How do you have your foam brush connected ?

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Looking for possible more reliable and/or simple ways to connect to my FB. Right now I have my foam brush stored vertically and set up as follows:

Foam Brush > 3/8" Brass swivel (below) > 45* street brass elbow > 3/8" Swivel Barb (below) > 3/8" clear vinyl tubing.

I use a SS hose clamp on the barb coved by a black PVC hose guard that I heat and then FORCE over to cover the clamp.

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1543-kleen-rite-straight-swivels-38mxf-brass-3000-psi.aspx
https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-25661-38m-x-38-barb-swivel.aspx


At the boom I have swivel barbs. Not sure if Im over doing it with the barbs? All these swivels seem to fail at such a quick rate I was hoping to find a better setup.

 

[Eric H]

I just use a 3/8" high pressure hose with hose guard and a 3/8" swivel (swv38SS or swv38). they seem to last a long time without any issues. I have never liked the look and feel of the hoses that you described.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

I just use a 3/8" high pressure hose with hose guard and a 3/8" swivel (swv38SS or swv38). they seem to last a long time without any issues. I have never liked the look and feel of the hoses that you described.

The only thing I like about the clear vinyl is that I can make sure the system is weeping and isn't frozen. I hate how hard it gets in the cold and how it bangs against the cars.

Do you have the swivel at both the FB and boom or just FB?

 

[Eric H]

Do you have the swivel at both the FB and boom or just FB?

Swivel at both ends. These swivels seem to last a long, long time on the FB.

 

[MEP001]

I'm surprised you're having a high failure rate with a high-pressure swivel at the handle.

I like the Spraying Systems breakaway swivel - they swivel smooth, last 2 to 4 years and I've never had one break. I only put one at the handle, no swivel at the boom.

I've been using Insta-Grip hose with push-lock barbs, cleaner looking than using a clamp and the hose lasts several years. I usually have to replace the guard at least once before the hose need to be replaced.

IMO you don't need a 45° el at the handle unless the brush hangs horizontal.

 

[Randy]

We hang our foam brush handle horizontal on the wall. From the foam brush handle we use a 3/8” swivel (KR #SW7080) a 3/8” street 90 (KR #BFA116-6). We use a 3/8” Polybraid hose (KR #HPB06X) and crimp the hose onto the 3/8” hose barb (KR #BFA29-66) with a brass ferrule (KR #HFF7327). We crimp the ferrule with a Milton crimping tool https://www.amazon.com/Milton-1626-...id=1516916236&sr=8-1&keywords=hose+crimp+tool Over the crimp we put a 3/8” hose bend restrictor (KR #HF0800) on top we use another 3/8” hose barb (KR #BFA29-66) and another 3/8” swivel (KR #SW7080). With the hose 90’d down it takes almost all of the strain off the fittings and the hose so it lasts a lot longer.

 

[copperglobe]

Store the brush horizontal on the wall. FB>swivel>90 street ell>swivel>hose. Also have another swivel up on the boom hanging down vertical.

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-11214-15-red-38-foamy-hose-38-mpe.aspx
https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1541-straight-swivel-38mxf-ss-5000psi.aspx

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

What is (if any) the advantage to having the brush horizontal vs vertical? Mine are vertical and sit in a small "bucket" which is plumbed into my pits

 

[Overachiever]

What is (if any) the advantage to having the brush horizontal vs vertical?

I've been thinking about switching to vertical because in a cold climate with horizontal weeping brushes I sometimes arrive to the wash with big icicles hanging from my brushes depending on how the previous customer hung it.

 

[copperglobe]

I only have them hanging horizontal because I don't have weep water going into a drain- it just runs across the floor and into the pit. Being horizontal I have the swivel>ell>swivel setup so that the hose hangs vertical and seems to last long with gravity forcing it to kink.

 

[slash007]

I had to replace 2 more of the Fluid Control swivels this week due to leaking. Maybe I just forgot and it feels like it hasn't been that long, but I've had to replace a bunch lately. I'm thinking of engraving the date on the swivel so I'm sure.

 

[Randy]

I had to replace 2 more of the Fluid Control swivels this week due to leaking. Maybe I just forgot and it feels like it hasn't been that long, but I've had to replace a bunch lately. I'm thinking of engraving the date on the swivel so I'm sure.

I very seldom ever replace the Fluid Control swivels. I bought some of these about a year ago to try and seem to be working well. https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-41162-38m-x-f-brass-high-pressure-swivel.aspx

 

[2Biz]

I have the 2000psi fluid control swivels on my HP hoses down about 12" from the boom so there is no side tork...Been on there for at least 5-6 years and haven't had the first issue with any of them. The rebuild kit is $13.00! WOW, almost as high as the swivel....Might be able to order the rebuild kit and find the right size orings to replace? Just a thought...

 

[slash007]

I did buy one rebuild kit and put it in last week. I used the rebuilt swivel yesterday and it still leaked. Rebuilding was super easy, just a teflon ring and an o ring along with the center piece that probably didn't need changing anyway, but pointless if it doesn't work. At that price, it's easier to just replace the whole swivel anyway. I did try some of the KR ones in the link Randy put, but can't remember if I liked them. I found 3 used ones in the drawer that I probably need to throw away.

 

[MEP001]

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1549-fluid-controls-ball-bearing-swivel-38fxm-brass-2000psi.aspx

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-41162-38m-x-f-brass-high-pressure-swivel.aspx

Same thing...

 

[slash007]

They are very similar, I guess the KR one just doesn't have the sticker on it and I noticed that under the male threads there is a little more space on the KR version when put side by side. Otherwise the same. They do share the same part/model # as you pointed out.

 

[MEP001]

It's the same deal as with this swivel:

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1543-kleen-rite-straight-swivels-38mxf-brass-3000-psi.aspx

It's a JE Adams, made by them but without their name stamped on it. Kleen-Rite's price is lower on these than the best quantity price break Adams offers.

 

[KTM300]

Are you guys sure the swivels are made by the original manufacturer and not a Chinese knock-off?

 

[MEP001]

According to JE Adams they aren't a knock-off.

 

[Decighte]

use swivel at both end that can be ppossible