Tornado Marathon SE 900 Self-Contained Carpet Extractor
$2,799.00
The Tornado Marathon SE 900 (98170) is a 9-gallon pull-behind self-contained carpet extractor built for tight spaces, stairways, and facilities where a large upright extractor is impractical. A 1,300 RPM floating brush head maximizes carpet agitation for deep cleaning, while the 3-stage vacuum motor delivers 90 CFM and 120″ waterlift for thorough moisture recovery and faster drying times. The 18″ fixed vacuum shoe ensures maximum solution recovery on every pass. Slim profile navigates congested areas easily. 12″ stair-climbing wheels for effortless transport between floors. Heavy-duty polyethylene body with stainless-steel brush housing. 50-ft cord. $2,799.00. 2-year parts / 10-year roto / 2-year labor warranty. Authorized Tornado dealer. Free shipping on orders over $30.
Tornado Marathon SE 900 Self-Contained Carpet Extractor — 98170
The Tornado Marathon SE 900 (Catalog #98170) is a 9-gallon pull-behind self-contained carpet extractor designed for superior cleaning performance in spaces where larger, heavier extraction units cannot easily operate. The 1,300 RPM floating brush head maintains consistent contact with the carpet surface regardless of pile height variation, maximizing agitation and chemistry penetration for deep cleaning results. The 3-stage vacuum motor delivers 90 CFM and 120″ waterlift — pulling moisture up through carpet pile for faster drying times and reduced risk of wicking or re-soiling from residual moisture. The 18″ fixed vacuum shoe covers the full cleaning width on every pass for maximum recovery efficiency. A slim profile allows the SE 900 to navigate tight corridors, around furniture, and through doorways that stop larger machines. 12″ stair-climbing wheels make transporting the unit between floors a single-operator task. Heavy-duty polyethylene body with stainless-steel brush housing for long-lasting commercial use. Independent vacuum, brush, and pump switches for intuitive control of each function. 50-ft cord. $2,799.00. 2-year parts / 10-year roto / 2-year labor warranty.
Twin City Vacuum in Crystal, Minneapolis, MN is an authorized Tornado dealer. We carry the complete Tornado commercial equipment lineup. Questions? Call us at 763-535-0770. Free shipping on orders over $30 to all 50 states.
Key Features of the Tornado Marathon SE 900
1,300 RPM Floating Brush Head — Maximum Carpet Agitation
The SE 900’s floating brush head operates at 1,300 RPM and is designed to maintain consistent contact with the carpet surface as pile height varies across a cleaning path. Unlike fixed brush systems that can ride over low-pile sections or dig into high-pile, the floating design follows the carpet surface, ensuring the brush agitates effectively across the full 18-inch cleaning width regardless of carpet type. At 1,300 RPM the brush drives cleaning chemistry into carpet pile and mechanically loosens embedded soil — the combination of chemical dwell and mechanical agitation that produces restorative cleaning results on heavily soiled commercial carpet. For a machine in the 9-gallon class, the floating brush head is a meaningful performance differentiator over fixed-head extractors at this size.
3-Stage Vacuum Motor — 90 CFM / 120″ Waterlift
The 3-stage brushed AC vacuum motor delivers 90 CFM airflow and 120″ waterlift. The 3-stage design uses three fan stages in series to build waterlift — 120″ means the vacuum pulls recovered solution against carpet fiber resistance that would stall single-stage motors. Waterlift is the spec that most directly determines carpet dryness after extraction: higher waterlift equals more moisture removed per pass, which translates to faster carpet drying, less risk of mold or odor development from residual moisture, and faster return of the space to occupant use. At 90 CFM, recovered solution moves efficiently through the machine to the 6-gallon recovery tank.
The 18-inch fixed vacuum shoe spans the full cleaning width on every pass — the vacuum slot maintains contact with the carpet surface across the entire 18-inch path, recovering solution behind the brush head in a single consistent sweep. A well-fitted fixed shoe provides reliable, repeatable recovery performance on level carpet surfaces, leaving floors as dry as possible after each extraction pass.
Slim Profile — Tight Spaces and Congested Areas
The Marathon SE 900’s slim body profile is one of its defining operational advantages. In hotel rooms, the machine moves between beds and around furniture without repositioning. In apartment units, it navigates through standard doorways and between room fixtures easily. In office environments, it works between workstation rows and through conference rooms efficiently. In commercial facilities with tight corridors, service areas, or storage rooms, the slim profile gives the SE 900 access that wider upright extractors cannot achieve. This is the machine’s primary positioning against the Marathon 1200 — the 1200 has larger tanks and higher waterlift but a significantly larger footprint; the SE 900 is the choice when navigability and portability matter more than tank capacity.
12″ Stair-Climbing Wheels — Single-Operator Transport
The 12-inch rear wheels are specifically sized for stair climbing — the larger diameter allows the wheels to roll over stair nosings with manageable effort rather than catching or requiring a two-person lift. For a 100-lb machine with 9 gallons of solution, the 12″ wheels make staircase transport a one-operator task in most commercial and residential stairwell configurations. Facilities where the extraction program includes multiple floor levels — hotels, multifamily buildings, office buildings without freight elevator access — benefit directly from wheels sized for stair use rather than flat-floor rolling only.
Independent Controls — Intuitive Operation
The SE 900 provides independent switches for vacuum, brush, and pump — each function is controlled separately rather than through a single on/off switch. This gives the operator meaningful control over the machine’s behavior in different cleaning scenarios: running vacuum and pump without the brush for a rinse pass, running vacuum alone for moisture recovery after spot treatment, or engaging all three for a full extraction pass. Independent controls reduce operator errors and give experienced technicians the flexibility to adapt the machine’s function to different carpet conditions and cleaning program requirements.
