high impact pump

[Jimmy Buffett]

I want to do away with my pre-wash pass on my Softgloss and replace it with something like what Mike shows in this photo http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K9qUsn6RHEa9YX6joYOjZQ?feat=directlink from the thread "gatlin guns". These are designed to be used with a high pressure pump. Diamond mentioned that Ryko is now using these in place of scrubbers on some machines but I don't know what kind of pump they are using. The lady at Mosmatic "thinks" it will work and my tech "thinks" it will work too with my high impact pre-wash pump and 0 degree nozzles but they are not going to have to drop a $1000 to find out. Does anybody know how these spinners will function with my high impact prewash pump. I'm open to all opinions here.
If this will work I think that I can save about 15% of the wash time by using these spinners as they drive through. Anybody agree or disagree?
Thanks

 

[DiamondWash]

Jimmy,

You are wanting to have the same design as in the picture and not on the machine correct?

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Basically yes. What I want is to do the prewash as they drive in so as to save that pass with the machine but I don't want to have to buy a new pump (although I do have an extra 5cp if that would work). I'm not married to the Mosmatic by any means. Just want something that will work.
Thanks

 

[DiamondWash]

Something along these lines?
http://avwequipment.com/en/high-pressure-blasters

It looks easy enough to have somebody weld together and tap some 1/4 inch holes for the nozzles and then run your high impact lines to and a program change that that should be it.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Yeah that's the kind of thing I'm thinking about. I'm just wondering if the pump that I have now will get the job done. This one says high pressure also and my pump probably only puts out 200 lbs. or less. Do you have the same setup as I do, onboard prewash?

 

[DiamondWash]

Kind of... when I activate prewash on my softgloss the rinse nozzles turn on from front to rear then rear to front and wash down the entire vehicle with fresh water then starts the cycles. even PDQ has a system that just has a arch when you drive in with just nozzles and a high pressure pump I have been wanting to design a system like this to replace my side blasters on my Ryko OHD http://www.pdqinc.com/store/product.asp?pID=10010

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

This looks really good except it should cost $900 instead of $2900. Have you approached anyone about building that? Maybe we could put an order together. Imo that prewash pass costs us a lot of time and money.

 

[soapy]

ON my ryko OHD touchless washes I use the ryko blasters at the entrance to blast the wheels and rocker panels as the car drives in. Gator on the forum had a similar setup to what you are talking about on his softgloss when he had one. Using these preblasters does save time on a wash cycle.

 

[captain cw]

Ryko is using a cat pump nowadays on their rotating side blasters. I'm not sure your existing pump would give you the needed pressure to make any effect. The old "pre-wash" system was more for show than effectiveness in my opinion.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Soapy,
How did you do it? Did you just move the things from onboard and mount them on something at the entrance? Can you show us a picture?
Thanks

 

[soapy]

The blasters were an option on the OHD. They are hooked into the computer system and are triggered to come on by the PLC using a photo eye or pressure sensor plate. The eight or nine nozzles rotate up and down and do a very good job of cleaning wheels and mud from rocker panels.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Are they using a high pressure pump?

 

[soapy]

The pump is the same 350 psi pump that they use fro the high pressure functions of the wash arm.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

I'm not sure what my pre-wash pump is but I'm sure it's less than 350. If I have to buy the pump it completely changes the economics of the switch. It's property tax month after all.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

I ordered the spinners. I'll give a full report when they come in.

 

[DiamondWash]

Just be sure that your rear brushes don't hit them spinning or retracting.

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Yeah I'll put them as close as I can because another concern is spatter under my door freezing that sucker shut. I think I'll put them up as far as possible and try to slightly angle them forward. Sound right?

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

Side blasters are going in today!

 

[DiamondWash]

Post some pics and a video of them if possible

 

[Jimmy Buffett]

I'm sure that I'm not smart enough to do that!
The pressure is adequate but less than I had hoped for. It's raining and nasty here so noone has used it but me today. Sun is supposed to be back tomorrow so I should get some feedback. I think they will function as well as it did before and should speed up wash time by nearly 15%. I was hoping for a little more pizazz though. With a high or even medium pressure pump I would think these things were pretty impressive.