Go BottomSelecting a pressure washer
 | BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia 
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2004-06-18 88828
Tractor guys,
I have a friend about ready to buy a pressure washer. He is looking at 4000 psi, commercial duty units. He has found some that are either direct drive, belt drive, or gear drive and wonders which is best. All have the same performance specs. What would be the reasons for having a gear or belt drive if the pump can be direct driven? Any preferences out there?
Thanks,
Bill
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada 
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2004-06-18 88829
I veer away from the standard here. I don't like having a collection of power plants, one for every task I do.
My pressure washer is powered by air pressure, since I already have a BIG compressor with lots (120 gallons) of reservoir it only made sense to go that route. Besides, I have miles of air hose which makes travel around the yard easy. I also don't especially fancy the idea of running a long 220v. extension line through a wet yard then standing in the middle of it.
Maintenance, or the lack thereof is also a nice feature of air power.
Best of luck. ....
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 | kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2004-06-18 88833
Pump life will be longer with a belt or gear drive unit. Direct drive units run at engine speed and wear out faster. That said, I have a pressure washer with a direct drive CAT pump (IMHO one of the best pump brands around) and it has been great. I really wanted a belt-drive unit but couldn't justify the price premium. The el-cheapo direct drive units often attract buyers by advertising a Honda engine, but they usually have throwaway pumps. ....
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 | JLHall
Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 26 O'brien Florida 
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2004-06-18 88843
i agree belt or gear will last much longer. also usually the el cheapo units use molded fitting on the wands etc. to where if you stip it or get a break. you replace the the whole mess.
a 4000 is a big dog , be sure to read all the safety data. water will cut like razor and do lots of damage in wrong hands.
have safe happy weekend. John ....
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| kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2004-06-18 88846
Just for comparison sake, this link is where I bought my pressure washer. They have a direct drive 4000 psi 4 gpm unit with 13 hp Honda GX commercial engine for $999. For another $229 you can upgrade to a CAT pump and they will warranty the pump for six years. If your buddy doesn't want to spend the price premium for a belt or gear drive unit this might be an alternative. ....
Link: ProJet Pressure Washers
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| BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia
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2004-06-19 88889
Thanks for the replies.
My buddy is willing to pay to get the best but doesn't want to waste money. He has settled on a CAT pump and Honda engine. From the information I've seen here and other places, a belt drive would be the way to go.
Bill ....
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 | oneace
Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1490 south central pa 
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2004-06-19 88903
If money is not an object I would go with a cam spray"R" unit you can get a variety of pumps including cat and they have a very good warranty. And I would also suggest a hot water unit. They have basically a built in furnace that heats the water which in turn makes it allot easier to remove gunk. There for requiring less pressure. With a 4000psi unit it will have to have special hose to handle that load, and it will be rather stiff and bulky. Imagine a regular hydraulic hose that is rated at 3500psi and how stiff it is and increase it. Also with 4000 psi unless you regulate it down if you have a scratch in paint on your car tractor or what ever you are likely to blow the paint right off. The one I have is a 3100 psi hot water unit direct drive and I have hurt many paint jobs with it with out trying it.
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 | DennisCTB
Join Date: Nov 1998 Posts: 2707 NorthWest NJ
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2004-06-19 88904
Not sure what your friend is going to do with this, but maybe just wants the best and some arrghh value. Nothing wrong with that!
From my experience with the Home Desparate supposed commercial grade Excel unit with the Honda 6HP that cost $699, this unit is rated at 2700 psi and I would have to say that even at that psi I can destroy more surfaces than I care to admit!
I think every newbie like me to pressure washers probably has the misfortune to spray too close to something like soft cedar or even etch concrete once or twice, before you realize that you need to back off a bit on the proximity.
All of this makes me wonder if a 2700 psi unit does that what does a 4000 psi unit do. Another consideration that is applicable to me is that higher pressure washers with larger hoses put out more water. My house well only puts out 7gpm which is just Ok with the 2700 psi washer I have.
If you are going to run the washer on a customers system you may get burnt if the water supply cannot produce the right gpm your 4000 psi unit requires. I am not looking at the specs as I say this so it is something that would have to be confirmed when shopping.
Dennis
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