Category: Information

Posted on

How to troubleshoot not getting any water from your high pressure pump!

Today, I had a high pressure pump not delivering water! The official complaint was: “I am here with a Coleman rep and we can not figure out what is wrong with all the bays! All the bays do not have high pressure rinse.” I asked are you sure it is all the bays…. But what do you expect?  LOL 🙂 This Coleman rep should also quit…. He allegedly owns a self serve car wash also? I do not believe it. 🙂  He also asked me know to use a Dixmore remote control…. But it is actually not an official remote.  But it is actually worse I believe…. I wrote the directions on how to use the remote on the remote.  Maybe I am to harsh?  🙂

So obviously you can do your troubleshooting in whatever order you want. I try to do the easy stuff first.  Most of the time I like to go straight to the hardest…. But let’s be honest…. That is the dumbest method!

There are quick disconnects in the bays so by removing the gun I can test if there is a clog in the nozzle.
1) Check the nozzle / gun for clogs. Remember a very small amount of dirt or debris can cause the system to not work.


Check your water source to make should you or some random person did not turn it off. I have had this happen before…. By some random person that is…. But I might have done it also? The random person also broken my weep system at least twice. Almost like the random person could care less about my stuff? LOL 🙂
2) Check your water source.


To verify the flow I removed the high pressure hose from the Cat pump…. Then I used the motor starter to see if this fixed the problem.
3) Verify if you are getting high pressure out of the pump.


Verify if the water is getting to the pump.  (Water should come out of the hose when removed.)  I removed the water supply line form the Cat pump to verify this…. I was getting water.
4) Verify if the supply line water is getting to the high pressure pump.


Check to make sure the belt for the motor and high pressure pump is working correctly. This appeared to be my problem…. It actually was not though.  I had a different problem which caused this problem.  But this will help you troubleshoot most of your high pressure pump problems.
5) Verify that the belt for the motor and high pressure pump are at the correct tension and working correctly.


Also when installing a new belt…. I installed mine without removing anything.  Try putting the belt on the small pulley and then turning the belt onto the larger pulley.
6) Size matters….  Do not just slam it in there it will not work!  Be slow, use your hands and be gentle.  This might be something for a different post?  🙂

 

This would also cover troubleshooting pressure washers.

Tools I used for this repair:  LINK
Here is PART 2 on troubleshooting a high pressure pump. LINK

Posted on

So I Wanted a Stripper…. Then I Got the Phone Call!


So I have liked strippers for the past 30 years.  My first stripper I purchased from Kmart (of all places) when they had employee appreciation day and I got 20% off (my first job…. I told them our Kmart store was going to close after WalMart opened btw…. It did.)  My first yellow stripper lasted the longest until the blade fell off somewhere.  My second red Neiko 01924A lasted almost 5 years.  My Neiko’s plastic red handle would keep falling off.  (I guess I could have epoxied it or duct taped it? or #$@% it…. This tool just got super annoying to use…. sorry for the language!  LOL 🙂  The handle is cheap and just not ergonomic. )  Today I got a tip from Greg about strippers…. About the Klein Tools 11061 stripper.  So I purchase the Klein as my replacement…. Maybe it will last 5-25 years?  🙂

BTW The Klein 11061 cost $22.05 and the Neiko 01924A cost $16.58…. So it is really not worth getting a cheaper version if you plan on using the tool.

This is a really great type to have if you ever have to strip lots of cables…. Alone with a good pair of wire cutters (The built in cutters on these strippers are annoying to use more then once and because this tool is really used for lots of cable cutting do not think about it.  🙂 )  Great stripper design though.

I do have different style wire strippers in my bag.  These are better for working on less wires.  These are Klein Tools 11055…. I also have a smaller style and a couple different brands actually.  I believe I have 2 of the Klein actually?  🙂

Posted on

My Article in the Fall SSCWN Magazine

I always loved the old Self Serve Car Wash New Magazine run by JJJ / Jarret J. Jakubowski.  I remember waiting for the magazine to show up at my house.  I also remember asking my Dad why it did not show up on a regular basis.  🙂  Apparently he wanted good content in his magazine and it always appeared in a large newspaper print form of a magazine…. Very unique.

Well things change…. I also wrote an article in the Fall 2017 edition of the new SSCWN magazine.  LINK to Article

 

Posted on

At least I am embarrassed for Rowe and their die hard customers.

So the “new” award winning Rowe changers are made by Triad Design.  Website I never thought of this…. Basically because the chargers were not impressive using off the shelf parts.  I just expected the changer to be built by Rowe?  Why not?  I was kind of surprised to be honest. The other Rowe chargers used Rowe parts? Good or Bad! 🙂

Rowe wins an Innovative Award and not MEI? 20130803

But you would think a company like Rowe would force a non-compete or no talkee contract with a company like Triad Design.  (Also all the companies do it (I assume) so I am not just singling out Rowe.  Jim Coleman for sure…. and I know at least one product from Hamilton (probably others or all of them?) that had another companies name on the circuit boards.)  To me it just seems like a bad business plan…. Why not employee your own development team (2 guys probably, in this case with Triad which probably only has/had 6 employees supposally).  If Rowe honestly hired 2 employees then they could constantly have new updated products?  What good it that?  Give honest tech support from techs that worked on the actual product design?  Not needed at all?  Keep an updated product line on the market?  Why not lag decades behind it is the norm?  Have more technologically advanced products on the market than any other company?  What makes you so smart…. smarty pants? 

