Now that you know what I think about pressure washers, let's get on with some carriage maintenance tips. How about starting at the front with the harness.

I'm not going to get into leather care. I think there are others who can do a better job on this subject. I would like to address the metal bits. If brass, they have to be cleaned and polished regularly. Even stainless ones need some work if they are to look really good. I have found two products that have worked very well for me. I'm sure there are many others on the market as well.

The first is BRASSO. Anyone who had any contact with the military before they went to black buckles and insignia will know of this one. It will polish up the most green and dirty brass and make it shine brilliantly. It does take some work, though. Available at hardware stores.

Another that works very well is SIMICHROME. It is a German product that is available at motorcycle shops. I have used a lot of it on my bikes and have been very satisfied. Bike shops are interesting to visit. You may meet your doctor or lawyer there!

Both of the above are applied with a rag (old t-shirts work well) so some effort and patience are needed, but the results are worth it.

For those with less time or patience, or are just plain lazy, the process can be motorized. A Dremel Tool with a felt mop can be used to good effect. You will need some polishing compound for the mop. The ones to get are Tripoli and White Rouge. Start withe the Tripoli and then go to the White Rouge, if you want it even brighter. You may well be satisfied with the Tripoli. If you are a real fanatic, there is also the even finer Jeweler's Rouge for the ultimate shine, but I don't think this is practical or desirable on working harness. However, a few notes on safety.

Firstly, a Dremel Tool turns at an incredible rpm. The little tools are obviously turning at the same speed. They can fly apart, especially if mishandled. The possibility of serious eye injury is real. The solution is to wear goggles or a face shield. I have used these tools for years with no trouble, but why take a chance? Once you have used one of these, you will find they are handy for all sorts of things. There is an almost unbelievable variety of attachments available. Dremel Tools can be purchased at hardware stores and the like. The buffing compounds mentioned above are more of a problem. Try automotive specialist stores that cater to the DIY set such as hot rodders, the tuner car people, or auto body supply places. Don't be afraid to go in. They're cool! You'll meet some interesting people! If you can't locate some, check out www.eastwoodco.com. This is a good company with good products. I have found them to be good people to deal with.

Another safety problem is the dust, filled with abrasive, that comes off the mop. Granted, you won't be doing much and the mops are small, but why expose yourself at all? Simply wear a face mask that can be purchased at any hardware store. Read the label to get the right one, as there are many types. You want one that protects from fine dust. In the old days in motorcycle factories where they had chrome plating facilities, the buffers, who usually didn't wear proper safety equipment, would often come down with an affliction called "plater's cough" which in time could be fatal. When they died, it was said they "fell off the wire."

Next item to be covered will be types of harness hardware, some thoughts about the different types, and the maintenance of same.

An ongoing series on carriage and trailer maintenance

The first subject is the PRESSURE WASHER, a toy, sorry, a tool,
thatis increasingly seen around barns. It is subject to more misuse
than an old bent screwdriver.

First, safety. These things truly do produce a lot of pressure.
NEVER point one at any living thing, human or animal. The pressurized
liquid is easily capable of penetrating skin and can cause serious
tissue damage. As grit and small stones can be thrown up by them,
always wear a face shield when using one. Before throwing the
instructions away, read the safety section. They are not kidding!!
Second, maintenance. Read the manual. They are all different, but
it is simple. About all the pump needs is a change of oil now and
then. However, if you don't do it, you can destroy the unit. If this
happens, take it apart to see how it works. It is interesting. You
were going to throw it away anyway, weren't you? If it is run by an
electric motor, check if it needs grease or oil on the shaft. Most
don't, nowadays. If it is operated by a gas motor, keep it out of the
barn! Gasoline and barns don't mix! As for maintenance, it's the same
as for your lawnmower (same engine).

Change the oil and filters regularly (see manual). Lost that one
too, I suppose!

Something to keep in mind with pressure washers: If it doesn't have
a pressure relief valve (see manual again), don't leave it running
for more than a few seconds with the valve closed, or it can ruin the
pump. I've seen that happen. When starting, hold the trigger open.
You will not be fighting the pressure buildup (liquids don't
compress), and it will be easier.

