Power Washing and Roof Cleaning Forum

Dave O · Retired Member

EB4040HG Belt Driven 4 GPM @ 4000 PSI General Pump Power Washer

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I purchased a 3500 psi, 8 gpm belt drive from Erik and Lisa this spring. I can't tell you what a difference from the 4 gpm i have used for years. The quickness from rinsing a house or pavers on one pass. Once or twice this season I used the 4 gpm to rinse down a house wash and it was BRUTAL!

-- Edited by Patrick G on Friday 20th of July 2018 11:02:34 PM

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I have that same PW, but I added a 5.5 GPM @ 2700 PSI. Works fine for me and easy to work on. I had to change the tips out on my surface cleaner to get more pressure. I also use Guy's shooter tip with no problems.

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I would spend a little more and at least.

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

And get a 5.5 or 8gpm

Dave O · Retired Member

The consensus so far is to purchase something with at least 5.5 GPM. What should be the minimum PSI that will effectively work with a surface cleaner and to scour surfaces such as retaining walls where a lot of algae, moss and grime can build up?

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Check over here Dave they have some good deals. I like the 19 HP 3500 psi @ 6.5 GPM

https://envirospec.com/envirospec-catalog/tnt-pressure-washer/

Dave O · Retired Member

Art O wrote:
Check over here Dave they have some good deals. I like the 19 HP 3500 psi @ 6.5 GPM
https://envirospec.com/envirospec-catalog/tnt-pressure-washer/

Those are very low prices Art. It appears they sell Vanguard and Kohler engines but not Honda. From what I have been told, Honda is preferred. Do you own a Vanguard or Kohler engine and what is your knowledge of those makes?

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

My vanguard is 9 yrs old and still running

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I like the Kohler engine better then the Vangaurd. What I'm not sure about is the Allison pumps and unloaders. You can build your own system from what I'm reading on he site. Do some research and give them a call and let us know what you come up with.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Diamond Roof Cleaning wrote:
My vanguard is 9 yrs old and still running

Mike, I'm looking for a back up cold water machine. Our two year old Hydro Tech 5.5/3500 psi hot water PW has been a good bit of trouble. The factory installed belt to the generator has broken 4 times due to poor alignment which I have tried to get right and even had it in the local shop. Now the Honda engine is running strange and that is not easy to trouble shoot so it needs to go into the shop.

Having a back up cold water machine is now a necessity with all the work we have. I was looking at the Enviro Spec site and see that a lot are gear drive. Will they work as well as belt when hooked to a buffer tank? I know Kohler and Vangurd are good engines so it doesn't matter which one it is. I'm thinking about this one.

http://envirospec.com/buildcart.cfm?pn=TNTPKG11

Thoughts?

Dave O · Retired Member

That's encouraging to hear Kohler and Vangaurd engines are sound. I will call EnviroSpec tomorrow. I asked someone from another store the pros and cons of direct versus belt drive. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

Diamond Roof Cleaning · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Brett yes I have a gear driven machine and it has a smaller footprint and works just as well with the buffer tank.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Gear drive run at a higher RPM then a belt drive

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Art O wrote:
Gear drive run at a higher RPM then a belt drive

What do you mean Art? Is that good or bad? A little more info would be helpful.

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Diamond Roof Cleaning wrote:
Brett yes I have a gear driven machine and it has a smaller footprint and works just as well with the buffer tank.

Thank you Mike!

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

BlueRidge wrote:
Art O wrote:
Gear drive run at a higher RPM then a belt drive
What do you mean Art? Is that good or bad? A little more info would be helpful.

Higher RPM means more wear on the motor.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

If you guys call there, try to get past the operator and ask for Dan

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

I called Dan at EnvirSpec and ordered 6.5 gpm 4000 psi gear drive.

More on this after it arrives.

Dave O · Retired Member

Ok guys I consulted with Dan from EnviroSpech. He seems very knowledgeable. I finally found someone that can explain the difference between belt drive vs direct drive vs gear drive.
Belt drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1450 or 1750. You do loose some horsepower so it's not the most efficient.
Direct drive - You cannot draw from a buffer tank and must force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 3600.
Gear drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1750.

This is what he said concerning motors: Honda and Vanguard are fairly equal and you can expect about 2,000 hours out of them. The Kohler is superior to both Honda and Vanguard as it is considered an industrial rated motor. You can expect about 4,000 hours of use.

I am going to purchase the TNTPKG11 6.5 GPM, 4000 psi pressure washer shown below. It includes a Kohler 19Hp motor with electric start, an Allison pump TSB5638 gear installed, pressure relief valve and a Soft-Touch unloader all mounted on an aluminum plate for $1554. The OEM warranties are 3 years for the engine, 3 months for the gear drive and 5 years for the pump.

Please let me know if you can think of any concerns...thanks.

Art O · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Dave O wrote:
Ok guys I consulted with Dan from EnviroSpech. He seems very knowledgeable. I finally found someone that can explain the difference between belt drive vs direct drive vs gear drive.
Belt drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1450 or 1750. You do loose some horsepower so it's not the most efficient.
Direct drive - You cannot draw from a buffer tank and must force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 3600.
Gear drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1750.
This is what he said concerning motors: Honda and Vanguard are fairly equal and you can expect about 2,000 hours out of them. The Kohler is superior to both Honda and Vanguard as it is considered an industrial rated motor. You can expect about 4,000 hours of use.

I am going to purchase the TNTPKG11 6.5 GPM, 4000 psi pressure washer shown below. It includes a Kohler 19Hp motor with electric start, an Allison pump TSB5638 gear installed, pressure relief valve and a Soft-Touch unloader all mounted on an aluminum plate for $1554. The OEM warranties are 3 years for the engine, 3 months for the gear drive and 5 years for the pump.
Please let me know if you can think of any concerns...thanks.

That's the Exact machine that I like. Good luck with it Dave.

Patrick G · Approved Exterior Cleaner

You will need a buffer tank

BlueRidge · Approved Exterior Cleaner

Art O wrote:
Dave O wrote:
Ok guys I consulted with Dan from EnviroSpech. He seems very knowledgeable. I finally found someone that can explain the difference between belt drive vs direct drive vs gear drive.
Belt drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1450 or 1750. You do loose some horsepower so it's not the most efficient.
Direct drive - You cannot draw from a buffer tank and must force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 3600.
Gear drive - Can draw from buffer tank versus force feed from a hose. The motor rpm is typically 1750.
This is what he said concerning motors: Honda and Vanguard are fairly equal and you can expect about 2,000 hours out of them. The Kohler is superior to both Honda and Vanguard as it is considered an industrial rated motor. You can expect about 4,000 hours of use.

I am going to purchase the TNTPKG11 6.5 GPM, 4000 psi pressure washer shown below. It includes a Kohler 19Hp motor with electric start, an Allison pump TSB5638 gear installed, pressure relief valve and a Soft-Touch unloader all mounted on an aluminum plate for $1554. The OEM warranties are 3 years for the engine, 3 months for the gear drive and 5 years for the pump.
Please let me know if you can think of any concerns...thanks.

That's the Exact machine that I like. Good luck with it Dave.

Mine should arrive on Monday. Dan was very helpful and understood my needs with the exhaust and a box truck. He has a 90 for the exhaust I got so I won't have to figure it out later.

Dave O · Retired Member

Patrick G wrote:
You will need a buffer tank

Yep I already have one...thanks.