I am a Dumbo (winterizing)

[rontrem]

I am a Dumbo (winterizing)

I purchased a TROY-BUILT MODEL 01904 in July of 2003. It is beginning to get cold up he in MA so I decided I would protect my investment by winterizing the unit. I purchase some Magnum pump armor then proceeded to get confuse with the instructions now for the dumb part I removed the vent cap from the black part of the pump assembly after poring in a couple of ounces I notice that oil was coming out of the top plug area where my funnel was place, this is when my panic started I then realized I did something bad, now I read the manual that was supplied with the pressure washer no information on this part of the pump. I can not locate a drain for this reservoir or any mention of the type of oil that would be used. Realizing it was now getting dark and cold I pushed the pressure washer into my shed where it is sitting now can anyone tell me what to do next.


I would greatly appreciate any help you may provide. I didn’t want to contact the manufacturer because of fears this would nullify my warrantee.

Thanks ron……….. camper_ron@yahoo.com

 

[DanKes]

It sounds like you put it in the oil chamber. There should definitely be a drain plug on the pump. How else would you change the oil? The other option would be to turn it upside down to get all of the liquid out.

 

[Mark]

Ron,


There should be a drain plug somewhere on the pump.
You can also use a siphon / vacuum to suck the fluid out of the pump.

Feel free to call me for some FREE ADVICE!

 

[rontrem]

Nop, no drain plug, no mention is manual of this component maybe I will remove the allen bolts from the pump then drain it that way. Thanks for the advice.

Ron…………..

 

[ron]

just run anti-freeze into the pump.
If you have a tank use that.
If you just have a garden hose fill the langth of it with ani freeze and just kick over the pump till you see the anti-freeze comeing out.
Dont forget anti-freeze need a % of water to work. Dont use 100% anti freeze.

 

[Mark]

You can winterize with the antifreeze, however you also need to drain the contaminated pump oil and replace with good clean pump oil.

 

[oneness]

ron:

What do you mean anti-freeze needs water to work???? The whole point to anti-freeze is that it has a much lower freezing point than water....If it doesn't work without adding water would mean that it would in fact freeze without it...that makes no sense...the higher the water content the higher the freezing point. Am I missing something here? I've always been told it is not a good idea to put water into your cooling system, but rather you should run 100% antifreeze....

Please explain!

 

[Larry L.]

You can over do anything,a 50/50 mix is enough in most area's,Running pure ann-e is hard on your water pump.

 

[Douglas Hicks]

Antifreeze needs to be mixed w/water for the best results. Here in Eastern Oregon, we use a 50/50 mix, that is good for about -40, which is the colder than the temps we normally see. Antifreeze acutally thickens about 32 degrees F. Reuse the antifreeze solution. when the solution begins to freeze, just add more antifreeze and toss out the ice chrystals.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

 

[rontrem]

Yes ron, here in MA it gets cold so we have a lot of Antifreeze experience. The plane fact is even though it doesn’t seam to follow logic is pure Antifreeze will antifreeze before an antifreeze water mixture.

 

[ron]

im no chemist but i do know that the old green type anti-freeze need's water to NOT freeze.
Now i dont know anything about this newer RED STUFF.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

rontrem,

When Rop P. talks about running antifreeze through the pump he means where the water feeds in. A 50/50 solution of water and antifreeze will protect the pump to -34F. You can also buy the antifreeze premixed already with water.

If you undo the allan bolts you may be in for more problems like water leaks ect.. These hold the pump head in place.

What brand of pump and model # is it?

There should be a brass plug in the black ribbed area of the pump. Drain the oil from there. Like Mark already said, it is imperative that you do that first.

 

[mtngoat]

Windshied washer fluid!

I find that windshied washer fluid works fine. (The blue juice) If its only for a few days. Has a tendancy to dry out the O rings on your pistons If let to sit to long. Say over a week. Its also much more cost effective for short term use-and you can put it in the receptacle of your vechicle and get double usage out of it.
Long Term 50-50 with a good Antifreeze. Z End. Mtngoat

 

[rontrem]

B.E. check out my original post I have realized the mistake I have made and now fully understand the procedure for winterizing my unit, the problem is that I need to get the antifreeze out of the oil reservoir for the pump and I do not have a drain plug. The unit is a TROY-BUILT MODEL 01904 I purchased form Lows this year.

Thanks for any help you may be able to give me.

 

[Mark]

Is this any help?
http://www.troybilt-gen-pw.com/data/pdf_files/pw/1904_1esw.pdf

 

[njpull]

I have added a male hose end to a pump up sprayer and use that to push antifreeze through the lines, pump and hoses. I blow out the water first with compressed air. Do this to your water (garden hoses) too. I start with pure antifreeze. It will pick up water as it goes into the system. I reclaim it by either pumping water with the sprayer or just turning a water supply hose on and letting it flow until the clear water runs out and into the bucket with the reclaimed antifreeze.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

njpull,
That method is much, much, better than nothing at all.

Was doing the same thing myself with a Surflo pump.

You don't get any antifreeze into your bypass line though.

If you are running a tank your prabably ok. If direct drive it could be a problem.

I now beleive the best way for myself is to have the pwer pump pick up and run the antifreeze into the system. Bypass should also be used to insure treatment is also receieved there.

I also find it is best to premix the antifreeze with water 50/50
This takes you to -35 F.

My luck would be that I would not have enough residual water remaining in the pump for a working solution, pump would freeze and crack. I can't work as a result!

 

[jeffex11]

go to lowes and get a can of winterizing spray it attaches to the water inlet and just push the button on the can. it runs through your pump without starting it. $6 a can does 3-4 powerwashers.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Why would I pay $6.00 for a can of air?

It does not remove all the water.

It does nothing to the water left in bypass.

1-gallon antifreeze $4.99 mixed 50/50 =2 gallons of product.

This should be plenty for the whole winter.

This will protect your equipment to -35F. That can of air won't do that.

Thanks for the info though.

 

[jeffex11]

It is a can of anti-freeze where you use the compressed air in the can to force the fluid through the pump so you don't have to rig the power washer. I like it because you can shoot some in for the cold nights even though you may still have some jobs left to do for the season. It does remove all the water!