Pressure Washer Re-power Trouble

[dougand3]

Neighbor gave me a Troy Bilt Pressure Washer 020381 with Briggs 12S912-0121-B1 because it wouldn’t start. Tore it down - camshaft, oil slinger/gov, timing gear failures. Don’t know if I want to spend money on parts not knowing if pump works. Pump data is: Made in Italy MTPV93519 204763. So, had a Tecumseh LEV115 on an old, unused mower. All it needed was a flywheel key. Got it running good and mounted on PW cart with brackets. Same 7/8“ crank w/ 3/16“ key.

Problem: Can’t spin Tecumseh fast enough to get started. Hard pull at pump compression. Recoil was easy and smooth when on mower deck and blade attached.

Big difference: Briggs PW engine is heavy cast iron FW and Tecumseh mower engine has light AL FW.

Is FW difference my problem? Need to get more weight moving on FW side to get PTO crank past pump compression?

Should pump have a decompression assy that has failed?

Thanks so much for insight. Doug

 

[seanb02]

Hold the handle on the wand open while starting the pressure washer? Many times I've had the engine rip the starter rope out of my hand due to the pump and not having the valve open on the other end. I can get one easy hard yank out of the it. If it doesn't start on the first pull then have to release the pressure otherwise it will rip the rope out of my hand second try.

This is not engine specific, it may be pump specific, but something to keep in mind for sure. Hard on the hand getting the pull cord ripped back. Put a Honda on there that will start first pull, well worth the aggravation.

 

[David0858]

You need a motor with a cast iron flywheel. On a mower the blade acts as a flywheel.

 

[gungatim]

agree with the above, but you likely still have a pump unloader problem as well.

 

[dougand3]

Thanks so much, guys. All above makes sense...Rope ripping out of hand. Had a buddy open wand during rope pull.

 

[dougand3]

Had another unused mower at a relatives house - MTD Yard Man. Engine had a cast iron flywheel. Briggs 110602-0131-E1 Date:980304 7/8“ crank with 3/16“ square key. Same 3 bolt mount pattern. ~1 ft long square tubes are mounted on pump and tubes mounted to PW cart. 3/8“ bolts with 1/2“ nuts as spacers. Works pretty good - little harder to start than when on mower. I'll reverse recoil to pull from the front and get a foot on cart. Probably going to remove flywheel brake spring and lock brackets in “run” position, then put in a toggle kill switch.