Hey everyone. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and I think I’m ready to jump into actually buying equipment. I know there are a lot of similar threads and I’ve read a lot of them but I still have some questions.
My plan is to be a weekend warrior and keep my 9-5. Planning on starting with mostly flatwork but want to be able to expand to house washing with the same setup.
I started with a lot of Heath’s documents and stuff but have made some changes and have some questions. The spreadsheet is linked below and my questions are in yellow but I’ll also list them here.
Is the HF Predator 459cc large enough to run the Udor 26/20 pump?
The 3-6.5 gpm vs 8-12 gpm plumbing kit is priced significantly different. Anyone know why/if it’s worth it. If I go the 8 gpm setup I’ll probably try to order all the parts separate instead of the kit.
With the ZK1 do I need an unloader block or can it be mounted straight to the pump
And then a general question. Is the extra $1k worth it to start with a 8 gpm setup if I’m planning on doing a lot of flatwork? Based on what I read it might be overkill and I’m slightly worried I might regret not having lower flows at times. Is that crazy?
Your Google doc is private… the 459cc will push that pump, but at best you will be right around 2000-2200 psi after 200 feet of pressure hose. (GPM X PSI)/1100 = HP needed… not a set in stone formula, but will get you close to the engine HP you will need. Always better to have more power then needed though. Not sure what plumbing kit you are looking at, but it will almost always be more cost efficient to build your own… assuming you do your research and don’t make mistakes and have to buy/replumb multiple times. You can mount directly to the pump, but for $30 or whatever an unloader block will put less strain hanging off your pump. You are going to need a buffer tank regardless if you are going bigger then 4GPM… how much space/payload do you have… more GPM means bigger buffer. Are you planning to go after commercial flatwork?
Appreciate the rule of thumb and the info. Not planning on going after commercial flatwork initially. I want to dip my toe into the waters before getting a water reclaim system.
The plan is to initially work out of a pickup and buy a skid to mount stuff on as soon as the work pays for it. I’m fairly handy and am sure I can make a wooden skid for the reels and stuff look professional enough and last awhile. So not a ton of room. I have an IBC tote linked but will probably spring for a more expensive tank that a slim one.
I’d go with an 8 gpm out of the gate if it were me….especially if you’re doing flat work, well worth the extra 1000 for sure. Go with unloader block if possible. Much success!
My only issue with this is paying double for something for fairly light use. Also the reason why the surface cleaner I was thinking about is mid priced. It might bite me but I have thought about it a little bit.
If you’re fairly mechanically inclined you can save a bunch by getting a clone engine. Get the HF warranty and swap it out with little down time if it breaks. If you find your business growing or you’re using the machine enough that you run it into the ground or feel like it’s holding you back in terms of efficiency… then upgrade. You should have enough money made by then anyways.
I’m going to derail my own thread. I’m having a discussion with my wife and we can’t agree on a name. The two we are thinking about are:
Busy Beaver Pressure Washing
and
Plucky Ducky Pressure Washing
Thoughts? I want to choose an animal name so that I can get a memorable logo… If this ends up working out I’ll be within 45min of Heath. I’ll need every bit of luck I can get.
Go with the Honda. Especially when starting out, you don’t need the possible headaches. A warranty and replacement doesn’t do squat for you if you’re out on a job site and 1/2 way thru. There’s a reason probably 95% of the professionals on here, especially those of us that put hours on them use Hondas. That machine will run thousands of hours and if you need to sell it there is a good used market for them. Worth every penny the extra money.
I know Honda engines are the standard, but clone engines have come a long way, though they still are throwaways. I’ve had a couple of used (part of the issue) GX390s give me trouble in the past. Even if I could source the parts needed locally or I had them on hand, repairing them same day would’ve eaten up what time remained. The flip side of that, I have five Harbor Freight stores within 30 minutes, if a Predator goes down, I can be up and running in under 90 minutes. The 440cc specifically, when paired with a warranty, and stores in the nearby vicinity make it a viable option when starting out trying to save some cash. I can’t speak to their larger v-twins though.
I got less than 10 jobs out of a Predator 459 before it was time to retire it. Nothing but headache from the get-go. Each time you carry it back, you burn the warranty. It was also underpowered for my 6.8 gpm pump & cleaned concrete slower than my 4 gpm / GX390. It’s also worth mentioning that my ZK1 didn’t work with the surface cleaner at 4 gpm with 25025 nozzles. I have less than $300 in a pair of garage kept, homeowner owned GX390’s that still run great. I’ll take a freshly tuned spare Honda in the garage over a warranty any day.
Yea like I said, outside the 440cc I cant vouch. I know the 459cc had issues when it was first released and it hasn’t been proven like the 440. Not surprised your 459cc didn’t out clean at 4/4000 at that gpm, you would at most be making 2200 psi. Not sure where you live but if I can get 2 GX390 in great shape for $300 I’m driving there now. Busted up non working go for $275-400 around here.
Keep an eye on the classifieds & check often. The best deals go the fastest. Both of the ones I have were homeowner owned. The AR pumps crapped out and I bought a ‘nonfunctional pressure washer’ they wanted out of the way for cheap.
Well it looks like I need to go Honda. I’ll watch for used ones while I work on getting the rest of the parts. Appreciate everyone taking the time to respond.
