What's the benefit of live solution hose reels?

Russ T.

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My Cleanco is set up with about 300 feet of live solution line. The swivel gets in my way of rolling up the hose and I am thinking about ditching it. Any suggestions?


Russ Terhaar
The Clean Machine of Iowa LLC
www.thegreatcleanmachine.com
 
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Steve Lawrence
We have 150' on ours. Seems a good length and covers most jobs. Seems like there would be a lot of heat loss with 300'.
 
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Mark Saiger

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We have our Butlers set up with 150 feet of live reel and another one with 200 feet. We do carry extra in the back just in case we need a bit more, or if we were to blow out a hose, but 200 is the most I have typically needed, and 150 works quite well too.

The live reel does make for way faster set up. Wouldn't ditch that part.

Mark Saiger
 
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GCCLee

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I had a similar issue to what your talking about, I think. I keep the Inline Sprayer Containers next to the reel and the swivel kept hitting them causing snags and backlash so I raised the solution reel up One set of holes on the mounting bracket. Problem solved and now I can put even more junk there : )
 

Desk Jockey

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My Cleanco is set up with about 300 feet of live solution line. The swivel gets in my way of rolling up the hose and I am thinking about ditching it. Any suggestions?


Russ Terhaar
The Clean Machine of Iowa LLC
www.thegreatcleanmachine.com
We disconnected our live solution hose and just connect to the front panel. It was tough on hose unless you removed it all from the reel. Cooked too many first sections. Swivels are a pain on those small reels, you can buy longer sections without any breaks or angle it more cross wise when rolling up.
 
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Desk Jockey

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150-ft will fit the majority of homes you'll run across and.....................it will also get you to the entrance of most commercial buildings. :icon_neutral:

We carry 300ft on the vac & solution reels and an extra couple of 50's hanging. You never know when you're going to need it.
 
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Shane Deubell

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150-ft will fit the majority of homes you'll run across and.....................it will also get you to the entrance of most commercial buildings. :icon_neutral:

We carry 300ft on the vac & solution reels and an extra couple of 50's hanging. You never know when you're going to need it.

Haha, true

We bring 300' for commercial also on the back racks, once in awhile we run into a 400 ish.
 

GeneMiller

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Doc is right it will ruin your hoses quick if you run 300' live. I run live occasionally but only beyond 200' and then I will leave the last bit on the reel on it.

gene
 

jcooper

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The 100 to 150' of hose I use 95% gets hand coiled/rolled. Takes about a minute to roll up, go to the farthest place from the truck, unroll them on the way out. It stays clean and doesn't get yanked on anything.

Thought about putting them on a reel, but then I'd have to coil them up to bring in. You guys keeping hose on reels, do you just grab an end and start yanking???
 
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:lol: By faster set up times you guys are talking 10 to 15 seconds faster right? I can pull 100 to 150 feet off the back of my truck just as fast as a live reel , walk back to the truck , unhook that section from the reel and plug it into the truckmount which will only take about 10 to 15 seconds at the most.
 

Desk Jockey

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But Bruce multiply that times several time day, times 5-6 days a week, times 300 plus days a year and you should save 7-8 minutes. :p


I like live reels it does seem like it saves time, how much? A few minutes per job maybe depending when you reel is located. ???
 

The Great Oz

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The downside to a live reel is ALWAYS having to use the amount of hose on the reel. If you need 50 or 100 feet why run 150? If you pull a length off to eliminate the extra hose you might as well skip the live reel.

PS: Unless there's been a major breakthrough in swivel design, they don't last very long before starting to leak.
 

John Olson

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What Bryan said. I am NOT a fan of live reels. Never have been. They cost more then they are worth in my opinion. I'll sell them and install them but not before I give a honest run down of the cost of ownership. I never suggest more then 150 of live hose and if you are running live make it one continuous length so you don't have multiple weak points. Also always make sure ALL of the hose is removed every time even if you only need 75'. You are cooking the hose left on the reel. Then we come to the swivel. They are a major leak issue and rebuilding them is an absolute joke. Please do not attempt rebuilding one. I can almost guarantee your going to lose several of the little bearings before you get them all back in and even if you do you are 50-50 it will last another 6 months. Now if you are ok with all of that then go for it. It is handy but there is a price for convenience.
 
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Russ T.

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I just removed some hose from the live reel on my Cleanco today. I have 150' live now with the lead being 50 and the other, 100. I'll hang a couple 50's in the back. I figure its already set up so ill try to love it...just haven't used a live reel in a very long time. If I decide I don't like it I assume I can take off any unnecessary swivels or parts, right? Those parts actually get in my way of rolling up the solution hose quickly because of where the reel is mounted on my Cleanco. Not sure if its really saving me much time right now but trying to be open minded. Thanks guys.


Russ Terhaar
The Clean Machine of Iowa LLC
www.thegreatcleanmachine.com
 

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