N/S Wash Equipment: Brush Adjustments

Jul 26th 2016

The wrap around brush was one of N/S Corporation’s first patents, issued in 1967. These brushes—especially those made with Lammscloth (another N/S Corporation patent)—are still in use today. Wash systems everywhere use wrap around brushes during a vehicle wash.

Please watch the video below if you’re interested in arm adjustment, and browse our NS Corporation channel on Youtube for more helpful wash system videos.

Wrap Around Brush

Each wash system usually has two wrap around brushes stationed on either side of the wash system. These brushes spin on an axis in a circular motion, resembling the action of a hand wash, in order to reach a wider surface area while the vehicle is moving through an automated wash system.

The brush walks on either side of the vehicle, and as the brush reaches the end of the vehicle, a properly aligned brush should have enough pressure and penetration to sweep against the rear bumper and clean it. In this way, wrap around brushes eliminate the need for a rear brush installment.

Unfortunately, when wrap around brushes aren’t properly aligned, they don’t have appropriate pressure or coverage when washing a vehicle. Fortunately, an alignment is easy and usually only requires the use of an impact ratchet, a rubber mallet, a ¾ inch wrench, a marker, a ladder, and measuring tape.

How to Determine Coverage

Penetration is the term that refers to the amount of coverage each strip of cloth, foam, or other material should have along a vehicle. For the best wash, N/S Corporation recommends that 3-6 inches of material lays against the surface each time the wrap around brush swishes by the vehicle.

Adjusting the brushes throughout your wash system should be part of your regular maintenance.

Please refer to our video to aid you in your arm adjustment efforts, along with many other helpful wash system videos from N/S Corporation.