wand on carpet almost stopping airflow ) the sides of the tank caved in like an empty coke bottle.

I am guessing I need to bleed some air into the in side of the blower when flow is fully restricted.

Ideally I can come up with a solution where I can Depressureize a small vessel with the blower, and somehow transfer the waste collected in it to a larger tank. Any Ideas from anyone greatlfully recieved.

 
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 20, 2007, 09:21:08 pm
You want a pressure relief valve, when the wand is stuck to the carpet it allows air to weep from it so you don't get implosion.

you could register for truckmounters.co.uk although a bit sarcastic you will get the answers you want, or perhaps if you are in Cornwall try going to Hydramster they will help anyone out.

Shaun
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 20, 2007, 09:32:30 pm
I can't find the truckmount site.

As far as hydramster are concerned. I am going to buy one of their big machines one day as they appear to be more approachable than any of the other big players.

For now I will have to make do with my own contraption. But I'm not sure I have the cheek to ask them about machine design.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 20, 2007, 09:38:12 pm
I think you will be pleasantly surprised, ask to speak with Craig, he's a really good guy and will help you no end, he wants you as a customer and know he needs to court you.

Shaun
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 20, 2007, 09:45:23 pm
get a 6inch bolt, a 6 inch spring & a 2inch washer

drill into your wastetank then thread the bolt through the spring then into the tank with the washer and nut inside the tank, score around the 2inch washer. then remove everything so you can see the scored area.

now get a smaller drill bit and drill lots of holes inside the scored area so the that when you re-fit the washer it covers all the smaller holes.

now refit the bolt, spring & washer.

you have now got a vac relief valve by tightening the bolt you can adjust the hgs

the only way to go wrong is to use a spring that is too weak

Mike
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 20, 2007, 09:58:53 pm
Sorry Mike didn't want to bother you.

nevil Mike has made more 'homemade' Tm's than Prochem.

Listen and you will learn.

Shaun
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 20, 2007, 10:10:31 pm
Mike that so simple it is beautiful.

I guess a little bit of trial and error is need to calibrate the valve to open at the right pressure or lack of.

Thanks for the answers guys.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: prodry on October 20, 2007, 10:43:57 pm
Mikes solution is the way to go.

I have the same system on my tm.

You can adjust the nut on the end the bolt to get the right suction you require. listen for the engine slowing down when you put your hand on the end of the hose to decide.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on October 20, 2007, 10:58:40 pm
hands down

Mike is so simple ;D

Actually he's the bomb!

Not suicidal though.

Shaun
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 20, 2007, 11:14:33 pm
Thanks Prodry, Wheres my upholstry tool ::)  no hard feelings I hope?

I was going to mention that when the airflow is stopped completly, the engine seriously labours. I wouldn't want to run it pushing it to that extreme, although I was pleased it handled it without any misshaps.

Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: PaulKing on October 21, 2007, 05:55:59 am
can you post a picture of your progress so far ?
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 21, 2007, 08:33:05 am
Here you go.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: PaulKing on October 21, 2007, 12:21:32 pm
I'm impressed, is that a water jacket on the exhaust are you using it to get heated water ? ( most importantly how effective is it as would like to try something like that myself to heat a pool.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 21, 2007, 12:36:07 pm
that is a nice machine its nearly exactly the same as I'm using, same engine (its the18hp is'nt it), even the same design with the hypro pump mounted on the blower. although i'm using a 45 blower.

good job

only drawback wth that engine is you need to fill it up every 90mins on full revs

Mike
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 21, 2007, 01:44:31 pm
No heat exchanger yet, although I have made a start on one.

Yes Mike  it's a Kohler triad 18hp Ohc.

Do people really run on full revs, It seem to be out perform the porty even when ticking over.

I cannot wait to use it in anger ;D
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: David_Annable on October 21, 2007, 02:25:22 pm
Hi

Truckmounters is

http://www.truckmounters.com

I hope that isnt against the rules, if it is delete it.

