Am I having a problem, or am I losing my marbles

[Big Jon]

My pressure washer (13 hp Honda engine, 3500 psi General pump) has been acting weird lately. I just had to get the seals redone in the pump and just before they broke I heard the engine sound different when it was supposed to "idling". If I remember correctly, my psi is supposed to drop down to about 0 when the gun isn't being squeezed. Around the time the seals broke the psi gauge showed the psi actually climb after I released the gun to about 4500 psi. At the same time the engine sounded like it was working harder after the gun was released. I assumed that this would be fixed when the seals were fixed, however I have been using it for about a week since the seals were fixed and the problem is still the same. I asked the local rental store that fixed my seals and they tried to tell me that that is normal. I just don't believe them and I think they don't want to deal with this.

Any ideas... I don't want to damage the pump, I can't afford another lengthy repair. Is it safe to keep using?

Any feadback would be great.

 

[Larry L.]

It could be your unloader not set right,it could have part of the seal stuck in it.

 

[DAFF]

The unloader is stuck!!!! Try loosening the threaded handle and watch the pressures in the pump with the trigger off. They should drop. If they don't then the inner springs have a piece of debris in them and woun't let the pressure release.

PS Do not use the washer untill you resolve this issue!!!

DAFF

 

[Big Jon]

Man... am I ever thankful I got your input. After I got my pump fixed I did loosen and tighten my handle (the one controlling psi), but I did it with the triggler pulled. I'll try it again tommorrow they way you said DAFF and see what happens. If that doesn't work I'll have to open it up. Thanks a lot.

 

[Freakypapa]

i've noticed a difference in the way my brand new rig is working that is similar...but different. My engine, 29 horse diesel seems to run freaky slowl when it starts up, like it's lugging, then it gets it on. Thats one issue, I was wondering about fuel filtration.

The nest issue, today, while i was preparing for some building wash, i was making up some low pressure soap nozzles. So i start testing, and the pump runs out of pressure when i run the soap nozzles wide open. it runs fine for a couple of minutes and then peters out. It runs great and strong with hi pressure nozzles. Are my soap nozzles (homemade) too big? i want to shoot 30 ft, maybe my nozzle manufacturing is second rate.

I'm not sure what i'd do without you guys for experienced information. tell me how i can repay this karmic debt.

 

[Mobi Clean]

I had some diesel units in the past and they always started slow like that when they were cold.

For the nozzle issue is it completely stopping or just low pressure? If it is just low pressure the opening you made is too large. Otherwise perhaps there is some debris in the line that is tricking the unloader into going to bypass mode.