Gasoline high pressure washer??

I was going to clean up my tractors yesterday with a high pressure washer I bought last year(I think). Attached water hose and turned on water but no water will come through pump. I'm thinking water should flow through pump a water pipe psi until engine is started. But no water comes out of nozzle whether the engine is running or not. The inlet screen is clean. Anyone have any ideas?? I bought it a TSC but the employees can't find it in the computer to see if it's under warranty.Thanks,Jim

Jim, I assume it does not have any closed valves. There's a couple link. Sorry for just throwing them at you, but I gotta run to work!
Ralph.

http://www.watercannon.com/PDF/Cold%20Water%20Pressure%20Washer%20Final.pdf

http://pressurewashers.lifetips.com/cat/61621/troubleshooting-your-pressure-washer/index.html

http://www.the-power-washer-advisor.com/pressure-washer-pump-trouble-shooting.html

With mine if you pull the trigger water will eventual dribble out of the nozzle even with out the engine running.
Try tieing the trigger down and letting the water run a good ten minutes or so. You may have a airlock some place.

I have two pressure washers, both of them water will come out the pump without the motor running. When the motor is running, I'll NEVER STOP THE WATER FLOW EITHER. The water flowing cools the pump.

I have a Sears with Honda motor. A few things I have learned:

1 - Hook up your supply line and remove the hose to the wand. Kerep the motor off. Turn on the water. It should flow and eliminate air bubbles.

2 - Reattach the hose and remove the wand. Turn the water on - it should flow freely.

3 - Reattach the wand and start the motor. You should have pressure.

One thing I have learned is to hold the wand and open the valve when I start the motor. This eliminates pressure and allows the motor to start easier.
Sometimes the little pieces of sediment can play havoc. I have used my air gun on it plenty of times.

Mine did that once in 5 years. I turned the water on and started the
pump, it came out then. It has never done that again. I assume the
check valve stuck in the pump.

I have a Sears, and once the water is turned on and the motor is running. It takes a few trigger pulls for it to take off. I hit the trigger off and on.

Stuck check valve

I've had both kinds. First one had the water always. This one
has a Honda engine and a vertical drive from the engine rather
than horizontal and there is none. You are supposed to hold the
trigger down while cranking to help to reduce the cranking
torque.

Problem I have with them, is the pump lasts for a couple of years
and the engines are set too lean for a full load to satisfy the tree
huggers so you have to run it with a partial choke to keep it from
gasping for food.

I find that they are a pain in the rump. Neighbor rigged up one
to an electric motor and I just may do that too. I wash close to
the shop and have ample power capacity. A half horse
compound motor would work just fine and then when you want
to wash, you push the button, turning the motor on and when
you don't just let go of the button. I might even use the roll
around frame that my gas unit was on. I may just do that this
summer.

Mark

Just went through something like that. Got a Karcher (sp?) and I even stopped at a small engine place to have it looked at, they suggested I go to a specialist. Oh boy, mine is a 2400psi from Menards, not a high end unit, didn't know if I wanted that much invested....

So I typed in the brand & model number in Google, and there were several hits that described my problem to a T.

One even had drawings to show how to fix it. Basically the pressure release valve gets gunked up with calcium/iron and doesn't slide. Take it apart & put grease on it and works great. Took me longer to read on the internet than to actually do it.

Mine would flow water through it, but would not build up hi pressure - I'd have to take the nozzle off and flow water, put nossle back on, and _then_ it would work - one time. any time I stopped the water flow, would have to remove nozzle, let water flow, and then it would go.

I think your problem can be related to that valve, but I won't say for sure - could be sticking in the other position and not letting anything happen.

Or perhaps your trigger valve is messed up similar, have you tried it without the trigger attached at all? You can replace them pretty cheap. (Edit: Kinda sounds like this, re-reading your message.....)

But type in the brand & model # to google, and 'no flow' or some such, and I bet you will get help on your exact problem.

I understand if you take the wrong part apart you have a mess and maybe lose a lot of high-dollar oil; so I'd want to follow some instructions that pertain to your model.

My deal was very very easy, pull off a cap, take 2 toex screws out, pull a plastic housing off, pressure up with water, find the valve that flew out, lube it with grease, and put back together. A caveman could do it. Just needed to know what pieces to take apart.

--->Paul

Thank all for the replies. I'll try what each person suggested.Jim

Mud wasp plugged every tiny hole in my power washer and wand.