I'm having some difficulty fixing a pressure washer. I got it with a pump that would not produce pressure but the engine (gas) runs fine. When running the gun would give a quick burst of pressure then just low pressure.
I put on a used pump yesterday, seller said it was working fine but the engine seized. I hooked up the water inlet and left the high pressure hose off. With the water flowing it increases in pressure when the engine is started. Put the high pressure hose on and pull the trigger and it does the same burst of high pressure then low pressure. Release the trigger and the pressure builds up so it gives a burst next time you pull the trigger then low pressure.
There were some bad o-rings in the gun so I bought a new one today with new nozzles. No change, still does the same thing. I took the unloader valve out, it was moving freely so I cleaned it up and put it back in with no change.
I'm out of ideas now, next option I can think of is a new pump. What else should I check?
wae
HalfDork
7/5/15 1:18 p.m.
I had a problem kind of like that with a Karcher electric washer. The pressure switch in the manifold would stick and once it built up pressure and shut the pump off it wouldn't turn the pump back on without physically returning the switch. I fixed it by buying a new pressure washer.
The best pressure washer to own is the one you rent.
Mine has a burned out pump. Dads leaks pump oil. My father in laws is garbage on a good day.
The rental I just returned worked like a champ. Only cost $20.
I can rent one 11 times before I come up on the price of fixing mine. That will take greater than four years for me.
My suggestion would be to throw yours on craigslist and go rent one when you need to.
I had something like that with mine a while back. Turned out to be a chunk of shmutz in the nozzle head itself. (Rust or some such). Cleared it with a bit of wire and it's been fine since.
Have you tried wand but no spray tip? How does it run then?
Same with no spray tip, burst of pressure then just garden hose pressure. Brand new wand and nozzle.
Tried holding the trigger on the wand while starting it and that made it work.
Is it a karcher? Probably the unloader valve, mine does the same thing I just haven't gotten around to fixing it.
Briggs and Stratton. It seems to be working fine now. Approximately 20 pounds of mud has been removed from the Subaru so far.
Unloader valves stick after a while. pretty easy to disassemble and lube
bearmtnmartin wrote:
Unloader valves stick after a while. pretty easy to disassemble and lube
Unloader. That was the word I was looking for.
Check the unloader valve.
