Mercury Floor Machines A-169-1 BOSS Floor Machine Apron – 17", 5 lbs, with Bumper

Mercury A-169-1: 17" Apron with Bumper for BOSS Floor Machines

The A-169-1 is a 17" replacement apron with integrated bumper for Mercury BOSS-1 and BOSS-2 floor machines. At 5 lbs — 1 lb lighter than the 19" and 21" aprons — it is the mid-size option in the BOSS apron lineup, fitting through access points that the larger aprons cannot pass while covering more floor per pass than the 13" and 15" aprons. Installation uses three thumb screws, the same tool-free system as all other BOSS apron sizes.

A-169-1 Specifications and Compatibility

• Model: A-169-1
• Apron size: 17 inches
• Weight: 5 lbs — 1 lb lighter than 19" and 21" aprons
• Bumper: Non-marking perimeter bumper
• Installation: Three thumb screws — tool-free, interchangeable with all BOSS apron sizes
• Compatible machines: Mercury BOSS-1 and BOSS-2 Heavy-Duty Floor Machines

Where the 17" Apron Fits in BOSS Machine Operations

The 17" apron is appropriate for facility zones where the 19" and 21" aprons cannot operate due to access width — service corridors, narrow retail aisles, restroom service areas, and between fixed equipment with limited clearance. Compared to the 19" apron (A-171-1), the 17" version is 2" narrower and 1 lb lighter, which is relevant only when transporting the apron to upper floors via a staircase or when the access constraint is between 17" and 19". In terms of cleaning results, both aprons run on the same BOSS machine body and deliver the same pad speed, motor torque, and machine weight — the only operational difference is the 2" narrower path per pass. For tight zones, pairing the 17" apron with the 13" apron for the tightest access points provides the operator with a two-step width reduction using the same machine.

Apron Weight Distribution and Bumper Contact in 17" Zones

The A-169-1 weighs 5 lbs, slightly less than the 19" and 21" aprons due to its smaller deck area. This weight difference has no meaningful effect on the BOSS machine's total pad pressure — the machine weight (90–107 lbs depending on configuration) dominates the downward force calculation, and a 1 lb difference in apron weight is less than 1% of total machine weight. The non-marking bumper on the 17" apron serves a different practical role than on wider aprons: in 17" zones, the machine is more likely to be within 1–2 inches of walls on each side throughout the cleaning pass rather than only at direction changes. The bumper provides continuous protection against incidental wall contact throughout the full run in these narrow zones.