[ollie]

Hi,
I recieved a letter yesterday from ashbys advising me my ninja is due a service. Being new to this game i wondered if i have to send it there or can local companies service them? Im in Llanelli and its a bit of a journey to kent (cant imagine what they would charge to pick up etc) also being a one man band i need it back in service quickly.  Any advice extremely appreciated.
Thanks  ollie

[stevegunn]

poope

[cleaning co]

hi intresting subject, what is a service on a carpet cleaning machine ? what can they do to make sure the vacs dont let u down ?   and the pump and the heaters ? i would hav thought not a lot really ? is this just a big con ? or do they just put some fresh grease in the pressure reg ,flush the system though with descaler blowout the fluff on the filters polish the machine send it back with a huge bill ,and two weeks later when the pump or vac givs up  they say its wear and tear and ask for £200 for a pump or set of vacs,  mmmm me wonders,
 anyone on here who has had thier machine serviced by their supplier anychance u could tell us what the details were on the invoice  i.e  what they done to machine and how much?    p.s  i brought a machine off a supplier about 6 years ago (not saying names as they threated to sue me once !)  only had it about six weeks couldnt get pump to prime after lots very neg conver  they said i had to contact the makers in usa !  yer right.

[Ian Gourlay]

Interesting Subject.

I asked once before, what do they do when they service machine.

On our cars and vanswe know what they shoud do.

Or is it they check the motors and  pumps pipes and then advise you if they could fail in next six months.

Obviously there is a PAT test

So what exactly  is a service

[ollie]

Ian, is the PAT test for the electics? and do you know if its a legal requirement?
Cheers  Ollie

[Karl Wildey]

You should have your machine PAT tested every 18 months I believe it is, but who bothers and we are all breaking the law.
I would use someone local for a service, and in fact I would find someone local to repair the machine when it breaks down and not bother with a service, what they going to do clean and pat test it

[martin19842]

hi there,

PAT testing should be done every 12 months, on some building sites, you will be asked to show certificates every six months.

regards

martin

[Doug Holloway]

Ollie,

I would keep a spare pump and vac motor so you can fit as required.

Cheers,

Doug

[ollie]

Thanks Doug,
Not being of the mechanical persusion can you tell me how easy it is to fit these parts?  ( i can just about change a plug!!!)
Ollie

[Kinver_Clean]

Vac motors have carbon brushes in them that transfer the current to the rotating armature that drives the fans. This wears down over time and has to be replaced and the carbon dust removed from the coils. The frequency that this has to be done varies with the motors. The big 7.2 three stage Lambs need attention every 300-500 hours. This varies slightly with the hardness of the carbon. A while ago the carbon appeared to be soft and only lasted a bare 300 hours. Latelt they have lasted up to 600 hours. If the brush wears right down it does not make proper contact with the commutator and severe arcing occurs with a weird buzzing sound and a strong ozoney smell (it can produce a firework effect out of the cooling vents!) This will burn the copper contacts on the commutator and the motor is then scrap at £200+ to replace. Brushes are about £12-14 a pair.
The smaller 5.7 motors last longer, up to 1000 hrs but the later higher powered ones seem to last about 500-700 hours and should be checked at 400-500 hrs.
Flojets and shurflo pumps seem to last about 800-900 hrs. The induction motor pumps don't have brushes .
Is is not difficult to check and change brushes. Take the motor out of the mc ( sometimes awkward ). On the 7.2's remove the screw on the side of the cylindrical cover to expose the windings. Then remove the brush housing by removing the screw each side. The carbon is about 1" long when new. If it is less than 1/4" replace it immediately as it is likely to blow. The carbon needs to be blown out with a compressed air line. Your local car service station may help here if you can chat them up.
5.7" motors have a black plastic cover over the works. This is removed by bending the two metel clips outwards and then carefully prising the two lugs on each side apart to allow the cover to rise. These are very brittle and break extremely easily. One lug at a tme and tilt the cover slightly to stop it re-engaging while you prise the other one. This will allow one side of the cover to free itself--- then withiout letting the first side re-engage loosen the second side. It is tricky and needs care not to break the lugs. Having done that proceed as 7.2 motors. Except---- the lead that takes the current is on a spade terminal that tucks in the end of the brush. It is difficult to remove so if the brush has enough carbon left don't remove it. If it needs to come out I squash the plastic brush housing slightly to loosen it a bit. The tag is delicate and easy to break the wire off. (There are several with soldered connections in the area) Replace the brushes and motors.
The pumps have an end cap held on by two hex headed screws. , Do not take this off unless you have a special bent wire that comes with a new end cap to enable you to put it back again. This is not possible without the wire. Take these out and pull the cap off. Do not lose the small metal washer and larger plastic disc. Clean as vac motors and put new end cover on. The wire holds the brushes apart so the cap will go nearly down and then is pulled out to allow the cap right down.
Replace every thing and check that pipe joints are tightened and vac pipes are on properly.
Spare parts can be obtained from various places, some manufacturers prices are high some not. You do not have to get bits from your mc manufacturer if they are pricey as the vac units and pumps are mostly the same.
I know a man who can supply at resonable prices.

Hope this helps, you don't have to be a rocket engineer just fairly handy with a socket set and good screwdrives (the screws can be tight)

Trevor

[Doug Holloway]

Trevor,

Thanks for taking the time to post an excellent reply.

Cheers,

Doug

[ollie]

Thanks very much Trevor. An excellent reply and very much appreciated.
Olie