Pressure washer question?

[candybar213]

I am looking at spending some money to get a pressure washer for the farm equipment and house. Here is the one I am looking at http://www.generac.com/all-products/pressure-washers/professional-grade/3100psi-commercial-6590 it is the very top of my budget. My question is does anybody know if I can run it from a water tank in the back of a truck? Does this look like a unit that will work for a while with proper care?

 

[Stepside]

Effective Cleaning Power equals GPM X PSI.
My advice is to have a minimum of 2.5 GPM / 3.0 to 4.0 would be better.
But, with that being said, hopefully there is an manually adjustable pressure valve so you can control the PSI.
Advertising tends to focus on PSI, but increased GPM with lower pressure is what I prefer.
A 5/8 to 3/4 line from the water tank to the pump should ensure that the pump will not starve for water. But, is that going to be gravity fed or pressure fed. I would go bigger input line if only gravity fed.
Maintenance is important. Do not run it hard and hang it up wet.
Flush it out and lube fittings before you put it away.
I have an old Craftsman from 15+ years back that has a Generac engine on it.
It still works, but I have had to replace pump gasket, pressure relief valve, oil sender, and of course the periodic replacement of oil filter, air filter, spark plug. No problems with the engine in 15+ years. You may want to look at installing a glycerin filled pressure gauge which I find helpful in knowing exactly what the washer is "really" putting out.
These gauges usually vibrate themselves to death after a couple of years.

 

[larry_g]

I've had a Generac PW and found that parts are non existent. Generac is good in the generator market but for me I cannot recommend them for a PW.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[justme-]

the water tank as a supply depends on the output of the tank (must supply the same GPM as a normal municipal water supply) so check your manual, and the volume. 100 gal tank is going to empty quick.

as to parts - some generac is china made with little to no parts availability while other stuff is well supported. Some will get better as far as support, some will need a good parts supplier to know what may work from another source. Example being Coleman/homelite generators are now getting parts availability from the parent company, Pramac.

Who makes the engine and what brand of pump are more important than the name on the unit - we have a washer with a B&S IC engine pushing a CAT brand pump. I can always get parts, and as long as I maintain the pump all is well as it's the expensive part.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

As above, they REQUIRE a minimum input flow. Gravity will not do it if that is what you mean. You could run a pump to feed from the tank, which is easily determined by the PW specs.

 

[candybar213]

My tank is 250 gal with 1.5 in output I will valve and reduce it to a 1 inch crush proof line in to pump. I believe it requires a 2.8 gal a min so that line should get that volume and I will check it as soon as I can get it set up. The motor is made by generac they make reliable motors for generators so would have to assume the motor is still good for this. All I know is it is a ceramic triplax pump didn't know the maker.

 

[candybar213]

@stepside how do you flush an lube the fittings?

 

[Viz]

That PW generally has good reviews, but some folks reported it would periodically shut down. Several said they loosened the fuel cap, restarted and that seems to keep it running. Last reviews I saw said Generac had not issued a TSB or released a "fix".

YMMV