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Small Cabin Forum / Off Topic / Pressure Washer Troubleshoot
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paulz
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 14:15
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A friend gave me his power washer that quit on him and bought a new one. I brought it to my city house, hooked up the hose and want from my power washer, hooked to the city water supply and fired it up. It worked great the first time I pulled the trigger, then quit pumping. Got a great Honda engine, first pull. I pulled the pump off, apart and cleaned it, no obvious damage, nothing stuck. Back together, still just a weak stream when I pull the trigger. Engine never goes under load. Pump is turning, pistons moving.

Could be just worn bores. I'll definitely keep the Honda if I part it out.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 14:29
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Pumps are usualy prety cheap compared to buying a new pressure washer.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 15:35 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
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You have a stuck "unloader valve" common deal, on the pump you will see a cap with a spring under it, and a relief valve, it gets hung up, usually from corrosion from water setting. You can buy an unloader valve kit. My pump is a generac with a honda engine, but my unloader valve kit I got was made by Briggs and Stratton. Anyway, when you winterize it, just pull it apart and lube everything in there before storing it. They make a fog kit for them also.

Lots of styles:


Mine was this one:

paulz
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 16:41
Reply 


I've had that valve out a dozen times, changed the O-rings. It's not a valve per se, slides in a bore to open holes to the wand and back to pump. Run out of things to try.

New pumps for $70 on Ebay, cheap enough, I just don't need another pressure washer and that Honda engine looks pretty tempting. I think I'll just push it in the shed and wait until some need comes up.

Thanks guys.
20210615_1328071.j.jpg
20210615_1328071.j.jpg


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 20:45
Reply 


I'm not convinced that is the unloader valve.
Do you have a make and model number for the pressure washer?

paulz
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 21:04
Reply 


It's a Karcher, and is what they call it. The only other parts in it are the rubber inlet valves.

The way I understand it is the inlet pressure pushes the unloader valve open to recirculate, and when the trigger is opened, relieving pressure, the spring closes the valve, sending the water to the wand.

But I could be wrong..
KARCHER.JPG
KARCHER.JPG


Al Burton
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2021 22:21
Reply 


I used to own a Karcher service centre. That was a very common problem, you will find that if you take the nozzle off and run it for a few seconds then replace the nozzle it will work until you release the trigger again. A good waterproof grease will get it working for a little while. They actually made a repair kit for them that replaced the part the unloader (karcher calls it a spill valve) valve slides in. It worked a bit better but wasn't worth the money.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 08:26 - Edited by: toyota_mdt_tech
Reply 


Paulz, OK, looks like it is the unloader according to them. A good silicone based grease to keep it lubed. When my would fail, I would hold the nozzle open, throttle down the engine and it would pressure up, while keeping the trigger pulled, then throttle engine back up, would work, but each time I let off, had to throttle engine back down. I now store it cleaned and lubed. Briggs and Stratton actually makes a fogger kit for this, in an aerosol can for storage

Fogger Kit

OK, maybe the lube on the valve. Otherwise, looks like you have all avenues covered.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 11:01
Reply 


Im inclined to agree that the valve is still sticking/hun-up in it's bore. Is there a way to not put it in and cap the hole off to try it sans valve?

paulz
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 11:55 - Edited by: paulz
Reply 


Thanks guys. Al, good to know it was a common issue. Well I tried greasing the valve up real good, slides right in, tired with and without the nozzle, varying the throttle.. nothing worked. Funny that it did kick in the very first time I tried it, so I know it's capable of working. Leaving the valve out would just allow the water to recirculate I believe, as it does when the trigger is off and not spraying.

I see the new pumps they sell on Ebay have a different, probably later design, looks like they would bolt up. For now though I think I'll just push it in the corner in case mine takes a dump. And if not, that Honda looks pretty tempting to replace the old iron Briggs in the log splitter.
Screenshot_2021061.png
Screenshot_2021061.png


gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 12:07
Reply 


As Kenny Rogers said,"Ya gotta know when to hold em, know when to fold em....."

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 12:30
Reply 


Thanks for the info. My pressure washer seems to have this bypass valve stuck in closed position. I have to keep the sprayer handle open or there is a build up of head pressure.
I have to start it with the water turned off, then turn on the water immediately or the motor over revs like the governor is stuck open. And have the water flowing.
Works great otherwise. I'm assuming that these valves are probably all similar across brands ? And a wire brush and o rings will help. Kinda seems like a general maintenance thing as I've had similar experience with other power washers.
Hey good score, a picture of your washer near one of your cool rides would be nice.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 16 Jun 2021 15:30
Reply 


I'm back at the cabin, didn't bring the washer but here's what I've been playing with out here. Rebuilt the trans, waiting on a new throwout bearing.
20210515_185837.jpg
20210515_185837.jpg


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 17 Jun 2021 08:03
Reply 


Wow, what year and do I see dual quads?
3 or 4 spd? 327?

Aklogcabin
Member
# Posted: 17 Jun 2021 10:09
Reply 


Scookums

paulz
Member
# Posted: 17 Jun 2021 12:42
Reply 


It's a '56. 265 3spd, top of the line for the year. Got it last year, incredibly, not a mile from my cabin. In a barn since 1974. Been slowly getting it back on the road. I have driven it twice, briefly.
Photo_May_27_10_15_.jpg
Photo_May_27_10_15_.jpg
Photo_Sep_27_11_17_.jpg
Photo_Sep_27_11_17_.jpg
0221201125_HDR.jpg
0221201125_HDR.jpg
002.JPG
002.JPG


DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 17 Jun 2021 16:46
Reply 


Old vette's have sooo much style. This is a 60.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbBWODsBzdo

paulz
Member
# Posted: 18 Jun 2021 14:43
Reply 


Ha, that's cool, thanks. Always wanted to drive around with a motorcycle helmet on to see the reaction.

Here's a real coincidence. We've been doing crossword puzzles at the cabin lately, from a stack of them that have been sitting around here for several years. I went to pull out another one the other day and found this! Working on it now.
20210617_151918.jpg
20210617_151918.jpg


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