Heavy-Duty Polyethylene Body — Stainless-Steel Brush Housing
The heavy-duty polyethylene body resists impact, moisture, and chemical exposure through sustained commercial cleaning use. The stainless-steel brush housing protects the brush assembly from corrosion caused by cleaning chemistry contact — a common failure point on machines with painted or untreated metal brush housings. The 10-year roto warranty covers structural failure of the housing for a decade of commercial service.
Tornado Marathon SE 900 — Demo Video
Official Tornado Marathon SE 900 demonstration — floating brush head, slim profile, stair wheels, independent controls, and operational overview.
Tornado Marathon SE 900 — Training Video
Official Tornado Marathon SE 900 operator training — component identification, setup, operation, tank management, and maintenance procedures.
How the Marathon SE 900 Compares to the Marathon 1200
Specification
Marathon SE 900 — 98170
Marathon 1200 — 98168
Price
$2,799.00
Contact us
Solution tank
9 gallon
12 gallon
Recovery tank
6 gallon
14 gallon
Cleaning width
18″
19″
CFM
90
99
Water lift
120″
117″
Brush speed
1,300 RPM floating head
900 RPM
Solution pressure
100 PSI
100 PSI
Rear wheels
12″ stair-climbing
Large rear wheels
Profile
Slim — tight spaces
Larger footprint
Cord
50 ft
Pigtail + 50 ft
Weight
100 lbs
100 lbs
Warranty
2/10/2
2/10/2
Best for
Tight spaces, stairs, hotel rooms, apartments — slim profile priority
Larger floor areas — higher tank capacity, more CFM
The SE 900 actually outperforms the Marathon 1200 on waterlift (120″ vs 117″) and brush speed (1,300 vs 900 RPM) — the trade-off is smaller tanks (9/6 gal vs 12/14 gal) and lower CFM (90 vs 99). Choose the SE 900 when the cleaning environment demands slim-profile access, stair transport, and high-agitation brush performance. Choose the Marathon 1200 when tank capacity and sustained run time between refills matters more. Call us at 763-535-0770 if you need help deciding.
Commercial Applications — Tornado Marathon SE 900
Hotels and hospitality — guest room carpet extraction; slim profile navigates between beds, around desks and chairs, through standard 36″ doorways; 12″ wheels for floor-to-floor transport without freight elevator
Multifamily residential — apartment unit carpet cleaning at turnover; stair wheels for buildings without elevator access; slim body for apartment hallways and unit interior navigation
Offices and commercial buildings — private office, conference room, and executive suite carpet; machine fits through standard doorways and between workstation furniture without rearranging
Staircase carpet — 12″ stair-climbing wheels make staircase transport manageable for one operator; 20-ft cord provides reach to clean multiple stair runs from landing positions
Restaurants — dining room carpet sections, banquet areas, private dining rooms; slim profile for cleaning between tables without full furniture removal
Retail and specialty stores — display area carpet, fitting rooms, back-of-house carpet; machine size appropriate for retail floor configurations
Healthcare — waiting area carpet, private offices, administrative areas; 100 PSI pump for thorough chemistry delivery; independent controls for rinse passes in sensitive environments
Building service contractors — hotel accounts, apartment building contracts, office cleaning programs where the route includes staircases and tight-access spaces that eliminate larger extractors
Technical Specifications — Tornado Marathon SE 900 (98170)
Frequently Asked Questions — Tornado Marathon SE 900
What makes the Marathon SE 900 different from the Marathon 1200?
The SE 900 has a floating brush head at 1,300 RPM vs the Marathon 1200’s 900 RPM fixed head — a significant agitation advantage. The SE 900 also has higher waterlift (120″ vs 117″) and a slimmer profile for tight-space access. The Marathon 1200 has larger tanks (12/14 gal vs 9/6 gal) and higher CFM (99 vs 90) for longer run times and more airflow. Choose the SE 900 for hotel rooms, apartments, and stair-access programs; choose the Marathon 1200 for larger floor areas where sustained run time matters more than profile size. Call us at 763-535-0770 to discuss.
What does the floating brush head do?
The floating brush head maintains consistent contact with the carpet surface as pile height varies — it rises and falls to follow the carpet rather than staying at a fixed height. This ensures effective agitation across the full cleaning width regardless of whether the carpet is low-pile, medium-pile, or transitioning between pile heights. Fixed brush heads can ride over low sections or press too hard on high sections; the floating design optimizes contact across all carpet types.
Can the Marathon SE 900 clean stairs?
The machine itself does not clean staircase carpet directly — it is a pull-behind unit operated from a flat surface. The 12″ stair-climbing wheels are designed for transporting the unit up and down stairs between floors, not for cleaning stairs in operation. For staircase carpet cleaning, the operator positions the machine on a landing and uses the 50-ft cord to reach stair runs from the landing position.
Does the Marathon SE 900 include a wand?
No — the Marathon SE 900 (98170) is a unit-only listing and does not include a wand. Contact us at 763-535-0770 to discuss compatible wand and tool options.
What warranty does the Marathon SE 900 carry?
2 years parts, 10 years roto body, 2 years labor. The 10-year roto warranty covers the polyethylene housing; the 2-year parts warranty covers the motor, pump, brush assembly, and mechanical components.
Is Twin City Vacuum an authorized Tornado dealer?
Yes. Twin City Vacuum in Crystal, Minneapolis, MN is an authorized Tornado dealer. All units are genuine Tornado equipment backed by the full manufacturer warranty. Our in-house technicians service Tornado commercial equipment at our Crystal, MN location. Call us at 763-535-0770.
