Clean It Up

UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 04:51:28 pm

Title: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 04:51:28 pm
Here are a couple of photos of my Prowler 315 15hp Kohler single cylinder truck mount/portable machine.

I call him Bob because of his colour (bob the buidler).

The 400 litre water tank fits behind the driver/passenger seat bulkhead. Then the Prowler behind that, leaving me plenty of room in the back.

The Kohler engine sits in the middle of the frame, with the blower at the front, and the pump to the rear of it. The heat exchanger is above and to the rear of the engine under the "toast rack". All seems fairly accessible.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: carpet_care on March 29, 2009, 05:08:04 pm
Seems a lot easier to access parts joe than the 13 hp I have,can you notice any real difference in perfomance between that and the 13 hp.

 Also how does it compare noise wise to the 13 are they about the same.


  All the best Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: clinton on March 29, 2009, 05:13:43 pm
Joe

It looks like you found a good position for it ???

Asyou said easy access for any probs,did you bolt it into the floor or is it on the frame that john sells ???
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 05:35:48 pm
Hi Andy
I have only had a try of the 13hp a few weeks ago (Dave Powers)
Of course the latest 13hp have a bigger blower and smaller pump, but Daves early model seemed to pull very well any way.
Noise wise - this is nothing too great, perhaps a bit nosier then the Avenger that I had but that was a twin, this is a single so its a bit like motor bikes - you can count the bangs easier with a big single.
The 15hp has a bigger blower still and also a 2000 psi pump like yours, so I would imagine the performance of this is better then the 13hp - which is more then adequate on domestics and most commercials.

Clinton
The machine sits in a frame (13 hp the same) thats supplied, and you can fasten the frame to the floor.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 05:43:43 pm
How much should have been list price Joe? Like I said earlier wouldn't mind finding out how much per hour it is to run?

Shaun
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 05:52:00 pm
Hi Shaun
List price is altering along with the £- $
I think this with 15% vat WAS just over £8k

Running costs - perhaps to early to be definitive but maybe £1.40 per hour according to last weeks work, but as time goes on I can get more accurate.

Mike Osbourne - hope you not forgot to use the WD40 at the end of the day.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 05:59:46 pm
At £1.40 an hour that's a bargain to run I'd have thought that your old Avenger ran at nearly 3 times that.

Kepp us posted on it will you Joe?

Shaun
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 29, 2009, 06:07:01 pm
no way does a 15hp engine only use £1.40 of fuel an hour, unless it is not ran at full revs.

my 13hp engine runs for 2hours on a full tank which cost around £5.50ish.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 06:14:05 pm
Note what I said

"Running costs - perhaps to early to be definitive but maybe £1.40 per hour according to last weeks work, but as time goes on I can get more accurate."

One weeks running is not going to give any where near an accurate reading. A few more weeks needed.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 06:38:13 pm
I can remember Ian Rochester saying that he'd got a 13hp model and it worked out at £2.00+ an hour to run but Joe keep a look on it for us.

Shaun
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on March 29, 2009, 07:07:48 pm
Hi Joe

You defo got more room in your van now.  :)

Been using the WD40 and for the truckmount too.

How often did you have to top up the blower oil? The inspection window isn't where it says in the Avenger manual, but I found it by the  :) .

It looks ever so slightly down on the one in the diagram.

Cheers

Mike
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: clinton on March 29, 2009, 07:52:49 pm
Looks like its about 4 to 5 pound an hour to run ???
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on March 29, 2009, 07:56:35 pm
Clinton

If you were physically cleaning for 5 hours a day, how much of that would be extracting ie: with the truckmount running and how much would be pre-spray, dwell, moving furniture etc. ?

Some guys are only putting a few hundred miles a year on their machines.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: clinton on March 29, 2009, 07:58:28 pm
Steve

I guess the most work would be on suites that take 2 hours ???

Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 08:01:08 pm
Clinton
If you look at Mike Hallidays figures it works out at £2.75 ish per hour.

Shaun posted Ian Rochesters 13hp was about £2+ per hour.

My figures are inaccurate probably, due to low no of hours to work it out on.

Suites shouldnt cost any more or less because its done on running hours as shown on the clock.

Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: clinton on March 29, 2009, 08:05:35 pm
Joe

Sory my post was meant to read 4 or 5 pounds two hours :)
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: derek west on March 29, 2009, 08:06:54 pm
a suite takes me 2 hours ish yet i only put 30 mins on the TM clock.
derek
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus) on March 29, 2009, 08:07:38 pm
Clinton

Thats what I mean mate - your truckmount probably won't be running any longer per day than your portable. Wouldn't be too hard to work out how many hours a week your porty is running and multiply that by a truckmounts running costs - should give you an idea of the extra cost per month for fuel.

Bear in mind also a lot of the TM guys are doing the work quicker than us, so their machines probably aren't running as long as ours - if that makes sense.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 08:11:38 pm
You can wand carpets embarrassingly fast with the TM
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: clinton on March 29, 2009, 08:13:25 pm
Steve

Yes your right as till i have worked with one i caint really comment i guess :)

Def faster than us mind you doing suites ::)
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Halliday on March 29, 2009, 08:13:37 pm
I wish I was spending £200  week on fuel for my t/m.... I'd be earning an effin' fortune :D

its like having a printing press that prints £50 notes, but you don't want to plug it in because you are worried about the electric bill ::) ::)

Derek don't turn it off just turn down the revs, do you stop your car engine at all the red  traffic lights ;)
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 08:15:11 pm
I don't put my TM on full revs for upholstery, when you have an enclosed jet up tool like a cfr tool or drimaster it sucks more water than you put out.

Shaun

PS Clinto you'll actually have less hours on it compared to a porti as it is a faster clean like for like.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: derek west on March 29, 2009, 08:55:34 pm


Derek don't turn it off just turn down the revs, do you stop your car engine at all the red  traffic lights ;)
yes i do mike, and down hills;D
but seriously though, what are the benefits? are we talking starter motor wear out?
derek
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: carpet_care on March 29, 2009, 09:02:14 pm
If I do say a through lounge with the prowler on average it will take me approx 40 mins but about 25 mins will be set up vaccum and pre spray /aggitate.

 The remaining 15 mins is when i turn the prowler on and rinse so dont waste petrol. I can do a good 500.00 of work or so for 15.00 or less of fuel working this way. If I do a 3 peice suite I will pre spray the 3 seater turn the prowler on and extract then turn off again and spray the 2 chairs and repeat.

 I find this the best way to keep the hours of use down .



   Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 09:14:49 pm
Andy - to answer the question earlier about how much to run per hour - what do you reckon its costing you?
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: carpet_care on March 29, 2009, 09:22:17 pm
Hi Joe I would say around about 2.20 -2.50 on average I always carry 2 5 litre cans on the van and top them up on average every other day this time of year.

 Definately a lot less consumption than some of these big engines use.


 Regards Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: davep on March 29, 2009, 09:24:03 pm
Andy does 8 jobs a day and so needs the extra petrol to keep him going  ;D
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 09:43:15 pm
My LPG Boxxer 427 runs approx £2.50 an hour the saving is roughly a half on petrol, on a year the saving is huge.
I was thinking of getting another TM and using it as a spare and also I have a floating employee so was looking at the Prowler I'd ideally love the 15 hp prowler but I'd love the water pump to be 3000psi so I could use it for pressure washing.

Shaun
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Joe H on March 29, 2009, 09:50:05 pm
Talk to JK see if they can build one with the bigger pump.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: carpet_care on March 29, 2009, 09:55:08 pm
Davep have you still not bought at least one can for the van yet your bound to run out eventually on a job and its going to look embarrasing when the custy sees you siphoning out there car into your prowler :o ;)


        Andy Locke.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on March 29, 2009, 10:08:23 pm
Well that's Liverpool for you ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: shah on April 01, 2009, 05:20:00 pm
hello i am new member i am doing dry cleaning and carpe cleaning
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:30:21 pm
Hi Paul  ;D
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:37:57 pm
Don't talk to Portie boys now. ::)  ;D
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:43:54 pm
Only joking  :)

I spent about £17 on petrol last week, I hope to double that ASAP.
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:45:26 pm
Clinton you do a better job and make more money than me even with a portie.

Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:50:30 pm
There's a famaous one in weston, was on the tele, The House Inspector or something. Door knocked one day but they told me bvgger off.  ;D
Title: Re: Would You Like To Meet Bob?
Post by: Mike Osbourne on April 01, 2009, 05:56:48 pm
Will only be doing 4 **** rated b&bs now.  ;D