DIY car wash foam generator repair

In detail: DIY repair of a foam generator for a car wash from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Many people are interested in refining the foam nozzle with their own hands. The reason for this interest is the low quality of the standard part. In fact, the nozzle does not form foam, or does not do it enough. Therefore, motorists have the question of how to correct the omission made by the manufacturer. Some, of course, decide to simply change the device for a more expensive one. But, there is no way out to purchase a new sink if you have a fully functional one. In addition, it is possible to make an existing sink completely ready for proper operation. For this you do not need any special materials and tools.

Refinement of the foam nozzle with your own hands is made based on the technical features of this device. To understand how to refine this mechanism, you must first understand how it works. The problem with standard nozzles is the difficulty of ejecting (mixing) shampoo with water. This is due to the low pressure of the carrier fluid (water). As a result, the detergent does not get into the mixture, or it does get in, but does not mix. As a result, such a nozzle becomes completely useless.

On some models, the shampoo inlet is too narrow to be dispensed due to the flow of water. The cause of the problem can be determined by eye. At low water pressure, the shampoo will be consumed, but instead of foam, you will get a soapy emulsion. In the second option, the detergent will simply not be consumed.

Domestic craftsmen got the hang of correcting the flaws of engineers, and there are several ways to repair. Let's consider them in more detail.

The revision consists in replacing the injectors. You will need computer hardware to make these structural elements. They are called screw nuts. We take the short one. This is how the motherboard is attached. More precisely, this nut is screwed into the case, and already it is screwed to it with a regular motherboard screw. The metal from which this element is made is quite soft and easy to drill.

We take a 1 mm drill, this will be enough. We install it in a screwdriver. If it is not possible to clamp the drill into the chuck, then you can wrap the leg in several layers of electrical tape. Next, carefully at the lowest speed, we drill a hole in the middle of the computer mounting element. Try to keep the external thread, it will still work for you. After that, carefully make slots on the end with a file for a flat screwdriver. It remains to carefully screw the finished nozzle into the nozzle.

Video (click to play).

Thus, the water is dispersed to a high pressure. But, she begins to fly through the camera, completely not drawing shampoo into the process. Therefore, we proceed to the second part of the revision.

To do this, you will need to find a mount similar to that used for the previous injector. But, just a little longer. Next, we take a drill, but thicker 2 mm. After the hole is ready, use a file to expand it to a cone. This must be done from the side, which will then look inside the nozzle. Install the finished nozzle.

Next, we take the rod from the helium pen. We cut off a tube about 3-4 cm from it. Then we drill a hole at the top of the nozzle. It is desirable to make it 4.6 mm. This will allow the tube to be inserted as tightly as possible. Make sure that the inside of the tube does not stick out in the path of the water flow. We cover everything around the tube with sealant and you can use a foaming agent. If the tube is open, you will get wonderful foam.By blocking the air supply, plugging the tube, you just get soapy water.

The next method is suitable for models of attachments with a mesh that breaks the stream of water creating a foam effect. Unfortunately, on many of these foaming agents, the meshes wear out quickly. Also, the nozzle does not always provide the proper pressure. It makes sense to change the design and replace low-quality elements. To do this, you need the following:

  • Jet from the VAZ carburetor;
  • Stainless steel mesh.

The jet is inserted in place of the nozzle. It is advisable to take a part with an inner diameter of 1-1.2 mm for this. This will create the most optimal jet. We expand the nozzle bore with a drill, and screw the nozzle into it. Next, we remove the native mesh. Using it as a template, we cut another one out of stainless steel. It is advisable to take the diameter of the mesh 1.5-2 mm. We assemble the attachment and test it.

Conclusion... Now more and more car enthusiasts acquire mini washers. This allows you to save money on maintaining the car's appearance. But, due to the design features, it is sometimes necessary to refine the foam nozzle with your own hands. This is easy to do, knowing how this device works, you can relatively quickly upgrade it.

In today's article, I want to show one of the options for making a simple foam generator from a conventional garden spray.

This sprayer will only take a few minutes to complete and the result will be great! Verified personally!

A couple of years ago, I published my article on the manufacture of MINI-high pressure WASHERS, I want to say that this homemade product works to this day and helps out very well when washing engines on a car, but in order to wash everything better, you need chemistry, and that's actually for this I made this foam generator.

