What's new

Adding a drive through wheel chemical applicator

mac

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
3,558
Reaction score
790
Points
113
I haven't but I can tell you the benefits. IF a customer drives through at the correct speed it would do fine. It would most likely be controlled by a set of photo eyes. So if they drive through too slow you waste a lot of soap. Too fast and you don't get good results. That is just one of the issues with inverted L machines.
 

slash007

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
2,402
Reaction score
321
Points
83
Location
Lexington, Ky.
I had a set installed on both of my machines about 3 years ago. I knew going it it wouldn't do much since most people drive in too fast, but wanted to give it a try and offer more that the car waiting would notice. After a couple of years I took them out since all I was doing was wasting tire chemical. I would guess one out of every 20 cars drove it at the proper speed. Most sped right through.
 

PEI

Active member
Joined
Sep 8, 2007
Messages
273
Reaction score
51
Points
28
Location
Danville, VA
I have them on all 9 of my Laserwash 4000's. It didn't drive sales, but it does do a good job on the wheels and rocker panels. We use to have most of our customers spraying their rooms before going in. Now almost none spray there rims, they just buy one of the washes with the wheel cleaner.
 

carwashireland

Active member
Joined
Oct 25, 2013
Messages
271
Reaction score
40
Points
28
Location
Cork, Ireland
Would you have any pics I can see. I am installing a Razor but the wheels concern me. My plan is to use the signal that fires the under chassis to also fire a pump to spray the wheels on fixed floor mounted applicators.
 

DiamondWash

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
2,351
Reaction score
439
Points
83
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
I have them on all 9 of my Laserwash 4000's. It didn't drive sales, but it does do a good job on the wheels and rocker panels. We use to have most of our customers spraying their rooms before going in. Now almost none spray their rims, they just buy one of the washes with the wheel cleaner.
Hmm spraying their rooms before going in huh? I'm just messing with ya I knew you meant to say "Rims"
 
  • Like
Reactions: PEI

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,667
Reaction score
3,933
Points
113
Location
Texas
I never got around to putting anything together, but I had planned to put together an applicator by using something like driveway signal switches and hose connected to a PLC and multiple pulsed sprayers, that way as someone pulled in they'd get exactly the same dose of cleaner on the wheels no matter how fast or slow they entered, and it could easily be programmed to not activate again if they backed up and drove forward again.
 

PEI

Active member
Joined
Sep 8, 2007
Messages
273
Reaction score
51
Points
28
Location
Danville, VA
Would you have any pics I can see. I am installing a Razor but the wheels concern me. My plan is to use the signal that fires the under chassis to also fire a pump to spray the wheels on fixed floor mounted applicators.
I simply programed for the wash to do the undercarriage with rust inhibitor. Then rather than plumbing from the rust inhibitor solenoid to the high pressure pump, I plumber out to the bay.
 

Attachments

washnshine

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 21, 2014
Messages
1,751
Reaction score
1,192
Points
113
Location
NY
I’m thinking you’d also want some dwell time. With the spinner or spray right after the applicator and the customer driving even at a reasonable speed, it seems like you’d have almost no time for the chemical to work. Anyone with this set up finding that to be a problem? Seems like it might work better if it stayed on there until then H.P. rinse function on the machine kicked in but then you don’t get the rocker blast.
 
Top