HOW DO I MAKE THIS WORK & Eventual Product Review! (Pressure Washer/Foam Cannon)

[swanicyouth]

Happy to hear you figured out another way to do it. The adapter is really the key. However I would still incorporate a 1/4 inch quick disconnect as its much easer to twist the adapter onto the gun without the bottle attached or trying to screw a full bottle onto the gun. Just a thought. As I am sure you already found out replacing the hose and gun is not as easy as a trip to home depot due to the AR's 15mm hose opposed to the standard 14mm one along with the non standard gun connection. Anyway enjoy your new MTM Hydro!
Cheers,
Rich

In the set up he's describing the MTM Foamer will be able to functionally fit/replace the AR Foamer in the picture via the adapter.The adapter acts as the quick disconnect. The foam gun replaces the wand.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Happy to hear you figured out another way to do it. The adapter is really the key. However I would still incorporate a 1/4 inch quick disconnect as its much easer to twist the adapter onto the gun without the bottle attached or trying to screw a full bottle onto the gun. Just a thought. As I am sure you already found out replacing the hose and gun is not as easy as a trip to home depot due to the AR's 15mm hose opposed to the standard 14mm one along with the non standard gun connection. Anyway enjoy your new MTM Hydro!

Cheers,
Rich

Ha, yeah... kind of pathetic. Changing something so simple and mundane, JUST so they can screw up their own customers' day. Come on AR Blue! Here is the message I got from Bill at Power Washers Direct:

Hi Aaron,

In regards to your email, more than likely you will not be able to make the MTM Hydro foamer compatible with the AR383. The problem with the AR blue clean line of pressure washers is that they use a high pressure hose set up with a 15mm size inner nipple. Mainly all other brands use a 14mm inner nipple and o ring to seal the hose to the fitting. Even if you replace the gun, wand, and hose…….you will have a problem with the new hose fitting the actual machine’s fitting/connection due to that inner nipple and o ring size.

Realistically, your best option would be to contact AR directly and speak to them about this issue. Possibly they can explain it better and give you any possible alternatives/option for what you are trying to do. AR can be reached at 866-235-5112.


Sincerely,

Bill Mikenis
Inside Sales Rep.
Pressure Washers Direct
1325 Rodeo Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
Phone: 866-618-9274

Booooooooooooooooo

In the set up he's describing the MTM Foamer will be able to functionally fit/replace the AR Foamer in the picture via the adapter.The adapter acts as the quick disconnect. The foam gun replaces the wand.

Exactly, that's why I'm so excited to use it... and the three gallons of DP Xtreme Foam Formula I bought, FINALLY

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I think I finally have all the pieces/parts now to make this all come together like magic (that's what it feels like after weeks of trial and error and research)!

The AR Blue Bayonet adapter came in the mail yesterday, but the 1/4'' brass fitting I had with two male ends is WAY TOO SMALL to just simply screw in... so, I'm stuck?

SEE PICTURE

 

[stibuki]

Don't know why your hesitant but I did give you the solution. You have the adapter you need now so just get the powercare lance and your good to go. Also if you want to go the more expensive route I remember reading that a few guys changed from the 15mm connectors to the more standard 14mm hose connectors using an adapter. Enabling them to use a standard hose, gun and lance but that would cost 1/2 the price of the AR383.

something like this:
TWIST SEAL COUPLER
or this:
TWIST SEAL COUPLER
might work but again if you get the powercare lance coupled with the adapter I recommend it will work for sure!

 

[ExpressDetail]

I think I finally have all the pieces/parts now to make this all come together like magic (that's what it feels like after weeks of trial and error and research)!

The AR Blue Bayonet adapter came in the mail yesterday, but the 1/4'' brass fitting I had with two male ends is WAY TOO SMALL to just simply screw in... so, I'm stuck?

