New And Improved Rotovac CFX

[Art Kelley]

This came in the mail yesterday: 15 gallon CFX. It is 10" taller than my old 5 gallon CFX. This should alleviate the problem of the shallow 5 gallon tank blowing the occasional foam out the exhaust (and onto the customer's walls if using indoors), and also allow the cleaning of a few rooms without the need to dump. The motor unit is the same, two 3 stage vacs and a diaphragm waste water pumpout, the extension tube that operates the on/off pump switch is longer as is the siphon draw tube.

They weigh about the same, 50-55 lbs, the CFX 15 has a dump valve. The standard CFX is 24 inches tall and the CFX 15 is 34 inches tall. The base seems to be the same width and length,14x18"

 

[Desk Jockey]

That extra recovery would be nice for times when pumping out is inconvenient.

15-gallons would allow you to be able to clean a divan or several chairs without dumping or pumping.

 

[CCWorks]

Looks very top heavy, pull on the hose at a angle and you have a mess. Even in the photo, it has a lean to the left.
A lot of the portables have too small waste tanks and bad air flow designs that let water go in to the vac motors.

 

[Art Kelley]

Looks very top heavy, pull on the hose at a angle and you have a mess. Even in the photo, it has a lean to the left.
A lot of the portables have too small waste tanks and bad air flow designs that let water go in to the vac motors.

It's pretty stable, it's not leaning, and with the 4-5 gallons of waste water it would normally have inside while operating, that would improve the stability. But it is less stable than the original CFX which I never dumped over. As for a too small waste tank, it looks like this 15 gallon size will solve that problem, especially with the auto dumpout constantly working. I would normally not bring this machine inside but rather operate it from the porch, as it will pull 60-120 feet of 2" hose quite well.
Now if you want to see top heavy, here's my old Air Hog Plus with the attached WaterBox. It would fall over by itself when you autofilled the fresh water tank on top as it did after I took this picture nearly hitting this nice Mercedes convertible. That would have been fun to explain to my customer and my insurance company.

 

[Art Kelley]

What is a divan anyways? Is that like a bousine or a bidet?

 

[Desk Jockey]

That person with the Mercedes has one....along with a bidet and a croissant for Willy too.

 

[Zee]

Art, what kind of vac motors are in the new one? (I know you said 2 three stages, but what makes and models)

 

[Art Kelley]

Art, what kind of vac motors are in the new one? (I know you said 2 three stages, but what makes and models)

.
I really don't have a clue and I'm hopeful (with no moisture running through them) that I won't have to find out for a few years as it is a chore to get to them and replace. I did it last year when I replaced them with some of Cobb's Lamb vacs. It's not a machine that's made to be worked on by a clumsy mechanic.

 

[Nate The Great]

I speak for a seasoned pro porty user, Holy sheeeeet on plugging into a power strip.....

 

[Shorty]

Resurrected:

Art Kelley, how do you think the CFX would perform with just 50' of 1.5" vac; hose?

I've recently sold my old CFX & Docking Station.

Looking at just using the '15 for RV's, etc; & upholstery.

Maximum of two rooms of carpet, predominantly high rise stuff.

Cleaning carpets with 360i & Mytee 10" wand, single jet.


Upholstery with ShearDry.

Downsizing drastically & only looking at a three day, (maybe four), working week.

Thanks,

Shorty.

 

[Shorty]

Anyone else have any comments on the above??

 

[rick imby]

Don't you upside downers have 220? Two 220 15 amp circuits would kick tail on 2 US 110 15 amps.

I tried to come up with the numbers difference between 50 feet of 1.5 hose and 50 feet of 2.0 hose. I could not find a formula or any data. I think the difference is pretty drastic --- especially on already marginal power if you are used to a tm.

 

[rick imby]

Off the top of my head I think with 2" you loose almost 10% of your CFM per 25 feet.... There is a lot of drag in those hoses...

 

[Mikey P]

Stick with 35.

 

[Shorty]

Don't you upside downers have 220? Two 220 15 amp circuits would kick tail on 2 US 110 15 amps.

I tried to come up with the numbers difference between 50 feet of 1.5 hose and 50 feet of 2.0 hose. I could not find a formula or any data. I think the difference is pretty drastic --- especially on already marginal power if you are used to a tm.