Now, where should you use, or not use one? Frankly, I don't like
them and don't own one, though I've used them and worked on them. A
pressure washer should be OK for cleaning a concrete or tarmac floor
if you don't hold the nozzle too close to the surface. If you hold it
a foot or two off the surface it shouldn't cause any trouble, as the
pressure falls off rapidly with distance. But, why not use an
ordinary garden hose and save the expense of buying one? If you don't
have good water pressure in the barn, I guess one could be useful. Be
careful, as holding the nozzle too close can break up the surface.
Wood walls and floors? I'm not so sure here. It is easy to damage the
wood, especially softwood, and likely to drive any preservative out
as it drives the water in. They can actually erode the surface.
Instant antiquing! They do work well at cleaning the bottoms of
aluminum boats that have been in salt water for a while. Perhaps not
so good on fiberglass, where there is a good chance of gel coat damage.
Don't even think of using a pressure washer on your carriage or
trailer. Wooden trailer floors are subject to the same damage as
wooden stall floors. After blasting, the water will have driven out
much of the preservative as it drives itself in. If you don't let it
dry thoroughly, and it may take some time, you are headed for
trouble. If you now put the mat back, the moisture is trapped. This
is a perfect setting for rot and fungus; warm, wet, dark, nourishment
(manure). You might start a mushroom farm under there! This, by the
way, is true any time you put the mat back over wet wood. I have
heard of cases (at least one locally) where horses have broken
through rotted flooring while the trailer was on the move. The
results are horrible and then it usually results in the loss of the
horse.

A pressure washer can also remove paint easily. This is especially
bad if the trailer body is steel, as rust sets in quickly, especially
in hidden corners. Spraying around the wheels can drive water and
grit past the wheel bearing seals and into the bearings. If enough
gets in and remains long enough, serious damage can result, including
a loss of a wheel when on the highway, never a good thing. High
pressure water around electrical components can be trouble, too.
Horse trailers seem to mostly have electric brakes and of course,
lighting. The water can break off small wires and get into places
where it can cause all sorts of mysterious problems. The most common
is bad grounds. This is a subject, like wheel bearing care, that
deserves a separate article on its own, but I can assure you, bad
grounds can be real puzzlers to find and correct.
Carriages and pressure washers don't mix! There, I've said it
again! Firstly, washing the body and frame can remove paint amazingly
fast. Pin striping and other decoration can go even faster. Wooden
surfaces can be eroded quickly, too. Metal surfaces may stand up a
little better, especially if painted with epoxy or similar, but don't
count on it. If and when the paint does get taken off, it's harder to
do a nice repair job.

Wheels are especially vulnerable to pressure washing. Paint of all
kinds doesn't seem to stick as well here, probably due to the many
angles and curved surfaces that are hard to reach properly. I also
think that people tend to hold the nozzle closer in order to get at
all the hidden areas, and because mud and grease tend to build up in
these places. As for the wheel hubs, especially on the back side, the
same goes as for trailer wheels. The danger here is that the high
pressure can easily drive water and mud by the seals into the bearing
area. This material mixes with the grease to make a quite effective
grinding paste that can ruin bearings in short order.
Wheel bearing seals are not designed to be proof against this sort
of treatment. Older carriages will probably have seals of leather or
felt, more or less in the shape of a washer. There is little
resistance to high pressure. More modern carriages usually have
garter seals made of a neoprene material. Inside there is a small
spring arranged in a circle to press the seal against the axle. They
resist pressure from inside quite well, but not so well from the
outside. So, even these are vulnerable to the attack of the pressure
washer.

In summary, pressure washers have their uses, but not around
carriages and trailers. Instead, use a soft cloth or sponge with warm
soapy water. Rinse with a bucket of clear water or a GENTLE flow of
water from a hose. Don't be lazy! Another good reason for doing it
this way is that you get a nice close-up look at the carriage. You
may spot things that need repair and you can fix them before they get
serious.