[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

I am currently looking for a rotary surface cleaner and I would like some advice about what people use and which one to go for, I have a 200 bar (2800psi) upto 20l/min purpose made machine so your thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks
Arran

[trevor perry]

i think the whirlaway is the best , i tried the techclean one but the rotary heads kept breaking at least with the whirlaway repair kits can be bought. I am just looking at buying another one and merrillfox is doing a 18 inch whirlaway for $450 + $132 dollars shipping which works out at about the £300 this is a lot cheaper than buying in erngland and well worth a look.

[trevor perry]

i forgot to mention our machine runs at roughly same pressure and flowrate as yours and found that going any bigger than 18 inch doesnt do as good a job so dont be tempted by thinking that buying a 24 inch one will make the job quicker.

[drivewasher]

Wurlaway is defo the best, make shure you get a good grease gun and graese the nipple EVERY USE you will get years out of it.
Whatever machine you have you will have to make shure the nozzles in wurlaway match your machine and flow, they come with 2 off nozzles  025 for a "middle of the road" match. Change them for the correctly calculated ones for best results with no damage to your pump

You say your machine has flow rate up to 20 litres? what is the actual pump flow in litres as it's quite important to match nozzles

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

well thats the problem, I can adjust the the flow rate by increasing the engine so it goes up to 20L min and hard to judge what you are working at, although I could just put it right up and leave it.

Looks like whirlaway is the the only one used at the moment.

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

I have to admit that I was being seduced by the Mosmatic 21" but may have to think about it a little more.....

perhaps it was just a bit shiny!

[Ian Rochester]

I've just bought a Kranzle 300mm stainless steel model, and I must say I am very, very impressed with it. 

It's big enough for the jobs we do and it is eating up the area in no time at all.

The whirlaway does seem to be the most popular model, but from what I can see they are all much of a muchness, the rotating bearing is the only moving part and providing you look after it they should last for years.

Mind, they are all very expensive for what you are getting

[drivewasher]

well thats the problem, I can adjust the the flow rate by increasing the engine so it goes up to 20L min and hard to judge what you are working at, although I could just put it right up and leave it.

Looks like whirlaway is the the only one used at the moment.

Your machine should be used at the correct speed the adjustable throttle isn't for adjusting the flow or the pressure, but purley to save fuel when not actually needing pressure. The throttle should be opened up to the set stop on the engine which should have been set up when new or serviced.
The pump is designed for a flow rate and pressure at the stated speed, the rating plate or tracing back on the make and model it will say summut like 250bar 15Lpm (llitres per min) speed 3400Rpm 10 hp. this machine would then be set to 3600 rpm no load speed the pressure is then adjusted DOWN if req by an adjustable underloader so as pressure is reduiced water flow is diverted back to inlet or better still back to tank.
You can't size your nozzles properly when you alter the speed as the nozzle should match the pump for the full rating the example machine I quoted would need 1 nozzle on a lance of size 04
If your machine is 200bar 20lpm then it would need a single nozzle of size 06 or 2 nozzles in a 2 nozzle wurlaway of size 03

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

thanks drivewasher for all the info, the main part of my business which is bin cleaning has never required the engine to be working at anything other then just above tick over otherwise i get covered in water all day so I have not investigation what the machine can actually do but I am told by the company who built my machine that it is rated to the 200 bar 20L/min so thats what I will have to go with.

Its basically a honda GX390 engine with an interpump and unloader going back to the tank, so the machine is purpose built not something off the shelf therefore I can adjust the speed the engine runs at.

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

sorry i also forgot, do you use hot or cold water with the rotary?

[drivewasher]

Ok your'e not really useing it as a power washer then more like a portable hose pipe thats got a pistol gun on it then. You'd use a mountain of fuel with that engine on full throttle anyway.
When you start to use it as a p/washer though you need to know exactly the flow to get nozzles right
I have a gx390 with interpump WW965 pump on it which is a popular pump, if yours is the WW965 then it's 15 litres min flow

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

no i suppose not at the moment but we are looking to start, I have checked and the it is an Interpump model WW202 rated at 21l/min 200bar as per the stamping.

You mention that i would use a mountain of full (quite what sort of mountain?), i assume that as you use it and still manage to make a business from it?

[Kleen Machine]

The Whirl-a-ways are available as a 12" wall washer, 16" and 20" with skirt, 18" with casters, 20"  and 24" all stainless with brush skirt and casters, equipped with a tri-arm spray bar. We have a 22" model that has a brush skirt and quick release casters.

For images   fox@merrillfoxenterprises.com

There is much that I offer that is not on my site.

www.merrillfoxenterprises.com

With a complete address, I can give a delivered quote on any pressure cleaning equipment, spares, or accessories.

It is my pleasure to help anyone decide on their equipment needs.

Merrill

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

Having exchanged a few emails with Merrill there are some interesting pieces of equipment that they can provide. 

Well worth a look if your in the market.

[drivewasher]

no i suppose not at the moment but we are looking to start, I have checked and the it is an Interpump model WW202 rated at 21l/min 200bar as per the stamping.

You mention that i would use a mountain of full (quite what sort of mountain?), i assume that as you use it and still manage to make a business from it?

Inthat case you will need 065 nozzle in lance and in a twin nozzle surface cleaner 2 off 035 nozzles

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

Thanks drivewasher you have been a great help, without your input this thread would have been a waste of time as you are obviously the only person that uses a rotary cleaner

You must but a lot of them to keep all these companies in business - lol

Thanks again

[drivewasher]

Sorry jetcleanse ltd
I missed the fuel reply out. I was saying that you use machine on low revs this will save fuel as yiou will probably have it running all day.
I have a very similar set up with same engine on a 250 bsr 15 lpm pump. As i have to use it at design speed (full throtte 3500 rpm) I get through a full tank of 6 litres petrol in about 3.5 to 4.0 hours continuall use. A tank full is 6.5 litres aprox

[Andy Foster]

Hi

Granted, on full throttle you will of course use more fuel than at 'idle' but I would hardly call it a 'mountain' of fuel!
Considering in a full day like today I have used 14 litres of fuel (about £12) and earned £450... not a bad overhead for that kind of return.

You are absolutely right though drivewasher, if the engine and pump are not used at their optimum level (ie - full throttle) they can actually wear faster than at the level they are designed for.

As a point of interest, I use the 20" whirlaway and the 12" mosmatic dependant upon what surface I am cleaning.

Andy

[drivewasher]

Yeh I know what you mean, what I meant was a lot compared to him useing it all day on tickover

Running the pump slower than it's intended won't do it any damage, it just wont perform what it's designed to. In fact to dramatically save on pump wear, when you first connect up to suck from a tank you should start it up on a fast idle say 900 rpm without any lance or nozzle appliance on the end of high pressure hose and run her up until a smooth flow of water comes from pipe then connect lance/surface cleaner up and set throttle to max
It will prime up quicker on slow revs and save wear as the pistons aren't racing up and down a dry set of seals

[Jet Cleanse Ltd]

I am still getting useful information about these cleaners.

Andy, was there any major reasons why you opted for the whirlaway and the mosmatic? and how do they perform?

Arran