Pressure washer problem

[Tim Brennan]

We have a pressure washer that works fine indefinitely so long as you don't release the trigger. Once you do it will not restart. Leaving overnight gets it working but again you can't release the trigger or the same thing happens.

It's electric powered. Make is Alto. Model is Force E 5350 X-TRA P11897

we tried replacing the capacitor but that had no effect on the problem.

Any suggestions?

 

[roadking]

I have a Simoniz electric pressure washer with the same problem. I disassembled the case and found a mechanical pressure lever that I presume activates a micro switch to turn on the pump when the pressure drops. The mechanical valve was sticking. I cut a hole in the top of the plastic housing to give access to the switch and just use a bar, screwdriver or sometinmes the wand itself to push the lever and the pump starts. IF I rememeber I will snap a picture and post it here.

Bill

 

[Tim Brennan]

I have a Simoniz electric pressure washer with the same problem. I disassembled the case and found a mechanical pressure lever that I presume activates a micro switch to turn on the pump when the pressure drops. The mechanical valve was sticking. I cut a hole in the top of the plastic housing to give access to the switch and just use a bar, screwdriver or sometinmes the wand itself to push the lever and the pump starts. IF I rememeber I will snap a picture and post it here.

Bill

Thanks Bill. I'll take a look for that.

 

[Rick Christopherson]

This may not apply to you, but I learned something about my pressure washer today I had never realized in all the years I've owned it. But then, it could easily be a similar problem to yours.

For years I've always had trouble getting my pump to prime. Last month when I washed the back of the house, it worked without a glitch all day long. Then today as I was cleaning the driveway, it was back to its old symptoms.

Only this time, there was a new symptom that clued me in to the root cause. I almost stalled the engine for the first time ever, when I first turned on the water. The sprayer primed at full pressure for 30 seconds, and then went back to its old ways of no pressure.

I turned the water way down, and suddenly it worked fine for the whole day. That was the difference between using it in the front yard versus the back yard...too much incoming water pressure. The pump hadn't been failing to prime; it was shutting itself down because there was too much incoming water.

So your situation could actually be similar, in that your pump is getting hydro-locked when you release the trigger. Try turning your water down.

 

[Tim Brennan]

This may not apply to you, but I learned something about my pressure washer today I had never realized in all the years I've owned it. But then, it could easily be a similar problem to yours.

For years I've always had trouble getting my pump to prime. Last month when I washed the back of the house, it worked without a glitch all day long. Then today as I was cleaning the driveway, it was back to its old symptoms.

Only this time, there was a new symptom that clued me in to the root cause. I almost stalled the engine for the first time ever, when I first turned on the water. The sprayer primed at full pressure for 30 seconds, and then went back to its old ways of no pressure.

I turned the water way down, and suddenly it worked fine for the whole day. That was the difference between using it in the front yard versus the back yard...too much incoming water pressure. The pump hadn't been failing to prime; it was shutting itself down because there was too much incoming water.

So your situation could actually be similar, in that your pump is getting hydro-locked when you release the trigger. Try turning your water down.

Our mains water pressure is quite poor, but I will try it