Dave
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Osbourne on October 21, 2007, 04:03:20 pm
Nevil,

Fantastic job. I wish I had the ability to bolt something like that together. And I bet it's cost a couple of hundred to make. ;D

You know you have kit cars. Could someone design a T/M that could be built at home and they supply the bits and you just bolt it together.

I can see a Discovery programme coming on

A Truckmount is born.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 21, 2007, 04:06:58 pm
It appears you have to fill out an excel form to sign up but what do you do with it then, there is no email link to send it to anyone know?
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Dennis on October 21, 2007, 04:54:33 pm
Try sending to Glynn.

enquiries@leylandcleaningservices.co.uk
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on October 23, 2007, 07:01:50 pm
Thanks for that. 
 
Paul I have tried a couple of differant things to get heated water but sill no joy. What about yourself. Have you had any success at it?

How are the big manufactures heat exchanges are put together. I am happy enough trying to replicate what they do. Can't see any sense in trying to reinvent the wheel.

I bet Mike Knows.

MIKE.  MIKE
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Liahona on October 23, 2007, 07:25:22 pm
Nevil, have you thought of using a fuel burner?  I didnt make mine but its what heats the water and there isnt any heat exchange unit that comes close to its performance.  I do add thought that most heat exchange units are more than capable of heating water to clean with with but I am very fussy and charge accordingly that what I use cant be out-performed.   Other than that have a word with John Kelly when he gets back from holiday.

Fuel burners run on Diesel, kerosene and or jet fuel.  Jet fuel is the best if you can get it because it burns hotter and cleaner but it is more difficult to get.

Best of luck anyway, Dave.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Halliday on October 24, 2007, 04:55:51 pm
been walking for a few day in the lake district.

3 ways to heat water;

1) as per the \bane machine, an immersion element fitted to the fresh water tank, and then heat the water over night for the next day but your tank needs insulating to keep the water hot.


2) a heat exchanger fitted to the engine exhaust, I bought a knackered T/M and salvaged the H/X of that look at www.hotheatexchangers.com if you look through their website you see a picture of a H/X

3)a diesel burner like used on hot pressure washers, they are called hot boxes, I have one, they are amazing the heat is unbelievable.

I have all these at my disposal but prefer the H/X its the simplest way and I get good heat.

Mike
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Halliday on December 03, 2007, 05:00:46 pm
bit late but have you seen this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/STATIONARY-ENGINE-HEAT-EXCHANGER_W0QQitemZ320191016622QQihZ011QQcategoryZ46412QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Bennie25 on December 03, 2007, 06:24:08 pm
Most TM waste tanks will collaspe even with a relief valve, thats why they have strenghened struts inside. So put some in!
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Jeff Lydon/Greenie on December 07, 2007, 02:23:41 am
60 psi!

Get a small LPG heater...simple..reliable.

Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: nevil on December 07, 2007, 08:27:40 pm
Jeff, Sounds simple enough but what is it and where is it available.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Mike Halliday on December 07, 2007, 09:10:11 pm
not in the uk I've already looked :-\
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: liahona on December 07, 2007, 09:24:34 pm
When I first started work over here, on the rare occasion I would use a portable I would use an in-line lpg boiler.  I was severley reprimanded for doing so and told it was illegal to use one.  I was never told why.........

Anyway, lots of truckmounts in the states are lpg and very efficient.  Far more heat than a heat exchange unit.

So I dont use mine now, well I do but  not for cleaning.

Best, Dave.
Title: Re: home made Tm
Post by: Jeff Lydon/Greenie on December 10, 2007, 07:29:16 pm
Hmmm....Funny the simplest things seem to be evasive on your side of the pond, Little Giant is a company that has been making portable LPG heaters since Jesus was in diapers, I'll look around to see if they have any UK dealers.

Over here it's an $800-$1100 solution to hot water, very reliable, and with your price and avail. of LPG I'm honestly surprised not to see someone already championing this cause, cause these lil' buggers are a gold mine. Actually I'm surprised not to see 25hP truckmounts running off LPG all set to go.