power washer o ring replacement ... how hard is it

[Jeffy_D]

last post of the weekend, i promise.

i am looking for a power washer , ive been watching craigslist in my area, alot of broken power washers with bad O rings, mostly husky. Was gonna inquire about a craftsman washer that needed one.

is it more of a P.I.T.A. than its worth or is this a common PW wear and tear part? What brands are considered reliable?

 

[Donald]

Who said its a bad O-ring? How do they know? If its easy, why didn't the seller fix it himself?

I would suggest buying one with a trashed pump and buying a decent replacement pump, there are many on EBAY and the internet.

Many times the pump will freeze and crack the housing. That pump gets tossed. Or someone will leave it running with the trigger off and the unloader pushes water back to the inlet so the pressure does not climb out of this world, but the recirculating water gets hotter and hotter and melts some plastic parts in the pump. They can be replaced, but probably easier to replace the pump.

 

[oggb]

"bad O rings"?

Any idea where these O-rings are? In the pump itself? Not sure what that's referring to.

 

[Jeffy_D]

most posts mention the pump. one mentioned the wand( that one i would think would be easy).

i feel silly thinking there is only 1 o ring in the washer. its usually the whole " 50 cent part will fix it, dont have time to mess with it since its not used often".

i just cant afford 500+ for a new " good" washer. but id rather save up then buy somethin that was good and reliable than buy junk that never works.

 

[Rand]

I'd buy the 299$ new model.. it will work for 3-7 years.. then when the pump goes.. replace it with a better one..

usually the engines are fairly indestructible.

 

[yeehaw1960]

I harvest four or five good Briggs engines from powerwashers each year. The only more fertile ground to get good engines is on (front) self propelled mowers made by AYP or MTD. I have replaced O Rings on an electric power washer before with great success (for a neighbor). I was once told that the biggest problem with power washers was that they are rarely built sturdy enough for the amount of pressure they generate. Bigger pressure sells better, but they don't go the (needed) extra mile when building the pumps.

 

[JR]

I have a 5hp b&s and 5hp honda gc160 ohc/ohv, paid $45 for both with a small old 120v ad/ 12v dc generator head free. i have the plan to belt drive generator with the honda runnig near idle fueled off 6gal boat tank. can you say top-off start and walk away and forget for awhile. no 1:30-4am fuelings nomore, or topoffs every fe hour ether.