Karcher - Dirt Blaster - 'Repair' - 25th March, 2020

Wendy's Karcher Pressure Washer (she doesn't usually let me use it) wasn't working properly; the Dirt Blaster Lance (her favourite tool) wasn't producing the rotating cone of very high-pressure water that it usually did.
So, I had a look around the Web, and found the following video, which looked like it might provide a solution.
My Mate VINCE
How to REPAIR a Karcher Dirt Blaster
• How to REPAIR a Karche...
The above video is of a repair of the Dirt Blaster Lance that was provided with a Karcher K2, and Wendy's Karcher is a K4; however, I had faith that the same approach should work;
BUT, it didn't!
Camera 1 = DJI Osmo Action
Camera 2 = DJI Osmo Pocket
Camera 3 = Panasonic Lumix DC-TZ95
Music = Shawl Paul (Norma Rockwell, KZbin Audio Library)
Ian :-(

[@mrkentdotcom]

FYI - I didn't jump ahead. I'm stuck at home with nothing to do. Thanks for filling my day with entertainment and God bless. You're the man :)

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Mr Kent! Isn't it amazing what we find amusing/entertaining, whilst trapped at home; and how long we are prepared to put up with it. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@herberar]

That " Lance cam" was superb !!! Cheers !

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Bernardo! Glad you liked the "Lance Cam"; it was a bit difficult to hold the camera and operate the pressure washer at the same time, but, worth it, I think. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@liamodwyer2782]

Thanks for that Ian. My life will never be the same again Can’t wait to get a dirt blaster.

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Liam! I believe they are lots of fun to use, but then, I only have Wendy's word for that. Say Hi, to Alison & Seamus, from Wendy & I. Oh, and stay safe! Ian :-)

[@frank-uj8ve]

10 out of 10 for perseverance always curious what’s inside things and how they work was great to watch from start to finish ian well done stay safe cheers mate 👍

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Frank! Having watched the other video, I thought I knew what I had to do, but, when i revealed the insides i was a bit flummoxed. Great fin fun though. Ian :-)

[@frank-uj8ve]

always looks easy when someone else is doing it lol at least you had a go at it and enjoyed vidioing editing uploading gives us something to do huh 😁 take care stay safe cheers mate 👍

[@geoffg46]

Informative vid, thanks. Same white plastic insert as mine but I used a washer so the steel ball was just proud , 5-10 thou, works fine now, but for how long? My guess is that the wear is at the very tip inside the conical housing so not really repairable FYI, O ring fits onto wand before reassembly

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Geoff! Glad you found my efforts informative; you appear to have done better than I did, but, as you say "for how long?". Happy Christmas! Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@javierherranz3077]

Dear Ian. Apologize for my English, I'm Spanish. I have the same Karcher model as you and today I was watching your video since I had the same problem as you. Following the instructions in your video at the end I had the same result as you but in the end I found the solution to be able to fix the machine. The mistake is in placing the ball of bearing in the top of the white piece, you have to do it on the side of the white piece inside the cone of the Lance. If you need photos I can send them to you by mail. Best regards

[@IanPerry]

Gracias Xavier! I knew I must have done something wrong. Will have a go with your suggestion, and get back to you if I can't figure it out. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@javierherranz3077]

@@IanPerry Hi again Ian. At the end I chose the option to buy a new lance since the old one did not finish working well, although I mounted it as I explained. I found one in the Wish app much more robust than Karcher's original dlwish.page.link/4XZs If you need a picture o image you only have to tell me. Best regards. Javier Herranz

[@IanPerry]

I also gave up trying to fix the original lance, and bought a copy - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqbFeXxngLB6e6c - which works quite well, but, at a lower water pressure. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@yapkh8]

Hi i have a karcher 2.050 model and when i power on, nothing works what could be the problem. Is there a fuse in the machine.?

[@IanPerry]

I am sure there will be a fuse (probably several of them) in your Karcher; however, first I would check the on/off switch, if I were you. Good luck! Ian :-)

[@andrewfairhurst2500]

Just the video I didn't need - ours is also broken. But it's always good to have a go.

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Andrew! I did, however, find a replacement (non-Karcher) Dirt Blaster lance for £8.95 (with free delivery) from a seller in Leicester (so it only took a few days to arrive); not sure how good (or otherwise) it is yet, but will let you know when we have tested it. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@andrewfairhurst2500]

Thanks - looking forward to your video report = or just let me know if it's any good.

[@gillianmunro4114]

I also had that issue. But then I decided to drop a second smaller ball bearing in first the put the original one ontop of that. It solved the problem and ran smoothly again

[@IanPerry]

Thanks for the advice; I will certainly give it a try! Ian :-)

[@richardballinger517]

Mine is the same as yours, just put several conical spring washers in the top opposit way round so it should behave like a spring. If that doesn't work I'll try a spring?

