GPM test

Solopressure washer

Solopressure washer

New member
My searches have let me see a lot, maybe a football field amount of info with a few hundred more to take in. I did a job the other day and thought that my p/w pump was starting to go according to the gauge. Today I tested the pump with a 6' hose and found them to be ok, then tested at the end of my 200' hose and found them to the same. Next I wanted to see just what my GPM,s are but am not sure on the correct way to do this. I also checked my s/c and found it to be ok but then I would like to know what the rpm should be for the arm and also a way to get it so I can move ,walk faster with out tiger stripes. The s/cis a psi 18" powered by a cat pump with a 10 horse engine, "uprated spec's" are 3800 psi and 3.5 GPM. Thanks for the help and all the info in all of the other posts.
 
A good rule of thumb is for every 1 gallon per minute, run 4" of surface cleaner so with your 3.5gpm machine, you should be able to run the 14" surface cleaner ok.

So, your 18" surface cleaner is a little bit too small for your pressure washer.

You could run the 16" surface cleaner but it will not be a whole lot faster than the 18" as it is only 2" smaller.

I think you should go with a reputable brand 12" surface cleaner like the Mosmatic, Whisper Wash, Steel Eagle, etc.... This way you are moving faster and cleaning good until your business grows and you get another machine and "T" them both together or get a larger pressure washer like 5.5gpm or bigger. Do what you can to get the job done faster but at good quality.

Good luck.
 
Solopressure washer said:
My searches have let me see a lot, maybe a football field amount of info with a few hundred more to take in. I did a job the other day and thought that my p/w pump was starting to go according to the gauge. Today I tested the pump with a 6' hose and found them to be ok, then tested at the end of my 200' hose and found them to the same. Next I wanted to see just what my GPM,s are but am not sure on the correct way to do this. I also checked my s/c and found it to be ok but then I would like to know what the rpm should be for the arm and also a way to get it so I can move ,walk faster with out tiger stripes. The s/cis a psi 18" powered by a cat pump with a 10 horse engine, "uprated spec's" are 3800 psi and 3.5 GPM. Thanks for the help and all the info in all of the other posts.
Click to expand...

I had roughly the same specs as you before getting a new pump and I had a 16" that worked well. Got it from bill at the power wash store.

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
 
No numbers on the tips, so I will call the p/ w outlet I bought it from and find out. It is a psi unit if this helps anyone. I found out further today that it is time to step up and get a new unit and keep this old one as a back up. Looking at the North Star 5gpm at 3000. The job I did today took me 3 hours and was only one house,pool cage,pool deck. Forgot to top off gas tank before starting and had to replace 1 O ring on the ball valve. Trying to save time and I hope that with the proper p/w I will be able to work faster but still keep the work up to my standers which are very high. Take a lot of pride in my work. I love the saying "getting paid to squirt water" just want to do it faster. Thanks for all the help. Here's another newbie question. If I go with this pump I will or will not need a holding tank to feed the p/w and what size. Hoping for 300 gallons,and use the house to keep it filling. Thanks again.
 
Solopressure washer said:
No numbers on the tips, so I will call the p/ w outlet I bought it from and find out. It is a psi unit if this helps anyone. I found out further today that it is time to step up and get a new unit and keep this old one as a back up. Looking at the North Star 5gpm at 3000. The job I did today took me 3 hours and was only one house,pool cage,pool deck. Forgot to top off gas tank before starting and had to replace 1 O ring on the ball valve. Trying to save time and I hope that with the proper p/w I will be able to work faster but still keep the work up to my standers which are very high. Take a lot of pride in my work. I love the saying "getting paid to squirt water" just want to do it faster. Thanks for all the help. Here's another newbie question. If I go with this pump I will or will not need a holding tank to feed the p/w and what size. Hoping for 300 gallons,and use the house to keep it filling. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I have a unit from NT, Item #157310 hot water 3000/4gpm. Works great. 125gal buffer tank with hudson float valve. One correction made after the video is from the pump there is a 1/2" mpt x 1" ID hose barb with 1" crush proof hose to filter. An adjustment the guys here encouraged me to make - and it was a good call!


Check it out:

 
According to your specs, 3800psi and 3.5gpm you would need a #3.5 nozzle for the gun and for the surface cleaner you could run 2 of the 1502 or 2502 nozzles.
 
Thanks for all the help. I have not been able to test the GPM on my unit as of yet. I did get Tito go to 3800 psi deadheaded. Working psi with my s/c was2100 psi. I am mixed up on the correct way to size the nozzles for a s/c. So if I want to try to get it to turn faster do I stay with a 3 GPM nozzle or / that by 2? I plan on getting some more nozzles to test. The last set I got was for 3 GPM and they seamed to slow down the rotation of the s/c. Sorry for the stupid newbie question but just trying to get better and faster with what I have till I can go for the new larger unit. My plans are to keep with residential work for a while. I just want to add more cleaning to my customers that I have now with the option of up sells and regular service. Here is some of my tile cleaning for my customers. Again thanks for the help.
 
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