Karcher Jet Wash - Unreliable
Discussion
All,
I was wondering if i have been unlucky or whether Karcher Jet Washers are very unreliable. For a number of years i owned a K4 full control. It was fine but then just stopped working with no power. i did a bit of reading and it seemed that the switches were unreliable and the cost to fix meant i did some Man maths and used it as an opportunity to upgrade to a K5 full control as i liked the new lance. 1 year into ownership this has done exactly the same. I went to use it yesterday and no power. Looking at how stiff the electrical cable is i am thinking it may be a broken wire. Anybody else have the same issues?
I was wondering if i have been unlucky or whether Karcher Jet Washers are very unreliable. For a number of years i owned a K4 full control. It was fine but then just stopped working with no power. i did a bit of reading and it seemed that the switches were unreliable and the cost to fix meant i did some Man maths and used it as an opportunity to upgrade to a K5 full control as i liked the new lance. 1 year into ownership this has done exactly the same. I went to use it yesterday and no power. Looking at how stiff the electrical cable is i am thinking it may be a broken wire. Anybody else have the same issues?
Lovey1 said:
All,
I was wondering if i have been unlucky or whether Karcher Jet Washers are very unreliable. For a number of years i owned a K4 full control. It was fine but then just stopped working with no power. i did a bit of reading and it seemed that the switches were unreliable and the cost to fix meant i did some Man maths and used it as an opportunity to upgrade to a K5 full control as i liked the new lance. 1 year into ownership this has done exactly the same. I went to use it yesterday and no power. Looking at how stiff the electrical cable is i am thinking it may be a broken wire. Anybody else have the same issues?
Mines fine, the only time it's failed to start is when I've not released the pressure before putting it away. I was wondering if i have been unlucky or whether Karcher Jet Washers are very unreliable. For a number of years i owned a K4 full control. It was fine but then just stopped working with no power. i did a bit of reading and it seemed that the switches were unreliable and the cost to fix meant i did some Man maths and used it as an opportunity to upgrade to a K5 full control as i liked the new lance. 1 year into ownership this has done exactly the same. I went to use it yesterday and no power. Looking at how stiff the electrical cable is i am thinking it may be a broken wire. Anybody else have the same issues?
About 10yrs old, so now I've jinxed it.
Lovey1 said:
TTmonkey said:
Did you drain the water from the unit and all the pipes after use?
Yes i always release the pressure and drain the water from the system. Maybe i have just been unlucky.Had same problem last week, a bit of on line research and problem solved.
Take the pressure hose where it attached to lance handle off, so you only have the the pressure hose attached to Karcher.
Plug water in turn on water leaving Karcher in off position but plugged into elastic. Run the water through the system for ten minutes or so.
Reattach to lance, turn on the unit and it should work.
Apparently the system can form air locks which trips an internal safety switc stopping it powering up. Running water through it without power or lance attached forces the air out.
Worked for me.
Hope that helps
Take the pressure hose where it attached to lance handle off, so you only have the the pressure hose attached to Karcher.
Plug water in turn on water leaving Karcher in off position but plugged into elastic. Run the water through the system for ten minutes or so.
Reattach to lance, turn on the unit and it should work.
Apparently the system can form air locks which trips an internal safety switc stopping it powering up. Running water through it without power or lance attached forces the air out.
Worked for me.
Hope that helps
Although I still have my Karcher I'd never buy another. Just out of warranty the water input elbow disintegrated, being a practical type of chap I took the covers off. On examination it was a cheap, crap porous casting. To cut a very long depressing story short with their customer dis-service I had to purchase a new part.
After being told I must have left it out and frost got to it which was rubbish as it was kept in my heated-dehumidified garage, how I refrained from profanities talking to them I don't know.
Anyway three years down the line it keeps loosing pressure and wavering in its motor revs, I'll wait until it fails then buy anything else other than Karcher, also this was about £400 to buy with two separate washing fluid tanks.
After being told I must have left it out and frost got to it which was rubbish as it was kept in my heated-dehumidified garage, how I refrained from profanities talking to them I don't know.