Honestly what makes any of the major car wash companies in a good competitive position?  Honestly the only reason any major company is in any position is because of a repetition. What reputation? Old broken products that need to be replaced?  Car wash owners as a whole do not know anything.  Sorry!  🙂  I talking to a operator and I wanted him to try a Dixmor timer in his Coleman bay.  He swore I was trying to blow up his bay!  Well the Dixmor timer was going to short or everything.  Bottom like there is no amount of marketing that Dixmor can do to undo uneducated owners.  Plus if owers love Coleman timers…. Well I believe Coleman might have even switched by now?  Bad example…. But hopefully you get my point.  LOL 🙂  Customers are trusting companies and techs that never worked at the company in the first place.  Just finding compatible parts from the old Manufactures…. Lets be honest no one wants a Timemaster Bay Timer (Well you should not want one!  🙂 )  All these companies need new leadership…. All need better goals…. Working off your old book of business is okay until some other major company gets real leadership and kills all the competition.

Another thing to check out…. Triad website…. I honestly would not purchase anything from them after looking at their website. (Rowe’s website is really not that much better.  Well unless there product is really cheap.  Support might be important on a no name changer?  Not sure?)  Triad’s website looks like something I would not even have done 20 years ago.

3 website hints PLEASE NEVER DO if you take your company seriously.
1) NEVER use a free hosting service…. It is really never okay to have the words “Free Hosting” (GoDaddy or whatever) on any page.
2) NEVER use an email address like @aol or @verizon etc. so your customers can see how low budget your company is.
3) I believe you should have a PO Box and never use your address. But you can use your business address. But NEVER use your home address for lots of reasons! (Also on business cards!)
4) BONUS people argue using an 800 number. But the other points look a lot worse. 800 numbers are cheap…. So whatever people expect I guess?

Interesting search when you search this company (I have no clue about any links or information on this page) Triad, Massachusetts appears to have filed Chapter 11 in Texas where Rowe is located? Weird?

Posted on

When I grow up I am wiping boogers on my kids new car!


I am making a list….
1) Wipe boogers on my kid’s windows and seats in their car.
2) Constantly wipe my dirty hands all over the inside of their front window…. Also touch the rear view mirror.
3) New entry to my list…. Plant winter seed at their house. How many times will my kids ask about this person’s yard? (Above picture.)

Is there always someone in every neighborhood that wants to mow lawn all year? I personally want to concrete my yard…. I will never understand?

Posted on

Nothing says America like…. Monster Jam!


Monster Jams has to be the most American…. American event ever…. Well in America and the World!

It has every aspect the world secretly loves but claims they hate about the United States all in one event. I even purchased $15 cotton candy! LOL 🙂

I enjoyed this event because only one kid wanted a souvenir! LOL 🙂

Also thanks to Greg for the adult ear protection. I am not sure it was a necessity though? I had them on ever since he let me borrow them…. These are great living with kids and I guess watching large monster trucks. 🙂

Posted on

The Electric Company and not that bad PBS show! LOL :)

So the Power Company is suppose to charge you for a new meter if it gets stolen? WHAT IS THIS BS?! So you have to use their crappy worthless locks, expose your wires you paid for so a retard with a death wish can steal them and it is your fault! Seriously? No really is this what all power companies do? This is just from a local city that resells power…. maybe it is different rules at other companies? Either way I was told I could not even put a box around the meter. Sometimes it seems everyone is against small businesses. Or against small businesses in the hood. But again…. Knowing the correct people in the hood might help get services differently….

Posted on

Well I did a project with my son the other day…..

Nothing is more fun then working on a project with your son.  (I might have read that I will believe this when I get older someday?  LOL 🙂 )  My son loves to look and touch tools or look at car wash part bins all day! He wants to try and touch everything…. Also he wants to know what everything does. (He is probably going to be some sort of machinist or mechanic…. Or a mensa…. Either one!  🙂   (His Grandmother is a mensa.  (not myside  🙂 )

He also picked some car wash parts he wanted to keep. He selected a high security Abus shackle lock and a round pressure gauge. After explaining briefly that the lock can not lock every door or item in our house.  🙂  I explained what the pressure gauge did. Then he explained to me what the pressure gauge did and he will be using it next time he goes into the “deep sea to check the pressure of the sea”.  🙂 I can only assume it is a Wild Wratts reference? (kids TV show.)

 

It is scary how well kids listen when they want to.  🙂