tearing apart my truck

[Cleanworks]

I have big job this week, so I thought I would take apart my truck, clean it up and fix some minor leaks and stuff. Pulled the unit and waste tank out and power washed the truck interior. After bragging about how good my aluminum waste has been, we discovered some swiss cheese on the bottom so welding some new aluminum plate. Not too bad tank built in 1984, not sure if stainless steel would have been any better. Modifying the vacuum from the bottom of blower to waste tank inlet to try and get better airflow, we'll see how it works. Tomorrow, it all goes back together, hope I don't have parts left over.

 

[Goomer]

Good time to install some more wall hooks into that framing.

 

[Cleanworks]

You're right, I don't like permanent fixtures as I am always moving the hoses around to accommodate other things but I am wearing out the holes in the top of the framing with hoses swinging on bungee cords. Maybe I'll take a look at putting in some small but strong hooks to hang the bungee cords from. I am really impressed with how well the Rhino lining has held up. After 10 years there are no rips or tears.

 

[Cleanworks]

Got it all back together at 9:00 this evening. Welded new panels to the bottom of the waste tank. Changed the fittings from the blower to the waste tank using a shorter hose more direct hose connecttion, replaced all the gaskets on the deck lids, you can feel the difference in the airflow. Have a big tomorrow, gonna give the 7ipper a good workout. My helper booked off sick so I am going solo on a job that will take a good 7 hours. I'll let you know if my back survives

 

[Pioneer Floorcare]

Respectable welds!

 

[GreenTechAgain]

In the process of doing mine as well.

Not as extensive as what you are doing, didn't remove TM. Just taking everything off, cleaning it and putting it back. Also, throw away some of the stuff that just seems to gather.

 

[Bob Pruitt]

Not too bad tank built in 1984, not sure if stainless steel would have been any better.

LOL. You have the older better aluminum tanks and no one is going to complain about a 30 plus year old tank but it seems the newer ones are having issues very quickly. The Butler Stainless Steel tanks don't have any issues I have ever heard about.

 

[steve_64]

If I ever slow down a little more and get some time to heal from summer I'm thinking about making some changes and upgrades. Things like an electric real relocate and replace lint trap maybe build shelves and drawers for tools.

I didn't plan on keeping this more than a couple years but I might just clean this up and keep it awhile.

 

[Onfire_02_01]

What kind of a machine is that?

 

[steve_64]

2002 white magic pro 1200

140000 mi on the van probably over 6000 hrs on the machine.

 

[Cleanworks]

Did my commercial job that I was dreading with no helper. The truck is working beautifully now, lot's more vacuum than it had before. I used the Zipper on all the hallways with 350 feet of hose and I worked great. The Zipper is so much faster than the wand and gives you a more even cleaning. It was a pain managing the hose by myself but I still finished in 5 hours, which is what I normally do it in with a helper and a wand. For those that haven't tried a Zipper yet, it will change the way you clean commercial carpet. Faster and drier.

 

[Cleanworks]

LOL. You have the older better aluminum tanks and no one is going to complain about a 30 plus year old tank but it seems the newer ones are having issues very quickly. The Butler Stainless Steel tanks don't have any issues I have ever heard about.

Bob, I think you may be right on newer aluminum tanks. The bottom of mine was like swiss cheese in some places. The only reason it lasted so long is the thickness of the aluminum. For the first 20 odd years, this tank received very little maintenance other than periodic flushing. We used no filters and the tank was always covered in lint and other debris. When I installed it in my current truck I powerwashed it and started using inline filters but it was already too little, too late. Where the holes were, there was debris, some metal (screws, pennies, dimes, etc) or lint. I think the main thing with modern tanks is regular maintenance. Use an inline filter to keep solids out of your tank and at least once a week, fill your tank with clean water and let it drain.

 

[rick imby]

Bragging about your 30 year old aluminum tank was bound to create leaks...

 

[Bruce Humphrey]

Did my commercial job that I was dreading with no helper. The truck is working beautifully now, lot's more vacuum than it had before. I used the Zipper on all the hallways with 350 feet of hose and I worked great. The Zipper is so much faster than the wand and gives you a more even cleaning. It was a pain managing the hose by myself but I still finished in 5 hours, which is what I normally do it in with a helper and a wand. For those that haven't tried a Zipper yet, it will change the way you clean commercial carpet. Faster and drier.View attachment 18711View attachment 18712

When you have someone doing hose management for you , you will cut that time in half. I have a commercial job that used to take me about 9 hours to do , with zipper 4 1/2 hours , other commercial jobs are going the same with time cut in half.