  • garden sprayer with a metal spout (sold in any household store);
  • dishwashing sponge (hard top);
  • needle or awl.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

First of all, we unscrew the upper part of the sprayer and we only need to make a small hole with a needle or an awl in the tube along which the liquid will rise, as shown in the photo below. This is necessary so that the liquid mixes with air.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repairImage - DIY car wash foam generator repair
You don't need to do anything else inside. The only thing, if you don't want to pump air manually, you can install a nipple from tubeless tires and pump air with a compressor, but I did not do this, since a regular pump is enough.
Next, remove the metal spout from the spray, take the upper part of the sponge, cut off a piece that is suitable in size and insert it tightly into the spout, as shown in the photo below.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repairImage - DIY car wash foam generator repairImage - DIY car wash foam generator repairImage - DIY car wash foam generator repair
And that's actually the whole revision! As I said, everything is done in just a few minutes.

Now you need to mix water and chemistry in the proportions indicated on the package and you can make foam. If there is no chemistry, then a regular detergent is fine (I tested on Feri).

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Now we blow in air and try to spray the foam. Also, with the help of an adjustable spout, you can change the shape and size of the jet. The foam lays down well and evenly, and is also very dense in saturation.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repairImage - DIY car wash foam generator repair
And here is the sink itself, which I wrote about above. The only thing I abandoned the case and just directly connect the pump to the battery.

Hello dear friends! Today we have a very interesting topic. Especially for those who prefer to wash their car with their own hands or think that the current prices for a car wash are too high. That is, it is going to switch from professional to manual washes. Therefore, the topic of our conversation is a foam generator.

But not GPSS, which is used to extinguish fires by feeding foam. And not generators for foam concrete. While some might be interested in renting them, it’s not about them.

We are talking about a special high-pressure device that is used for non-contact car wash.A kind of garden tool that allows you to wash your own car on the territory of a private house or even in the courtyard of a high-rise building (who is not afraid of neighbors or other threats).

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Of course, the job can be done with a conventional low pressure sprayer. However, a high quality result cannot be obtained from a sprayer. But the foams create a homogeneous and finely dispersed foam. Due to it, an excellent effect is achieved. I use it myself, because I know what I'm talking about.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

It is not so important whether you buy an Italian foam generator or order from China, structurally they all look about the same.

The structure includes:

A special nozzle as well as a foaming tablet ensures that this mixture is delivered under high pressure. As a result, the machine quickly becomes covered with a layer that cleans away the dirt.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Such washing cannot be called completely non-contact. If you need a result, you will also have to work with sponges or brushes.

An important characteristic, on which the work and the best indicator of efficiency depend, is the volume of the tank. Usually they are made for 25-100 liters. The compressed air supplied from the cylinder must have a pressure of 5-6 bar. At the outlet, the manual foam generator has a special regulator. It allows you to control the pressure using a built-in pressure gauge.

This is where a very important point arises. If you need a mini-washer, I advise you to choose a foam generator. Although many sellers offer to buy a spray for car wash. Some even pass off a conventional sprayer as a supposedly high-performance foam generator.

In some cases, a universal sprayer can do quite well. But it is inferior to a penny because it is not able to create the same persistent foam. At the exit, you get a conventional emulsion, the efficiency of which is much lower.

Therefore, I will teach you to distinguish sprayers from generators.

  • the sprayer circuit does not provide for the presence of a regulator to control the quality of the mixture;
  • in the sprayer, the outlet nozzle has a larger diameter than that of the foam.

These distinctive characteristics are enough to make the right purchase.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Speaking specifically about manufacturers, you should pay attention to the following brands:

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

  • Karcher;
  • Monsoon;
  • Calm (Stihl);
  • Huter (Hooter);
  • Bosch;
  • Elitech;
  • Procar;
  • Idrobase;
  • Interskol;
  • Champion;
  • Patriot.

The price range is different, so go with an affordable budget. I must say right away that you should not take cheap devices. A good quality sprayer will benefit more than a low grade foam.

Go to Aliexpress, read reviews, explore different stores. The Internet works 24 hours a day, so you can always find out information about a particular model.

Now let's study the principle of operation of such a device. What is he like? The work is carried out on the basis of fairly understandable processes.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

In short, due to compressed air, a special shampoo passes through the foaming agent and a finished product is obtained, that is, foam. The education process is conventionally divided into two stages.

