Scott Stone

We have all done it. Something that was screwy, maybe a little on the edge of EPA laws, or defied common sense in order to make a customer happy. If you havewn't you have not been in business long enough. SO the question is, Since you have been in business what screw thing did you do, that you knew you were doing in process that was totally against anything you had ever learned to make a customer happy. Here is mine. I was doing a hydraulic oil clean up, years ago, before there was any kind of push for compliance. I was washing down an asphalt driveway in a VERY expensive part of town. It was a $5 million dollar home 16 years ago. The customer was complaining because of the black spot from the hydraulic oil. So what do you do? We all know that pressure washing is not going to color match the asphalt. I took a pump up sprayer and coated the whole driveway with transmission fluid to give it a uniform color. The results, The customer was thrilled, and I got a good sized check for taking care of the problem. $700 for 3 hours work. So, what did you do? Scott

Company Name: A Mind for Detail Inc Contact Name: Scott Stone Type of LFL service training you offer: Fleets Flatwork Years of Experience: 16 Require Insurance (Y-N): YOur own health insurance Phone # : 602-509-9741 Best time to contact:Whenever. I'll talk if I pick up the phone. Day(s) of the week available for LFL training: Mon=Sat City and State:Mesa, Az YOU MUST BE FROM OUT OF STATE!!!

ON the schedule thing, For the first three months we let our kids do what ever they wanted. at 3 months, they started getting trained to sleep at night, and it only take s a couple of nights of zero sleep and evilness to accomplish it. Our results were 4 kids who all slept through the night from 3 months on. Scott Stone

I'm really old fashioned when it come sto this sort of thing. So the first thing is to love the kids Mom. They will assume that if you love her, that you love them. If there is tension between the two of you, there will be a lot of tension in the house. teh second thing is, be a parent, and not a best friend. Someone needs to guide and discipline the little angel, and it is your job. If you are too worried about them liking you, then you will not be able to be an adequate parent. Scott Stone

I have to agree with Everett, although I would hoep that he would consider me a professional. I don't post nearly as much as I used to, and I know that there are many others that feel and do the same. He did an exceptional job of identifying the problem. The solution, in an open forum such as this, would be much harder to identify. I do see that there is a cycle to the bulletin boards. The one the was the major source of information will gradually go by the wayside and not have the activity that it once did. It will usually last just a couple of years. The one exception that proves the rule is the Delco board. The drama and sniping are things that are going to occur no matter the situation. It is especially hard when there is such free access to the information. Scott Stone

You can try a pressure guage. When I got a hole in the coil the pressure drop was insignificant. Around 200 lbs. Sparkie has an interesting idea. You could check the contacts and make sure that you have a good electric charge flowing before you really start spending the bucks. I don't understand why you would have coil problem right now. I had over 9000 hours on my machine when I had a problem. Since most guys replace their machine before that, I doubt that you have that problem, or have frozen the coil. Check your ignition sources, and make sure that your generaotr or battery are good. Scott

Does the smoke smeel like diesel smoke? If not, you might have a pinhole in your coil Could also be that a connector has a crack and is blowing water into the heater coil. Scott Stone

I was reading the paper today and saw that a former employee was shot by the local police a couple of days ago. It breaks my heart. He was a really nice guy, and was pleasant to be around, he just could not work at the pace that I needed for him to, and he agreed. It seems that he was driving eratically and a couple of different people called 911 on him. When the police caught up to him while he was changing a flat tire, he pulled a gun on them and said he was going to cap them. It turned out to be a BB gun. It kind of gives you pause to think taht someone could let their life go down the drain so quickly... Scott Stone

Your coil is rusting from teh inside out. Are you using any chems in it, particularly acid? That will take the Zinc out of the inside of the coil and cause this problem. Also DI water will do it, just not as quickly. For what it is worth, theh yellow and black are both rust, it is just the black is a lot more concentrated rust. Scott Stone

I have had all three as well. The cat was ran without oil for about 3 hours one time, and then filled, and had ZERO problems with it for another two years. I was impressed. The disadvantage to CAT is that if it breaks, it will break you. The parts are really expensive. I had two AR pump that I bought from the same guy, at the same time. They both lasted about an 8 hour shift, and then theh bolts pulled out of the pump head and were stripped out. I think that the integrated unloader failed, and caused the failure on both of them. I was not impressed. I have tried Comet, they were pretty good pumps. They would last me about a year or so, then teh plungers would go south for what ever reason. The oil seals would also go bad, so that they were probably related problems. They are good in a pinch. The cool thing is that lot of the comet parts are inteeerchangeable with General parts, and they are less expensive. My Generals have been pretty good. I get about 2000 hours before I have to change the pcking in them, and they just keep going. I have had a couple of plungers go bad, and some valves, but they are pretty reliable pumps. My recommendation; If money is no object, or little, go with CAT, then the second choice,for me, is General. I am currently sticking with my Generals, due to replacement and repair cost. Scott Stone

