Dead Karcher jet washer
Discussion
Dave^ said:
For domestic use, I really don't see why you'd need to spend £1000...
If mine breaks now, at 3 year old (probably more to be honest, but anyway), for that grand, I could have sixteen pressure washers all lasting three years each...
Will a thousand pound p/w last 48years (with no maintenance/parts thrown at it)?
Well, I bought a £1000 machine about 20 years ago. The motor is a Honda GX, which probably will last 48 years - it's done 20 years with regular oil changes, no parts. The pump froze 2 years ago (my fault) and was damaged beyond repair. I've replaced the pump (at some cost) with one from Interpump. The other advantage is that it is a beast of a machine, 200 bar and something like 20 litres per second.If mine breaks now, at 3 year old (probably more to be honest, but anyway), for that grand, I could have sixteen pressure washers all lasting three years each...
Will a thousand pound p/w last 48years (with no maintenance/parts thrown at it)?
PushedDover said:
Thee hose on my K'archer 3.5 does my head in. I would love to get a long reel mounted version. or at least a coilable one ?
I bought an extension for it, which helps in the less lugging around but its a solid ol'thing and huge coupling - that does not coil
Have a look at seller qwashers on eBay. Proper wire-reinforced rubber hoses not the rigid plastic ones Karcher supply. Will cost you something like £50-90 depending on length (check the connection on yours, seems Karcher keep changing them).I bought an extension for it, which helps in the less lugging around but its a solid ol'thing and huge coupling - that does not coil
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/qwashers/HIGH-PRESSURE-...
I bought a Karcher last week.
After 2 failed Karchers I bought a Nilfisk. No more expensive and been good so far. Nilfisks have aluminium pumps rather than plastic pumps on Karchers (certainly the consumer level ones) which, based on my research, should mean it lasts longer. Only paid about £60/70 for it.
Just looked on Amazon and it does not look like the time to be buying one as they are all silly expensive.
Just looked on Amazon and it does not look like the time to be buying one as they are all silly expensive.
stemll said:
PushedDover said:
Thee hose on my K'archer 3.5 does my head in. I would love to get a long reel mounted version. or at least a coilable one ?
I bought an extension for it, which helps in the less lugging around but its a solid ol'thing and huge coupling - that does not coil
Have a look at seller qwashers on eBay. Proper wire-reinforced rubber hoses not the rigid plastic ones Karcher supply. Will cost you something like £50-90 depending on length (check the connection on yours, seems Karcher keep changing them).I bought an extension for it, which helps in the less lugging around but its a solid ol'thing and huge coupling - that does not coil
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/qwashers/HIGH-PRESSURE-...
I'll carry on chuffing and grumbling with my current set up ....
I have real wars with jet washes 
I use them for work a lot, cleaning down when we finish, cleaning diggers etc. not commercial use but more than home iykwim.
i had a few karchers, then on to nilfisks, which were good but damaged hoses, damaged parts of the machine put a stop to that, to be fair they get chucked on and off the van so fair enough.
Then onto the £200 chinese ebay petrol ones, first was great but an irrigation system came on while using it, killed the pump. bought another and the engine lost power.... bought another, sat in my garage for about 6 weeks before i started it up and there's a problem somewhere which means fuel is pissing out and coming out the exhaust, i am not capable of fixing it and its not worth paying someone else.
So, i today order a nilfisk p180 which are meant to be bit of a step above the normal ranges. i so wanted a kranzle but ive got all the nilfisk bits and couldn't really afford all the extra for the kranzle
but once this nilfisk dies i will hopefully get one next time
by all accounts i would want the 10/122 but it is so much money when you add all the bits you want.
I use them for work a lot, cleaning down when we finish, cleaning diggers etc. not commercial use but more than home iykwim.
i had a few karchers, then on to nilfisks, which were good but damaged hoses, damaged parts of the machine put a stop to that, to be fair they get chucked on and off the van so fair enough.
Then onto the £200 chinese ebay petrol ones, first was great but an irrigation system came on while using it, killed the pump. bought another and the engine lost power.... bought another, sat in my garage for about 6 weeks before i started it up and there's a problem somewhere which means fuel is pissing out and coming out the exhaust, i am not capable of fixing it and its not worth paying someone else.
