Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Darren O on June 16, 2009, 03:43:17 pm
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Got a problem with my powerflight this has happened a few times when iam starting the machine there seems to be a banging noise from inside the machine like a golf ball bouncing about but after about 10 seconds it stops then its fine.Today i had the same noise but it got worse then it tripped the customers fuse box tried it again it worked for about a 30 seconds then the noise started again but this time it was like a brick bouncing about in the machine then i smelled burning from the vacs i take it one of the vacs is knackered i only bought the machine in March anybody any ideas.
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Do you turn the pressure numpty back down at the end of the job and defo at the end of day?
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I dont Joe why.Cheers Darren.
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when i bought mine a was given a routine sheet telling me the procedure. i prime the pump at around 120- 150 psi turn vac motors on in sequence eg 1 on wait 10 sec 2 nd on . when turning machine off or whenever turning pump off reduce psi back to 120 -150 then turn pump off turn vacs off in sequence again . helps preserve the life of the motors and pump.
sorry to sound patranising just relaying what i was told to do
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Just that when I forget to turn back the pressure numpty on my Scorpion it makes rattling sounds when I start up. I remember Nick saying dont forget to turn the pressure down at end of day.
However, I have read your post proper now and it does sound like something other then that - what with smell of burning and triping fuses.
Good practice I think to turn the pressure down at end of day.
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I think the rattling noise must be to do with the pump then the only thing i got told when i bought the machine was to prime the pump with the open ended solution hose for a couple of minutes and i do that at the start of every job but still dont no why there was a burning smell from the vacs and why it tripped the fuse box twice today.
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Why do you need to prime the pump, if you only bought it in March
the pump should be self primimg.
John
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I thought that was standard priming the pump i was told to do that with my Raptor to.
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I had the CFR500 and occassionally it needed to be primed.
Think it helps when you finished the day and you cleaned the machine, pump some clean water thro and leave small amount of clean water in it so the pump does not get dry.
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Hi Darren,we spoke when you first got your machine,it sounds like the same problem I've been having over the past few weeks!the machines are now being fitted with cheap Chinese vacs as standerd.when I got my machine from new the vacs were made by an American company (not lamb). I got just over a years use out of them which I concider ok using the machine daily.The chinese vacs are 1/2 the price so I thought great unfortuantly I have gone through 3 vacs in 3 weeks.the noise you are hearing is the vac arcing,also the smell of burning and trpping out the electrics.All 3 have been replaced under warranty but the £30 I spent on post to send them back to Amtech they refuse to refund me.
call me Darren 07815310252
Jeff
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Sounds like Amtech have made a serious F*** up by switching to cheap motors.
My Powrflite still has the metal horn Imperial motors, for a short time i ran with a Hi-trak
as no. 2 vac, ran fine but had to improvise a fitting for it , as Imperials have 4 mounting points, and
don't align with Hi-trak mounts.
You will get a banging noise if the eccentric cam on the water pump collapses.
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What the difference between the PFX1350 and the PowrFlite Perfect Heat PFX1085 ?
Shaun
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What the difference between the PFX1350 and the PowrFlite Perfect Heat PFX1085 ?
Shaun
Product Specifications:
Model Number: PFX1350PH
Solution Tank: 50 litres
Recovery Tank: 32 litres
Vac Motor: Dual three-stage
CFM: 220
Waterlift: 240 inches
PSI: 500
Pump: Demand By-Pass Internally Limited
Wheels: 12 inch rear and 360 degree, 2.5 inch casters
Warranty: 5 years housing, 1 year vacuum motor, pump and workmanship
Weight: 56 kg
Dimensions: 56cm (width) x 110cm (height) x 74cm (depth)
_____________________________________________________
PFX 1085 Specifications:
38 litre solution tank
2 x 3-stage vac motors
100 CFM
210" waterlift
500 psi pump
3000W inline heater with additional Perfect Heat system
8m power cord
25.4cm rear wheels for easy stair climbing
56kg
Dimensions: 66 cm x 56 cm x 91 cm
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So more suck then?
Shaun
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So more suck then?
Shaun
Or £15.75
PFX 1085 - £2626 + VAT
PFX 1350 - £2610.25 + VAT
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3 months ago the 1350 was £1800+vat.
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Darren
Did you get it from Cleaning Systems UK?
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I did Bob got to drive up there on Monday to try and get it sorted or i will ask Alex in Greenock to send it up there for me cant be arsed doing a 160 mile round trip.
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Update with the machine Cleaning Systems Uk said one of the vacs its totally knackered but it still looks in pristine condition so its nothing to do with water damage or anything there waiting for the go ahead from Amtech to fit a replacement vac so i will be lucky if i have it back for tuesday thats 11 days without the machine lucky i have a backup porty.
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Does anybody no if you can buy these Chinese vacs from China instead of going through Amtech would it be cheaper or to much hastle iam going to buy a 2or3 for backup not getting my machine back untill Wednesday thats 12 days to get a replacement vac fitted also i have to pay carrige both ways.
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If you're that worried buy a Lamb motor.
Expensive but quality.
The Imperial motors were £208 + vat.
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I was told the Lamb motors wont fit that was from Matt at Cleansmart he also said something about Amtech have changed something to with the fittings in the machine and the only vacs that will fit are these Chinese vacs and you can only get them from Amtech.If another vac blows under warranty i will just replace it myself as it will be cheaper and save me sending the machine away for 12 days its a bit of a con going to phone Amtech on Monday not even had the machine 3 months yet.
