Poor Attention to Detail

[Jmellc]

Our department recently got this pressure washer. Supposed to be a good performer, we’ll soon see. I am irritated that the wand holder puts the tip against the front wheel. We can modify it but we shouldn’t have to. I’m not surprised to see junky details on cheap stuff but this is several thousand dollars. Don’t designers take any pride in their work? This would have been easy to do right.

 

[Jswain]

The same guys must have put all the stuff on the bench with the keep clean / no storage signs...

 

[neophyte]

With a setup like that, any mild change might cause the design to go from functional to slightly annoying.
A slightly shorter spray wand looks like it would have fixed the issue, or made it worse.
The same with the diameter or placement of the tire axle on the one end.
Maybe the unit is assembled from parts from third party manufacturers, that were premade for other products and nobody noticed the issue.
Plenty of major US tool power tool manufacturers used to sell tools with formed plastic tool cases that could/can barely fit the cord.
Even Festool supplies or used to supply Systainer cases with custom made inserts that did not have places to put standard accessories, which would then require that purchase of an extra $70 Systainer case, if you wanted the whole locking tool case convenience.

 

[1982fxr]

There is no item an engineer can't make worse.

 

[Zewnten]

That is a cheap pressure washer. Compare its price to a karcher or other brand not sold at northern tool.

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

It's used as a brake to keep it from rolling away. Engineering 101.

 

[redragoon]

I can assure these ideas are not usually from the engineers. This decision was probably done by purchasing/finance.

Engineer: Creates a molded plastic holder for $1.
Purchasing: That's too expensive for each one.
E: Creates hooks to hold it for $0.25 each.
P: Great. We removed one. I'm getting a raise and promotion for cutting the part cost to 1/4.

 

[jonshonda]

I recently bought a pressure washer as well, and admit that while it isn't super high end, it was $550 so higher end consumer imho. Its like they had a midget who never transports or has never used the pressure washer design the cart. The wand holder ejects the wand when it rolls over a pebble, and you couldn't pay the hose to stay in the holder. Also when you are using the pressure washer I would imagine that they have to know people will need to place the wand somewhere temporarily while they are doing something, and do you think there is a provision for that?

I emailed the company and they said they can't possibly design for every scenario. EVERY SCENARIO?!?! As a design engineer I know full well I am critical of other peoples work, but I sure as hell would have designed it to function as intended. I was told to buy straps and other apparatus to secure the house and wand during transport to my shed.

 

[American Locomotive]

That is a cheap pressure washer. Compare its price to a karcher or other brand not sold at northern tool.

It's a $5300 pressure washer. Not exactly cheap. Cat pump, Real Honda motor, looks pretty solid.

 

[zendriver]

Can't you just pull it up higher in the holder?