So, i today order a nilfisk p180 which are meant to be bit of a step above the normal ranges. i so wanted a kranzle but ive got all the nilfisk bits and couldn't really afford all the extra for the kranzle
but once this nilfisk dies i will hopefully get one next time by all accounts i would want the 10/122 but it is so much money when you add all the bits you want.
m3jappa said:
I have real wars with jet washes
I use them for work a lot, cleaning down when we finish, cleaning diggers etc. not commercial use but more than home iykwim.
i had a few karchers, then on to nilfisks, which were good but damaged hoses, damaged parts of the machine put a stop to that, to be fair they get chucked on and off the van so fair enough.
Then onto the £200 chinese ebay petrol ones, first was great but an irrigation system came on while using it, killed the pump. bought another and the engine lost power.... bought another, sat in my garage for about 6 weeks before i started it up and there's a problem somewhere which means fuel is pissing out and coming out the exhaust, i am not capable of fixing it and its not worth paying someone else.
So, i today order a nilfisk p180 which are meant to be bit of a step above the normal ranges. i so wanted a kranzle but ive got all the nilfisk bits and couldn't really afford all the extra for the kranzle but once this nilfisk dies i will hopefully get one next time
by all accounts i would want the 10/122 but it is so much money when you add all the bits you want.
Fuel coming out of the exhaust is almost certainly going to be a stuck float needle not shutting the fuel off going into the carb. This can either happen by dirty or contaminated petrol going into the tank and making it through the filter (easily done when filling out of a rusty Jerry can in a windy garden) or stale petrol left in the carb turning to varnish and restricting the float movement. I use them for work a lot, cleaning down when we finish, cleaning diggers etc. not commercial use but more than home iykwim.
i had a few karchers, then on to nilfisks, which were good but damaged hoses, damaged parts of the machine put a stop to that, to be fair they get chucked on and off the van so fair enough.
Then onto the £200 chinese ebay petrol ones, first was great but an irrigation system came on while using it, killed the pump. bought another and the engine lost power.... bought another, sat in my garage for about 6 weeks before i started it up and there's a problem somewhere which means fuel is pissing out and coming out the exhaust, i am not capable of fixing it and its not worth paying someone else.
So, i today order a nilfisk p180 which are meant to be bit of a step above the normal ranges. i so wanted a kranzle but ive got all the nilfisk bits and couldn't really afford all the extra for the kranzle
but once this nilfisk dies i will hopefully get one next time by all accounts i would want the 10/122 but it is so much money when you add all the bits you want.
With any little petrol engine you need to be meticulous about refuelling, only use a new clean container and get yourself a funnel with a gauze strainer in. For the second problem using a fuel additive like Seafoam every time you fill up will stabilize the petrol and mean you can leave it for 6-12 months without worry, although really if you know it's not going to be used that long you should drain the tank and run it till it cuts out then you know the carb is dry.
Hopefully you've still got it as it should be an easy fix, if you can get it running even poorly Seafoam in the fuel might clean the carb enough to not need it stripping down!
On the dead Karcher topic, I couldn't believe how crap our domestic K2 washer was. Frequently leaking, works when it wants to, one of the Lance attachments broke within a few weeks and even when it does all behave at the same time the power isn't a patch on my old £40 Argos special that is still working, albeit in my exes possession now.
I googled 'most powerful electric pressure washer' and this came up with good Amazon reviews so I ordered one.
Not sure I believe the quoted figures but I'm assuming most manufacturers probably quote the maximum possible pressure, not the normal operating pressure so it should be comparable with the best electric offerings from anywhere else I hope. I'll update the thread when it arrives next week!
My K4 packed up last month, completely dead. I thought it might be the switch so I stripped it down which turned out to be a bit more in depth than I’d intended
There didn’t look to be anything broken or out of place so I just put it back together in hope it’d work. I’d did and still does, I haven’t a clue what fixed it.
This was leftover though, I couldn’t put it back in as I had no idea where I came from.