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Darren,I told you on thephone last week I had made a bracket up to fit other motors into my Powerflite.You can get Hitrac 3 stage motor from Woodbridge for £40 they fit fine with bracket just ask them to remove the flange.You need to have at least 5m steel or the bracket wiill bend.
Jeff
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Jeff i remember you saying on the phone but a lot of it went over my head ive never changed a vac motor before thats why i never emailed you for the pics always get my local Prochem dealer to do it saying that he comes on this forum now and again so thanks for the pics i will ask him to have a look at them and see what he says.Jeff the vacs from Woodbridge i take it they are ok you cant go wrong at £40 these chinese vacs i was well impressed with the suction but they just dont last long.
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Darren,the motors are fine from Woodbridge I made a mistake though £48http://www.wcsuk.com/acatalog/Tangential_Motors.html
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Just replaced another vac motor this one as been on the machine for only 4 weeks.It starting tripping out customers electricity on my first job for the last 3 days after resetting it a few times it settled down but started arcing on my last job today.I'm realy fed up now.Thats 4 vac motors in 2 months,anyone concidering getting a Powerflite machine should think again. >:(
Jeff
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How old is it?
Not fit for purpose comes to mind.
Get in touch with supplier and if not satisfied tell them you going to trading standards.
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There is something not right here one of my vacs went after 3 months to on my Powerflight ive a Powermax 5 years old replaced 1 vac only,hydramaster raptor 2 years old still on the original vacs.
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sorry to hear about you bad experiences with the power flight darren i sim probs with tripping out have found that after each job i completely empty the waste tank wipe with towel and run the motors while packing up so they dry right out if any moisture is in the vacs. easy routine to follow. i agree that the recent vacs put in are not up to scratch. but the performance of the machine is excellant in my book great heat system.
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Its a cracking machine the only thing is these cheap vacs i take it its just greed on Amtechs part and it could be worse as long as ive no problems with the pump iam still happy.
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who did you buy you machine from mate
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Cleaning Systems Uk
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got mine from cleansmart matt flewitt. he has always sorted out any little probs i have had with minimal downtime considering i am 200 miles from his premises think that is pretty good.
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Cleaning Systems Uk is about 70 miles from me it took them 12 days to get it the machine sorted if it happens again iam not even going to bother with the warranty i will just pay out my own pocket to get it fixed also cost me £80 carrige.
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dont blame you 12 days is crap.
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Is there a side-on picture of that vacuum shown at the top of the thread?
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Guys i have a 3 yr old powerflite and the engineer who does my servicing etc has had the chinese vac problems so has put ashbys ninja vacs in with some mod or other it works very well so i am told.The guys name is Ian Monk of Cleanmachine Wallingford(oxfordshire) if you have a machine and are within driving distance.Regards Alan(swindon)
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It always happens when you try to cut corners it comes back to bite you in the arse.
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Darren
How is that spotter you bought by the way ???
Was looking myself to get a new one.
cheers
clinton
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Does anyone else notice the steel fan blades on the vacs having chips in them? i thought they could be there for a reason but they occur randomly, even saw a new showroom machine with these chips in the blades. ???
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Adam,
The chips in the blades are used to "balance" the motors by the manufacturer. They snip away portions of the fans to make the vac run smoothly
Gary
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Oh right that makes sense but i dont see why the motor shaft and turbines would be unbalanced?
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Adam,
Its more to do with the pitch so the motors sound balanced together
Gary
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Had the powerflight 10 months now and thats another vac gone and the other one is failing a PAT TEST so might have to buy 2 phoned cleaning systems uk told them they said there not selling the cheap chinese vacs now because they are crap even amtech arent stocking them anymore.I think i will have to buy the imperial vacs £169+vat are they any good or could i fit lamb vacs instead my local prochem are having a look at it just now.
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The Imperial vacs have more suck than the Lamb, they are good, they were standard on
my Powrflite. In 2 1/2 years i've changed 2, one because of a water leak in the perfect heat
system, and a bearing problem on the stages with the other.
So the good stages + the good motor gave me a spare!
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Think i will try the Imperial vacs then Amtech said they would sell me 2 chinese vacs ex demo for £40 each dont think i would waste any more money on them.cheers Darren
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Darren, are the vacs totally gone. I had lecky tripping problem, and cleaned the carbon deposits around the vac brushes and been ok since. Mine was starting to pop, and burning smell, caused by arcing.
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Gary what porty have you got and are you using the cheap chinese vacs the 2 vacs are still going but on nearly every job both the vacs are tripping the lecky so you might be right.I drove up to Cleaning Systems UK today and dropped it of so i will hopefully get a phone call tomorow the machine is still under warranty so will keep my fingers crossed what ever happens iam going to get the imperial vacs fitted as the chinese ones are crap.
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Darren, I`ve got the 1085, I bought as a demo from Amtech. The vac started playing up after a month, and Amtech posted me a new one. I don`t know if it is a chinese one, but it has lasted up till now, but only being used part time, and dried out after every job.
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There great machines apart from the cheap vacs Amtech said there not selling the chinese ones now. Cleaning Systems Uk phoned me today both vacs need replaced and there is some water damage in them so Amtech wont replace them under warranty but i was expecting that a few months ago i didnt have the waste hose closed correctly and water was pouring out of it.Ive been quoted over £500 to supply and fit the new vacs.
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http://www.amtechuk.biz/parts_centre.php
Fit them yourself and save over £100.