leaking points on the karcher k4 full control dont throw your leaking machine away

[@Rodney-kv4kr]

Thank you for just getting down to it and not waffling on, cheers.

[@paultrussy]

Many thanks for this video. The key moment for me (and I suspect many others) is at 2:22 when you show the key to opening the Karcher case - removal of those two weird 'wall plugs' (who would have thought it - a very odd aspect of the enclosure design) which then allows the case to come apart. Without that moment in your video I would have given up! The problem I had was that I bought the Karcher pre-filled soap dispenser and was totally frustrated by it. First up it wasn't obvious that the lid on the bottle, which looks as if it plugs onto a nozzle, has to be removed - I thought it was just too big and the wrong one! Felt a total idiot when I discovered that it is removable and reveals the real socket that sits into the bottle receptor underneath. Quite why they make it like that is a puzzle - I mean wouldn't an ordinary screw on lid have done the same job? No! Make one with a decoy fitting to confuse the end user - much more exciting! :/ ...Then, once I got the soap bottle fitted properly into the machine, I tried using the 'mix' setting on the lance and there was a distinct lack of soap being squirted onto my car. Very odd! Then I saw where the soap was going - a blue flow of soapy liquid was issuing from the underside of the machine!! At this point I gave up and wished I hadn't wasted my money on a decoy bottle of Karcher branded soap that ended up washing my driveway - aaaarrrggggghhhhhh!! Finally, this evening, whilst getting bored I thought I would have a go at fixing the problem and set about trying to open up my K4. I started by removing all Torx screws + the two crosshead screws on the underside (I thought it was odd that they changed fixing just for these two) but could not ge the case to open, and again, was close to giving up until my wife suggested I have a dig around on KZbin, which I did using the search: 'Karcher K4 dismantle' ...which is when I found your video, which thankfully showed the vital bit of missing information at 2:22. Brilliant! Case removed carefully avoiding damage to the power switch stem (really vulnerable). Just before I found your video I had established the reason for the leaking soap by peering through the gap in the partially opened case - I could see a clear plastic tube not connected to anything! I found the problem, which is now fixed thanks to your excellent video. Remaining puzzle is this: why wasn't the tube connected to the bottom of the soap bottle housing? Was it left off for fun?! No evidence that anyone else had ever opened the K4 except for me this evening. All tested, soap being dispensed just as it should be; best of all it can be re-filled with soap, which is why I thought I should invest in the proper Karcher product in the first place. Pity they do not include any instructions or troubleshooting tips - totally alone on that one; not even a phone call to Karcher helped. They had no idea and could not suggest a course of action. Anyway, there you have it. Again, many thanks for your video :)

[@panTadzik]

Great vid! Thank you!

[@martinwillan4659]

Thanks bud very helpful!

[@stephanpolshaw1126]

Hi James, Thanks for the video. I am trying to get the metal internal high pressure pipe for a K4 but can only find ones for the K5. Could you tell me, are they the same and where did you get yours from? Regards, Stephan

[@DavidNorthUK]

Hey thanks for this, very helpful!

[@Rhinobrothers1190r]

Just got mine n bits now very useful to borrow down as when they split you can’t for the life of you see where from so thanks

[@nomadsteve5297]

Nice one James, thank you 👍

[@jamesduxbury8219]

hi steve thank you for your kind comment . im no expert on this model of washer by a long shot but these are the leaking points ive experienced with this particular model and its the same problem on every one ive opened up so far and they are all very simple repairs . the problem is that people dont release the pressure from the gun and drain their powerwashers down and remove the gun before putting them away for winter so in effect the washer is full of water and under pressure the pipes are plastic and moulded in 2 halves and they freeze up and split along the seams but like i said in the video you can get the pipes that do split in alloy from ebay i would say if you have any split pipes replace the lot with alloy and once replaced you wont have that problem again

[@786hunzavalley]

Hi, nice video thanks. I have Karcher k4, water started leaking from the back water inlet., where did you buy £16 worth of parts (metal elbow, & cable hook)? Thanks.

[@juliedonnelly6704]

Can you please tell me where you got your starter shaft to switch on and off, I’ve tried everywhere with no luck they will only sell the complete unit for £60

[@rickymurray29]

Hi mate just watched ur video an noticed u mentions starter shaft could break, mine did what u said fall over could u plz tell me where I could buy replacent shaft as heard u say that they cost twenty pound would really appreciate ur help thanks

[@gkwalk02]

We’re can you buy the metal part you mentioned, fits at the back

[@santano22222]

Hi James Thanks for the video My k4 had the same problem , I got the elbow replaced , got the connecting pipe replaced , but the leak is still there , is there any thing I might be doing wrong . Went online to get some paid advice , got scammed. I have almost given up

[@christopherallaire4990]

Hi, great video, could you do one showing how to get the elbow off where the wand pipe connects to, Thanks

[@dc6233]

There's a metal clip in there, look at the sides of it and you'll see a "horseshoe" shaped clip, pry it out carefully and it all comes apart. I use silicone based grease on anything that's intended to move during use (pressure valve) or to help it come apart in the future...

[@jamesduxbury8219]

since posting this video ive had a karcher k4 full control with a split water inlet pipe but i think they are only available in plastic and they are around £16 from ebay

[@davidchapman9621]

Very good video

[@timgarrick1865]

Hi watched your video with great interest but I really could have done with watching you replace the cylinder head which is where my K4FC is leaking

[@alic9560]

if onlyk we'd watched this before we bought a new one. CAn you put up a video about how to overwinter them?

[@anyau]

Just have to keep it inside

[@buddamoore6889]

Great vid mate thanks

[@francesco1112]

If you bought this part on internet please share link

[@paulmccluskey1491]

Very helpfull thanks

[@NickBrent-j6t]

Thank you so much. You have saved me from buying a new machine. Keep up the great work👍

[@amcc2531]

You didn’t show how to remove the pipe that goes out of the back !!!

[@redhunterknives6675]

Thanks James. Just what I wanted to know.

[@sarahmcintyre3391]

Much ta. :)

[@richardgraham2303]

You need to identify the parts as i too know where the water is coming from but don't know the name of the part .

[@jamesduxbury8219]

if the water is leaking from the elbow at the back of the washer its called the backfoot and the pipe that is on top of the pump is called the water outlet pipe the one that you connect the hose to is the water inlet pipe but i dont have the part numbers at hand but the part number is stamped on every part so that its easier to replace . i hope this help you . if not then get back in touch

[@richardgraham2303]

@@jamesduxbury8219 cheers mate 👍 I've got the k4 sitting in the shed and I'm sure the part was on Amazon for about 12 to 15 . I just need to build up the momentum and get my finger out and fix it . 👍

[@jamesduxbury8219]

honestly richard these are very easy fixes so please dont worry about repairing it try ebay for your parts but get them in alloy then you wont need to do the repair again. they mainly leak from the water outlet pipe and the backfoot elbow but i have had them that have also split the water inlet pipe . and i think the reason for the water inlet pipe splitting is that they have been connected to the hose over winter with water in it causing it to freeze and split as that particular pipe is sloped and self emptying so shouldnt split if disconnected from the hosepipe

[@richardgraham2303]

@@jamesduxbury8219 cheers mate i will take your advice and get an alloy part for it .👍

[@jamesduxbury8219]

richard get the alloy backfoot they are available off ebay and also the alloy water outlet pipe it will cost you around £32 for both and the outlet pipe just screws on top of the pump . also a point to remember when you take the black plastic foot off the bottom it loses its stability so please dont do what i did and let it fall over as it will break off the grey switch stalk and they are £27 each . a cost you dont need just take your time be patient and you will win if you need anymore help im here just msg me

[@joelw8912]

who makes a one that last .. this brand is rubbish

[@jenson1569]

Any pressure washer brand will break if left out in very cold temperatures, that’s just a fact of wear and tear

[@Allegedly2right]

Cheap not worth a monkeys you will not get your moneys worth out of it I treated it like a baby the second time haha