I am constantly analyzing my costs. I do various things, and sojme of them are a little more profitable and some are a LOT more profitable in order to be competitive. So when I am working piece work, like fleets, where I am getting X amount of dollars per vehicle, the goal is to make around $45 to $50 an hour per man. Obviously, when I am washing by myself I expect to make more perhour, since I have more of an experience factor on my side. Every year, I analyze the expenses VS> the hours worked to amke sure that I am still profitable. My goal is to keep salaries at 25% of revenues. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If Salaries for a particular job are going up, and I am not htere, you can bet that I will be out on the jobsite on the next scheduled service to see what kind of change I can effect to make it profitable. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances, such as, if some of my belly Dump that we wash on a weekly basis are hauling Asphalt that week. That is going to automatically increase the time and chemical expense because that is a lot harder than just Road Grime. What it boils down to is that I do a monthly analysis, since ALL of my accounts are on a scheduled, recurring basis. That way I needto know if I need to make a price adjustment. Scott Stone

With monsy no object, and doing what you would love? I would be the next Boyd Coddington, except I am a much nicer person than he is. Then in my spare time, I would do scouting stuff. Scott Stone

He is mighty proud of it. I think that I might offer him $2000, because I would have to put another $2000, at least to make the set up serviceable. Hope whoever buys it makes $126 an hour, since it is all ready to go. Scott Stone

It isn't sealing. WHy don't you take some teflon tape and wrap it around the threads and see if it seals up that way? IF not there could be some corrosion that will not allow it to seal up. Just by happenstance, if you are connecting to a quick connect, then the oring could be bad. Scott Stone

I guess I have a different philosophy. That is normal. For a used machine it is all about price. I bought a used Hotsy last week. I paid $800 for it. It needed a fuel pump and a pressure switch. I have repaired the fuel pump, and have bypassed, for testing purposes only, the pressure switch to make sure that is all that was needed. So far I am pleased with my purchase. Here is the wayt I figure it. To replace the motor is ~$1300 for a 20 horse Honda. A pump, if I do not buy a Hawk pump, is arounf $400. All of the Burner parts, except the coil can be replaced for around $200, and the battery is abother $75. IF, and that is a big IF, I have to replace everything, I will be out a total of around $2700 for a name brand machine. That is my opinion is a good deal. More than likely, I will only have $1000 into a good used Hotsy, by just replacing the necessities. So, what to look for? first is price. Second look at additional equipment. I have paid $3000 for a complete trailer rig, with hose reels, tank, and the whole shooting match. The machine had 175 hours on it. It has alos constantly broken down, and had to be "reengineered" for reliability. IT has still been a reasonable deal, even though I had to pay to have the coil repalced at 450 hours. You just need to shop and keep your ear to the ground, and not jump at every little thing that comes along. Scott Stone

And my gas bill last month was around $2500... Nice that you bought a proper truck. Scott Stone

My wife is currently on this years vacation. I flew home after the weekend to take care of things. I am flying out on Friday afternoon to rejoin my family, and to finish out the vacation. I thought that they were coming home on Friday, but it appears that we are now doing Disneyland, after the beach for the week. I am just along for teh ride, and as driver and ATM. Scott

I had Fleetwash call me a low baller once to a customer. They were actually taking over the account under a national contract. It was funny. The distribution manager looked at them, and told them, "I don't want you here. I have to have you, and you are charging more money than the guy whose work I have been totally satisfied with for 5 years. Just because you can only compete one way does not make him a lowballer." I don't worry about low ballers. I worry about the guy that thinks he knows what he is doing. Scott Stone

That second one is too prime... Makes me think of one or two people that I know...:) Scott

I have often had customers ask to see my equipment. Usually when they see it, I have the project sold. A lot of places, such as the Post Office will ask to see your equipment to make sure that you are currently in business, and not hoping to use them as a starting point. The last jub that I got that asked to see my equipment was a LARGE concrete job. (think in the millions of feet) It was absolutely worth it to show them my equipment and has been every time, but I only do Commercial and industrial work, so the parameters are a little different. Scott Stone

