AG wash buckets and grit guards
- Thread starter mcochris
- Start date
Buckskincolt
New member
- Aug 11, 2009
- 1,585
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Wonder if they have a new supplier, I have one AGO bucket about two years old and the GG fits fine, my other buckets are Orange Home D buckets and the GG'S fit fine there. I'd give AG a call.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks guys. The bucket manufacturer is Leaktite. The exterior diameter of the bottom of the bucket is 10 1/4"
There are three problems with the gritguard not going all the way to the bottom of the bucket:
- The edges of the gritguard will compress against the sides of the bucket. This makes the gritguard stick to the side of the bucket and hard to remove
- the gritguard can "see saw" up and down inside the bucket
- since the vanes of the gritguard do not rest on the bottom of the bucket, the dirty water under the guard is more prone to move around and get recycled
I know I can trim off the outer ring and the vanes of the gritguard to get it to fit, or get the right sized buckets from Home Depot, but for $120 I should not have to jump thru these hoops.
There are three problems with the gritguard not going all the way to the bottom of the bucket:
- The edges of the gritguard will compress against the sides of the bucket. This makes the gritguard stick to the side of the bucket and hard to remove
- the gritguard can "see saw" up and down inside the bucket
- since the vanes of the gritguard do not rest on the bottom of the bucket, the dirty water under the guard is more prone to move around and get recycled
I know I can trim off the outer ring and the vanes of the gritguard to get it to fit, or get the right sized buckets from Home Depot, but for $120 I should not have to jump thru these hoops.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
I use these all the time and the grit guard inserts fit perfect into the bottom of the buckets we sell.
If you have the dolly with the side screws then be sure that you have loosened the screws first, then insert the grit guard inserts and then tighten the screws.
If the screws are tightened before you insert the inserts it will be a tight fit.
If you have the dolly with the side screws then be sure that you have loosened the screws first, then insert the grit guard inserts and then tighten the screws.
If the screws are tightened before you insert the inserts it will be a tight fit.
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
What's funny, is if the Grit Guard Inserts when placed inside the buckets were loose, people would complain they are loose.
I've sent the link to this thread to my good friend Doug Lamb for his input since he's the manufacturer.
I also just went out and placed inserts into the first two buckets on the shelf next to where the inserts are located and "yes" it did take some pressure to push them to the bottom and "yes" it did take some pulling to remove them.
You want these things to fit SNUG and stay at the bottom of the bucket once inserted. You don't want them moving around. As you use them the buckets will expand a little and the inserts will compress a little, they are only snug when they are brand new.
Here's some pictures...
I've sent the link to this thread to my good friend Doug Lamb for his input since he's the manufacturer.
I also just went out and placed inserts into the first two buckets on the shelf next to where the inserts are located and "yes" it did take some pressure to push them to the bottom and "yes" it did take some pulling to remove them.
You want these things to fit SNUG and stay at the bottom of the bucket once inserted. You don't want them moving around. As you use them the buckets will expand a little and the inserts will compress a little, they are only snug when they are brand new.
Here's some pictures...
swanicyouth
New member
- Mar 3, 2011
- 9,388
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I have buckets from Lowes, Pep Boys, and Ace HW. The grit guards don't go to the bottom completely of any of these buckets, but fit snugly on the sides. Isn't that the point? I would think the more space from the bottom, the more space from the sediment that "may" form in the bucket the better.
- Thread starter
- #10
Below are the buckets I got a few days ago Grit Guard® Dual Bucket Washing System - CLEAR
In the pic below, the guard is pushed as far down in the bucket as reasonably possible. It's difficult to see, but there's enough space under the guard for the detail brush. The guard is not resting on or touching the brush.
In the picture below, you can see the guard thru the bucket. As you can see, there's quite a bit of space between the bottom of the vanes on the guard and the bottom of the bucket. I tried, but there's no way this guard is making it to the bottom of this bucket.
As for "that's the way it's supposed to work" and "it works better that way" I respectfully disagree for the reasons I outlined in a previous post.
"... if the Grit Guard ... were loose, people would complain" - lets not get ahead of ourselves. People are complaining now that the guards don't fit. There are many similar posts. I haven't seen any "it's too loose" posts.
So I purchased another guard separately and trimmed it fit in the bucket. It's obvious that the guard works much better and is easier to use when the guard does not have to jammed into place.
There's no advantage in having the guard to be hard to use. There's nothing individually wrong with the guard or the bucket - they just don't fit together.
I'm not looking for a refund, exchange, etc. I just trying to help AG be better.
In the pic below, the guard is pushed as far down in the bucket as reasonably possible. It's difficult to see, but there's enough space under the guard for the detail brush. The guard is not resting on or touching the brush.
In the picture below, you can see the guard thru the bucket. As you can see, there's quite a bit of space between the bottom of the vanes on the guard and the bottom of the bucket. I tried, but there's no way this guard is making it to the bottom of this bucket.
As for "that's the way it's supposed to work" and "it works better that way" I respectfully disagree for the reasons I outlined in a previous post.
"... if the Grit Guard ... were loose, people would complain" - lets not get ahead of ourselves. People are complaining now that the guards don't fit. There are many similar posts. I haven't seen any "it's too loose" posts.
So I purchased another guard separately and trimmed it fit in the bucket. It's obvious that the guard works much better and is easier to use when the guard does not have to jammed into place.
There's no advantage in having the guard to be hard to use. There's nothing individually wrong with the guard or the bucket - they just don't fit together.
I'm not looking for a refund, exchange, etc. I just trying to help AG be better.
