Telescopic cleaning brushes

[Gabsgrandad]

Does anyone have/know of a telescopic cleaning brush for the van that is any good? I have had countless and they all seem to fail in the same way. (See pictures) I have just bust my 3rd replacement from Maplins, and I give in with them. They have all failed in the same way, ie the hose connectors break. First of all they start leaking at the screwed connector (weight of hose) finished up cementing them in, then of course that transfers the stress to the hose connector and that then snaps. I have returned the previous 2 to Maplins and there has been no problem in them replacing it. But what's the point the design is flawed. Have you got a better one? Just done a search of Amazon etc. many listed as "heavy duty" but they all have the same flimsy plastic connectors. Prepare to pay but it appears there is nothing better. Or do you know different?

 

[Sproket]

Join the club :lol:

Anyway when my hands get better after a recent opp, I was toying myself with using something from this collection to repair mine and there are some more here to look at, but what about one of these water fed poles ? would they do for the roof ??

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Join the club :lol:

Ditto. Design not fit for purpose ie horizontal roof. They only work on a vertical surface with no bending of the pipe coupling.

 

[RayS]

I've had just the same trouble over the years. I've now replaced the connector on mine with a metal 15mm quarter turn ball valve ex Toolstation, which is fitted with a brass hose connector inlet/ This set up gives a usable handle and also the ability to tun off the water or regulate the flow to just what you want at the time.

 

[Sproket]

Thinking about it :silly: one of these will fit onto the handle and fit this inline on the hose

or just use one of these to replace the broken one ?

 

[Gabsgrandad]

I have used one of those, Sproket, only problem is you are screwing it into a plastic receiver and yes it did work, unfortunately it is too strong for the plastic threads of the receiver and it wears the plastic finished up 'Aralditing it in. isuspect an all metal connector and receiver could be the answer. (Anyway 'patched up the old one and completed 3 cars and the caravan. ) Now relaxing, keyboard warrioring and solving the worlds problems!

 

[Trevormc]

I had the same problem and replaced it and the tap part with a metal conector. Only problem I now have no tap to turn the water on and off.

Trevor

 

[Gagakev]

Got these two weeks ago, not tried and tested fully yet but I have done the caravan roof with it, i was stood on the roof (not recommended on some caravans).
I was mighty impressed, the end "L" shape is a swivel and it goes around and around.
Was thinking if doing it all in brass but as Gabsgrandad has said it will be metal into plastic to the actual brush so sticking with this to see how it goes.

First one shows them apart and second all connected up.

All the bits are available in Sprockets first link in his reply.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

The brass 'bits' certainly look good, but you've still got the weak link, the bit that fails with me, -- the plastic nipple.

Keep in touch see how it goes.

 

[Gagakev]

The brass 'bits' certainly look good, but you've still got the weak link, the bit that fails with me, -- the plastic nipple.

Keep in touch see how it goes.

Hi Sir Gab, the nipple failed on me too on the last one so the thinking behind it is that the pressure is taken of the nipple with the hose spinning on the swivel part, if it does fail I will replace the nipple with a brass one and try that.
will keep you posted, hoping to wash the rest of the van at the weekend.

 

[Raywood]

I have tried two different makes without success so will watch with interest to see if anyone has solved the problem.

 

[Gagakev]

OK then ....I'll do it....
will wash the van, the truck and even the company vehicle over the weekend and see if I can break it :silly:

Now here's a thought, when have most of you broken the "nipple" off?
My last one was about 18 months old, stored out side against the garden wall.
Could it be with the differing temperatures it has made the "nipple" brittle and then snap.
Or has any one had one go in a shorter time span?

 

[Sproket]

I have thought about cutting the plastic end completely off & measuring the ID with the possibility of using some thing like this ( below ) as it could be araldited into the alloy pole.

The brush the Gagakev uses has the tap built into the handle that is different to the one that Gabsgrandad & the one I have . As that plastic part is the hercules heel I have sourced a tap to control the flow when that arrives I will be able to put all of the bits together.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

OK then ....I'll do it....
will wash the van, the truck and even the company vehicle over the weekend and see if I can break it :silly:

Now here's a thought, when have most of you broken the "nipple" off?
My last one was about 18 months old, stored out side against the garden wall.
Could it be with the differing temperatures it has made the "nipple" brittle and then snap.
Or has any one had one go in a shorter time span?

