ChoiceWash Actuator replacement question

[gomerpyle]

I had this Turn-Act actuator install about 8 months ago. It has already started to go bad. Anyone know which
part I should order for the replacement? My searches does not come up with the exact model.

My service company says it is not covered by warranty. Charged me $1,500 for the part. Figured if they don't warranty it. I should probably just fix this myself. I warranty my work

 

[gomerpyle]

To close the loop. In case anyone else runs into this. The part was not in the catalog, that I could find. The company did refer me to a distributor who will sell the part. I have heard this connection between the shaft and the spray bar can be hard to loosen. Any advice before the part gets here next week?

 

[Keno]

I think they sell rebuild kits for this if you want to keep a spare after replacing. Why is it going out so fast? How many washes does that 8 months represent? We have similar in our mark 7 touch free machines and get good life out of them. Is your air dry? Moisture in the compressed air will kill actuators in general.

Soak in PB blaster or fluid film and heat to help remove if you already haven't done the job.

 

[gomerpyle]

Keno, It lasted about 9,000 washes. The air does not have a cleaner or water remover in-line. Maybe I should add one.

I replaced it without problems. Didn't even need to adjust rotation.

 

[Randy]

I'm curious as to how much the part cost you by not buying it from your distributor? I think $1500 is a little high for that part.

 

[Keno]

I'm curious as to how much the part cost you by not buying it from your distributor? I think $1500 is a little high for that part.

Mark 7 is very proud of their parts! All their parts are super expensive, and the same parts without the mark 7 logo are usually 1/2 the price or less. I've gotten some stuff at 80% less than mark 7 cost on the same exact parts

 

[Keno]

Keno, It lasted about 9,000 washes. The air does not have a cleaner or water remover in-line. Maybe I should add one.

I replaced it without problems. Didn't even need to adjust rotation.

That doesn't seem like a lot, but I only have touch free experience, so that actuator could be getting more stressed on a choice wash machine? Do you have a water separator in the gantry? One of our older machines came with it, the other, newer one didn't. We added it to the newer one. If you add one, get a water separator with auto drain from SMC, worth not having to remember to drain it.

 

[gomerpyle]

I will look into the smc drain. Not sure if the gantry has one. I will check later. I paid 603 for the new part which included 50 for shipping. Also purchased the kit for 218, which included $30 for shipping.

The soft touch actually uses the actuator about half as much as the softtouch option on my machine.

 

[Keno]

To add a bit more to the moisture in air killing pneumatic actuators, as I understand it, actuators come pre lubed with a “lifetime” pneumatic lube. The moisture will wash away the lube over time and cause premature failure. Eliminating moisture should extend life. The other solution is to add an inline pneumatic oiler to the actuator air lines. Once you do that, you have to keep the oiler filled as that will also wash out the “lifetime” lube. But it is a cheap insurance if you dont mind adding to maintenance schedule.

 

[gomerpyle]

It does appear I have a inline filter located in the carwash machine itself. Do these filters ever need to be replaced? I am assuming they are about 10 years old.

 

[M7T]

Are you sure the problem you have is a bad actuator and not a bad sensor or cable? Also, take a look of the trifoam air check valves, usually when bad will allow water into the air line.