I just bought this same set up. I also have the same problem with the Grit Guard not fitting in the AG bucket. You have to put A LOT of water in the bucket to make sure you can
reach it with your wash mit. I don't like it at all but I thought is was normal. I need to call AG if this is the wrong fit.
OK. I should of checked this out first. I just went to the garage and pushed my guards down like Mike said. They were very tight. I pulled them out and realized that on the outside
diameter there is "extra" plastic "bumps" that stick out from the main diameter creating interference. These "bumps" are from the ejector pin holes in the mold. Take a file to these
"bumps" and it fits way better.
Nick McKees37
McKee's 37 Product Support
- Jan 6, 2011
- 7,265
- 0
The Grit Guard inserts don't have to sit flush in the bottom of the bucket for them to work properly. The "baffles" still work as designed and prevent dirt and grit from being reintroduced to your wash media.
If you'd like to exchange them, give me a call tomorrow and I'll have a return label sent your way.
1-800-869-3011 ext 215
whirledpeaz
New member
- Jul 24, 2010
- 18
- 0
I received my order yesterday! 
rops: That included 2 grit guards. Went to walmart and picked up 2 5 gallon buckets. The grit guards fit just fine. Not loose and not tight. Sits all the way down on the bottom! :dblthumb2:
rops: That included 2 grit guards. Went to walmart and picked up 2 5 gallon buckets. The grit guards fit just fine. Not loose and not tight. Sits all the way down on the bottom! :dblthumb2:
steved
New member
- Mar 6, 2012
- 49
- 0
I have to agree with the non-fit side here. My a grit guard can't be pushed to the bottom of my clear AG buckets. The lower edges of the vanes that hold the guard off the bottem start hitting the sides about 6 inches from the bottom. I have a bunch of 5 gallon buckets around so I did some checking, it seems that some buckets are slightly smaller, and thinner than others. I just switched to bigger buckets that I had around and my problem was solved. But no amount of work around or trimming or pushing is going to change the fact that they don't fit right.
My feeling is that AG needs to find a new supply of buckets, this is going to come back to haunt you. I wouldn't dream of returning these buckets, I just swapped out for bigger ones that I already had, but everytime I see the AG buckets, it will remind me "oh those are those buckets that didn't work right" and since they have a giant AG logo on the side, I fear it will slowly degrade my stellar opinion of AG.
My feeling is that AG needs to find a new supply of buckets, this is going to come back to haunt you. I wouldn't dream of returning these buckets, I just swapped out for bigger ones that I already had, but everytime I see the AG buckets, it will remind me "oh those are those buckets that didn't work right" and since they have a giant AG logo on the side, I fear it will slowly degrade my stellar opinion of AG.
A little late, and it might have been said already.
However, I have both the HD buckets, and the AG dual system. Yes the grit guard fits the HD bucket with zero issues, and is even a little loose. However, on the AG dual system, it's snug. The screws that hold the bucket to the dolley, need to be loosened at times to allow easy removal of the grit guard.
I do however, actaully prefer the AG system as it's snug and hold it guard up a little more than sitting on the flat bottom. Gives you that much more room for debri to sit in the bottom and not be stirred up.
I don't view it as a QC issue at all. The grit guards do have two finger holes to lift up with and for me come out with no problem at all.
However, I have both the HD buckets, and the AG dual system. Yes the grit guard fits the HD bucket with zero issues, and is even a little loose. However, on the AG dual system, it's snug. The screws that hold the bucket to the dolley, need to be loosened at times to allow easy removal of the grit guard.
I do however, actaully prefer the AG system as it's snug and hold it guard up a little more than sitting on the flat bottom. Gives you that much more room for debri to sit in the bottom and not be stirred up.
I don't view it as a QC issue at all. The grit guards do have two finger holes to lift up with and for me come out with no problem at all.
Becciasm
New member
- Jul 6, 2009
- 1,066
- 0
To add to this discussion - i once had a 4 gal bucket from Autozone as part of my two bucket system. My GG, when inserted, did not go past half way.
I tell you that to tell you this - i had no wash-induced marrring of any of my vehicles prior to what had existed before me (dealerships, etc).
Also, even though the baffles were 4 or so inches from the bottom, the water below, even when the water above was agitated during mitt cleaning, would not be grossly disturbed. The bucket was white in color, so i could see to the bottom, and sometimes a little 'passion behind the pad' was used to loose the dirt/grime from the media. The raised height, for me, was also a bonus that i did not have to bend as far to reach the guard.
in my experience, the guard does not have to reach the bottom to be effective - the baffles do a well enough job of baffling any harmful water movement which would keep the grit in suspension, as well as block the media from reaching the lower portions of the bucket that contains all the grit.
I tell you that to tell you this - i had no wash-induced marrring of any of my vehicles prior to what had existed before me (dealerships, etc).
Also, even though the baffles were 4 or so inches from the bottom, the water below, even when the water above was agitated during mitt cleaning, would not be grossly disturbed. The bucket was white in color, so i could see to the bottom, and sometimes a little 'passion behind the pad' was used to loose the dirt/grime from the media. The raised height, for me, was also a bonus that i did not have to bend as far to reach the guard.
in my experience, the guard does not have to reach the bottom to be effective - the baffles do a well enough job of baffling any harmful water movement which would keep the grit in suspension, as well as block the media from reaching the lower portions of the bucket that contains all the grit.
As always spot on customer service. No worries here. I filed the bumps off the outside
diameter and they fit really good. Thank you for the offer.
rops:are you referring to the little bumps on the outside ring? because my will not fit all the way to the bottom of the bucket, as the picture with the brush underneath the grit guard is how mine fits, but if i use a different bucket it fits all the way to the bottom.