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Richard! I will give that a try, when I get the Karcher out in the Spring. Ian :-)

[@richardballinger517]

@@IanPerry I'll let you know how it goes, hope to give it another go tomorrow. One thing I did notice with mine is with just one washer under the ball bearing I screwed it back together and shook the lance up & down vertically and could hear the part inside jumping up and down so I added more washers until it stopped rattling. I reckon a medium stiff spring would do a good job because it will adjust with wear, too stiff and it will wear quicker. BTW I put stainless steel washers in.

[@richardballinger517]

@@IanPerry various washers weren't successful. I think a hard flat disk would be better so the ball can roll on it like you did but getting the correct thickness is important. With a washer the ball is stuck in the hole in the washer. The other thing is where the nozzle sits in the conical head, I think that obviously wears causing problems? I'll keep trying, like you, next time I get it out.

[@IanPerry]

@@richardballinger517 Thanks for the update! You certainly seem very keen to solve the problem. Nearly time to get mine out, so, I will probably join you in this frustrating endeavour. Ian :-)

[@martinlang9615]

Just a small tip. Since many of the cheaper units have plastic pumps, they need continual water flow to prevent the pump from heating up by leaving the power on and it cycling up to pressure, that water heats up very very hot and will eventually melt the pump. I lent it to my brother in law and through pulling it apart, finding the melted pump, this can be my only conclusion. So, in short, if you are not using it, to go have a cuppa, break, or whatever, just turn the power off first.

[@IanPerry]

OK- thanks!

[@dgmlpool]

Had same problem with mine, but whilst the ball bearing needs to sit a little proud, the small nozzle needs to be bullitt shaped. Had to round mine off with a small file as it was kinda flat. Try this if the washer under the bearing alone doesn’t work for you.

[@IanPerry]

It would appear, from the popularity of this video, that a LOT of people have had the same problem. Thanks for the advice; I will have to give your solution go. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@dgmlpool]

Ian Perry thanks for your reply Ian. I finished off with some emery paper to get it smooth. It worked. Saved paying out £35 for a new one. Take care, Dave.

[@green1394]

the best,,,good on you,,Ian,, by the way,,is that music from outer space?

[@IanPerry]

Thanks, glad you liked it! The music is Shawl Paul (Norma Rockwell, KZbin Audio Library). Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@marinespereiradacosta5248]

Obrigado me ajudou muito!!!!😀😙😙

[@IanPerry]

Que bom que pude ajudar! Fique seguro! Ian :-)

Good afternoon Ian...I wish you a great week but, please, let's go forward together!!! Thank you so much for sharing your video with us, best regards!!! What's new on our channel? A Porto city, Portugal virtual tour with the Parrot Anafi... You are always welcome...

[@IanPerry]

Thanks for stopping by Joao! Glad you liked the video. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@maurofernandez6018]

Hello you ar.make aeromodelism?

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Mauro! Ian :-)

[@jiannisDimi]

I didnt realised what was the mistake... The black tiny ball in front of this white long piece was rubbed off ? And you put two small round pieces of hard plastic in this white piece just to enlong it to touch the end of the nose and fit forcely in the head?

[@IanPerry]

Yes, that is what i tried; it worked ok, for a while, but soon failed again. Ian :-(

[@jiannisDimi]

@@IanPerry examine carefully the yellow round piece if there are any disturbances on its surface inside.. If there are any sharp edges, you mast rub them away with a very smooth sandpaper.. You may use a teflon spray to make its surface super sliding again too... Any pfte oil spray as lubricant would make it run better but it lasts no long Teflon spray is the best repair, before you buy a new rotating - head ..

[@IanPerry]

​@@jiannisDimiThanks for the advice, will give it a go. Ian :-)

[@jiannisDimi]

@@IanPerry thank you... for the video

[@rebeccasingleton9690]

Great to see you using your time in lockdown productively :)

[@IanPerry]

Thank Becca! Yes, but, I bet that Wendy will still not let me wield the pressure washer myself. Ian :-)

[@tfpsantos]

Another one with the same model (5.667-053)... I'd like to repair this instead of spending 40€ in a new blaster. The problem is that the ball doesn't touch the plastic plate that makes the round movement. So theoretically the solution would be to fill the space and to fix the ball so it could touch the red plastic plate.. Tried to put some 3mm ORings stacked... and the ball in the middle In the end probably i'm going to have to buy a new one :)

[@IanPerry]

LOL - that is what I concluded, after a long struggle. I did, however, buy a copy, rather than a real karcher part; which works OK, but, not as well as the original used to Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@evaguerin6741]

Great job, well done! 👍

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Eva! I was a bit disappointed my repair didn't work so well, but had a lot of fun. Ian :-)

[@joselourivaldesouzamonteir6290]

Tem como traduzir esses vídeos pra português por favor.

