Karcher Waterblaster

[Maha]

Mine now just pulsates.
What would cause this to happen....water pressure?

[mashman]

blocked water filter?

[Edbear]

:innocent: Must... resist... :facepalm:

[ttnz]

blocked water filter?


x2

its not getting enough water, check the hose and then there's a little filter in side the machine were the hose connection screws on. just give it a good clean out

start with this and if its still doing it, then try cleaning out the nozzle part some times they spit out an O ring which starts blocking up the other end

if you still got problems they can be repaired but usually its a few hundred dollars to have them stripped down and sorted so unless its a high spec one not really worth doing

all the best

[Big Dave]

Turn tap on.

[John_H]

I think the surging in Karchers (very common problem) is caused by a valve somewhere. It happened to mine and I can't really remember, I do know it cost me about 200 bucks to get it fixed!

[Oakie]

Turn tap on.

That's what I had to do. Well turn the tap on more actually. The water going in was less than that being blasted out.

Good way to wash parts of the bike too as long as you dont get too close (and keep away from the electric bits)

[Fatt Max]

Mine now just pulsates.
What would cause this to happen....water pressure?

Mine stopped doing that the minute I stopped shagging it

[FJRider]

Waterblasters are just high pressure pumps ... with the outlet very small diameter. The system relys on a small O-ring on the "pump" outlet to keep the pressure up ... but the actual flow down. Quite high pressures are achieved at the nozzle. If the O-ring goes ... the achieved pressure can blow back past the pump. Then as pressure is released ... the O-ring seats and then starts to build pressure again.

And so the cycle continues ... Water going where it shouldn't is not good in an electrical item ...

As for repair ... the O-ring seat is cast plastic and forms (usually)the mounting and seating for the pressure pump. And usually is a major component in the waterblaster unit.

A component not usually replaceable ... (ie: not available for purchase)

But you CAN try ... good luck ...

[davebullet]

Karchers are shit. Ours did the same then packed up. Hardly used and well taken care of. Won't be buying another one of them.

[Blackshear]

the water going in was less than that being blasted out.


...... Science

[nadroj]

Take the wand & hp hose off then flush backwards. Any little debris in the tip can cause that problem. (over pressure releif valve pulsing)

[Wannabiker]

I believe some of the cheaper Karcher (and probably other brands too) have plastic pump bodies that are not designed to be re-buildable. The more expensive models have cast metal pump bodies that allow rebuilding.

Having said that...I would have a crack at pulling it down and seeing what could be repaired / replaced.

[FJRider]

I believe some of the cheaper Karcher (and probably other brands too) have plastic pump bodies that are not designed to be re-buildable. The more expensive models have cast metal pump bodies that allow rebuilding.

Having said that...I would have a crack at pulling it down and seeing what could be repaired / replaced.

I repaired one once ... a small worm drive hose clip fitted ... a couple of hours to fit ... its still working ...

[glegge]

Mine now just pulsates.
What would cause this to happen....water pressure?

Did you get this working?
if not, you can get parts for these water blasters. mine had a similar problem, a new pump body fixed it. I found it not to difficult to do the work myself.
it turned out to be a common fault with the plastic high pressure pump body. the new part is re-designed so as not to fail again.

There is a parts/service provider in wellington i can put you in touch with, or try looking for a local agent that stocks parts.

Oh yeah, with some smart googling, you'll find exploded diagrams of these pumps also.
cheers
Gavin

[Maha]

I will have a look at it later. Hope its an easy fix, you can count the times I have used over four years on both hands (if you live in Rawene that is)

[avgas]

I believe some of the cheaper Karcher (and probably other brands too) have plastic pump bodies that are not designed to be re-buildable. The more expensive models have cast metal pump bodies that allow rebuilding.

Having said that...I would have a crack at pulling it down and seeing what could be repaired / replaced.
Yeah we have the 520m and that had a copper/brass pump where as the cheaper models only had plastic.
Its still going 15 years later. but I think we paid nearly $800 for it way back then.

[mikeey01]

Like most we've got one of them.
We considered it to be the better of the cheaper ones out there.
So anyways after 4 months it died, same as yours sounds now.

It turns out we buggered the pump, so off to get er fixed up.
Apparently before you turn the power on but after the water is connected up and on you squeeze the trigger and let water pass through it for ages, this gets rid of all the air bubbles.
Since we've (all the family use it) been doing this it's never failed, 4 years and still going strong!

Me I don't know water blasters from a bar of soap but there's something in this RTFM or that's what Mr Repair man suggested :facepalm:

[steve_t]

I bought the Karcher 2.080 for $120 from SuperCheap Auto. After I had it a few weeks I happened to see a forum thread about Karcher vs Gerni Pressure Washers. Apparently the Gerni have the metal pumps while the Karcher one is plastic. Oh well, it's been running fine so we'll see how it goes. The crappy 3m hose isn't long enough on this budget model but a 10m replacement hose costs $99 or something like that! :shit:
If anyone was looking at entry level waterblasters, I'd say go with a Gerni

[Maha]

mmmmm sealed unit, well I dont have the right length screwdriver to reach far off depths of the screw hole, might end up in the bin yet.

[jasonu]

Cheap pressure washers are just that, cheap and full of compromises. Pictured is my commercial Landa hot and cold pressure washer. $5k new. I ran the piss out of it for 5 years washing trucks and big machinery and it supported myself and my wife, house etc. It never missed a beat. I had to periodically replace pump seals and valves and other small stuff. I reciently sold it for $3k. Best $'s I ever spent.

[eliot-ness]

I've been using a Karcher, gasoline powered, for 18 years, mostly for cleaning under the keel on the yacht, and for that I used sea water. Never had to strip it down, but some times it fails in the same way that the OP mentioned. All I do to cure it is, unplug the wand, then, with the motor running press the trigger and let the water flow for about thirty seconds, until the pump can be heard running, then plug the wand in and away it goes.

[steve_t]

$5000 waterblaster? Yacht? Man, I'm in the wrong job :corn::corn: