How did I destroy my powerwasher?
 

It's been a nightmare. Had this 2200psi Troy-Bilt w/Briggs&Stratton for two years, and put it to good use last summer. Wanted to change the gear fluid and oil before using it.
It ran ok from the start but it was no ferrari...I mean porsche.

Stripped out the gear fluid allen-headed gear drain plug(soft plastic), but got it back in there. Used new pump fluid recommended from a dealership store. Only stuff they use.

There's no oil drain plug. The shop said to tip the thing upside down(carb side up). Gas tank was empty then. Did that. Refilled with Valvoline 10W-30(manual specs), and checked the oil level about ten times. It was at "full" on the dipstick.

Started it up, and it ran like crap for about 5 minutes until it sputtered and stopped. Smoke was puffing from the exhaust when dropping to idle. Rope cord/engine was seized. Sniffed the oil fill tube and it smelled like burnt transmission fluid.
Called Troy-Bilt and they said those were classic signs of overfilling the engine oil.
Checked oil level again and it was again at "full" on dipstick mark. Pulled the plug and it was dry.
After the engine cooled, I could get the motor to barely turn, but it would stick in one place.

An ideas? Left over grit? Bad oil?

Well, I'd start by draining out some oil.

I did drain a little oil out to put it in the middle of the range. Still stumped as to what could have caused this.

The pivot pin on my new $50 Mityvac fell out in the gravel driveway(they quickly sent another). Then the plastic drain plug stripped out. Then the hose connector stripped. Then the dealer worked 45 minute getting a parts# off from their software. Then this.
Just frustrating when it goes wrong. I want to get to work.

how much oil came out??
maybe you have the wrong dipstick,
post pictures of the engine ,
they usually take less than a qt

Only put mabye 1/4 to 1/3 quart back in. Checked the oil level many times. The odd thing seemed to be that less oil was drained out. I'm sure I kept it topped up last summer.

Engine is 4.5hp B&S w/stock dipstick.

The tech dudes at TB must love you - telling you to turn the power washer upside down and all.

They might have a betting pool open. So, what I'd do is cut back on the Dexatrim, drain out all the oil, measure out an amount and put the correct amount in, change the spark plug, fix the starter, and see if it starts. Remember compression, fuel, spark.

What is stuck the swash plate on the pump or the motor.

The Troy-Bilt name meant something before MTD bought it. Now Troy-Bilt products are just more MTD crap. I hate it when a company buys a good name just to exploit it until it becomes meaningless.

Next time I need a power washer I'll just rent one.

They all seem to be cursed.

You can hook the wand up to your garden hose and get by pretty good without the pump.

Didn't let it freeze (over winter) without thoroughly draining (or using anti-freeze), did you? That could bollocks up the hydraulics, I suppose.

That Briggs 4.5hp motor should take about 20oz. of oil. There is likely an oil drain plug on the bottom side of the motor toward the back of the pressure washer. Lean the washer forward and look at the bottom side. You can remove it by using a 3/8" socket extension without a socket. The plug has a 3/8" square hole in it.

EDIT...
It appears that the engine does NOT have a drain plug. The manual says to tip it over and pour it out of the filler tube. What a joke!
It does take about 20 oz. of oil though. I'd say you don't have enough oil.
Pressure Washer Manual

Too much oil.
Too little oil.
It looked just right on the dipstick to me...before and after running.

Thanks for the link. I'll work on it, but if I can't fix it there may yet be some Office Space/Quadrophenia "special effects" in store for this little devourer of souls.

My stoopid extwit decided to mow the lawn and for some blonde reason decided to add oil. Fried a perfectfully good 8hp motor.

As to turning it over to drain the oil....very common. Kills anthills.....

Manual says to never change your gear oil. If you did, you probably overfilled it. Mine, which you can change, takes like 5 oz. Good luck.

That may be a possibility, or that the universal gear oil supplied by the shop wasn't up to snuff. I put about 4-5oz into the case on level ground, then let the extra drain out(the reason for me ignoring the smoking at the time).

The key on the plastic gear fluid drain plug stripped out during removal so I used a little pipe wrap tape on the very base of the threads after cleaning up the gasket mating surface with a file. Maybe a piece of this tape somehow got inside?

Another project on the list...
Thanks again for the ideas.

Almost sounds like fluid in the combustion chamber has hydrostatically locked it up. You can turn it a little ways, then it sticks, right? It will probably eventually drain down out of the chamber, especially after the engine cools.

I would try pulling the plug and turning the engine over. It's free and easy.

*not a power washer expert, but had to fix a flooded lawnmower a few times*

angela

Next time, only buy Honda Powered Equipment.........end of problems.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine.

thumbs up on that!!!

Anybody remember the old days when generally, machinery that took liquids in had drain plugs to get said liquids out? Bought a new push mower last year, middle of the line quality wise, went to drain the oil after a 5 hour break-in period and same issue, no plug. So you have to acrobatically turn in upside down to drain, and it seems impossible to get it to drain fully where i'd assume most of the gnarly bits come out in the end. I know most of the manufacturers don't really care, but they could at least pretend to, couldn't they?

as far as drain plugs go there was most likely an owner that managed to get hurt while draining out the sump,
prolly turned the blade of the mower and the engine started then came a law suit,
then came the re engineer of the sump drain if its not there then it cant hurt you