Power Washer Repair

[kach22i]

Power Washer Repair

Who knows how to repair a $99 Karcher power washer?

It worked great the first year I had it, but like the silicone caulk stored in my basement (would not cure) I think it froze in the winter.

I was expecting to find a plastic storage tank of some sort which had a crack in it. I opened it up and there is nothing like that in there, it's just a motor and a pump.

The O-Ring and three round rubber grommets look fine.

I did find a pinched clear vinyl vent line, it somehow got caught under an internal case flange. I 'm not sure when this happened, it seems to have been pinched for a while because it took some working to squeeze it back open.

The part I suspect is leaking has a metal bracket over plastic parts. There is a locking nut I cannot get to, but it looks fine. The part which appears to be two plastic parts force fit has a pretty good joint all the way around it. That is the part I glued with "Seal-All'.

Before I put this thing back together, is there anything else I should be looking at?

The power washer seems to spray/leak almost as much water out of it's bottom as is delivered at the nozzle. I take a shower every time I use it and roll into puddles trying to work under the car. The exposed connections are not the problem, it's something behind the outer yellow case.

The pinched vent line:


The inside of the inner case - if you ever wondered:


Did glue/seal job at arrows:


No water in the greasy O-Ring bearing/spring area of pump:

[Jagshund]

I have one that was doing the same thing- leaking from the rear panel and it looked like it was coming from inside; it would spray me and puddle at the back right at the base of the fittings. Eventually figured it out when it shot off while cleaning a tranny . . . turned out to be the connectors at the rear were all bad. Replaced them with some brass pieces from HD and haven't had a problem since.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

. . . turned out to be the connectors at the rear were all bad. Replaced them with some brass pieces from HD and haven't had a problem since.

Input connection or the output connection?

I fixed the input connection once with a short spring wrapped rubber hose with brass fittings each end.

The leaking and puddling is internal at the output.

[Zeke]

A $99 tool and you're gonna repair it? I have a 200 dollar nail gun I bought some 15 years ago. Supposedly it was a Stanley/Bostitch re-labeled for discount tool stores called Stantech. The trigger valve broke and I bought a new one for around 30 bucks plus shipping. harbor Freight sells the exact same gun for $79 on sale and you can use the 20% off coupon.

I would never repair something like this again. I have a real deal Bostich gun for full headed nails and an attachment to nail off metal hardware, but the cheapos nail very well for basic work.

Moral to the story is we are in the disposable tool world now. If if breaks, throw it away.

I'll repair a Milwaukee tool to a certain extent, but the venerable sidewinder Skillsaw has become one of those tools that if you get a good five years out of it using it in your work, just say you're way ahead and toss it when it fails. Framers get one every year or so. They keep the old ones for backup.

[kach22i]

You don't buy a whole new faucet and sink when you just need a rubber washer.

$99 should get you more than one summer of use before it starts leaking.

[john70t]

I dunno Kach. 110V + H2O + leak inside plastic housings? I'd call the mfg/store and/or dump it.

[GG Allin]

I have a Karcher pressure washer that sat dormant for the last 3 years. Pissed me off, I bought it in 2003 it worked a few years and quit. Recently my mechanically talented neighbor took a look at it and just pretty much took it apart, cleaned & lubed everything and now it runs like new. Mine is just a basic motor/pump type, no electric.

[1990C4S]

The innards are all aluminum on the cheapies, both the pistons and the bores. I took one apart and it was totally corroded, covered in white 'aluminum rust'. Garbage, not repairable.

[carreradpt]

I had a Karcher w/Honda motor and it worked great for a couple years and then very quickly it quit building pressure. Took it to a small engine guy and he said it was not worth fixing as a new pump would cost what a new PW would cost. Cost me $40 to learn that. Gave it to a buddy who wanted the motor. POS! These things should last longer than that.

[sammyg2]

I have a Karcher like that, the wife bought it online. Yes, she got in trouble for doing that.
It has never leaked but the GFCI plug went south after about the third use. I replaced it with a conventional plug and no more problems.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

I have a Karcher like that........... no more problems.

