How can I build a steam cleaner to carry with me in my truck (big semi tractor
trailer)? I would like to use it to clean oil, dirt and grime before working on
the truck.
You need power to run the pump. Fact of life
Gunner
The methodology of the left has always been:
1. Lie
2. Repeat the lie as many times as possible
3. Have as many people repeat the lie as often as possible
4. Eventually, the uninformed believe the lie
5. The lie will then be made into some form oflaw
6. Then everyone must conform to the lie
The pump can run on an ifernal combustion engine - diesel, gasoline
or propane. Can also be run off compressed air if the truck engine
runs. Nothing stopping a 12 volt pump motor from being used either.
Not real practical - but definitely possible.
The original Steam Jenny makes a gasoline powered one.
You are absolutely correct indeed. Ive only seen them that had a
electric motor to run the ignitor and blower
Gunner
The methodology of the left has always been:
1. Lie
2. Repeat the lie as many times as possible
3. Have as many people repeat the lie as often as possible
4. Eventually, the uninformed believe the lie
5. The lie will then be made into some form oflaw
6. Then everyone must conform to the lie
See? If you had described -all- your requirements in the -first-
post, responses would have been better keyed to your needs. That'll
teach ya. The fix is to tell your mechanic to PW the engine and
chassis after every oil change. That's better than being stopped by
the inspectors at a weigh station and being arrested by the DHS for
carrying explosive devices across state lines, which your specified
device would cause, eh?
Oh, hell. Just buy some waterproof overalls, duuude.
Or cans of engine cleaner. Clean the damn thing once ina while.
Live steam is dangerous, and 'superheated' requires high pressure when
can rupture the boiler. You can't use a "water heater" to produce
steam. It has to boil. Also, steam damages the wiring and plastics
used on most vehicles.
It sounds like you are describing a propane-powered steam generator used
for taking wallpaper off of walls. I suspect it would take a fairly
large unit to generate sufficient steam for cleaning the underside of a
truck. But these steam generators can be rented for a tryout.
Joe Gwinn
You need two. You can make a small pressure washer that'll fit in a
Possum Box on the truck, maybe an 18" cube, but it isn't going to be
heated - just a little 4-HP gasoline engine and a pressure pump. You
can hit the area in question with some Gunk Engine Brite from an
aerosol can to soften up the crap before you blast it off with cold
high-pressure water.
Or a thought... If there's space, you can hang the pressure washer
pump off an APU for your sleeper heat and lights, or on the PTO from
the main truck engine. The hard part would be clutching it in and
out. And it is possible to use stack heat from the engine to preheat
the water - 140F in is almost as good as 200F for the real steam ones.
But you start hanging odd bits off the engine and APU to 'build it
in', and you're going to get a lot of raised eyebrows at the Safety
Inspections - Plan on explaining the whole thing to every inspector
that wants to ticket you for something illegal in their state...
Steam pressure washers are generally a whole lot larger because of the
boiler section - and you'd have to dismount it and move it into the
open, or deal with an exhaust stack from the boiler if permanently
mounted - Possible, but not easy. You probably could make brackets
and mount one on the frame just ahead of the rear axle, or on a cargo
pallet between the Cab and Fifth Wheel - IF you don't have an
Interstate Sleeper. And you'll have to drop the trailer to get the
stack clear.
But you can probably come up with a LOT better use of the cargo weight
and space on the frame rails - like another tank and 150 gallons of
fuel to get across a high-tax state without contributing to the
delinquency of a government.
I would keep the Steam Jenny at home base and clean the chassis about
once a month or when you see it starting to get bad - if you do get a
breakdown on the road the layers of crap won't be all that thick.
WD-40 (it's all solvents...) and a roll or two of sacrificial Scott
Blue Shop paper towels can get that little bit of gunk off, and a
whole lot easier to carry. Carry it in a 5-Gallon plastic bucket with
lid that can be used to cart away the trash.
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