The reasons why your pressure washer won’t start are numerous. It might be due to a mechanical fault or due to a lack of good maintenance practices. When this fault arises you should try to fix this issue yourself as you don’t need a specialist unless it is probably an engine problem.
In this article on Pressure Washer Won’t Start, we would take you through some basic steps on how to fix this issue. Stay tuned and follow these easy steps:
Why my Pressure Washer Won’t Start
There are 4 main reasons why your pressure washer may not start, let’s discuss these reasons step by step:
Check the Spark Plug of your Pressure washer
The first step to determine why your “pressure washer won’t start” is to cross-check the spark plug. The Spark plug is what fires your engine to start, it is used in almost all mechanical equipment.
If there is a heavy carbon buildup at the electrode or if your spark plug has been immersed in liquids such as oil then you need to replace such spark plug as it won’t properly spark to ignite your pressure washer engine.
Check the Carburetor of your Pressure Washer
A carburettor is required to supply the right proportion of air and fuel intake in an internal combustion engine. Therefore the carburettor of your pressure washer might have been clogged which is often caused by leaving fuel in the pressure washer for a very long period.
With time some of the substance in the fuel would get evaporated, leaving behind a thicker and sticker substance. It is this sticky substance that clogs up the carburettor and might prevent the engine from starting.
When your carburettor gets clogged, you can simply clean it with a carburettor cleaner. While you can also rebuild or replace the entire carburettor.
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How to Clean the Carburetor of your Pressure Washer
I will show you the steps on how to clean the carburettor of your pressure washer.
- Remove the front cover and air filter components of your pressure washer, to make the carburettor visible.
- Carefully disconnect the fuel lines to remove the component from the main assembly.
- Disassemble the screws and jets in the carburettor, you are advised to take to record a video or picture before proceeding, as this will help you to assemble each part back to its original place.
- After you’ve disassembled the carburettor, you should check for burned carbon particles or dirt that have accumulated over time. These accumulated carbon particles may have blocked their holes.
- You can unclog the jets with a carburettor cleaner and you can clean the holes and tubes with compressed air.
- Reassemble the carburettor in your pressure washer after you have finished cleaning and fixing its components back to their original place.
Carburetor Preventative Maintenance
To extend the lifetime of your pressure washer, and to make sure your machine starts without developing problems related to the carburettor, make sure to carry out preventive maintenance.
- Ensure to always buy fresh fuel for better performance and effectiveness of the carburettor.
- Add a fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank if you are planning no to use it for some time as this will prevent the quality of the gas from deteriorating.
- You can also purchase a carburettor repair kit, to help you in servicing and replacing defective parts.
Check the Ignition Coil of your Pressure Washer
An ignition coil sends the proper amount of voltage required to create an electric spark in the spark plug to ignite the fuel and keep the engine running. Therefore if the ignition coil is faulty, then the engine of your pressure washer won’t start.
Confirm that the spark plug is working correctly, after confirmation, test the ignition coil with an ignition coil tester. If you found out that the ignition coil is faulty, kindly replace it.
Check if the Flywheel key is Broken
A flywheel key is a small piece of metal that connects and engages the crankshaft and flywheel of your pressure washer. If the flywheel key is sheared into half or if it’s broken then this can cause the engine to suddenly stop working. This damage is often caused by hitting the pressure washer on a hard object.
To check if the Flywheel is broken it would require the service of a trained specialist or technician. You have to remove the flywheel from the engine and then carefully inspect the flywheel key. However, if you find out that the flywheel is broken, kindly replace it.
How to Start a Pressure Washer
Before starting your gas-powered pressure washer, You need to set up your pressure washer, which is quite easy and it doesn’t require any tools. We will take you through the procedure when getting started.
- Make sure the pressure washer is on a flat surface and check to make sure the water strainer is in place and free of debris.
- Connect a garden hose to the washer and the other end to your water supply. It should not be hooked to a potable water source.
- Next, connect the high-pressure hose that comes with the unit to the water outlet on the pressure washer.
- For those using RB 400, 600, or 800, slide the plug on the bottom of the gun assembly onto the other end of the hose, making sure the collar snaps into place.
- If you own the RB 200, screw the bottom of the gun assembly onto the other end of the hose.
- Select the high-pressure nozzle best suited to your cleaning task. To install, pull back the collar on the end of the gun and wand assembly.
- Attach the nozzle and release the collar, making sure it snaps into place securing the nozzle. Turn on the water.
- The pressure washer hose will fill with water, so it is important to purge the system of excess air before starting the unit. Simply squeeze the trigger on the gun and the air will release.
To get started with starting a pressure washer, make sure to follow the following procedure:
- Ensure the fuel valve is in the open position.
- Move the choke to the left (the open position).
- Move the throttle to the left (the full throttle position).
- Turn the engine switch to the “ON” position.
- With the gun assembly still on the holder, pull the engine cord.
- Then, close the choke. You are ready to use your pressure washer.
- When your project is complete, turn the engine switch to the OFF position.
- To release built-up pressure in the system, squeeze the trigger on the gun assembly after the unit has been shut off. Next, turn off your water supply.
- Disconnect the high-pressure hose from the unit and gun, then disconnect the garden hose.
- Remove as much water as possible from the hoses. Remove the nozzle from the gun and return it to the holder on the unit.
In summary why your “pressure washer won’t start” might be due to mechanical faults or negligence from the side of the user. Your Pressure washer won’t start if the machine is not properly turned ON or if it is low on gas or from excessive air in the hose of the machine.
Also if the pressure washer is not properly maintained then it would eventually get faulty. Lastly make sure to carry out proper preventive measures and practices, such as regularly servicing the pressure washer by an expert. This would prevent damage to the machine and would extend the life span of the machine.