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MTDC Portable Vehicle Washer System: Operator's Manual
Whenever time permits, or at least daily, clean mud and debris from the containment mat. Use the wash wands to push the used water to the sump pump on the mat. Wide squeegees can effectively push the water to the sump pump or, if acceptable, off the containment mat. Be careful not to scrape the containment mat too hard with the squeegees to prevent ripping or tearing the mat. Plastic shovels can be used to scrape mud off the mat. Again, be careful not to damage the mat.
The settling tanks should be partially drained to remove particulate before it sets up and makes the tanks difficult to drain. The frequency at which tanks need to be drained depends on how many vehicles are being washed and how muddy they are. You may be able to let the particulate settle overnight, and then drain the particulate into 5-gallon buckets the next morning.
The filter bags should be changed whenever they become clogged. Monitor the pressure gauges on the top of the filter housings. When the pressure reaches 15 to 20 pounds per square inch, the filters are beginning to fill with particulate and should be changed. Another indication that the filters are clogged is when the overflow tank begins to overflow. This happens because the sump pump no longer has enough power to pump water through the filters. Change the filters immediately.
The filters can be backwashed and reused.
Close (up position) the valve supplying water from the main tank to the pump. Remove the strainer housing (figure 10) and inspect and clean the strainer as necessary. Replace the strainer and housing. Open (down position) the supply valve.
Check the fuel and engine oil levels periodically. Follow the maintenance schedule for each engine as shown in its operator’s manual.
Check the oil as directed in the operator’s manual.
The bypass valve (figure 11) diverts water from the pump back to the main holding tank when the wands or underbody washers are not in use. Over time, if the pump is operated at high speed and the wands or underbody washers are not being used, the internal components of the bypass valve will wear and no longer seat properly. The result is very low pressure, with reduced water flow to the wands and underbody washers. If this should happen, the bypass valve will need to be replaced. Remove the bypass valve by loosening the three hydraulic fittings (water inlet, outlet to the manifold, and outlet to the main holding tank). Replace the fittings with appropriate components. The following page has information on obtaining replacement components.
![[photo] Close-up of the bypass valve.](images/fig11.jpg)
Figure 11—The bypass valve diverts water from the pump back to the main
holding tank
when the wands and underbody washers are not being used.
You may need to replace the drive belts between the Kohler engine and the Hydra-Cell pump. Remove the protective shield surrounding the belts. Using a wrench or ratchet, loosen the four bolts securing the pump to the stand for the engine and pump. Turn the adjustment rod (figure 12) in the center of the stand, loosening the belts so you can remove them. Reverse the procedure to install the belts.
![[photo] Display with the engine oil drain and the adjustment rod identified.](images/fig12.jpg)
Figure 12—The adjustment rod can be used to loosen or tighten belts that
connect
the engine to the pump.
The adjustment rod may also be used to adjust the tension on the belts without removing the guard.
The vehicle washer should be winterized to prevent damage from freezing. This procedure is especially important for the Hydra-Cell pump. Follow the winterizing instructions in the pump operator’s manual. All other parts (hoses, tanks, and so forth) should be drained of water and the mat should be thoroughly cleaned and dried before storage.
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