SEE PICTURE

Aaron give me a call I can help you sort this out in a matter of minutes. I will do a full write up today of a perfect set up for people looking to have a setup like this.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Aaron give me a call I can help you sort this out in a matter of minutes. I will do a full write up today of a perfect set up for people looking to have a setup like this.

Hi, THANK YOU so much! I am heading out the door RIGHT NOW for a wedding, but I absolutely will contact you - thank you once again, be back later

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Hi, THANK YOU so much! I am heading out the door RIGHT NOW for a wedding, but I absolutely will contact you - thank you once again, be back later

Going to shoot you a message tonight hopefully, running out the door once again, always something!

Looks like I'll need JUST ONE... MORE... ADAPTER/COUPLER to make it all work (please see pictures).

Something like a 3/8'' adapter that goes down to 1/4'' on the other end?

 

[Ohio Detailing]

FINAL REVIEW

BAD NEWS, Bad Product

Well, the final nail has been driven deep into the coffin.

After MORE than two weeks, multiple threads, private messages, online ordering of adapters directly from AR Blue, waiting on UPS, and quite literally FOUR trips to Home Depot AND Lowes........ it isn't going to work.

AR Blue is a company I now despise, deeply. I will avoid their products with an almost obsessive loathing from this day forth no matter what. They use absolutely insane so-called proprietary fittings on EVERYTHING from their pressure-hose connections itself to the spray-gun insert attachments. I am sick with disgust over this company and their abject lack of concern for the customer. They remind me of an even more backwards and paranoid version of Apple, placing more effort into making sure their customers are forced with an iron-fist to buy ONLY THEIR after-market parts based on their super-dee-duper special connections like some Top-Secret division of Area 51. I wonder if they wear foil hats over there?

TONIGHT: I took in every last piece, adapter, coupler etc tonight to Home Depot, AGAIN, and after discussing all possible options with the plumbing department, we reviewed an endless array of fittings and even tried to 'rig' something up, all to no avail. It was like a hilariously pathetic parade of adapters and plumbing fittings as far as you could see, one after the other.

I am so upset I am going back to the store I purchased this piece of deplorable ridiculous plastic crap tomorrow to see if they will at least offer me a store credit to buy something HALF WAY WORTH WHILE that has enough decency and value on their customer's needs NOT to keep them locked into some sort of proprietary prison like a bunch of stingy baboons.

I want to personally and sincerely thank everyone for their attempts at helping me. But aside from some of the advice I got that involved sawing through attachments, using loc-tight permanent industrial glue, and trying to inter-connect 97 couplers like some brass-snake, or for many of the other great and appreciate tips that ended up confusing AR Blue and Karcher, I want to once again thank all of you!

I truly hope this all serves a functional purpose for someone else out there, so they can avoid hundreds of dollars wasted, hours of time up in smoke, tanks of gas vaporized, and several late nights on forums scratching their heads to try and make sense of something that is sheer NONSENSE.

1. AVOID anything made by AR Blue like a hoard of bleeding-eyed zombies
2. Do yourself a service that will pay off in UNTOLD DIVIDENDS and go with something that already has the ability to mate with a 1/4'' quick-connect adapter, whether using the Auto Geek Foam Cannon or the MTM Foam Cannon

Just.......... unreal. I could have been foaming customers' cars since May, and here we are, entering the final week of June. Shameful, absolutely unreal.

FINAL THOUGHT: DO NOT FALL INTO THE SAME PITFALL AND SPIDERWEB OF AGGRAVATION AND WASTED RESOURCES AND TIME THAT I DID.

-Aaron

 

[stibuki]

Aaron,

I understand your frustration but AR power washers are a decent product. AR is not well known in the US consumer big box circles but they are starting to build up some steam. Yes they do use a somewhat non-standard hose connection for a North American product but in parts of Europe quite standard. As adapters go most brands of consumer electric power washers have their own specific lance adapters with the exception of a few. AR is one of the few that uses stainless steel for their pump pistons. For a low cost consumer grade product their pumps are hard to beat. Down through the years I have owned quite a few so I speak with some experience. They offer a good bang for the buck but like most consumer grade electric washers are disposable. There are better but hard to beat the AR383 for the money.