[@IanPerry]

Seria uma boa ideia, no entanto, estou bastante doente no momento e não consigo trabalhar nos meus vídeos. Usei o Google Tradutor para responder a você.

[@wendyrobson2766]

I want to repeat, Ian doesn't do the power washing I do - not letting him claim the glory on this!

[@IanPerry]

LOL - I told them you didn't let me actually use the pressure washer. I am only good for getting it out of the garage, putting it away again, and the occasional attempt at a repair. Ian :-)

[@hemidenis]

Mute movie, I don't get it.

[@IanPerry]

Sorry, I don't understand your comment. Ian :-)

[@UyPuihhuntingtv]

Nice work done ✅ amazing channel! I subscribe big like 👍

[@IanPerry]

Thanks, for the comment, and the Sub. Will check out your channel. Ian :-)

[@sabrinalopes4235]

👏🏻

[@IanPerry]

Er - thanks - I think?

[@stejac51]

Ahhhh Yes ... wish it was this easy .. 'cepting its not always ... often and usually on careful inspection you will find that because this nozzle is made of plastic the internal tip of the cone gets 'flogged' oversize by the speed of rotating pintle, slightly blocking the exit nozzle which stops the rotation and causes the weird spray behaviour .... the fix alas requires the purchase of a new wand ... Cheers

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Steve! I finally came to the same conclusion, and bought myself a non-Karcher copy of the dirt blaster; see kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqbFeXxngLB6e6c Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@colinmeredith7114]

Try a washer and/or a spring to overcome the wear tollerance....plastic card would melt and burn-out.

[@IanPerry]

I will give that a try, next time - thanks! Ian :-)

[@martinlang9615]

Bugger buying a new lance, there must be a reason it wobbles too much. Perhaps the plastic is too thick? Maybe try a metal washer? That was the solution another guy had (was a slightly different design), but the principle is the same. It’s the plastic the ball sits on that wears over time, or is it where the nozzle comes out and contacts the plastic is where it wears out?Sure you can buy a new one, but in no time you will be back to square one. It’s a material selection fault of Karcher. They should have use a tougher plastic, or better still a metal nozzle insert and metal housing. That’s plastic for you.

[@IanPerry]

Yes, I saw that other guys solution. Mind you, perhaps Karcher use plastic, knowing it will fail, so we spend more money? Ian :-)

[@martinlang9615]

@@IanPerry oh, no doubt you are right about that one! It’s just like the supermarket being 80-% full of either sugar products (this includes “sweetners”), carbohydrates. All to get us hooked and have metabolic diseases later in life. I actually wrote an email to Karcher about this issue…no doubt it is a waste of time.

[@wad5uk]

Haha Ian, at least you had a go. Pity.

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Mike! Yes, I did. The thing that stumped me is that the same Dirt Blaster Lance will work for the whole Karcher range from K1 to K4, BUT, the insides of the actual Dirt Blaster Nozzles are different for K1/K2 and K3/K4. Still, I had fun. Ian :-)

[@adnanfnaish8489]

The problem with them they are made out completely from plastics therefore they will always be out of order and hard to fix

[@IanPerry]

Thanks Adrian! Having struggled to fix the dirt blaster, I find i have to agree. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@adnanfnaish8489]

@@IanPerry Ian it's good to hear from you the Kutcher I have always missed up and looks like they make a fortune out of you by selling you expensive spare parts

[@VioletHenning]

Wow you can come visit us i have a broken blaster.....

[@IanPerry]

LOL - I wish I could come to visit Violet! I managed to buy a replacement for £8.95, which was a lot less than the £30+ I thought I would have to spend. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@VioletHenning]

Thanks Ian is it still going well there or are you guys still in isolation?

[@IanPerry]

We still have about 10 days more of the government's "stay home, protect the NHS, save lives" initiative/order to go. How is the lockdown in South Africa affecting you? Ian :-)

[@VioletHenning]

Well it is supposed to be a lockdown but people dont listen. Some cities are entirely locked down but in some, there are a multitude of people just doing what they want and crowding at stores and not respecting the lockdown. I am in essential services so i still work but we are very careful.

[@IanPerry]

Until the UK government got quite heavy, we had the same problem here, especially at weekends, when people flocked to the beaches, and countryside parks. Things seem a lot better now, at least where I live. Stay safe! Ian :-)

[@terehauhoatua]

Good presentation. I am a new friend. Do we help each other grow? I wait for you in my house, if you want. I like your work (👍). TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. Greetings and good week.

[@IanPerry]

Thanks friend! Will check out your channel. Bye for now! Ian :-)

[@icTroy]

the music.... sigh

[@IanPerry]

Thanks! Is that a good "sigh", or a bad one? Ian :-)

[@icTroy]

@@IanPerry would rather hear you talking about what's was on your mind