  • Primary foam. A jet of water under the action of high pressure exits through the nozzle and mixes with the shampoo. In parallel, air is added to the mixture, supplied through special holes. But this foam does not have the desired characteristics, therefore it will not be suitable for washing a car.
  • Finished foam. The so-called pill plays the main role here. The mixture we got in the first step passes through the tablet at high speed. This is a small device that provides a foam mass with the desired characteristics. The foaming tablet is made from corrosion resistant wire. They have different cell sizes. It is important to obtain a high expansion foam. This directly affects the quality of the washing machine.

At the exit, we get a stream of foam, which is easily applied with a hose to the car, and then washed off with water.

Such a high pressure washer has important advantages:

  • liquid constituents are converted into foam without loss;
  • at the outlet, a stable mixture with excellent detergent properties is created;
  • foam consumption and parameters can be adjusted;
  • one charge of a 50 liter bottle allows you to wash from 10 to 15 cars.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

But there are also a couple of downsides:

  • you will have to constantly refill the cylinder with compressed air;
  • you need to install a compressor.

Having a good sink at your disposal, using a special adapter, you can combine them into a common appliance. An excellent solution for those who have already acquired a car wash and want to improve the efficiency of their car wash equipment.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Someone even creates a homemade apparatus from a fire extinguisher or other improvised means. There are even a number of special videos where everything is clearly shown. But I would not recommend doing this kind of thing. If you want yourself a foam dispenser and a really high-quality car wash, take the money and buy yourself a good generator, even if it is Chinese.

Refinement is another matter. When buying a household or professional foam pen, many note that some parts are not efficient enough.

How can I make my foam maker even better? Here we are talking about increasing productivity, that is, increasing the amount of foam created.

No complex repairs are required. And you don't have to open the generator drawing. The essence of the refinement is to make the nozzle work better.

I note that many foams have problems with mixing components due to the imperfection of the standard nozzle. Water is supplied under low pressure, so although the shampoo enters the mixture, it does not fully mix. There are models with a too narrow hole through which shampoo is fed. The water simply does not allow the detergent to push in there.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

There are two methods that can be used to improve the lack of factory pennies.

    Replace injector. You will need a screw nut. This is the hardware used in computers to hold the motherboard. The plus is that the nut is soft and easy to drill. You will need a drill with a diameter of 1 mm. At low revs, it makes a hole in the middle of the nut without damaging the threads. A slot for a screwdriver is made on the front side. The resulting device is screwed into the nozzle. This is not all. We take the same nut, but a little larger, as well as a 2 mm drill. Make a hole, use a file to widen it to a cone. Only on the side that faces the inside of the nozzle. Install the nozzle. Take a rod from the pen (preferably a gel) and cut a tube 30-40 mm long. A hole of about 4.6 mm is made on top of the nozzle. This is the ideal. This will make the tube fit snugly. Seal everything, wait until dry and check the operation of the foam generator.

The cost of such a revision can be zero if the necessary materials are available.

Where to buy shampoos? In any automotive chemistry store. But it is very important to understand how to use special chemistry.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Cities such as Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and many others offer a huge range of special active foam. To be more precise, the concentrate is being sold.

Try to choose quality mixes that are popular. Never use concentrates with a pH value over 12. More aggressive mixtures can corrode paintwork, chrome parts, rubber seals, etc.

It is also impossible that the shampoo contains a component called sodium hydroxide or just caustic soda. It is abused by manufacturers because it effectively removes dirt and is cheap. But at the same time, it causes enormous damage to the paintwork.

Image - DIY car wash foam generator repair

Shampoo is used according to the manufacturer's manual. Usually, 1 liter of water goes up to 20 grams of the product.But the numbers may vary. Look at the label.

Of course, in the photo, the sellers of generators demonstrate just the miraculous effect of contactless washing. But in practice, it takes more time and effort. If you like to wash your car with your own hands, then the presence of a foam generator will greatly simplify the task when compared with a standard set of a bucket of water, a sponge and car shampoo.

Write your opinion about foam generators. It will be interesting to discuss them with you. For those who, for some reason, do not want to have their own foam generator and sink, we advise you to go to a self-service car wash. Information about it has already been posted on the website.

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