Upgrading Current Machine

[Dirtbuster 14]

I am new to the website. It looks like there is alot of experience here to learn from!

My current setup is a HydroTek 5 GPM hot water 12 volt machine. I want more GPM's without breaking the bank. I have ordered a 23 HP Vanguard machine that will arrive in the next few days. I have also found a new Legacy KKV 3087 pump for a very low price. Based on all of the HP calculation's, I should get around 8.25 GPM @ 3000 PSI. I don't really need that much GPM, but it's there if I need it. I am not sure if the burner will get as hot as the 5GPM, but I don't run it at full heat anyway.

Are there any suggestions on designing the system, to allow me to dump excess flow, without damaging the pump. I plan on using a soft touch unloader ( probably a VB10 ), so I don't have the problems with the K7 surging. I am thinking of installing a by-pass circuit that can be manually adjusted based on my desired GPM. I plan on dumping the bypass from the unloader & this by-pass valve, back to my water tank. I know I will have to change tips as needed, but this will allow me to adjust my GPM without undo damage. I will be running an 1 1/4" 1 wire suction hose to feed the pump from my water tank.

I hope this setup will work, does anyone have any suggestions that I need to consider? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Jerry 24]

Welcome Dirt Buster,

you have several questions to get answered, so we have a few for you..

What model HydroTek is it ?

How large is your heater.. diameter, and tank length ? which model burner ??

Engine HP ?

... some systems can be upgraded by just changing pulleys, especially with 12 volt heaters,'cuz there's no belt drive generator to contend with.

that new 23hp is a loose engine to go with that lose pump, ?

talk to me B 4 you order that Legacy... about long-term-low-cost.

Did you want more volume for cleaning heavy equipment, or are you trying to clean hard-surfaces faster ??

... 'cuz going less than 3500 psi makes it MUCH more difficult to get gum off a sidewalk.. in fact, you need to start with 4000 psi, if you need to stretch hoses past 150ft, especially with over 5gpm through a 3/8" hose.

want to get reeaally technical ?? .. call me.

We’re glad to help .

Jerry McMillen

President, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc. jerry@pressurewasher.net

dba PressureWasher.netcall 800-400-Clean (2532)

10821 Airport Drive El Cajon, Calif. 92020 office 619-448-8111

manufacturers of… BullDogProIndustrial Water Blasters

Sirocco Reclaim Systems, and theVacuBerm

Edited September 22, 2009 by Jerry
touting ??

[Dirtbuster 14]

My current HydroTek is a SS32005k. It has a Kohler 15 Hp engine, & a Cat 5CP3120 Pump, rated @ 4.5 GPM @ 3200 PSI. I think the burner is rated @ 450,000 BTU, with a Beckett 12 Volt system. My water tank is 225 gallons. I am not sure what you mean by saying the 23 Hp Vanguard is a loose engine? The Admiral ( Legacy ) XG 3087 was almost free. My projected cost of this update project will be held to 1500.00 at the most. That includes basically a complete overhaul of the existing unit. The whole unit has been completely disassembled from top to bottom. The burner will receive a cleaning, with new insulation. The transformer was just recently replaced. New motor, pump, unloader, hoses, belts, & pulleys are part of the overhaul. I hope to be able to design the system where I can bypass any amount of water, to give me any PSI or GPM as needed. Max pressure will probably be 3000 PSI, and 8.5 GPM should be attainable. I don't know how this will actually work until tested, but I hope it will go as planned. The machine will be plumbed for 2 guns if needed.

Current cleaning does not typically involve gum, so that should not be a problem. Mostly houses, driveways, & fleet washing. I am open to any suggestions, & would be glad to give you a call if you like.

Thanks

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

Jerry -

I'm going to ask you again to go read the vendor rules. There are rules about posting a sales post in certain areas.

Beth

p.s. We love our Hydroteks, and would buy them again! :seeya:

[Beth n Rod 1,279]

http://www.thegrimescene.com/forums/look-whats-new/10396-please-read-before-posting-here.html

[Jerry 24]

Beth,

I get the idea, I just dont see the problem in the above post... it's all technical.

I speak from the service department, and have an attitude toward helping these guys that have been mis-lead, or ignored by others.

But I apologize for mentioning my brands in other threads..

I'll lighten it up, in general, and I'll fix a few of those "hijackings" right now :)

Anyway, DirtBuster called..

he's going to try the Admiral Pump he can get from a friend, to go with a 23hp Vanguard, and set it up for 8.2gpm @ 3000 psi on a #9 nozzle = 7.8gpm,

that allows the system to bypass a little for unloader reliability,

and the engine cruises at a cool 75% of rated Hp.

...And I didn't make a dime for my time, just good will.

sorry for the drama.

Jerry McMillen

President, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc. jerry@pressurewasher.net

dba PressureWasher.netcall 800-400-Clean (2532)

10821 Airport Drive El Cajon, Calif. 92020 office 619-448-8111

manufacturers of… BullDogProIndustrial Water Blasters

Sirocco Reclaim Systems, and theVacuBerm

Edited September 22, 2009 by Jerry
misspelling

[Dirtbuster 14]

I finally got my machine running, and it's upgrade to 8.25 GPM @ 3000 PSI. Thanks to Paul & Jerry for all of their help.

My new setup is a new KKV 3087 Pump, & a new Vanguard 23 HP engine. I hit quite a few bumps in the road on the rebuild of my 9 year old HydroTek, but it's like a new machine now. I had a few mounting issues with getting the pump mounted & aligned, but all is well. I tried the pump on rails belt driven, and ran into several problems. The pump mounted on pump rails had to much vibration in a loaded condition. I did not fell good about this. The pump also on the rails got to close to the muffler on the new engine. I felt that this would cause possible overheating problems with the new pump. I removed the pump rails, & mouted the pump straight to the frame. It took a little work to make new slots for mounting the pump. The pump & motor have Browning timing gears, that offered me a smaller diameter pulley for clearance. I found out on this rebuild that the timing assembly, offers more HP transfer than standard V-Belts. This configuration reduced my pump deflection from the rails, & lowered the vibration to a acceptable level. The pump is also has 3 more inches of clearance from the muffler.

One problem I was worried about on this rebuild, is how I would be able to divert my GPM from 1 gun to 2. Going with a VB10 unloader took care of all of this by itself. I did not know this would work until it was put to the test. Configuring my unloader bypass back to my 225 gallon water tank, will never allow the pump to overheat the packing. Anyway the VB10 unloader allows changing any tip size on a gun to work properly. The unloader will bypass the needed water, for any tip size.Bypass pressure back to the tank, is around 700 PSI on the pump when not pulling the trigger. Much better than 3000 PSI on the pump at idle. I was very pleased to see this feature. I have always run K7 unloaders in the past, and this would not allowed me the freedom to change tips size without causing the unloader to constantly spike. I called Paul at Envirospec to confirm that I would not damage the pump or unloader by running any tip size.

My heater has plenty of capacity (BTU')s to provide hot water for the 8 GPM on the pump.

Overall I am tickled to death with my new pump, motor, & unloader configuration. I hope that someone will find this helpfull, when trying to upgrade their machine.

[Paul Kassander 26]

Glad that it all worked out for you I am sure you will love all that new flow of water.