Moving forward I did post a solution that only requires two parts the AR adapter and the PowerCare lance. Attached are some pix's hope this helps you get your arms around the issue. Again this is not a guess but a solution I use myself. If you have any additional questions shoot me a pm with your contact info.

A little recap:

Up until recently Home Depot had PowerCare Wand in stock but now it's not listed on the Web Site. You might be able to find it locally.

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021 | eBay

The included adapters will not fit the AR383 so you will need to order an adaptor.

AR Blue Clean Bayonet Adapter

A.R NorthAmerica :: Product Details

The adapter is also included in the brush kit sold at most local ACE Hardware stores but I ordered the adapter from AR direct.

Now you will be able to use any 1/4 inch quick connect device on your AR383!


Cheers,
Rich

 

[stibuki]

I might not have been totaly clear in stating that you would be using the gun that came with the AR383!

Aaron,

I understand your frustration but AR power washers are a decent product. AR is not well known in the US consumer big box circles but they are starting to build up some steam. Yes they do use a somewhat non-standard hose connection for a North American product but in parts of Europe quite standard. As adapters go most brands of consumer electric power washers have their own specific lance adapters with the exception of a few. AR is one of the few that uses stainless steel for their pump pistons. For a low cost consumer grade product their pumps are hard to beat. Down through the years I have owned quite a few so I speak with some experience. They offer a good bang for the buck but like most consumer grade electric washers are disposable. There are better but hard to beat the AR383 for the money.

Moving forward I did post a solution that only requires two parts the AR adapter and the PowerCare lance. Attached are some pix's hope this helps you get your arms around the issue. Again this is not a guess but a solution I use myself. If you have any additional questions shoot me a pm with your contact info.

A little recap:

Up until recently Home Depot had PowerCare Wand in stock but now it's not listed on the Web Site. You might be able to find it locally.

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021 | eBay

The included adapters will not fit the AR383 so you will need to order an adaptor.

AR Blue Clean Bayonet Adapter

A.R NorthAmerica :: Product Details

The adapter is also included in the brush kit sold at most local ACE Hardware stores but I ordered the adapter from AR direct.

Now you will be able to use any 1/4 inch quick connect device on your AR383!


Cheers,
Rich

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Aaron,

I understand your frustration but AR power washers are a decent product. AR is not well known in the US consumer big box circles but they are starting to build up some steam. Yes they do use a somewhat non-standard hose connection for a North American product but in parts of Europe quite standard. As adapters go most brands of consumer electric power washers have their own specific lance adapters with the exception of a few. AR is one of the few that uses stainless steel for their pump pistons. For a low cost consumer grade product their pumps are hard to beat. Down through the years I have owned quite a few so I speak with some experience. They offer a good bang for the buck but like most consumer grade electric washers are disposable. There are better but hard to beat the AR383 for the money.

Moving forward I did post a solution that only requires two parts the AR adapter and the PowerCare lance. Attached are some pix's hope this helps you get your arms around the issue. Again this is not a guess but a solution I use myself. If you have any additional questions shoot me a pm with your contact info.

A little recap:

Up until recently Home Depot had PowerCare Wand in stock but now it's not listed on the Web Site. You might be able to find it locally.

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021

PowerCare Quick Connect Wand with Adapters for Pressure Washers AP31021 | eBay

The included adapters will not fit the AR383 so you will need to order an adaptor.

AR Blue Clean Bayonet Adapter

A.R NorthAmerica :: Product Details

The adapter is also included in the brush kit sold at most local ACE Hardware stores but I ordered the adapter from AR direct.

Now you will be able to use any 1/4 inch quick connect device on your AR383!


Cheers,
Rich

Hi Rich,

This is good news - I got the AR Bayonet adapter in the mail last week, and still have the entire AR383 pressure washer components, so looks like all I need to do is swing by our local Ace Hardware or Home Depot and pick up the wand.