Within a few months.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Must have had 3 from Maplins in last year (Must confess they have been very good at replacing the whole item.) But when you tell the assistants about the weakness of the design they're about as interested as turkeys in Christmas!. So don't know how many others have been returned but surely sooner or later 'someone' must get the message. (I was in the other day and still just the same!) But I repaired the last one myself as fed up of taking 'em back. The rest of the brush is fine/ideal.

 

[Sproket]

Well i have cut the old plastic connector off & araldited a 75mm long x 22mm dia piece of copper tube into a brass fitting and also the same for the quick connector.

The inside of the brush handle measured 23mm so that leaves clearance of 0.5mm all round the copper tube, I coated the copper tube and put some araldite into the handle, twisted it round to get a even coat on them both, then removed the copper tube and allowed both to cure, after an hour or so i mixed some more araldite up and this time coated both again and twisted it around and let it set in place, the brass fitting was done just once as the tolerance was a lot smaller, i also coated the thread to seal that joint and just set it flush with the front of the fitting, as it could screw in further but then the quick connect coupler would not work.

The swivel joint makes it a lot easier when cleaning the roof and when using the brush in general when my new inline tap arrives i will fit it to the end of the hose with a quick coupler, so that the water can be turned off and the brush removed with out getting soaked ... :silly:

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Right then - this must be the PC Mk1, - after 'field' trials, (and any mods. necessary) perhaps some manufacturer might take up on a sensible idea that works. Fingers crossed!

 

[Sproket]

Right then - this must be the PC Mk1, - after 'field' trials, (and any mods. necessary) perhaps some manufacturer might take up on a sensible idea that works. Fingers crossed!

You could use one of these with one of these, no need to check the thread length then and if it get's damaged, it's easy to replace

 

[Gagakev]

Right then - this must be the PC Mk1, - after 'field' trials, (and any mods. necessary) perhaps some manufacturer might take up on a sensible idea that works. Fingers crossed!

Will never happen Sir Gab, the manufacturers profits would nose dive. :huh:

Sprocket, Patent pending, I would like to offer you the £50.00 you asked for with 25% of the company in return :kiss:

 

[RayS]

Seems to me guys, that there's a lot of chat going on about the brush in order to avoid actually having to use it = a great male ploy of which I intend to take full advantage.

 

[Gagakev]

Sorry to disappoint Ray......I used mine today
So I cleaned the caravan, the truck, the works van, AND the underside of our open porch (PORCH not Porche) roof.
Did not take it gentle just used it the normal way, every angle conceivable, used it first with water on, then water off dipping it in the soap bucket, then water on to rinse off, so three times on each one, and the result.....................
well impressed, all still in one piece.

one thought that came to mind was the type of hose pipe I use i have one of those expandable ones that doubles in length when the tap is switched on, so think it is more flexible than a normal one, but then again it is quite solid when full of water, think I could be talking rubbish now :huh:

 

[Sproket]

one thought that came to mind was the type of hose pipe I use i have one of those expandable ones that doubles in length when the tap is switched on, so think it is more flexible than a normal one, but then again it is quite solid when full of water, think I could be talking rubbish now :huh:

Na ya not ! :silly: plastic hosepipes filled with cold water this time of the year ain't going to bend easy .....

I had warm water coming through mine yesterday when i washed the wife's car, pipe was lovely and flexible

 

[RayS]

All this seems a bit sureal sitting on a site outside temp 24f. Blue sky etc etc. van looks perfectly clean to my old eyes (although regular readers will know I have some problems with vision()
Keep it up. Most entertaining thread for some time.

Hasta Pronto from Mojacar

 

[Sproket]

All this seems a bit sureal sitting on a site outside temp 24f. Blue sky etc etc. van looks perfectly clean to my old eyes (although regular readers will know I have some problems with vision()
Keep it up. Most entertaining thread for some time.

Hasta Pronto from Mojacar

Hope you have got your string vest on at that temp .... hmy:

So far today we have had wind, sun, snow, rain just your normal March mix :woohoo:

 

[Gabsgrandad]

24F eh? - That's cool pleased I am in England where it's 40º+ ! hmy: