Hey. I've been looking at the El Diablo and have been interested in possibly getting one. But I've also been getting told to look at the SS 870. I like the El Diablo because it seems pretty similar to the old Steamway TMs, which is what I'm the most familiar with and I also like the heat of a fuel burner. It seems like it would be easy to maintain. Has anyone used both of these out know how they compare? I don't even know, are they in the same category? I'm also wondering if you are able to dual wand with them. I don't like to do it, but sometimes on big jobs I need to. Typically if I do I'm running 300 to 400ft runs.
Sapphire Scientific 870 and El Diablo
- Thread starter jawhit
- Start date
I dont think heat will be a issue with the 870 my buddy has one, way to big of a machine for the average home around my area, but what a awesome machine. My other buddy had a El D and finaly put her down and got a 570, he LOVES his 570 but has always said great things about his old EL D she just wore out and swapped her out for the 570. He has said he LOVES the free heat with the 570.
Papa John
Lifetime Supportive Member
I'll keep it simple and politically correct---Not in the same category... Buy what you need.
Totally Agree
Mikey P
Administrator
Both are too hot...lol..
Buy the 870 if you want a box truck with 350 feet of hose and two of everything
DO NOT CRAM THAT BEAST IN A CARGO VAN.
Buy the 870 if you want a box truck with 350 feet of hose and two of everything
DO NOT CRAM THAT BEAST IN A CARGO VAN.
AshleyMckendree
Supportive Member
Onfire_02_01
Member
If the choices are between the 870 and the eldiablo, i would take the el diablo. I have one and i love it. Mostly would come down to footprint, the eldiablo has a smaller footprint. I can have the unit and a hose reel coming out the side door. The 870 will take up the entire side door. I have done 600 foot hose runs with mu el diablo and have had good suction. You would have to convince me you needed a bigger truckmount than that for normal cleanings. If you only do large commercial needing multiple guys working off one truck then go bigger.
SamIam
Member
Hell buy a box truck throw 2 el diablos in There cost about the same!
I'm liking the pro1200 more and more.
I'm liking the pro1200 more and more.
SamIam
Member
The el Diablo 400 cfm
Zee
Supportive Member
How do you achieve that? Do you put the waste tank sideways in the back?
More importantly: how do you achieve "good suction" at 600 feet???
I don't have experience with the 870 but the way I see it, they're not two compatible units.
Jack Zipper Zerkie
Member
I just changed my 20 hp Kohler to the same engine and now running at 3200 rpm the water temp at the motor was 260 and past that over to 0 and stayed there. I don't want that high heat and will try 3000 rpm to try to lower the heat. The engine is to run at 3600 rpm but I don't think I can clean fast enough to not over heat the system. My Hydramaster 470 D ran this hot and the supply lines didn't last very long. This unit is a cheep Cobb 2045 but what a great unit for the money. jz.
Do we know why this guy is comparing two totally different truck mounts?
Ha-ha. That's what I was thinking!
Hey Matt, I don't know what the two comparable units would be. Maybe the 570 instead? My primary work is large amounts of commercial(which I mainly encap) and then a ton of residential in 4 to 5 story apartment complexes. I have an OLD Steamway which runs great but I know will eventually need to be replaced (I'm not looking to do this immediately just weighing options for when the day comes). A buddy of mine does about the same type of work an hour or so away. He's got a Butler but it had been giving him lots of issues lately so he is going to be getting a new unit before me. We've just been going back and forth between what to get. I'm leaving towards an El Diablo, but him towards the 870 because he does less encapping and more dual wanding.
Mikey P
Administrator
so what sort of crappy advice did temf give you?
Has R0b figured out water flow and gravity today?
Has R0b figured out water flow and gravity today?
Bob Pruitt
Member
What kind of issues? How old is it?
Mikey P
Administrator
waste tank keeps getting dirty..
Papa John
Lifetime Supportive Member
If you want to do more dual wanding AND maybe give those encap jobs a proper cleaning sometime in the future-- Then go with the 870.-- otherwise save the money n go El Diablo
Zee
Supportive Member
El Diablo is NOT a dual wand unit.
Zee
Supportive Member
If you're spending 870 type of money then buy two El Diablos and you got dual wanding right there.
I don't know for sure. Probably 10+ years. He's taken good care of it (it looks new) but it's had heater issues the last couple years and then the bearing on his blower went bad twice in the last year.
Bob Pruitt
Member
Because it looks new doesn't mean he's taking good care of it. Blower is likely a maintenance issue... not changing the oil and greasing the bearings... If that is the case then the heat issue could be the machine needs de-scaling.
You are comparing very different machines so would be a good idea to take your time and do lots of research before committing to a new machine. I would recommend a Butler with the big blower and extra heat exchanger... or just buy your friends and get it serviced at Butler.
Thanks Sam. I was looking for this info and couldn't find it.
Cleanworks
Moderator
Are you running a mastermatic or a Powermatic by steamway?
A
A Mastermatic
Cleanworks
Moderator
I am just refurbishing one right now. Just rebuilt the the heater. Am replumbing the water box so that the pump recirculates and changing the chem feed so it comes off the incoming fresh water line. I am surprised you are using it for 3-400 feet. It's just a 3ll blower.
That's why I encap a lot. :-) My preference is to not go over about 250 ft. But sometimes I just have to. So I'll go over areas with a bonnets after cleaning, lots of air movers, dry passes etc when I have to do long runs.
