Mountain View 14 Report post Posted February 20, 2006 What is everyone's pressure washer pump of choice? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PowerWashofVa 14 Report post Posted February 21, 2006 I have Tuff machine & it has a Legacy pump. I was wondering who really makes this pump? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RogerG 14 Report post Posted February 21, 2006 When I get to update my unit I think I will go with the Udor pumps. Roger Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FullBlast 14 Report post Posted February 23, 2006 I run COMET!! I have 7 of them. 7 @ 3600psi . They can go pretty long on a rebuild. Had 1700 hrs on the last ones I rebuilt. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beth n Rod 1,278 Report post Posted February 23, 2006 Cat pumps and AR pumps have served me well. Cat pumps are pricey to repair from what I have heard but barely need more than new seals and packings. I think most pumps will perform well and last a long time if care is taken to change the oil regularly and keep the inlet filter clean. Also, limiting the use of the thermal relief valve helps add to the life of the pistons, seals and packings. Rod!~ 1 577-Jersey reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Adrian 155 Report post Posted February 23, 2006 Being that I have only had one PW so far. I have put it through the ringers and CAT pumps do seem to have nine lives Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4running 14 Report post Posted September 11, 2006 I have a Hotsy Pump on my Hotsy machine, but because of its age no seals, or anything for that matter are available for it. I wonder if this is standard for manufacturers to do at a certain point or if its just Hotsy, but no matter how good the pump is if you cant service it, its days are limited. Something to consider when buying! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Russ Johnson 141 Report post Posted September 11, 2006 I have a Hotsy Pump on my Hotsy machine, but because of its age no seals, or anything for that matter are available for it. I wonder if this is standard for manufacturers to do at a certain point or if its just Hotsy, but no matter how good the pump is if you cant service it, its days are limited.Something to consider when buying! Don't be too sure...what model pump? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Kassander 26 Report post Posted September 12, 2006 I am partial to General pumps, I have always had good luck with them. They suck well from a tank, are very reasonably priced, and parts are everywhere and inexpensive. For an extra $100 bucks or so I can buy a new General pump for what it costs to rebuild a Cat. Comet and AR seem to make a good quality pump as well, very compariable to General. Cat pumps are good, I just have not had good luck with them in my applications. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BUNN 34 Report post Posted May 26, 2008 I've had Cat pumps before, but found that they were expensive to rebuild. That is what led me to purchase my first General pump. I have owned General pumps ever since, and have had many years of great luck with them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BUNN 34 Report post Posted May 26, 2008 I also have an AR pump, it has done a good job too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
plainpainter 217 Report post Posted May 26, 2008 My AR direct drive pump has worked wonders for me, will be repacking it this week for the first time. It sucks right out of tank no problem, even though it's direct drive! 1 577-Jersey reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tinsley 14 Report post Posted May 28, 2008 would have to agree with Paul. I like the General for the price and parts are available almost anytime, anywhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
splashandash 15 Report post Posted July 2, 2008 i have always used general pumps and had good luck with them. but i just got a udor 7 gpm pump last month and it seems to be pretty well built and my workers seem to like it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roof Clean USA 14 Report post Posted July 20, 2008 My two cents. I have used "The General" for a long, long time. Approx. 20 years. Tried other pumps periodically, i.e. cat, comet, etc. but none has been as long lasting as "The General". Since I have been doing the Roof Cleaning gig for a while, I have become partial to UDOR as well as they make a well built diaphragm pump for chemical (ZETA 40) and a great spray down rinse pump as well. Hypro makes a solid diaphragm pump too, specifically the 413 and 813 series, of which I own several, and they only need diaphragms occasionally and can be run dry for short periods without damage . But again, my experience has shown for a do-all, reliable, "Git-ER DoNe" positive displacement plunger type pump that lasts and lasts with just minimal regular maintenance, and a reliable water source, of course, " The General" TS2021 has my vote. For those about to spray, hats off to "The General", we salute you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jerry 