Thanks Rick & Mike, the gear that we have imported (or made here), are fitted with 220/240 volt, & rated at 50 Hz

Most of our GPO's (General Purpose Outlets) or power points, are 10 amps.

SOMETIMES, a/c units our stoves or laundries will run a 15 amp plug, these have a larger earth pin and are generally a larger size.

Very rarely needed for our work.

In the USA I believe it is 110/120 volt & 60 Hz.

I do run a 110 volt Kool Glide, but need a transformer to convert the power from 240 to 110.

We also have an earth pin fitted to our equipment.
I haven't used my t/m for several years & got rid of it last year.

This new venture would not be suitable for a t/m.

 

[jesssed]

I used a cfx on residential hooked up to a customer sink, it takes too long and is a pain in the ass... does getting the loading pod help out a lot? I have a truckmount now so It just sits and collects dust... I used it on about hundred upholstered chairs and it worked pretty good that's about it..any tips and tricks on how to use this cfx?

 

[Nate The Great]

I used a cfx on residential hooked up to a customer sink, it takes too long and is a pain in the ass... does getting the loading pod help out a lot? I have a truckmount now so It just sits and collects dust... I used it on about hundred upholstered chairs and it worked pretty good that's about it..any tips and tricks on how to use this cfx?

Do you have the 1 cord or 2 cord model? Some people have used a pump in a toolbox to boost water pressure... I was interested in the Docking station because it holds enough water for a condo cleaning... But I'm a cheap bastard and I'll wait to find a deal...

 

[rick imby]

Shorty-- a couple of things----I don't know the answers to.

Will your machine be one circuit or two? With 220V and 10 amps there is a lot more wattage available 2200 vs only 110V and 15 amps giving 1700 watts available.

I don't know if the 220v vac motors have been upgraded to output much higher Airwatts like the 110 v vac motors have here in the states.

With the CFX one of the advantages has always been that you can use a long dump hose and cords and you are able to easily move the machine, not needing a long vacuum hose.

You could easily get a 50 footer and cut it at 30 feet and only use the other 20 feet if it worked well--or when you are desperate. It will be a lot more mobile than the machine you just sold because of no water tank or water line coming from the machine to your wand.

The performance of a 110volt machine will probably be different than 220... But I am guessing....


I have trouble believing that you will back off to 3/4 days a week, you may as well work because all you will do with your time off is polish your big yeller Cimex, truck and gear, remember we have seen pictures of your polished gear...

I spent some time closer to you ( in the Philippines). I thought about going down under but I am scared gravity won't work on me and I will just fall off....

 

[rick imby]

The guys that have converted from 1.5" hose to 2" hose on their porties claim it makes a big difference even at just 25 feet.---

 

[Shorty]

Shorty-- a couple of things----I don't know the answers to.

Most of our poser points have two outlets, I can, & have, hooked up both of the plugs from my CFX & Docking Station & run them no problems.

I have also run the 360i from a different outlet, but on the same circuit along with the CFX, again no problems.

Apart from this I have run my MasterBlend TF3500 & 360i in the same manner.

Generally, we have 2 seperate circuits throughout a house here, bedrooms, loung, dining, bath on one.

Kitchen, laundry, garage on another.

I usually have no problems APART from the bloody heavy tranny to run my 110 gear.

I get out of this by using a folding milk crate on wheels with an extendible handle, similar to the FlexiPro handle.

If I hook up a 110 appliance (such as my B & D Steamer or Kool Glide), to our 240 plugs, it blows the appliance that I want to use.

I have trouble believing that you will back off to 3/4 days a week, you may as well work because all you will do with your time off is polish your big yeller Cimex, truck and gear, remember we have seen pictures of your polished gear...

Well, maybe 5 days, I want to spend more time going bush & photography.

I spent some time closer to you ( in the Philippines). I thought about going down under but I am scared gravity won't work on me and I will just fall off....

I haven't fallen off yet, although time spent with Jerry Valentine saw me fall over a couple of times.

The 'pines; eh?

On the 14th April, Delia (Filipino from Bacolod) & I, celebrate our 34th eedding anniversary.

'N me mates said it would never work.

 

[rick imby]

The Philippines is great. I spent the whole 6 weeks on Palawan. I'm going late this fall and spend the winter...

So Going Bush? hmmm that can be taken a couple of ways... Glad to hear at your age it is still working.....