Pressure washer pump rebuilding?

[Sumboodie]

Worth pulling apart a pump?

Seems most are designed not to be repaired until you get into the expensive units.

I can get a replacement pump for $100, but seems wasteful if it just needs $10 of seals.

Pump is doing nothing currently. Makes no difference if engine is running or not with water flow and pressure.

 

[danski0224]

Good luck with the "$10 worth of seals".

The most basic kit for mine is over $100 and the next one up is over $200.

If you can get a new pump for $100, it probably isn't worth fixing (or paying someone else to do it).

 

[demarpaint]

I've rebuilt a few of the more expensive pumps over the years with good success, with just seal kits. On a less expensive pump I would make sure the ceramic piston/pistons [if equipped] are not cracked or broken, or other more costly parts are not needed, before buying anything. If they are the $10 seal kit would be useless, making a $100 pump more cost effective.

 

[CJM8515]

due to hard water mine was toast, ruined the internals bad. 100 bucks from northern tool and 5 minutes to change it was more worthwhile.

 

[MountaineerMiner]

I’m with the others and what your gut is telling you, it’s not worth it. $100 is a pretty cheap pump, I doubt you will ever find any economy in rebuilding it.

I would pull it apart and see what I’m dealing with but go into it with an open mind. Also, the ceramic pistons mentioned earlier can be broken during disassembly if you are not careful. I’ve pulled a few apart, but have yet to find one worth dealing with.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Worth pulling apart a pump?

Seems most are designed not to be repaired until you get into the expensive units.

I can get a replacement pump for $100, but seems wasteful if it just needs $10 of seals.

Pump is doing nothing currently. Makes no difference if engine is running or not with water flow and pressure.

From a dollars & cents perspective it's likely not worth fixing when the bolt on replacement is $100. I'd still tear the old one apart and try to fix it but I'd be doing it for the educational value not with the expectation of saving money.

 

[Dodge]

Good luck with the "$10 worth of seals".

The most basic kit for mine is over $100 and the next one up is over $200.

If you can get a new pump for $100, it probably isn't worth fixing (or paying someone else to do it).

X2 on this. My pump went bad, took it apart, back together, worked, but no high pressure. Bought new pump on Home Depot website. My PS is a Simpson. Also, around $100

 

[tarmy]

I was in the same...just buy a new one. I was actually surprised that they are either impossible to service, couldn’t find parts or was basically cheaper to replace.

 

[danski0224]

I was in the same...just buy a new one. I was actually surprised that they are either impossible to service, couldn’t find parts or was basically cheaper to replace.

The true professional or commercial pumps are worth fixing, especially if it really is "just seals".

 

[Sumboodie]

It's a home jobbers unit that was given to the shop and became mine.

Owner didn't want to bother with it.

Karcher 3000psi, 2.5gpm with a 5hp Honda.

 

[marinusdees]

Good luck!!

 

[1320stang]

I tried once on a $300 Home Depot unit, it was either a 2800# or 3200# unit, Honda vertical shaft engine. It was 2 years old, right after buying it I volunteered to use it at my daughter's high school band carwash fundraiser, ran it maybe 6 hours, shutting it down when slow which wasn't often. Maybe refilled the gas twice? Same thing next year, loading it up, I noticed a grey substance oozing out of the pump. Took it home, took it apart, changed the oil, put it back together and it wouldn't work. I'd used it maybe 3-4 other times. Had a lawn mower go bad, thought I'd repurpose the pw engine, shaft too short.

 

[gizardlizard]

I’ve rebuilt countless pressure water pumps. The number one thing that kills them is hard water deposits. That doesn’t mean you can’t run hard water thru them. You absolutely can. It’s how you prep them for storage after that matters. I don’t care if it’s a year or a day. After every single use, pull the cord with ignition off to push out the bulk of the water. Then, buy a can of pump saver. It’s a super lightweight oil that you screw into the pump inlet. With the washer not running or hooked up to anything, simply push the button on top of the can for a second or two to fill the pump with the lightweight oil. It does two things: displaces the rest of the water in the pump and coats the internals with the oil so the seals don’t get tore up. My current personal pressure washer is 12 years old and still on the original pump.

 

[Sumboodie]

I’ve rebuilt countless pressure water pumps. The number one thing that kills them is hard water deposits. That doesn’t mean you can’t run hard water thru them. You absolutely can. It’s how you prep them for storage after that matters. I don’t care if it’s a year or a day. After every single use, pull the cord with ignition off to push out the bulk of the water. Then, buy a can of pump saver. It’s a super lightweight oil that you screw into the pump inlet. With the washer not running or hooked up to anything, simply push the button on top of the can for a second or two to fill the pump with the lightweight oil. It does two things: displaces the rest of the water in the pump and coats the internals with the oil so the seals don’t get tore up. My current personal pressure washer is 12 years old and still on the original pump.

I bought my pressure washer in 2006. It's been beat, abused, and neglected. About the only thing I've done is usually blow out the water in.the pump and hose before winter.
Someone still works fine.
Small Sears unit with a Briggs 4hp vertical.shaft.

 

[Sumboodie]

Well, tore it apart and got it sort of working, but the unloader has issues. Either have minimal pressure, or full bore, almost stalling the engine pressure.

The unloader is stuck in the pump, even soaking in Kroil, vice grips and a 3lb hammer couldn't get it out. I'm pretty sure it was left outside with water in it and it froze up.

Ordered a pump off the Amazon for about $70. 3100psi, 2.5gpm.


The 26/30 pump on it, they wanted $130, but either wouldn't ship to here or wanted $50+ shipping. Apparently Alaska isn't part of the continent according to Tool Barn.

Crazy considering it would fit in a $20 flat rate box.

Haven't figured why the engine wants to rip the cord out of my hands if I don't pull it like it's a ported Stihl 880.

Did an overhead and checked the flywheel key. Only other thing I can think of it somehow the cam isn't timed correctly, like it's off a tooth.

 

[532r5]

Honda engine's have a compression release on the camshaft. The spring is probably off it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Sumboodie]

Honda engine's have a compression release on the camshaft. The spring is probably off it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

It's a GC160 if that helps. I'm not overly impressed with it. Not the real Honda engines that are smooth, quiet and fuel sipping.
This thing is loud and vibrates like a Thunderstick 5000.

 

[Sumboodie]

Honda engine's have a compression release on the camshaft. The spring is probably off it.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

Did a bit of research and apparently the cam gear has a common issue where the decompression parts break.

Ordered a new one, $10

 

[Sumboodie]

New cam gear and pump and all fixed up.

The decomp lever was getting jammed on the old gear. It's apparently a common issue.
The decomp cracks open the intake valve on.the compression stroke on low rpm (like when starting).

Easy fix too, just a 10mm to pull 4 bolts and pliers to pull the cam gear shaft out.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I spent weeks dicking with my father in laws pump, replacing components. Once rebuilt the unit would not build pressure correctly.

I ended up replacing the pump, should have started there.

 

[mikegt4]

I have an Excello pressure washer. After 24 years the pump died, the plastic seals crumbled inside. After taking it apart and searching for replacement parts I found that the cost of parts was almost the price of a replacement pump. I just bought a new pump.