Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

[hacker-pschorr]

I did a search, it has been asked a few times but never answered (that I could find).

The couple of power washers I found it looks like the soap bottle feeds in after the pump, like a venture pulling the soap out of the bottle. Which means it never goes through the pump.

If I'm correct, this would mean it doesn't really matter what soap you use, unless it clogs the nozzle. Am I missing something? Would hate to shell out $600 for a power washer and break the damn thing on the first use.

I have no problem buying new soap, problem is nothing is really available locally (would like to do some washing this weekend) and I have four bottles of Gold Class.

Subaru engine, CAT pump.....sounds good:

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/RD80701-Pressure-Washer/EN/index.htm

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I would thin the gold class out with water first , cause most pressure washer detergents are really watery ( not thick ) and you don't want to risk anything at all

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I would thin the gold class out with water first , cause most pressure washer detergents are really watery ( not thick ) and you don't want to risk anything at all

Good idea, maybe I'll try a 10:1 or higher ratio first. Can always add more.

I've seen where other people use APC in the power washer to do under side / wheel arches. I have a feeling after one afternoon with my new "toy" I won't know how I lived without it...

[boiler7904]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

Instead of flushing a chemical tank on the pressure washer, I'd be looking at a foam cannon. A friend that has a Ridgid pressure washer bought a foam cannon for applying wash solution. The combo works pretty well from what I've seen.

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I've looked into a foam gun, definitely in my future just not available locally.

So I got it fired up and playing around with it, soap wasn't coming out and I had it very diluted. Go back to the instructions......soap dispenser doesn't work with the three pressure heads, need to put this other one on. Ok? So if you are doing some washing like say a driveway, isn't spraying the detergent with pressure kind of the point? Need to read up on this, bit confused.... I assumed this would be like a car wash where the soap comes out under pressure.

[Ravi_1992]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

My Simoniz pressure washer is the same, sometimes no soap comes out ( and I use the proper detergent that came with it) I thought only simoniz pressure washers were like that cause there cheaper

My neighbhor has a honda gas pressure washer and Im pretty sure his sprays out chemical at high pressure

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

My neighbhor has a honda gas pressure washer and Im pretty sure his sprays out chemical at high pressure

This one has a built in tank, and a hose to go in any bottle, and a holder on the front for said bottle.

I'm wondering if chemicals placed in the built in tank will come out under pressure. I need to try that tomorrow, bought some pressure washer specific generic all purpose cleaner.

I bought this one because it's the cheapest one I found with the CAT pump. It has a Subaru engine, wasn't terribly picky about that part. Would have preferred a Briggs but much to my surprise they are not a common engine supplier for pressure washers.

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

Did some more research, made some calls etc.... Come to find out this is how pressure washers are. There doesn't seam to be a market on the consumer level for a full out "chemical sprayer".

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

Did some more research, made some calls etc.... Come to find out this is how pressure washers are. There doesn't seam to be a market on the consumer level for a full out "chemical sprayer".

Funny... my neighbor has a Rigid and although he loves it... the first thing that he complained about was the fact that he couldn't spray soap under pressure to clean his RV.

I think it's nonsense. People buy these pressure washers so that they don't have to go to the car wash. Ummmm.... most people use the soapy spray at the car wash.

[Marc08EX]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I know someone who used this foam cannon attachment from Home Depot in his Ridgid gas pressure washer and it works wonders!!!

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-Pressure-Washers-Electric/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgqZbbob/R-202184733/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Not bad at all for the price.

[hacker-pschorr]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I think it's nonsense. People buy these pressure washers so that they don't have to go to the car wash. Ummmm.... most people use the soapy spray at the car wash.

I was poking around a power washers enthusiasts site that gave a good explanation for this. Since most (if not all consumer grade) power washers use a venturi to feed the soap, with the pressure ends there simply not enough flow to pull out the soap. The water isn't moving past the venturi feed fast enough to create a vacuum. Pressure washers that give you chemical under pressure are feeding in the soap before the pump. I guess this causes all kinds of issues of chemical compatibility with the pumps.

I know someone who used this foam cannon attachment from Home Depot in his Ridgid gas pressure washer and it works wonders!!!

http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-Pressure-Washers-Electric/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xgqZbbob/R-202184733/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Not bad at all for the price.

I saw that on the shelf and wondered how well it worked. I'll have to give it a whirl since it's easily returnable.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

Pressure washers that give you chemical under pressure are feeding in the soap before the pump. I guess this causes all kinds of issues of chemical compatibility with the pumps.

Now that answer makes perfect sense.

You mean I can't blast Wheel Brightener? I could just imagine what people would put though their pressure washers

[tapp1]

Re: Rigid Power Washer with Gold Class

I just bought the Green Earth G Foam attachment at Home Depot today for 17.97 and used 5oz of Gold Class mixed with water and it produced better foam and cling than my Gilmour Foamaster. You can control how much soap you want to use. I used it full blast and went thru all 5oz to clean a Honda CR-V. I am interested trying other soaps that might work better in the
gun.