Anyone know why my new Pressure Washer keeps stalling?

"Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2" (pompei426) 06/11/2014 at 13:09 • Filed to: None

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Just bought a decent Honda unit yesterday and about every minute it dies. I cut the fuel, wait a few seconds and flip it back and start yanking. Only for it to die after another minute. Mind you I am using it spraying water. It's cut out with the trigger fully pressed. Anyone have an idea?

thebigbossyboss > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:11

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Post this on pullstartmyheart. small engine blog.

http://pull-start-my-heart.kinja.com/

MonkeePuzzle > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:11

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water into air intake?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:12

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What series Honda motor? G/GX?

Mattbob > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:12

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is the choke on? After it warms a bit, you gotta take the choke off or it will stall.

mr_gofast > MonkeePuzzle 06/11/2014 at 13:19

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water mixed w fuel?

BigBlock440 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:21

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Low water pressure? Not enough water coming in causes some to shut off. If you let off the trigger and allow it to build pressure every so often, would it still stall?

crowmolly > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:23

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How old is the fuel? I swear 90% of the time I help somebody with poorly running yard equipment it's because the gas is from last summer or fall.

I know the washer is new but that doesn't mean the fuel in the gas can is.

If the fuel is recent make sure that the choke is set properly.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:25

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Oil?

vorspringing > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:27

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Will the motor run for more than a minute after you start it when it's not spraying? Also, is it brand new or just new to you (in which case I'd check the fuel filter first thing).

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:37

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I used to run a pressure washing company. < That is just information that I felt like sharing. My money is that you're forgetting to kill the choke, just because it's new to you. However, I doubt that it would stall that quickly and that you wouldn't notice. It doesn't sound right when it's still choked. Other bet is that you used some old gas and it has water in it or something.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 06/11/2014 at 13:38

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This is a valid point. Oil protection sensors can sometimes be *right on the edge*.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:39

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Just thought of something - have you tried this with a gas cap off? Sometimes, when the tank is almost completely full, combining that with a defective gas cap will cause this.

BKRM3 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 13:55

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You're not using enough 100 octane race gas. Use more race gas.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 06/11/2014 at 14:47

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Followed the instructions and put in the whole (recommended) 12OZ of oil that came with the unit.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > MonkeePuzzle 06/11/2014 at 14:47

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Not externally. I've been sure to keep that from happening.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 14:48

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I pull back the choke after about 15 seconds and the gas was purchased last night.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > crowmolly 06/11/2014 at 14:49

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Fresh fuel, just bought last night.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > vorspringing 06/11/2014 at 14:49

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Brand new. It's more prone to die when the sprayer isn't on.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > Mattbob 06/11/2014 at 14:50

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Choke is managed properly.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > BKRM3 06/11/2014 at 14:51

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I found it funny that the machine actually has a warning stating 'No Race Fuel'

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/11/2014 at 14:51

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GX160

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > BigBlock440 06/11/2014 at 14:51

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It's better when I let it build up pressure, but that doesn't always work.

crowmolly > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 14:55

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Did you try it with the gas cap off? Are you sure you are actuating the fuel switch properly?

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 14:58

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Hmmm. Worth replacing the spark plug? What unit did you get? Or at least what GPM/PSI

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 14:58

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"Gas was purchased last night". Is it two stroke?

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > crowmolly 06/11/2014 at 15:03

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I will try that.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 15:03

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Nope

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 15:03

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2.3 GPM 2700PSI

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 15:09

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The only things that produce that result with GX engines that I can recall ever seeing were backwards operation of the fuel on/off, slightly low oil, and bad gas cap. Not really sure why choke on/off and fuel on/off are reversed from one another, but it's the way they are. I had more people get confused on that point when I was doing customer instruction on pressure washers than you'd believe.

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 15:39

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When I was still pressure washing, it was astounding how many people contracted us for work in spite of the fact that they had their own washer in the garage. Usually, people would tell us that their unit broke and they just didn't want to deal with it. 60% of the units were probably electric and the remainder were small gas units like yours. The only recommendation I have left that really comes to mind is checking for gas near the air filter.

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 15:41

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Also, if you wind up taking the Honda back, I couldn't recommend Karcher strongly enough. I never used on their lower volume washers , but they are the industry gold standard as far as I'm concerned.

BKRM3 > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 15:50

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It does!? Damn!

chuck07 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 16:08

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I have been looking into pressure washers. People say anything less than 3000 PSI just isn't enough. What is your take on that?

The one you linked is 2700PSI

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 16:44

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I went back out there and it worked fine. I didn't do anything different, it just worked. You have been a world of knowledge for power washing. I do have a question. I bought my unit for slightly over $300 and it's 2700psi. I'd like to make some money with it and I want to know if you have any tips or recommendations. I know it isn't very powerful, so I need to get extensions (I'm thinking about an 18ft one). What else should I know and buy? And is it worth my time. I see other people's adds for $200 a house, which sounds really nice, but I don't want to spend all day just on one house.

RyanFrew > chuck07 06/11/2014 at 16:46

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I linked to a 2700psi unit because that's the territory that the OP was in. Sounds like you've gotten some good advice so far. What do you want to use yours for? Odds are, a well suited and reliable unit for you would fall between 3,000 and 3,500psi. I'm happy to give some recommendations, but would be more helpful if I knew what you wanted to do with it. I use this and this as my setup at home. That pressure washer is probably overkill for you, but I can't endorse the Whisper Wash highly enough if you're going to be doing large areas of concrete. It literally makes washing concrete just like mowing your lawn, except a little easier and way cooler.

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 17:01

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Okay, here goes:

See if you can get some people you know to let you do their properties for a low-ball rate. That way, you can try it out with your own unit without the pressure (ha) associated with getting things done quickly. Also, driveways are pretty clean in relative terms, which means they're easy. You don't want to be getting gum off the ground in your first few jobs....or ever, with that washer. This is like a trial and error phase. Confront problems like a lack of water pressure, the unit stalling out, etc.

If you're young, try going door to door or throw pamphlets in mailboxes. Emphasize age and/or being local.

If things start picking up speed, try renting a better unit from Home Depot and assess whether you could generate a return on purchasing something more expensive.

If you can create a return and you want to run a business, then do it! Those first steps should only take three weeks or so. Register as an LLC, get insured, buy a better (Karcher) unit, and a Whisper Wash (I like the Classic).

Profit! The real money-maker here is in commercial deals, which takes a little more time to figure out. If you ever have questions on that, let me know.

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 17:21

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Will do, thank you very much. I already have a few jobs with family members. I also just moved into a 55 community with my mother (I'm 19) and am planning on doing the whole bit around the community. Or, at least as much as I can. Then it's off to other local neighborhoods going door to door or handing out flyers. Possibly advertising on CL with lowball rates. It might be hard because I live in an area with many Mexicans. Not being racist. They are hard workers, are better than I am, and don't charge a whole lot. Hopefully my unit will serve me well. I also have a few friends that might work for me if I have more than one unit.

Also, how important is an LLC or for that matter even an MHIC? I worked all summer last year doing home improvements and contemplated it, but never really needed it.

RyanFrew > Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 06/11/2014 at 19:48

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Pretty important. You can get sued real easily over this stuff and it's not cheap to get sued. But it's cheap to register an LLC. Plus, it looks good on a resume in the future. What's an MHIC?

Chuck 2(O=[][]=O)2 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 19:59

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Sorry, I probably should have stated what it is. Maryland Home Improvements Commission. To do work on homes you need to get their license. I don't think all states have something like it, but I'm pretty sure it's the equivalent of becoming an LLC.

chuck07 > RyanFrew 06/11/2014 at 20:06

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I just bought this house, so I want to start by cleaning the exterior. It is a cape cod, so I only have a small section that is high up. I will try to do this once a year. Then I want to blast the brick patio, cleaning the bricks and removing the weeds. I am going to fill the cracks will some sand that is supposed to stop weeds from coming up.

Otherwise I will probably use it to rinse off cars one a week or so, between good washes.

I will clean the driveway also, but I don't know if it will need it very often. That attachment could be pretty cool.

The one you linked is a little out of my range. I wanted to stay under $500.