Hammerhead Surface Cleaners

Wanding a driveway leaves stripes and eats your whole afternoon. A Hammerhead surface cleaner from General Pump covers an 18 or 20 inch path in one pass and leaves concrete looking machine-finished. Sun Brite Supply sells the cleaners plus every wear part that keeps them spinning: swivels, rotary arms, brushes, and repair kits. Questions on sizing? Call 301-519-9274 before you buy.

Sizing a Hammerhead Surface Cleaner to Your Machine

The Hammerhead is rated to 4,000 PSI and up to 8 GPM with a 180 degree F temperature ceiling, so it runs happily on hot water skids. The real question is your flow. Under 4 GPM, the bar spins slow and you crawl to avoid striping. At 5.5 to 8 GPM, the deck floats on spray and you can walk at a normal pace. The two spray nozzles need to match your machine's output. A cleaner shipped with nozzles sized for 8 GPM will bog a 4 GPM machine down to useless pressure, so we re-nozzle them at the counter for whatever pump you run. That five minute step is the difference between loving and hating this tool.

18 Inch vs 20 Inch

Both decks share the same ABS cover, anodized aluminum guts, stainless rotary arm, and 3/8 inch NPT female inlet. The 20 inch covers about ten percent more concrete per pass and suits open flatwork like parking pads and warehouse aprons. The 18 inch turns tighter around downspouts, steps, and pool furniture. Crews doing residential driveways tend to grab the 18. Crews doing commercial flatwork grab the 20. Price is the same either way, so buy for the ground you clean most.

Zerk Swivel vs Sealed Swivel

Hammerheads come with either a greasable swivel with a zerk fitting or a sealed non-greasable swivel. The zerk version rewards discipline: a pump of grease before each use and the bearing lasts for seasons. The sealed version asks nothing until the day it starts leaking, then you rebuild or replace it. If you grease your gear, buy the zerk. If your helpers cannot be trusted with a grease gun, sealed saves you from a dry-run bearing failure.

Cleaners and Parts Lookup

Availability shifts through the season. Call and we will check the shelf before you make the trip.

From the Field

Look at what we sell the most of for these decks and you learn where they wear. Swivel repair kits outsell whole swivels because most swivel trouble is a thirty dollar seal, not a four hundred dollar part. If yours drips a little, rebuild it that week. Wait until it wobbles and you are into the major kit or a new swivel. Rotary arms are the other repeat sale, and almost every bent arm we replace hit a raised expansion joint or a hidden sprinkler head at full walk speed. Scout the slab first. And if your deck leaves crop circles, check nozzle wear before blaming the tool. Worn nozzles drop pressure at the bar and the pattern stops overlapping.

Related Collections

• All surface cleaners and General Pump surface cleaners
• Whirl-A-Way surface cleaners and Whirl-A-Way parts
• Surface cleaner parts and Mosmatic
• Swivels and nozzles
• Concrete cleaning equipment and concrete cleaning chemicals
• Driveway cleaning equipment
• Try one in person at our Gaithersburg pressure washer store

Frequently Asked Questions

What size pressure washer do I need for a Hammerhead surface cleaner?

Plan on at least 4 GPM and 3,000 PSI for acceptable speed. The deck is rated to 8 GPM and 4,000 PSI, and more flow means a faster walk. Below 4 GPM you will spend more time re-passing than you save.

Should I buy the 18 inch or the 20 inch?

Same price, same rating. The 20 inch clears open flatwork faster, the 18 inch maneuvers better around obstacles. Most residential crews pick the 18, most commercial flatwork crews pick the 20.

Is the Hammerhead safe on hot water machines?

Yes, up to 180 degrees F. Hot water speeds up grease and gum removal on drive-thrus and dumpster pads, and the swivel seals are rated for it.

Why does my surface cleaner leave stripes or swirl marks?

Three usual causes: walking too fast for your GPM, worn spray nozzles that no longer overlap, or a slow bar from a dragging swivel. Fix the swivel and nozzles first, then slow your pace.

What is the difference between the zerk and sealed swivel?

The zerk swivel takes a shot of grease before each use and lasts longer for it. The sealed swivel is maintenance free until it wears out. Both can be rebuilt with the minor or major repair kits.

Do you carry Hammerhead replacement parts?

Yes. Swivels, repair kits, rotary arms, brush skirts, hoses, caster kits, and guns are all listed above. Call 301-519-9274 with your part number and we will match it.