I suppose most of my annoyance stemmed from the face AR Blue uses non-traditional sizes and fittings on their machines, which may be standard across the seas, but not here in the USA - so I have been kind of running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

I have another great detail project today, a 1965 Ford Fairlane I believe the client said (just got off the phone), perhaps I can make this all happen before heading over there!?

I remember going to Home Depot last week to follow your advice and by the Power Care wand, and the packaging was sliced open and someone had stolen whatever adapter they specifically needed... now, I understand I won't even be using any of those included adapters with my AR383 anyway from what you're saying, I ONLY NEED THE WAND + my AR Bayonet adapter to make it all work, so I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT anyway

I can't believe it all comes down to just two parts, after all my driving around and ordering and returning and scratching my head. I'll come back and let you know how it all goes!!

NOTE: If I can't find the right kit today at Ace Hardware or Home Depot, I found this brand new kit on Ebay for only $15, and the best part is the seller is right here in Ohio! Please let me know if this is for sure the correct kit for my AR383 before I consider buying as a last resort - it's cheapest and will get here very quickly worse case scenario: PowerCare 1/4" Quick Connect pressure Washer Wand with Adapters | eBay

 

[stibuki]

Aaron,

Yes all you need now is the wand but I don't think Ace carries the PowerCare line. They do however have the AR brush kit that includes the AR adapter you already ordered from AR direct. Was just a secondary source for the adapter for those that don't want to wait on shipping. Funny when I went and bought mine the first Home Depot I went to only had one and it was open also and missing some parts. Lucky for me I have two HD's close by and the second one had a few unopened. Also the wand comes with 2 free nozzles so you don't even have to change out the wand to rinse. Don't forget the pump saver for off session storage and I would not leave it in the shop over the winter in cold climates bring it inside.

 

[stibuki]

Aaron,

Just saw your note. Not positive as seller does not list a part number or show clear picture of the threaded end. To the best of my knowledge PowerCare only makes one 1/4" quick connect wand with adapters so it would be a educated guess to say you should be OK with the purchase. The packaging and number of adapters included also look correct. If it was me I would pull the trigger and make the purchase.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I GOT IT TO WORK!!! Details, pictures, and a review coming up soon

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I GOT IT TO WORK!!! Details, pictures, and a review coming up soon

THE REAL FINAL REVIEW

Long story short: I got it to work! (enter roaring applause and collective sigh of exhausted relief) Booyah!

PROS:
1. The foam produced from the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon is luxurious, I wasn't let down in the slightest. I used DP's Xtreme Foam Formula from Auto Geek, along with a squirt or two of Chemical Guy's Wash & Wax car shampoo as well for some gloss enhancement along with the suds/foam action.

Well... I can't think of any more good points actually - but, it did what it was supposed to, so, hooray I guess. Kind of an anti-climax if there ever was one. I'd say with gas, time wasted, aggravation, and hours upon hours spent online here and on other forums and company websites looking for a solution I invested the equivalent of $500 or more into this parade of dumbness and another 20-30 man hours. Once again, I have to reiterate I'm NOT exaggerating here, 20 hours on various websites and driving from place to place is a conservative estimate.

CONS:
1. I spent literally three weeks making this all come together, without exaggerating
2. I made 5 separate trips during those three weeks to Home Depot and Lowes trying to figure this puzzle out, spending an ultimate $110 additional dollars over-and-above the cost of the pressure washer itself (I ended up returning all but $20 of that - so not bad in the end)
3. AR Blue, although they may be a 'good' machine for the money, is easily the most deplorable plastic wasteland of rubbish I have ever loathed using. Their whole proprietary hogwash was the bane of my existence, driving me mad
4. I missed out on using the Foam Cannon on at least 8 or more client vehicles during the time-span it was just sitting collecting dust at home
5. The AR Blue Bayonet Adapter that was part-one of a two-part jigsaw puzzle making this all come together in harmony was a plastic chintzy chunk of crap that DID NOT PROPERLY FIT into the AR Blue spray gun, which was the whole point of buying it in the first place. This single issue makes the entire setup a draining aggravating experience, I have to wiggle it, twist it, press it, and yank on it 10 or more times every time I set it up to make it feel somewhat secure and stay attached, or else it just PLOPS out when I pull the spray-gun trigger like a water dart. UGH

