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Pressure washer advice

nickelmore

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Apr 27, 2015
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319
Location
50 miles from Chicago
I did not find any recent posts about pressure washers. Since losing my hobby shop means losing access to a karcher hot water pressure washer I am looking for a replacement.

I know I am not going to get a hot water unit.

What I would like is something in the 2000 psi range (or more) and probably electric. It is just for home use, cleaning mowers decks etc. My water is too hard to use it for much else.
 
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bushmechanic

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Mar 17, 2014
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4,820
A video of the Yamaha I own.

It's not electric, but it's easy enough to fire that it may as well be:

A lot of the cheaper stuff breaks very easily; especially the electric models if you don't spring for something that will land you in higher dollar territory anyway.


Here's the Yamaha Site link:

https://www.yamahamotorsports.com/pressure-washer/models/pw3028

They put a lot of thought into the thing, and it's all incredibly high quality. Blows the doors off pretty much anything else that doesn't cost twice (or more, in many cases) as much.

Includes all manner of clever mods from the factory, and lots of convenient features not mentioned in the video. Some you could buy off a shelf, but Yamaha knew you'd do it, so they took the initiative, making sure they used the best available products.

It's not the cheapest thing on the market, but not super expensive, either. It's priced right where it should be.

I'd say it's perfect for the average home and appropriate professional pressure washer user.

Anything else, I just use one of these. I've always got it attached to a hose:


http://g01.s.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1huYnHXXXXXahXXXXq6xXFXXXr/200414238/HTB1huYnHXXXXXahXXXXq6xXFXXXr.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Jet-WJET-MC6-Power-Washer/dp/B00315HTGE

They're all made in China in the same factory, so just buy whatever one you like. Some have different shapes, colors, or hose connections. Those are just private label options.

The things are more than capable of clearing a mower deck all by themselves; no external power needed, and are actually pretty durable.

I've got really piss-poor water pressure where I live. If this thing will do a fair job of blasting dried mud off a frame here... It'll work wonders anywhere else.
 

theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,245
Location
SE MI
PSI is what every one advertises, but GPM is what get the work done ! Anything <2.0 GPM is a joke, even for the jobs you are talking about,

Best bang for the buck, find a used one with a dead pump (not winterized). Should be between $50 and $100 (Honda engine is a plus). Buy a new pump <$175.
 

bushmechanic

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Mar 17, 2014
Messages
4,820
PSI is what every one advertises, but GPM is what get the work done ! Anything <2.0 GPM is a joke, even for the jobs you are talking about,

Best bang for the buck, find a used one with a dead pump (not winterized). Should be between $50 and $100 (Honda engine is a plus). Buy a new pump <$175.

True. A lot of manufacturers (label printers) stretch the truth in that regard; with one part capable of delivering their specification, but not when assembled with the others used.

Worse, as with many "Honda" engines, using specifications from genuine Honda engines or similar high quality assemblies to describe cut models and private labels that don't even come close to the real thing.

My Yamaha claims 2.8GPM, and delivers. It's not the best on the market, but then again, it's not priced to be. The difference between 2 and 2.8 is massive, and the factual specification is what makes this thing outperform much, much larger pressure washers.

They might be shooting themselves in the foot with honesty, here, but at least they're being honest. That's one of the things I've grown to like about the company.

They set a price point that they believe will be beneficial to the average man, and then they set about building the best, most honest product possible at that price point.

To make the leap to anything better, it takes a hell of a lot more money.

Honda makes a great engine, but they make a humongous chunk of their money licensing their name and even designs. The market is flooded with perfectly legal Honda engines that Honda never saw.

It's a great practice for business, and I don't have a problem in the world with it, but it doesn't always deliver what the customer expects. Sony is just as bad; manufacturing some of the greatest displays in the world, but only rarely actually selling the things.

I'd wager nobody here actually owns one. Contrast that with Panasonic, which is a bit like Yamaha, in a way.

If it's got their name on it, they made it. Most of the time in Japan, but sometimes in heavily regulated, Panasonic-owned factories overseas.

You buy a Yamaha, and production has happened either almost entirely in Japan or the United States, or it was watched over very carefully elsewhere. You'll actually see Matsushita (Panasonic) parts in their electronics, and some of the highest quality components available on PCBs.

They just don't get name-dropped enough. They stick to what they know, but I'd sure love to see a fully Yamaha-built and designed car, though they have either designed, consulted, and even entirely built some very memorable automotive engines for Toyota, Volvo, Ford, and even Lexus exclusive engines.

They never seem to slap their name on them, though...
 

ModClean

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Joined
Jul 4, 2013
Messages
120
Location
Americus, GA
I've had a GreenWorks electric washer for almost a year. Has seen quite a bit of use and held up well. For the type of stuff you're talking about, I'd say it works just fine.
 
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CJM8515

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Mar 8, 2014
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NJ
Find one with a bad pump and go to northern tool online and buy the pump for like 100 bucks. Done it a few times now, SUPER easy to install and your good to go in 5 mins.
 

rcktpwrd

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Mar 5, 2008
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Raleigh, NC

Stevie-Ray

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Jul 23, 2013
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Michigan's Sunrise Side
What I would like is something in the 2000 psi range (or more) and probably electric. It is just for home use, cleaning mowers decks etc. My water is too hard to use it for much else.
I'm about ready can my old gas unit and get an electric one myself. As much as I use it, which is maybe once a year, the electric would be quite sufficient, and maintenance and worry on this one would disappear.

Thinking about this one. Less than half the cost of my old gas unit.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/AR-Blue-Clean-1-800-PSI-1-58-GPM-Electric-Pressure-Washer-AR527/204072257
 
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bzinsky

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Oct 27, 2014
Messages
5,565
axial cam pump = home owner, short life
triplex cat pump = commercial grade, long life
 

Git

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May 18, 2008
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Location
S Cal
A pressure washer boils down to the two main components - the engine and the pump

Engine - Honda Commercial Grade (like the GHX 160) is at the top and you can go down from there

Pump
- Cat pump with thermal relief

Here is a pretty decent web site (where I bought mine) that basically lets you build a pressure washer based on what engine/pump combo, psi, gpm, etc that you want. It lists pump model numbers - so you know EXACTLY what your getting

Buy once, cry once

I would start with this one for $800 and go from there
http://store.spraymallstore.com/e365hphocatp.html

More choices
http://store.spraymallstore.com/5565hphopowa.html
 

strutaeng

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Joined
Dec 12, 2011
Messages
2,290
Location
Dallas, TX
If it's just for homeowner use, buy whatever is cheapest. I would consider them disposable, meaning no replaceable internals (motor, pump, etc.)

For 2-3x more $$$, choose one with an induction motor and quality pump:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...electric-cold-water-pressure-washers?seeAll=1

The first 4 of the list would be good, depending on intended use. Also, be aware that higher pressure + higher GPM will require 220V

Good luck
 
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