24 Report post Posted May 20, 2009 I sure wish I had more time to spend in these blogs... You guys have all kinds of technical questions. Here's the scoop... Reliability in pumps is about the way you plumb the pump... If it gets the "perfect water supply", it can live a long time between water seals. If you have a "bolt-on" unloader valve on a beefy pump, it's still a pile of crap for reliability... it can too easily overheat in bypass. Plumb it with the bypass to your water tank, and every pump can be reliable. The water flowing through the pump carries away heat from the plungers going in 'n out of the seals... if there's only a few ounces of water bypassing back to the inlet of the pump, it will overheat quickly, and scorch the seals in your pump and unloader valve. On ALL the systems we build, you get a "high-volume bypass line" with 30 ounces or more of water bypassing, so you can lay the wand down for a few minutes when you need to... the slower heat-up time also makes the thermal relief valve MUCH more accurate too ! Bypassing back to the tank is obviously MUCH better, as long as you stick with the perfect water-supply rule... feed line for up to 5gpm should be 1" id and no more than 5ft. long. For 6gpm +... do dual feed lines.. that is one to EACH side of the pump. The reliability is huge. As your last set of seals wore out un-evenly, I rest my case. Now back to the pump question... a "Beefy" pump has a big oil bath, big bearings, big crank-shaft, big thick head, and especially beefy rods... The rods are especially critical, because some day, that pump is going to be low on oil, or have a little water mixed in, and aluminum alloy rods DO NOT hold up to the heat like the forged BRONZE rods do. After seeing as many abused bronze rods as we have in our service dept., I'm a FIRM believer on this. Most of the Comet , AR, Giant, and some General pumps have this level of beef. Speaking of ABUSEABLE pumps, Cat, Hotsy-Hawk, and Hypro have been the "wimps" under the abusive load of an overheat, OR over-pressure.... I've seen them blow with nothing wrong but an extra 500 to 600psi over working pressure. On the other hand, I've seen Comet AP and General pumps go through heat and pressure trauma that is simply astounding. Blowing a 6000 psi gauge with a failed unloader on an AR pump rated for 3500, with no damage to the pump, is worth the mention. Eh? We prefer the AR and Comet pumps because they are of the "most abuseable group", and they are lower on the PARTS-price-scale, when you finally need them. Pick your pump for abuseability, plumb it for reliability, and enjoy "long-term-low-cost". Oh yeah.. never mount a pressure-relief valve up-side-down, as it traps debris in it's face, and it should NOT have a rubber-ball against a brass seat.. prefer a Stainless ball, on stainless seat, as they don't attract corrosion like rubber does, and reliability is the point on a BAD day, right?! One last thing... let your unloader valve bypass a trickle for a "cushioning effect" on the seat.. if the unloader "slams-open and closed" every time it actuates, it will wear out prematurely. If the last one had cracks on the valve-faces, I rest my case. I hope this helps Y'all realize a friendly tech has better value than ever in a recession... this is the time you realize the quality you got from "cheep", or delivered by a salesman instead of a true tech. If your local service guy acts more like a tech than an order-taker, show him a little respect... buy local !! You need him to like you, on a bad, or otherwise expensive day ! ...As you guys learn more about reclaim and filtration for re-use, you will rely on technical know-how to get reliability and functionality. ...Just like you have on the pump issues. Eh? A good tech will never waste your time (or money), and a great one, will make you more profitable. Ask a tech MORE often than your competition. Glad to help ! Jerry McMillen President, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc. jerry@pressurewasher.net dba PressureWasher.net call 800-400-Clean (2532) 10821 Airport Drive El Cajon, Calif. 92020 office 619-448-8111 manufacturers of… BullDogPro Industrial Water Blasters Sirocco Reclaim Systems, and the VacuBerm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rick2 42 Report post Posted June 25, 2009 Cat and General serve me very well. Two AR pumps gave up way too early in life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
