Some annoying and fun problems
I got to dig out pits at both of my carwashes, which is always fun. I had a RO leak which rained on me when I was in the equipment room, which was fun. Then I somehow got a stick stuck under my car, which was fun for a while. But the sound of scratching gets a little annoying.
Flojet air leak – Again with a MEP1 help update
Today my flojet air hose was cracked again. I guess I am tightening this to tight? Well, I decided to try MEP1′s idea about using 3/8″ i.d. hose alone with 1/2″ i.d. about 1″ of each kind.
Sliding this on is fairly easy.
I put the barb in then tried to put the 1/2″ i.d. hose onto the setup. I could not get the 1/2″ to go all the way on (because of the barb) but I just trimmed the excess off with a razor blade. Then I put a hose clamp on and I was done. Thanks to MEP1 for the suggestion.
www.iwash.biz
I have always liked the i-wash setup and I am trying to get some more information on their product to do a little review on their product. Don Scordo (president of iwash) sent me these pictures of their equipment. The first picture is a 4 bay setup, I really love how compact and clean it is. (A little nicer setup then mine.) The second picture is their factory floor and the third picture is a 6 bay but I am not really sure why it is so large?
I also like their meter boxes but you will have to go to their web site at www.iwash.biz then i-wash then brochure.
Question? I am trying to remember the name of a vendor that sells a system which just uses injectors to deliver the products. They also vend about 14 different products. If someone could tell me the name of the company I could send you a prize? Like a smelly baseball cap or something?
I love duct tape as much as the next guy but….
I just loved this pictures and had to post them. You can also check out the Naval Safety Center web site for more stuff.
Reusable fitting problem
I was going to clean up the bay and the hose fell out of the boom. This is my first reusable fitting problem. Looks like the hose just wore out?
My new setup in the boom is a 6 foot hose then a 4 inch piece of stainless steel then a 90. Then a 1 foot swivel saver along with a swivel and a 8 foot hose. The reason I used the shorter hose in the boom with the high pressure stainless steel pipe was so the boom would not rub a hole in the high pressure hose. Hope is lasts well.
Weird vacuum motor problem?
I was having a weird vacuum motor problem? It seemed to work when it wanted to, but it always was pushing lots of air out of the motor. I was going to check the motor brushes anyway and noticed the seal was gone. I believe the seal wore away and caused the suction problem. So I went to Lowes and purchased some rubber gaskets.
I cut a hole in the rubber gasket and it started to work again. Yea!
Why reading sometimes is good?
Yes, I already got this fixed before. Yes, I might have broken it while installing it the first time. Yes, I think Dixmor is the best for repairing stuff.
So I installed the DX-1000 Weep Mizer which means that I had to remove my Rube Goldberg weep system.
I purchased an Asco Red-Hat II normally open solenoid. After installing the solenoid I needed to attach the 3 wires coming out of the solenoid. I decided to install the 2 red wires to the black wire and the green and yellow wire to the white power wire. This was the wrong way and not cutting the power first caused a huge mini-sun flash. It also turned my glove black and shocked me pretty good, making my pinkie numb. I closed my eyes and I could still see this bright light. Then after installing the wires correctly I figured out that I installed the solenoid the wrong direction. The solenoid would not close all the way when installed the wrong way, who would have thought? So the moral of the story is to try and read the instructions after you get shocked?
Replace a Flojet connection
I was having a problem with the Flojet 1/2″ push lock falling apart so I had to use this 1/4″ push lock connector. I just got my 3/8″ push lock from Kleen-Rite and installed it today, I also changed all the tubing to match, now all black. Cool!
The A-Team: Mexican Slayride: Part 1
Okay so The A-Team is not related to carwash stuff. But who does not like The A-Team? I just got a Hulu.com invite and it is super cool. Check out hulu.com for all sorts of tv shows.
Small presoak leak
I always like having a leak in the low pressure functions. I guess that is why you have to check them all the time?
It was also one of those days when every one of the bays had mud in it, FUN!
Recent Comments
I just built a system that fixes the problem of pressure you are referring to. The answer is 2 fold. 1.VFD+ Pressure 2.Monitoring Sensor. Set up where VFD runs at say "40%" putting out 150psi. Then have a sensor that is inline (before manifold) to when a second bay calls for product, and pressure drops, it senses this, and increases the VFD to say 50% to make up for the difference, and retain the 150psi. So on, and so forth depending on how many bays you have. It will take some tweaking, but once it is set, it is set. Also, you only can have a maximum of 5 ports open at once, even if you have 6 different functions, as each bay can only have one selection running at any given time. Email me, and I can give you more info, and / or if you want to buy one rather than build one. It is a very expensive "trial and error" job, as the VFD, pump, and sensor have to do the job right, and give the correct pressures. They will not share any of their tech, as they want us all to buy from ...
Did you know.... You can purchase the "quick disconnect" injectors from "Hydraflex™®? ©" (don't want to infringe on ™®? or © :P) , however you cannot purchase the quick disconnect adapters from them. Hmmmmm? Isn't that nice? Why not? Oh, that's right you can, if you purchase one of their "Aqualab™®? ©." TEN THOUSAND dollar units. Then, they will sell replacement parts for it, which include the quick disconnect fittings. Very frustrating to say the least. IN A STORY NOT RELATED -> If you want to never ever ever worry about check valves again, look into the icheck magnum series which you can buy from Kleen Rite (low ph, high ph, and high pressure) Also, if you are tired of replacing brittle, cracked, sun-drenched, winter haggard poly line, step up and buy the parker (or equiv.) "air brake" line (type B, reinforced). it will last for over 20 years in a carwash, and will outlast stainless steel when running corrosive product thru. I have been running HF thru it for over...
I love your sense of humor, but everything is in the details of any business what separates the strong from the weak is just a few minor details. But that few can be huge, for instance I love Arbys for their sandwiches, but many years ago their facilities were just run down and dirty, back then I would never go to the bathroom in one. Instead I went to Mcdonald's to go the rest room. Now in current time Arby's has gotten the idea that a very clean and modern facility with upgraded equipment will bring in customers. They even have open wifi in many, so that being said a business is the true salesperson it projects an image. Now one must ask yourself what image do you want to project to the public. You yoursef as a owner of a car wash or any business must be the salesman, because without a sale no one has a job. Mike...
I don't think you read the post. Maybe since your not a car wash owner you didn't get the joke? But your a sales person so... :) Maybe in Ohio the government is more restrictive I don't know? But when the government lets people start businesses that they want. Unforgettably to many people have built car washes because of sales people. Which makes them bad investments... so depending where someone is from you will get your desired remarks. Also you are selling a high priced item so only car washes with money would call you... another fact. So of course they would be making money. I also disagree with 90% of your statements except the place should be clean. You do not have to purchase top "knotch" equipment. You can run a super car wash with any equipment on the market. But again your a sales person. :) But I strangely want to purchase a boiler now.... JK LOL :)...
I have met many car wash owners that do make money in the car wash industry. Here is what I have found they are very organized, they buy top knotch equipment, they maintain it everyday, they check their water everyday, they ask for help when needed. Many are true salespeople they get out and meet the customers give them hugs and attend community events. And lets not forgot about having a very clean facility, customers love neatness. Mike Simmons, Vice-President...