Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on September 18, 2008, 04:33:58 pm

Title: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on September 18, 2008, 04:33:58 pm
Hi all

I got a new SP55 3-Stage Vac Motor fitted in to my Excel by Extracta. The total cost including VAT and labour came to £276.

It is the replacement for an original vac motor that was in the machine when bought new almost 5 years ago so I suppose it has done well to last this long.

Is this a reasonable price to pay? Or is there anywhere local in the north east that would have fitted one cheaper?

TIA

John.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: COLIN BRIGHT on September 18, 2008, 04:37:35 pm
sounds reasonable to me
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Bill Robinson on September 18, 2008, 04:53:54 pm
wow ive got a extracter excell i hope  mine doesnt go
bill
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on September 18, 2008, 05:15:12 pm
They all go eventually lol
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Joe H on September 18, 2008, 05:28:49 pm
Hi John

What was the breakdown of the invoice - parts / labour,
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on September 18, 2008, 05:46:08 pm
Hi Joe

SP55-VAC 3 Stage Motor = £218.67 (inc VAT)

Labour = £58.02 (inc VAT)

Cheers

John
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Joe H on September 18, 2008, 06:31:30 pm
John
Replaced a 3 stage Ametek vac motor in my Scorpion Jan08 at £141 inc VAT if thats any help as a comparision.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: clinton on September 18, 2008, 07:03:47 pm
 Joe Think thats what is charged for one three stage fitted in alltecs..

Might have gone up this year,

John why dont you phone a local c cleaning supplier and ask?
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: PaulKing on September 18, 2008, 07:21:15 pm
got to ask but restormate cheaper by far, why extracta?
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Darren O on September 18, 2008, 07:30:41 pm
To replace and fit new 5.7"3 stage vac motor for powermax £194.72inc vat thats what i paid about 2 weeks ago.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on September 18, 2008, 07:34:58 pm
I am no diy expert, but have managed to change all vacs myself in past.
from alltech, cfr etc
usually take base of. couple of bolts. couple of j/clips on hose, take of wiring and
swap on to vac and re tighten everything.
Every 3 months i used to swap brushes on vac, lasted ages.
Why pay £58 for 30 mins work.
Obviously if your unsure, get help.
regards
Andrew
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Jim_77 on September 18, 2008, 07:39:11 pm
??? You should be able to pick up a quality vac motor like a Lamb or Ametek at 100-120 quid and like Andrew says it ain't rocket science to fit!  Get the machine open and get your tool kit out!

The worst thing that can happen is that you'll break it :)
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: markpowell on September 18, 2008, 07:55:11 pm
I agree with Jim and Andy, buy the motor and its a piece of cake to fit yourself.
Try www.olympiccleaning.com for the motor, give Graham a ring normally nexy day delivery.
mark
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Andrew Briscoe on September 18, 2008, 08:02:28 pm
Looking after your vacs is important, run them for a couple of mins with machine empty and lid open,
chech bushes regularly, and keep lid off or open when in vehicle.

I have an old saying    Look after your vacs.......

Andrew
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Mike Roper on September 18, 2008, 10:42:03 pm
Got to agree with Paul on this one. Also agree that its not rocket science to
change motors yourself.
Its strange but I've always found that your original vacs last a good number of years but once you change them the next ones dont last as long.
Is it like once you clean a carpet it gets dirty faster-only joking!!
Mike
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Ian Gourlay on September 19, 2008, 07:27:49 am
Your local electrical repair man can usually do job, mine charges me £25 to fit including a pat test.

I usually by from Woodbridge.

Have also done it myself.

Somtimes you need extras like gaskets .

Next time I fit I will replace hoses that link motors etc.

Think youn have done well to get five years so if you get five years this time you have done well.

Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on September 19, 2008, 08:43:49 am
I've always used a mechanic probably because I'm lazy rather than because i haven't got the aptitude to do the work myself.

Having said that two thoughts occur. One he will often spot other issues when changing a motor which need addressing before they become a problem and can deal with them.

Secondly, we as carpet cleaners set ourselves up as experts in carpet cleaning with the ability to deal quickly and efficiently with issues that frighten the life out of the carpet's owners. Our mantra would always be to a carpet owner to get an expert in rather than try and do the cleaning themselves. Why then should we try and tackle the maintenance/repairs to our machines when there are mechanics who are far better qualified to undertake the work quickly and correctly?

Obviously you need to know a competent mechanic and also trust them but I find it is easier and less stressful to pay somebody to service/repair my machines than muck about wasting my own time trying to do it myself. If I can get back to cleaning more quickly as a result I can generate the cash to pay the mechanic's bill doing something I enjoy.

BTW My mechanic will visit me at home after hours to do my repairs so that I have little or no down time during the working day.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Aquakleen Restoration Services on September 19, 2008, 08:50:53 am
Thanks for your comments guys. The good thing about Extracta is they pretty much fix while you wait so thats very handy

It does look like its been an expensive repair then judging by how much vac motors are and I could have done it myself. I think next time ill nip it around to John Kellys at Restormate and get him to show me the ins and outs. Might also be worth buying a spare and putting it to one side.

John
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: jeff1966 on September 19, 2008, 04:19:30 pm
Extracta use 7.2 inch 3 stage lamb vac motors ,the majority of other machines use 5.7 inch 3 stage and have less water lift.My motor blew last week I got a replacement from Woodbridge part no MT 302 they sell these for £20 cheaper than Extracta,you have to tell them to put a 10 mm flange on them though.
                                  regards Jeff
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Jim_77 on September 19, 2008, 06:05:29 pm
Ahhh.. that makes sense, we're talking about a different motor ::)
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Gary Webber on September 19, 2008, 06:52:57 pm
Three stage vacuum motors are available on sites like e-bay for around £75.00. I have had one in my old machine for 2 years, why not trawl the net for offers?

Gary
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: richie on September 19, 2008, 08:25:21 pm
QUOTED FROM DR CARPET;
Our mantra would always be to a carpet owner to get an expert in rather than try and do the cleaning themselves. Why then should we try and tackle the maintenance/repairs to our machines when there are mechanics who are far better qualified to undertake the work quickly and correctly?

 When Mrs X tries to clean ger own carpet the chances are she will use incorrect method/chemicals and so on.  Changing a vac motor is an easy task to do on a porty.  I cant see what anyone could do wrong.  its a easy 30 min max job. 

Richie.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: robert stubbs on September 19, 2008, 08:40:17 pm
Hi, just put new 5.7 lamb 3 stage vac in my Scorpion,cost £115 +vat from Solutions.


Regards Rob
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: John Kelly on September 19, 2008, 09:34:11 pm
Extracta use 7.2 inch "super vacs" hard to get hold of but still easy to fit.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Doctor Carpet (Ret'd) on September 20, 2008, 10:25:32 am


   Changing a vac motor is an easy task to do on a porty.  I cant see what anyone could do wrong.  its a easy 30 min max job. 

Richie.


Not the first time you do it. But I accept the point you are making. However there always has to be a first time.
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: stuart_clark on September 20, 2008, 03:33:30 pm
I buy all my vacume motors from woodbridge commercial, 5.7" three stage vac I use the italian type a copy of the original lambs and they cost about £40 plus vat or genuine lambs for about £78 plus vat but they last about the same length of time and are no less powerfull ! I purchased a 7.2" vac for a friend from Woodbridge last year, it cost £125 plus the vat plus £10 carrige
Title: Re: New vac motor...have I been overcharged?
Post by: Bill Robinson on October 06, 2008, 03:40:11 pm
my motor just went this morning im gutted