offduty 25 Report post Posted June 25, 2009 I have 4 udor pumps that are over 4 years old and have never been rebuilt. Two newest pumps are two years old with no problems. General has finally starting switching to u packs instead of v packs, so they should be a little more reliable. Generals and comets make good door stops to keep the shop door open:) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew Bandarovich 39 Report post Posted June 28, 2009 General Emperor FTW. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jerry 24 Report post Posted September 16, 2009 (edited) Remember, how it's plumbed makes the BIGGEST difference. they need the "perfect water supply", and a high volume bypass. Also, I have seen NO difference in reliability between u-cups and v-packings, but u-cups have more surface area to "force " a seal with the plunger, so theoretically, they should seal better.... I just haven't seen it with my eyes. ...they never get a chance, as the systems are so frequently starved for water. Also, as you're considering a new pump.. ask about pricing on the repair kits... especially the soft parts.. and availability. if the parts are twice the price, of others, don't buy the pump... they all work the same way, and wear out the same way.. I'm back to repeating myself.. the way it's plumbed is paramount, ...affordable parts are next. None of you has asked about ease in rebuildability.. The old General TS series, has been sweet for ease at the rebuild, but those thin plungers and seal retainers crack too easily, and even though the parts cost is competitive, you have to consider the fact that the AR pumps' ceramics seem to be the MOST abuseable. Comet are better than those TS generals too... We don't sell many brass parts nor ceramics for the AR and Comet, and almost never on a Giant pump. AR, Comet, and Giant are ALWAYS less expensive on a bad day than others. Generals eat brass & ceramics, the newer Generals are expensive in parts, Hawk pumps eat rods, and seals, Cat is just SO overpriced on parts, and abuseability, I have no respect for 'em. I can remember putting soft parts in a Cat SF at a year old.. I replumbed it with a high-volume bypass, and it went another 5 years before it needed the next seal kit.. but cost of those seals plus the valves made it less expensive to throw away and replace with an AR... which went 10 years on soft parts only. Udor has been a good pump, I must add, as long as the parts are close by. those Udor Penta-Plex (high-volume) pumps are interesting, but expensive.. It's easier to feed TWO 5gpm pumps than one 10gpm pump, and the cost difference on the system, & parts is enormous... we gladly build dual pump units with the economical AR RKV series... the parts are beefy, and very low cost. ...put that with a Vanguard Diesel, and dual pumps.. Oooh soo sweeet ! ..let me send you pictures. Eh? Hopefully you will target your next questions to a tech, ..and have a pencil ready for parts comparison. Eh? You can't bank on luck... you need real statistical facts and analysis. You need Long-Term-Low-Cost. Jerry McMillen President, Cleaning System Specialists, Inc. jerry@pressurewasher.net dba PressureWasher.net call 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 16, 2009 by Jerry misspellings Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleanhoods 43 Report post Posted December 21, 2009 My machine is little over 10 years old and i just replaced the pump.The replacement was my fault.last year i didnt treat my machine so it froze up and a hairline crack caused water to go into the crank,so i just bought another with high temp seals like my old one and my choice of pump is the xma model by AR PUMP been very relyable to me.But i feel i feel it also is relyable due to the set up of my machine.My unit dumps in my tank and draws from the tank which keeps the pump cool during the time i have to lay my wand down.That unit is 1250 psi at 3.5 gpm.Now my 3000 psi at 6gpm unit has a General pump on it and it is a early 80's model and still runs fine and so i also vote for General which the life of that pump is saved from not starving the pump from water and letting the pump dump into the tank during unloading and draw fromt he tank which will keep it cool.The key is cool and change the oil every 3 months i think it helps. Marko Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnB 14 Report post Posted December 27, 2009 Go and try to buy parts for a cat pump and you will wish you had a general Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris Tharpe 40 Report post Posted December 27, 2009 were moving to r1 hose this year from r2. Had a little chat about it and since have given one rig a shot with r1. We run 300 ft of hose generally in a single section with an extra on the truck. This year were going to have 2 150 sections of hose on the reels and have several spares on hand as well. Time spent changing over 300ft of hose and recoiling it is time wasted if it blew as with 150ft the time is cut into half Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jerry 24 Report post Posted January 14, 2010 what a great thread. good job guys ! Whatever pump is used, give it its BEST chance at reliability, choose BEEFY, with easy-access parts that are affordable. Jerry McMillen President, ...Cleaning System Specialists, Inc.....jerry@pressurewasher.net dba PressureWasher.net .............................call ...800-400-Clean (2532) 10821 Airport Drive El Cajon, Calif. 92020 ..........office 619-448-8111 manufacturers of… .........BullDogPro Industrial Water Blasters Sirocco Reclaim Systems, ......and the.VacuBerm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pressure washing LA 14 Report post Posted February 3, 2010 I like Landa. Comet makes a good pump as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
