Gutter Squad

I've got two 13 hp Hondas that are each giving me some issues. Engine #1: Starts right up and seems to run strong. However, when you stop the flow of water out of the pump, the engine quickly dies. It can be started right back up without problem and again runs strong, until you release the trigger on the nozzle... then dead in seconds. Engine #2: When the engine is off (and maybe when running?) gas drips out right by the carburetor from a plastic. Ummm... nothing else seems to be long. I could just take therm both to the small engine shop... but I've replaced the carbs on both before and do the normal maintenance on them... was hoping for a couple pointers - sure someone has encountered the same issues before.

OK... might seem silly, but I've never really paid attention to the site glass that shows the oil level on a pump (the only pump I have that has the site is my CAT 6G40DX - which just became my prime pump with my 4.8 gpm pump dying on me). I've never looked at the site glass before with the engine running... so, what should you see through the site glass? Just the oil in there? Should the oil be sitting level with the red dot at rest?

Excellent thoughts - I have a pretty old direct drive that still runs fine - I also have just two (ha ha) AR pumps that are completely shot sitting in my garage (both were stripped off 13hp Honda engines that I bought off craigslist from some disgruntled home-users... both left out over the winter with water in them). Regarding other equivalents when talking about gear reduction pumps, what are other good choices besides the ts2021? I am open to suggestions and have never owned a pump over 4.8 gpm. I am STRICKLY a house washer... I don't do concrete and I decided a couple years ago that I wasn't going to do decks anymore (really satisfying results... but I don't like going back to the same house 3 or 4 times to finish a job).

Does anyone out there have any experience with a RKV5.5G40? It is the 5.5 GPM direct drive pump that AR offers. I posted last year about buying a ts2021gr (gear-driven) pump... and have done absolutely nothing with the business in the past year. I sold my van, my trailer, and a good deal of other assorted equipment and am planning on just having one primary 13 HP unit and another 13 HP unit as a back-up (already have a smaller CAT pump on that one). Any thoughts? I am thinking that everyone is going to go for the ts2021gr... but thought I would put this out there. The AR is half the price of the General pump... but sometimes you get what you pay for, too. Thanks!

Appreciate the input. I always hate posting something in a forum that has similar content to other threads - again appreciate getting it addressed specifically for what I had cooking my head! Mathew, I will probably give you a call when I get closer to assembly (months away). Happy someone else actually has a TS2021GR or a reasonable facsimile (I think you meant that was what you have), there are a few threads that relate to gearboxes, but no one ever mentioned this model. Do any of you have an opinion on float valves? The hudson looks nice... I have not ever assembled a float valve in a tank setup(except in a toilet, LOL). How are they used in relation to a smaller tank? I would assume they are mounted internally... but how? Would I be crazy to plump tight and not use a float? I can't imagine the pressure would go over the 125 PSI max input - especially through 1" PVC reduced to 1/2" PVC. I like the idea of a 50 gal tank. I used to have a 100 gal AG skid sprayer with a 9 gpm pump that I used for roof cleaning before abandoning that line of business. Also - I do like the CAT pump that I have... I just don't want to lay out the money for another one! I'll probably sell the one I have her before too long. I am a long way from returning to this full time... I have downsized myself almost into oblivion and want to get back in gear - It looks like I will likely have to leave my corporate job in a year to finish college and want to be in decent shape with the business again before the 2012 season.

Before next season, I am thinking about setting my 13HP Honda with a gearbox driven pump. Does anyone have a TS2021GR? They are sold on Dultmeier for under $700 and didn't know if anyone had any experience with them. Looks nice since it comes as the pump & gearbox in one. I own a CAT pump and do not want another. An old post talks about a gearbox and a Comet 5.5 gpm pump. Anyway... thoughts? Second, the rural area I live in has a decent number of homes that have well based water supplies. My largest pump that I have normally used is a 4.8 gpm pump and it at times seems that it is being starved for water. With a gearbox pump, it appears I can easily draw from a tank from prior posts... what gal size should I get? 25, 50, 65? I really don't want to carry much water. Also, does it make sense to double feed a pump that is only 5.5 or 5.6 gal? I plan on plumbing it with PVC, not hoses. Thanks

I don't have a current "lead" but get one or two calls a week that I am not interested in either due to the location (distance) or the nature of the job (commercial vehicle washes, roof cleanings, oil on concrete, etc.). Just a few days ago (while on vacation down in Tennessee) I got a call requesting truck washes on a fleet for a fairly well known local bakery... gave them a no-can-do... but I wish I could have referred them to somebody. I run cold water only and have downgraded the size of my arsenal. I am only doing sub-3000 sq. ft. homes on softwashes and gutter cleanings (along with the easy wood jobs). Looking for others in the general area that might be interested in taking some of these jobs. Would appreciate something in return, as some of these jobs might be in my "service area." I work full time in an office, go to school full time, and have a family that I'm raising... love pressure washing... but can only do the really close by niche jobs due to time constraints. Let me know if anyone is out there and interested. My website is real & I am still doing service calls, so I'm not a silly lead service or anything. I'm not a lowballer, but my prices aren't premium either... so you could expect that same from the people that call me. Search "dayton ohio pressure washing" or "springfield ohio pressure washing" and you'll see I'm page ranked 1 on Google. Thanks - Nate

I have been using something similar to this for a while. I only use it on houses where I have cleaned the gutters by hand previously (so that I know what is up there and don't end up shooting pebbles or who knows what at the neighbor's house). I just took a heavy "T" and attached it to the gutter cleaning hook, then put a 15 degree nozzle on both ends. Works well and in the same way you don't lose control of the lance since the two nozzles balance each other out. It is still fairly easy to hit the edges of the shingles, though. You can go up and down a house with 100 feet of gutter and be done in 10 minutes or less (if you cleaned it the prior season and there isn't 300 pounds of sludge). Follow it up with a quick rinse along the gutter line to get rid of the nasties and you're done. Not good for people who care about their landscape or get their windows professionally cleaned, though. Gutter hook - $10 Two nozzles - $8 "T" - $5 One nipple - $2 Total = $25 with same results

I haven't posted since 2008 (and wasn't really much of a contributor then - but loved the knowledge gained). I went on a hiatus from washing in the early fall of 2008 (economy) and got a cozy corporate job and decided to finish school... Anyway, the house washing bug keeps biting me and I've decided to re-open on a part-time basis (combined with the fact that I am getting 2 calls a week for house washes even though I haven't had an active ad since 2008). Here's my question: Since starting, I have always used Simple Cherry. I have been looking at E-Spec for years, but have never taken the plunge and tried any of their products... but they sound so nice in the descriptions. Can anyone shed some light/make some recommendations?

Never mind - that last link was for an air hose reel. LOL

Why don't you just get an air hose reel? They are cheap and readily available.

That seems like an awfully long time for a structure that size. What is the GPM of your pressure washer & what kind of chemicals are you using?

Anybody have a good place they like to get the sanding discs from?

Do any of you use a floor sander (orbital)? I've got a 14" Powr-Flite floor scrubber/sander that I picked up last year and never used. I've got a couple questions: 1. If I run this on a deck, am I going to get swirl marks from the circular motion of the driver? 2. What grit should I use? Thanks

Dan, How long have you been using that pump? I've been thinking about switching out the 4.6 GPM pump on one of my 13 hp direct drives (cheap knock off pump from China). Did you but it from PressureParts or somewhere else?