Pressure cleaning troubles I have a petrol powered Karcher pressure washer driven by a 5 HP Honda. It is about 20 years old, starts first pull every time and has enough pressure to do most cleaning jobs.
I use mostly the so called Turbo nozzle, since it does the best job.
After all this years trouble free, I experienced something unusual.
The quick garden connection from the hose comes off every time I let go of the trigger.
I first blamed the connection that was an old plastic one. Put a new brass one on. Held on a few times and then it spat it out. After closer examination, the steel balls in the female connection stripped grooves in the male connector and let loose.
Put a new brass male one and the pressure split the spigot clean off.
After destroying 3 more new brass connectors, I realised I had to try something different.
Obviously and for reasons unknown to me, I have severe water hammer.
Took off the male quick connect from the machine and screwed on a washing machine spigot. Attached a short run of hose with a clamp, and a female quick connect at the other end.
My theory was that the hammerhead would be severe on the pump side, but if I give it a short hose to work as shock absorber, then this may save the quick connect.
Well, fortunately it worked. Yet I am still at a loss as to why this happened after so many years of trouble free service.
The only thing different is a new retractable hose reel, but I don't see how this can possibly cause hammer head. The water supply is tank water and a water pump that works at 250 kpa more or less, yet I used it extensively for hours at the time trouble free for years.
Could the no return valve in the hose reel be doing this?
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance
Confucius
I have never used a hose reel but I would question a non return valve in them.
I would think more so there is a back pressure happening in the pressure cleaner and blowing the hose connection off
I recently stripped down the pump on my Jet Wave electric cleaner and fitted new seals.
It is now a killer machine as it was when purchased in 1990.
Got all the seals from the local thieving hydraulics place.
Is it a non return valve as in stops reverse flow or just a fitting with an auto stop for when you remove the fitting.
I can see how a non return may cause the issue as water hammer can increase the pressure after the valve.
Obviously and for reasons unknown to me, I have severe water hammer.[Q
Where ?
Just an auto stop.Originally Posted by droog
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance
Confucius
Well ... water hammer is the only thing that occured to me since it happens when I let go the trigger ... but the origin of the pressure is the pump and not the line so ... perhaps it is back pressure from the pump seals that are worn ... mm. How hard is it to replace those seals?
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance
Confucius
I don't believe you are getting water hammer, more so back pressure when the trigger is let go meaning maybe there is a back flow prevention device (non return valve ) in the pressure cleaner which has given up.
The pump from my pressure cleaner
I think mine has a spring loaded ball which serves as the non return valve in the pressure cleaner pump
i.e to stop the pressure going back through the supply hose when the trigger is let go.
Each piston (3 in total) had a couple of O rings as well as copper washers
The pump head had about 4 seals to each piston for memory.
I didn't understand the configuration totally but when it went back together it was sooo much better
The 3 pistons are pushed by an offset plate on the motor whereas today's Jet Wave pistons are driven side on by a cam.
Because My machine is over 30 years old no one at Jet Wave had ever seen one like it so kits are unavailable
I watched a you tube video that shows in detail how to replace seals on the pistons for my machine model. It all seems simple, yet I don't have a lack of pressure or flow. It's more a blow back issue. I sent a message to Karcher ... let's hope they answer with the part I need to replace.
Thanks for you answers.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance
Confucius
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