Anyway three years down the line it keeps loosing pressure and wavering in its motor revs, I'll wait until it fails then buy anything else other than Karcher, also this was about £400 to buy with two separate washing fluid tanks.
Edited by BIRMA on Saturday 13th March 13:26
No love for Kärcher here either. I had a K5 which was used a handful of times, then started leaking, died and tripped the fuses a few weeks ago. Some plastic valve thing inside was completely shot, had disintegrated, soaked and buggered the electrics. Just out of warranty and used fewer than a dozen times.
I started looking up pressure washers except Kärcher, but then had a flash of inspiration and decided to look up petrol pressure washers. Did a bit of reading and I've just ordered this one:
https://www.parkerbrand.co.uk/petrol-pressure-jet-...
Much more powerful than any of the electric pressure washers, no cables, 8m hose, and much easier to fix if it goes wrong. It's arriving tomorrow and happy to report back if anyone's interested?
I started looking up pressure washers except Kärcher, but then had a flash of inspiration and decided to look up petrol pressure washers. Did a bit of reading and I've just ordered this one:
https://www.parkerbrand.co.uk/petrol-pressure-jet-...
Much more powerful than any of the electric pressure washers, no cables, 8m hose, and much easier to fix if it goes wrong. It's arriving tomorrow and happy to report back if anyone's interested?
I had a couple of Karchers and never again. One lasted a matter of months and the other one about a year. I bought a small Bosch one in the end which is fantastic. It’s incredibly light and the build quality is excellent. I live in central London so needed something light to stick in the shed. If I had the luxury of a driveway I’d look to a Kranzel I think.
I use a Karcher K7. Over the last 15 years Ive had numerous K5s and Nilfisk units. Nilfisk are meant to have metal pump rotas which are more durable. Karchers start to loose power and don't start up as quick. That tends to be the sign its going. I'm currently on a K7, one before the Karcher professional range which I plan to buy after his. My K7 has lasted me 4 years so far which is pretty good considering the use I give it.
The quality of these Karcher units has certainly decreased. Recently I've had issues with the handles / guns. The seals at the top seem to go and start leaking water everywhere. Ive learnt the hard way that you should never buy `karcher` like guns / lances from Ebay as these either break quickly or mangle up the gun's connector inside the handle. Just spent £60 for a new gun / lance from Karcher.
One thing that annoys me most is the damn pipe from gun to unit. This thing is about 15meters and continuously becomes coiled up, or wrapped my legs. It's like it's alive / snake and consistently tries to trip me over.
The quality of these Karcher units has certainly decreased. Recently I've had issues with the handles / guns. The seals at the top seem to go and start leaking water everywhere. Ive learnt the hard way that you should never buy `karcher` like guns / lances from Ebay as these either break quickly or mangle up the gun's connector inside the handle. Just spent £60 for a new gun / lance from Karcher.
One thing that annoys me most is the damn pipe from gun to unit. This thing is about 15meters and continuously becomes coiled up, or wrapped my legs. It's like it's alive / snake and consistently tries to trip me over.
I've got a little Karcher K2 that I bought from Halfords about 4 years ago for £120. Was working fine until the dirt-blaster rotating nozzle thing stopped rotating last weekend as I was doing the patio. Couldn't get hold of a Nilfisk Titan 120 locally so bought another K2. If they last a few years then I'm happy with the value. I don't need anything more powerful than this little K2 for cleaning the cars or the patio (and I'm not convinced our back door tap will provide enough water for the Kranzle 1050 that I would buy instead.
threadlock said:
I've got a little Karcher K2 that I bought from Halfords about 4 years ago for £120. Was working fine until the dirt-blaster rotating nozzle thing stopped rotating last weekend as I was doing the patio. Couldn't get hold of a Nilfisk Titan 120 locally so bought another K2. If they last a few years then I'm happy with the value. I don't need anything more powerful than this little K2 for cleaning the cars or the patio (and I'm not convinced our back door tap will provide enough water for the Kranzle 1050 that I would buy instead.
Same here. I buy a K2 every few years. There is one of their outlet shops locally, so normally get a discount and extra warranty.Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff