Power washer with low pressure

My karchar K3.65 power washer has gone a bit pathetic with it's output; I'm basically now getting a strong hose type stream and nothing more. I've taken it apart and checked for leaks but can't see any, and cleaning the filter has made no difference. Any other ideas? The motor is still powering and sounds normal, I'm not getting any pulsing when I run it.

It was a free hand-me-down from a neighbour a few years ago so it's done well, I'd like to fix rather than replace if I can, as long as the costs don't start to outstrip just buying a new one

 

May be the seals inside the pump have gone, so the pitons are just pushing water about inside the pump, you can get seals for some pumps but some you can't fix

You may be able to get a seal kit for your karcher

 

Good luck getting inside a K series. I repair and service various cleaning machines from Karcher, Tennant, Nilfisk, truvox etc. I don't touch K series, I feel sure they're designed to fail

 

Just a thought ,Is your mains pressure up to normal as this could cause this problem?

 

That's interesting to know - I found getting the shell off a bit fiddly thanks to the awkward screw positions, but straightforward enough for my basic DIY abilities once I'd figured them out. I didn't touch the motor though, just watched it while the water ran through. Do you have a favourite that you recommend for basic home use (garden only, not car)?

Yep checked that, would have been too simple a fix

Yep the K3 does that too, and embarrassingly that has caught me out in the past Definitely not that this time though!

 

I don't do domestic stuff generally, because it's so prone to go wrong, but lidl have quite a high spec home use pressure washer a few times a year.
Of course if you have a couple of bob to waste, the Karcher 6/13 would be my choice cold water pressure washer. Not only will it clean the algae from slabs, but it's powerful enough to remove seagulls from the roof!

 

I think that when a power washer is on its last legs, the kindest thing is to let it go. Just had a look on Argos and they have a nice range of Nilfisk power washers at pretty good prices. I have had my Nilfisk for about 6 years now, nice powerful compact units
Top Tip: Don't jet wash with Crocs on, it bloomin' hurts if you catch yourself!

 

Nilfisk are a good brand but parts tend to be constrictive when they go wrong. Luckily, that's not really that often

 

@HarryS that's usually a line I'm using on other people when I'm at work (though admittedly not typically about powerwashers...)

Decision made. Thanks for the nilfisk tip @flounder , I'll look into them. I did get quite fond of the karcher too, but a lot of that might have been because I paid a grand total of 6 eggs for it!

 

I was wrong about Lidl, it's Aldi that have 'em this week!

 

I managed to nab a Karchar K4 on the slightly cheap - just the main unit and the basic nozzle, on the basis that the attachments from my old K3 will move over to the new model. Put the old one out front with a "free for parts" note and it was gone within 15 minutes

 

That would be Shiney.