Loren Egland
Member
I posted this on another forum. (Mikey's name came up)
"I just read this thread. It is sometimes hard to decipher. Some say they like or don't like, but there is no explanation, or an insufficient one. But maybe I am just too anal.
For instance, the Rotovac comes in many versions. I have a twin head original, and a new quad jet 360i. There is also the three jet version of the 360i, and the XL model. The jet spacing is often set up differently.
I immediately changed my jet position for the quad 360i because it came with two long nipples and two short nipples. The short nipples positioned the jets so that the vacuum shoe would not pick up all the spray from those two jets. I changed the two short nipples to match the longer nipples of the other two jets. Now all 4 jets have their spray picked up by the vacuum slot, so that there is no overwetting.
Some 360i's have the jets tucked into the swoop shoes so that there is no overspray, and the jets are positioned closer to the vacuum shoes. It seems that the carpet is left a little dryer with one pass, though I usually give a dry pass anyway. Probably not really an issue.
Others have the jets positioned about evenly between the vac shoes. The advantage is that the spray pattern is wider because it is not interupted by the swoop of the vac shoes, and this makes it possible to clean closer to walls and has a little wider cleaning path. No overspray that I noticed either.
From reading these threads over the years, the general consensus is that the quad jet 360i is far superior in cleaning and drying than the 3 jet version. Obviously there is one third more cleaning with the extra cleaning jet and vac slot. The better drying of the Quad over the tri head 360i appears to be because the tri head rides up on 3 nobs for stability, and the quad rests the vac shoes on the carpet and dig in better, which not only aids in drying but in cleaning deeper.
The Hoss has some good points, but it must be set up right.
The T-rex should clean a little better than a 360i quad and likely quite a bit better than a 360i 3 jet, due to the six jets that are staggered and covered by longer vac shoes. Then there is the difference in the floating head and the original head to consider.
The Rotovac XL only has the same 4 jets and vac shoes as the 360i quad. I saw little advantage to the XL as it is now over the 360i Quad, which has a more concentrated cleaning path due to smaller circumference, and thus slightly slower speed of the shoes across the carpet. Now if and when the Rotovac XL adds a 5th cleaning head (there is room for it) that would make a difference worth talking about. However, right now it is 30 pound heavier than the 360i quad. Also, a little less weight should result in less stress on carpet seams and possibly make it easier to use on loose rugs.
The most powerful rotary jet extractor is the one you are willing to use the most. The 360i quad might be that unit. I have read that it is easier to swing around, and definately easier to pick up or bring upstairs, especially for us old guys. I started steam cleaning in 1970 and will be 65 this September.
BTW, I use my twin head RV on stairs sometimes. Works good. It cleans exceptional, and has its advantages as well, but it is more work, and seems to leave the carpet wetter than the 360i quad.
Anyway, it would be helpful if you would provide a little more useful information in your posts. It will at least help me figure out if your experience is useful (since I don't have all the experience some of your do with different tools) and it will give you more credibility.
Much of what I just typed is conjecture based upon what I read and from just thinking about the design differences in Rotary Extractors. So keep your comments coming.
Loren"
"I just read this thread. It is sometimes hard to decipher. Some say they like or don't like, but there is no explanation, or an insufficient one. But maybe I am just too anal.
For instance, the Rotovac comes in many versions. I have a twin head original, and a new quad jet 360i. There is also the three jet version of the 360i, and the XL model. The jet spacing is often set up differently.
I immediately changed my jet position for the quad 360i because it came with two long nipples and two short nipples. The short nipples positioned the jets so that the vacuum shoe would not pick up all the spray from those two jets. I changed the two short nipples to match the longer nipples of the other two jets. Now all 4 jets have their spray picked up by the vacuum slot, so that there is no overwetting.
Some 360i's have the jets tucked into the swoop shoes so that there is no overspray, and the jets are positioned closer to the vacuum shoes. It seems that the carpet is left a little dryer with one pass, though I usually give a dry pass anyway. Probably not really an issue.
Others have the jets positioned about evenly between the vac shoes. The advantage is that the spray pattern is wider because it is not interupted by the swoop of the vac shoes, and this makes it possible to clean closer to walls and has a little wider cleaning path. No overspray that I noticed either.
From reading these threads over the years, the general consensus is that the quad jet 360i is far superior in cleaning and drying than the 3 jet version. Obviously there is one third more cleaning with the extra cleaning jet and vac slot. The better drying of the Quad over the tri head 360i appears to be because the tri head rides up on 3 nobs for stability, and the quad rests the vac shoes on the carpet and dig in better, which not only aids in drying but in cleaning deeper.
The Hoss has some good points, but it must be set up right.
The T-rex should clean a little better than a 360i quad and likely quite a bit better than a 360i 3 jet, due to the six jets that are staggered and covered by longer vac shoes. Then there is the difference in the floating head and the original head to consider.
The Rotovac XL only has the same 4 jets and vac shoes as the 360i quad. I saw little advantage to the XL as it is now over the 360i Quad, which has a more concentrated cleaning path due to smaller circumference, and thus slightly slower speed of the shoes across the carpet. Now if and when the Rotovac XL adds a 5th cleaning head (there is room for it) that would make a difference worth talking about. However, right now it is 30 pound heavier than the 360i quad. Also, a little less weight should result in less stress on carpet seams and possibly make it easier to use on loose rugs.
The most powerful rotary jet extractor is the one you are willing to use the most. The 360i quad might be that unit. I have read that it is easier to swing around, and definately easier to pick up or bring upstairs, especially for us old guys. I started steam cleaning in 1970 and will be 65 this September.
BTW, I use my twin head RV on stairs sometimes. Works good. It cleans exceptional, and has its advantages as well, but it is more work, and seems to leave the carpet wetter than the 360i quad.
Anyway, it would be helpful if you would provide a little more useful information in your posts. It will at least help me figure out if your experience is useful (since I don't have all the experience some of your do with different tools) and it will give you more credibility.
Much of what I just typed is conjecture based upon what I read and from just thinking about the design differences in Rotary Extractors. So keep your comments coming.
Loren"
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