Have you owned it for more than 2-3 years?

Something about the design makes it go bad just by sitting in storage, and worse by using it.

[mossguy]

Sammy, are you not concerned over the protection that the GFI should afford? I have the same problem re GFI.

Thanks,
Tom

[kach22i]

Well, I looked up articles on how to repair a Karcher power washer, and it looks like it is not worth it. They a POS, and even if you replace bad parts the problem returns within a year - many types of problems on top of it all.

I am convinced that my problem is because the solvent or sealant (if any) used on the force-fit slippery plastic parts at the inlet and discharge area is of bad design. I have no idea how one would change this to an all brass design, it is a total re-engineering proposition.

The "Seal-All" I used did not stick, I was able to peal it off by hand and with a flat screw driver.

I identified three suspect connections which I feel are prone to failure.

I switched to a 2-part plastic epoxy to seal these joints from the outside - which at best could buy me another year or at worst a single hour of use prior to failure.

If you need to use a power washer every year and not just for one summer, I suggest you purchase something "professional grade", this consumer grade from China via a Canadian company stuff is pure crap. Just Google "Karcher Repair" if you have any doubts. And I heard from someone on-line that they don't treat their workers any better than their customers.

[azasadny]

George,

I had one of those cheap Karcher washers and I got 1 season out of it before it started leaking all over and I pitched it. I bought a $14 attachment that goes on the garden hose and it works really well.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Have you owned it for more than 2-3 years?

Something about the design makes it go bad just by sitting in storage, and worse by using it.

Had it for prolly 4 years, haven't used it in about 1 year.
It might be junk by now and i wouldn't know.
Darnit, I guess it's time to get after another one of those honey-do's.

Actually I figured it was junk when it was new, and was surprised that it actually worked at all.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by mossguy

Sammy, are you not concerned over the protection that the GFI should afford? I have the same problem re GFI.

Thanks,
Tom

I'm no sparktrician but the sparktricians I work with say that GFCIs are not designed for electrical motors and shouldn't be used with such.

I have a whole bunch of power tools that don't have GFCIs built in, as long as they have a three pronged plug I figure I'm OK.

Hopefully some sparktrical engineers will chime in on the subject and correct me iffn I'm wrong.

[Dantilla]

A friend of mine brags about the great deals he finds on tools like this, then asks to borrow my good stuff when he has a job for it.

He has purchased three or four chainsaws, and they have all fallen apart, while my Stihl runs flawlessly, year after year.

He bought a pressure washer similar to yours, but had to rent one a few weeks ago because I was busy using my commercial-quality unit.

Moral of the story:

Far cheaper in the long run to buy quality.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by azasadny

George,

I had one of those cheap Karcher washers and I got 1 season out of it before it started leaking all over and I pitched it. I bought a $14 attachment that goes on the garden hose and it works really well.

I'll look into one of those.

All I want is to clean the 2.7L before a valve adjustment and to wash off my front porch before football season. Of course once it is out I have to power wash the sidewalk and wash my wife's car. It is a fun tool, when it's working.

I had to leave the house, the epoxy in the basement and the asphalt drive being redone down the block was killing me with a one two punch to the lungs. Huron River Drive is fun even in a S-10 pick-up truck.

Cure or just cured epoxy?


I get to find out in the morning.

I had a fun day anyway just watching the sailplanes/gliders and getting some fresh air.






I would have went up for $50, but I pulled the 911 out of the garage today, so my money is going elsewhere.

[1990C4S]

I power wash my engine at a car wash place. Spray it down with soap and then spray away.

[Jagshund]

My inputs were shot. I took it all apart and replaced pieces as needed, ended up costing about $20 and it's been working for a long time now.

Yes, you could simply replace it with another $100 unit, and many people probably would- I have a tendency to fix everything. However out of fashion this may be in today's day and age, I've never had another person come to my house to fix, install, repair, rig, etc. anything (excluding free warranty work on a KA fridge unit) in all my years of home ownership. I blame it on the practice I receive while fixing cheap pressure washers and nail guns.