So, all in all... here's what I wish I would have done:
1. Buy a high-quality pressure washer with normal freaking fittings
2. Buy the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon
3. Attach the two pieces seamless with 4 seconds of my time
4. Detail cars professionally with a smile on my face

So.... so.... ultra.... mega.... super LAME in the end.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the foam cannon being used, after fiddling with the bayonet adapter screwed into the PowerCare adapter wand which were the two parts needed to make this nightmare turn into slightly less of a nightmare.

Thanks for the help guys! Take my advice above #1-4, please, and learn from my mistakes!

That Ford Fairlane above really got drenched in foam! I was seeing what this baby was capable of, awe yeahhh! FOAM PARTY TIME!

PS: I forgot to mention, one of the funniest stories I've ever had happen to me.

I went to Home Depot to buy the Power Care adapter and wand kit, and since the back was slashed up I took it up to customer service and asked if they could please discount it for me? They said sure, they may be able to take it all the way down to $10, which I thought was AWESOME. It is normally a $20-30+ piece everywhere, even online, so I was pumped, because all I really needed anyway was the wand. Well, the associate disappears and talks to someone who I assumed was her manager behind a cubicle wall, and then I thought to myself "Shoot, now since I acted so happy about the $10 price tag, she's going to come back and tell me she can't honor that deal."

Well, she DID come back up and give me some news alright... she said, "Well, since this item is a clearance item, we've decided to go ahead and sell it to you for........... ONE CENT!" Haha, she even gave some dramatic pause! I freaked out with joy, it was THE ONE SINGLE LITTLE THING good that happened during this entire AR Blue Clean Model 383 and the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon debacle, so I was pumped.

I looked in my wallet, and didn't have cash since I don't carry it. The lady said to me, "Oh, don't worry about the penny... I'll borrow it from one of my co-workers!"

HAHA, so I got the final piece needed for this all to "work" out........ FREE!!! I walked out laughing about the whole thing, what a riot! Thanks for the one awesome experience out of my last 20, Home Depot

 

[stibuki]

Free is good....Glad you got it all together! Agreed the twist lock on their adapters leaves allot to be desired at times. A little silicone on the O ring of the adapter helps. I use to have a similar problem with all their wands from time to time but one or two tries usually. I started to use standard 1/4' quick connect nozzles from my gas washers and never looked back. When your ready for a pro grade electric PM me and I will point you in the right direction.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Free is good....Glad you got it all together! Agreed the twist lock on their adapters leaves allot to be desired at times. A little silicone on the O ring of the adapter helps. I use to have a similar problem with all their wands from time to time but one or two tries usually. I started to use standard 1/4' quick connect nozzles from my gas washers and never looked back. When your ready for a pro grade electric PM me and I will point you in the right direction.

Spray silicone, does this help to lubricate the inner locking mechanism?

I will definitely contact you when I'm ready. I'm going to want something electric that can be used and abused, and has all brass fittings in the standard size!!

 

[Ohio Detailing]

AR Blue 383 broke today.... N-O-T surprised

2 month life span, awesome.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

AR Blue 383 broke today.... N-O-T surprised

2 month life span, awesome.

I found a good place for the AR Blue Clean pressure washer...

 

[newb001]

1. Buy a high-quality pressure washer with normal freaking fittings

So sorry that all your hard work didn't work out in the end

Do you, or anyone, have a sense of what the cheapest high-quality washer that would easily work with the MTM might cost? Is it going to be $300, $500, $700, etc...?

Thanks for all your hard work in this thread!