Let's do the math

I was just thinking about which TM lasts the longest between a slide-in vs direct drives as far as the motors go / cost of replacement.

My Butler running for 1 hour is equal to about 45 miles of driving. So, it would take approximately 3,333 hours of cleaning to equal about 150,000 miles. If you are a busy cleaner doing 1,000 hours per year....you would be getting close to 200,000 equivalent driving miles and a new motor ($5600) every 3 years.

The average life of a Kohler engine is between 2,000 and 3,000 hours. Cost of motor replacement being around $1,500. So, after 3 years like in the above scenario, you would be on your second motor and $4,100 richer.

That really does say a lot doesn't it? I love direct drives in the winter and think they are the best set-up in freezing temperatures, but otherwise the numbers sure don't compare.

Luckily, I don't see a 1,000 hours per year on my machines...more like 225 - 250 hours, but for those who can stay busy year round it is probably more of a reality. I figure that my Butler van is good for another 3-4 years of usage, but it might become mainly a winter unit if I keep the box truck and the TNT.

I prefer my nisson engine(quieter) over the kolher.

I don't disagree at all Matt, but what do they cost, how many hours lifespan, added weight?

I have to tell you, as much as I worried about the TNT noise in my aluminum tin can truck, it really isn't bad at all. I was parked next to a customers snow blower on Thursday as he was winterizing it and my TNT was MUCH quieter than his new toro.

I got almost 7000 hours on my everest with Nissan motor and still running good *knock on wood*.
I would say I probably run about 700 - 800 hours / year, I just looked it up and it costs $ 2000 for a remanufacfured engine, I’ve heard distributor said they have seen Nissan a15 motor in an everest with 12,000 hours and it’s still running strong.
Your butler is still the highest in cost but now that you have your box truck, if you just run your box truck in the summer and spring, you should be able to shave a couple hundred hours off of your van every year.
Direct drive definitely harder on your van motor but if you just use it in the winter, it should be easier on your motor because it’s cold outside, right ?

That is the plan Dp, run the snot out of the box truck in the warmer months and let the Butler handle the cold times and serve as back-up going forward.

I love those Nissan engines, but I don't always like the machines wrapped around them. Still, the do last.

700-800 hours / year I think really shows the benefit of having a 12 month season. Even with some slow down, you will see far more business than I ever will with the harsh winters. I really have a 7 month year for all practical purposes.

I am on my 6th motor for my 33 year old truckmount - A Cleaning Technologies unit I purchased new in 1984 for $6500, which included a complete setup with 3 reels, all hoses, tanks, wand, stair tool, and a nice portable unit for cleaning and dyeing.

I have had 5 Onan's and one Honda GX-670, a second #45 blower, and still the original Cat 290 pump. It came with a LG #3 heater, but has had 240,000 BTU auto light LP heater for the past 17 years. I did have to replace the heater coil 2 years ago.

The machine has somewhere over 26,000 hours but it performs better than most new truckmounts.

It has been modified a few times and runs dual wands every day, all day, with a 30 GPM APO.

Now that is the way to do it, making them last. My Butler was purchased in '99 and is coming up on 10,000 hours and the 3rd motor. I really like the idea of a true dual wand set-up...maybe some day.

Noise vs. quiester
Extra weight with a nisson(bi engine)
Durability vs. lower cost to swap out
Simplicity vs. Hi-Tech engineering
Door needs to be open vs. able to close doors during very cold temps
Ah, the choice are long.
My 1st was an EZ w\ 47 blower. Nice suction, but noisy, Bad mnfg.
Everest: quieter, relatively reliable. Hard to work on. Heavy. Suction is ok, on 1 tool setting (filters have to be clean), for Max suction. Start losing suction at about 180'(406, not the 408 blower).

bob savage wrote:I am on my 6th motor for my 33 year old truckmount - A Cleaning Technologies unit I purchased new in 1984 for $6500, which included a complete setup with 3 reels, all hoses, tanks, wand, stair tool, and a nice portable unit for cleaning and dyeing.

I have had 5 Onan's and one Honda GX-670, a second #45 blower, and still the original Cat 290 pump. It came with a LG #3 heater, but has had 240,000 BTU auto light LP heater for the past 17 years. I did have to replace the heater coil 2 years ago.

The machine has somewhere over 26,000 hours but it performs better than most new truckmounts.

It has been modified a few times and runs dual wands every day, all day, with a 30 GPM APO.

What blower you have in there Bob ?

actually a kohler running on propane is estimated at 8,000hrs Rob, and approx 5,000 running on gas.

2-3,000 isnt much.. we are well over that on both our slide ins

bob savage wrote:I am on my 6th motor for my 33 year old truckmount - A Cleaning Technologies unit I purchased new in 1984 for $6500, which included a complete setup with 3 reels, all hoses, tanks, wand, stair tool, and a nice portable unit for cleaning and dyeing.

I have had 5 Onan's and one Honda GX-670, a second #45 blower, and still the original Cat 290 pump. It came with a LG #3 heater, but has had 240,000 BTU auto light LP heater for the past 17 years. I did have to replace the heater coil 2 years ago.

The machine has somewhere over 26,000 hours but it performs better than most new truckmounts.

It has been modified a few times and runs dual wands every day, all day, with a 30 GPM APO.

youve probably been asked this a lot, but if I was to try how would I go about attempting to dual wand with our Judson TNT? One way we have done before was utilizing a rotovac CFX. We ran a splitter on the solution line from the TM, 1 line to each wand. The wand running upholstery or downstairs carpets was getting its suction from the CFX with auto pump out.

it worked okay, its better for 1 wand and 1 upholstery... not so much 2 wands.

ACpower1 wrote:actually a kohler running on propane is estimated at 8,000hrs Rob,   and approx 5,000 running on gas.  

2-3,000 isnt much..    we are well over that on both our slide ins

Sounds good to me....my TNT should last me a freaking long time then.