My wife and I bought a new travel trailer. We bought it to use to dump money in the deprived California economy, what with all the book sellers and such. ;) So this is how my three day getaway went. Arrive at campsite about 3 hours away. I puill into a parking lot to get some lunch for the teenage boys we were taking to a church camp. While I was in the restaurant, two cars parked on either side of me so close I could not get out. After 10 minutes, someone came out and moved one of the trucks so I could leave. Drop the boys off, and could not find a campsite to my wifes satisfaction, or mine, for that matter. Finally got to one, and parked the trailer. I get out and start unhooking it, and my cell phone rings. It is 2 pm and the guy that is supposed to start at 5 just quit. It would not have been so bad, but we had been carrying him for months because we knew he was desperate for money, and nearly suicidal (NO JOKE) because he could not provide for his family. I got 3 hours notice, and was 3 hours away. A couple of quick phone calls and got that problem taken care of. As I was walking around the trailer, one of the tires was flat, but not shredded. So I need to get the trailer tire changed. To remove the tire, I needed tools. So off to Home Depot I go to get some minimal tools, and then to Checker. I get teh tire off, and drive through the center of Flagstaff, Az for 8 miles, or basically from one side of the town to the other, along the old route 66 to find a tire shop. Cost me $12 for a patch. While I am getting the tire repaired, I get a phone call. Seems one of the knuckleheads that works for me doesn't understand that a wheel needs to be put on tight to work properly, after a flat. (this is the one that wants to be a mechanic) :rolleyes: Wheel and brake drum is totally ruined. So I have to tell them to take another trailer. About this time, I am getting a cll from one of my customers. He needs an emergency meeting with me today, (MOnday) if possible. Sizable account, but I get him to put it off until Wednesday afternoon. Finally about 7 pm, my phone stops ringing for the night. Tuesday morning, I get a call about the previous night and what should they do for today. I take some time and get it sorted out so that all of the bases are covered. Then I get another call saying one of the trucks is overheating, and do I wan tteh guy that thinks that he is a mechanic to fix it??? (NO!!! park it) The phone was quiet until 11:30 at night. Mind you I am "camping" and long since asleep. "Scott, The pressure washer heater isn't working right. It is really loud and blowing black smoke." It is a fleet job that should have been done 2 hours previously, so I am thinking, what is going on? Anyway, I ask them how close they are to finished, and they say that they have one truck left. Duh, wash it cold. Wednesday was uneventful, unti lI got home. Then it was running all over to try and fix teh thigns that were broke and should not have been and was 10 minutes late for my Wednesday afternoon meeting. Ahh, I love being self employed. Scott Stone

Let's see, my wife wentout with the three oldest to get the books at midnite. We ended up with three books and a set of audio discs for me to play on my Ipod. I got done with work yesterday and came home, and on e was done with the book, one was 3/4's of the way through, and one was waiting for the Mom Review to be done before he was allowed to read it. I guess we are fans. The littlest is still to young to be able to read it by herself, but she will as soon as she can, and knowing her, it will be soon. Scott Stone

HOw big is your feed line? I like as big a line as I can get. I actually run a 2" line from my tanks to just under teh pump inlet, and then it goes to a 1" line there. It works well, and I can empty my tanks down to within a half inch of the bottom with this set up. I also have NEVER had to wait for the pump to start pumping. I do use bigger tanks, but I think that it would still hold true. I have a feeling teh pulsation and the wait are both tied together. Fix one, and you will fix them both. Scott Stone

I typically haul up to 450 gallons of water on my trailer. There is no way around it because of the type of work that I do. The new trailer is 8x16, the bed is probably 6.5, and the axles are specced at 10,400lbs. GVW. It has a drop leg 7k jack on the front. It is expanded metal for the floor, and has all LED lights. It has 8 ply radial tires, and all the other little legal requirements. I also spec'd a Bulldog hitch. Other than that, it is probably like every other trailer. I should have spec'ed a 14 foot trailer. I also have a 12 foot trailer with pretty much the same spec's. It is Full legal width 102" and also has an expanded metal floor. It is about 5 years old and is like brand new, except it is a little dirty. Scott Stone.

You should take a look at who wrote the article. I believe it was someone from Hydrotek, who had an agenda. That being said, he might have a point. Partof the problem with that type of trailer is that although they have a "clean" look there is no where to put accessories. I do not necessarily like to put stuff in the bed of my truck, so I want a little extra space. Thus, I prefer to have my trailers custom built to my spec's. That way I get what I want and what is most useful to me. It does get really expensive, really quick, (the last trailer cost me $4500 for an open flatbed), but, I get what I want. Plus, I want to pick what kind of machine I put on my trailer. Scott Stone