There didn’t look to be anything broken or out of place so I just put it back together in hope it’d work. I’d did and still does, I haven’t a clue what fixed it.
This was leftover though, I couldn’t put it back in as I had no idea where I came from.
FRG0 said:
My K4 packed up last month, completely dead. I thought it might be the switch so I stripped it down which turned out to be a bit more in depth than I’d intended
Got a K4, same happened to mine. Stripped it down though not quite as far as you. It was the contacts in the switch itself. The switch stalk is flimsy as heck and it just wasn't making a decent contact.Had this washer apart 3 times now, when it is terminal I won't buy another Karcher.
To be fair, I have used it a lot recently after some building work and to wash down about 200 sq metres of patio; had it going for 3 days almost continuously so I suppose it's had some work cycles.
Our Karcher K2 full control was bought last June, used a handful of times and now just doesn't work.
Obviously I can't find the receipt. Luckily it didn't cost a lot c.£80 won't be buying another.
Will strip it down and see if anything is wrong. Just a shame it decided to die half way through cleaning the car. Grr
Obviously I can't find the receipt. Luckily it didn't cost a lot c.£80 won't be buying another.
Will strip it down and see if anything is wrong. Just a shame it decided to die half way through cleaning the car. Grr
Edited by MrAverage on Friday 1st May 19:25
Darkslider said:
Fuel coming out of the exhaust is almost certainly going to be a stuck float needle not shutting the fuel off going into the carb. This can either happen by dirty or contaminated petrol going into the tank and making it through the filter (easily done when filling out of a rusty Jerry can in a windy garden) or stale petrol left in the carb turning to varnish and restricting the float movement.
With any little petrol engine you need to be meticulous about refuelling, only use a new clean container and get yourself a funnel with a gauze strainer in. For the second problem using a fuel additive like Seafoam every time you fill up will stabilize the petrol and mean you can leave it for 6-12 months without worry, although really if you know it's not going to be used that long you should drain the tank and run it till it cuts out then you know the carb is dry.
Hopefully you've still got it as it should be an easy fix, if you can get it running even poorly Seafoam in the fuel might clean the carb enough to not need it stripping down!
Thankyou, i still have it but honestly for some reason when it comes to things like this i am so so bad at fixing them With any little petrol engine you need to be meticulous about refuelling, only use a new clean container and get yourself a funnel with a gauze strainer in. For the second problem using a fuel additive like Seafoam every time you fill up will stabilize the petrol and mean you can leave it for 6-12 months without worry, although really if you know it's not going to be used that long you should drain the tank and run it till it cuts out then you know the carb is dry.
Hopefully you've still got it as it should be an easy fix, if you can get it running even poorly Seafoam in the fuel might clean the carb enough to not need it stripping down!
I will say the fuel was new, the can probably wasn't perfectly clean though, i will admit that
I did have a look at the flat valve and all i can really say is it was very sloppy, like it was just loose and hanging in there, im not sure how to remedy that and being a cheap chinese one getting parts isn't really possible.
My new nilfisk p180 did arrive though and I've got to say on first impressions it feels good, its very heavy for an electric washer and feels better built that the cheaper nilfisks. Very powerful as well for an electric.
I will use it for work but will be careful with it, the problem i find is the lads chuck them about which to be fair is easily done when its home time and bits break off them
hoses get damaged etc (although this hose is like a rubber type and looks fit for a beating ) Anyone got any ideas on how to remove the item showing as 7 (less the bit with the blue blob) on the diagram below?
This is what it looks like, the yellow part pulls off & is the final water seal.
The black plastic pin with the hex base unscrews (there is another pin, spring & bearing inside the metal housing). The thread in the metal base is M12, so I tried putting a bolt in packed with washers to try & wind it out, but it just spins (although you can hear the spring moving after initial resistance is overcome).
Baffled.
This is what it looks like, the yellow part pulls off & is the final water seal.
The black plastic pin with the hex base unscrews (there is another pin, spring & bearing inside the metal housing). The thread in the metal base is M12, so I tried putting a bolt in packed with washers to try & wind it out, but it just spins (although you can hear the spring moving after initial resistance is overcome).
Baffled.
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