Unloaders Part 3: Diagnosing and Repairing Your Pump

While at American Pressure in Robbinsdale, MN, CEO & General Manager Ben Hagemann takes a look at our underperforming pressure washer.
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[@kevinpulver4027]

Very well done with good camera and audio. Very informative Thank you!

[@nickandnicksconstructionti9508]

This is the type of videos I like bc he explains everything and shows you hands on , without the history of his father his fathers father and his fathers fathers fathers 😂 in other words he goes straight to the point

[@als1023]

This is an Excellent video and overview of this type of pump. Thanks for posting !

[@user-jj9mw3pc5s]

You are a great teacher and mechanic rolled into one

[@hansbrix2495]

Nice shop. Great diagnosis video and good camera work.

[@1960jelliott]

Good video with great information. Thanks!

[@181skip]

Thank yall for doing this video it is a big help...... I already ordered parts for mine I am up and running again. yall are the best....

[@honestjohn6222]

Very well explained

[@osvaldocardoso9316]

Have now used this to clean house siding and it performed well kzbin.infoUgkx43QMbQqu67IZadu9ou8Sg1BdrunMRNqX I also bought some wand extensions which enabled higher washing without needing a ladder. I recommend both. This unit arrived quickly, was easy to assemble (only had to attach the handle), and arrived in perfect condition. The only very slight downgrade from a perfect score is the design has a low handle and requires pulling from the side. My old washer was an upright model, while this one is more horizontal. Other than that, it's perfect for my needs. It has a great deal of pressure and more easily cleaned the house siding, porch rails and concrete than did my older model. The engine is a bit louder, as well, but the total time to clean was reduced by the more powerful spray. Did I mention it starts on the first or second pull every time?!! I am definitely happy with this model.

[@AverysMan1105]

Great info well done.

[@davidmann6902]

Thanks mate ❤❤🇦🇺❤️❤️

[@danielsotelo3942]

I'm a professional bicycle mechanic of 40 years and your video is simply the best and to the point. I bought a brand-new Dewalt 3400 psi, and instantly saw the Micky-Mouse water sensor was going to break, AND IT DID. I quickly removed that piece, and all was good for a while. Then my valves got stuck and your video advice fixed all that, so I thank you. Dan

[@alanevans4039]

⁵a

[@G5Hohn]

Most people are using way more pressure than is needed. 3000-3200 is typically enough for anything you'd ever want to do with a pressure washer. Go up a step on orifice if you are seeing 4000psi on the gun. Your pump and engine will run cooler and deliver a tiny bit more flow.

[@ramonagudelo1888]

Nice job, I am still working on my and ℹ can not find what is the problem yet

[@joecallahan3379]

Good stuff.

[@tomdayton3399]

What would be the ballpark cost if this specific diagnosis and service at your establishment?

[@patlaporte7627]

Awesome video. I have a gas PW rated for 2800psi and 2.5gpm. when I squeeze the handle I get about 750psi on the guage. When I release the trigger it spikes to 2000psi. Thoughts? purchased it used and it didn't have a screen on it. Thanks from Canada

[@missypeppers3193]

Hey i have a pressure washer 3000 pro and my pump went out. The white sticker with the pump info isnt able to tell me the pump make or modelanything either bc its been wiped off or sumething. I took the check valves out and they appear to be cracked. I want to replace them but im unsure as to what valves i need. How would i know which ones to get? What would you do if you were in my position on handling it? I wanna fix it but am at a stand still right now. What should i do?

[@kalamelliel]

Great video! I’m having trouble when I release my hand from the trigger the engine dies, do you know why?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Sounds like a bad unloader. We recommend a thorough diagnostic by a well qualified shop as we did in this video.

[@fpplsoftwashpressurewashin8757]

If you see the engine oil is black, change it out prior to starting the engine to complete a diagnosis.

[@vim_usr2753]

Are all unloader valve handles supposed to move up and down when the trigger is pulled or released? If so, what does it mean if they don't?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

An unloader moving up and down is a visual indicator of the unloader moving from outlet into bypass. The handle moves down when there's demand for pressure and up into bypass to cycle water back through the pump. A handle that isn't moving may mean the unloader isn't moving into bypass properly.

[@jacksinthebox8029]

Unloader psi is supposed to be set at what the pump is rated for while on the trigger? What psi spike is normal while off the trigger in bypass? 300psi?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Each pump is different and should have published specifications for spike and operating PSI. These are sometimes different than advertised PSI. For example, a pump could be advertised as a 4000 PSI unit, but operate at 3600 and spike at 3900 or even 4000.

[@patrickcase55]

I live in Florida and believe it or not I have only lost power about three times in 4 years, and only one of them was for than 4 hours, so tell me about unreliable power grid again 😟

[@RaGnoooory]

hello sir , I have small question . if you r replacing this check valves or unloder valve we don't need to dump oil yeah ?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Generally yes, but the number of operating hours on this pump were so low there was no need. You'll notice Ben's comment at the end of the video indicating the dirty motor oil being caused by the motor working too hard. Common practice is to change pump and motor oil at the same time.

[@RaGnoooory]

@@PoweredbyVeloci I mean it's separated do oil will not spill if I'm working on that side only 🤔

[@beerggls]

What hose were you pinching to check the unloader and what was supposed or not supposed to happen when pinching? What is a “washed out” pump?

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

By pinching the bypass hose you can determine if water is passing through, if it is, that indicates a bad unloader. A washed out head refers to metal wear causing check valves not to seat properly.

[@JackWorkz]

You'll typically find head washout on the seal side, a groove will wear into the brass housing around the seals, causing a low pressure condition , the washout groove looks like it's machined there but it's not, the seal bore should be smooth with no grooves, I've even found washed out valves, where the valve caps themselves have grooves in them 😮

[@KimCanaday]

What could I look for if the pump has pressure when discharging water, but the engine chokes down when the handle is released? I have replaced the unloader valve with no change.

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

That still sounds like an unloader issue, but we recommend having service shop take a look to determine possible causes.

[@KimCanaday]

I did finally figure it out. The engine head gasket had blown. I heard a swish sound under the muffler and tested the compression. Honestly, I don’t know how it still ran. Replaced the gasket and Now it powers up and runs like normal. Thanks for replying.

[@dorhocyn3]

I hardly ever see anybody with a pressure gauge on their machine and it seems like people always have the wrong tip orifice size. It doesn’t help that when you buy tips from something like “the jungle “the orifice size doesn’t match the description anyway.

[@cyrilcrowe5521]

Hi I have a pto driven power washer and it is taking to much revs on tractor .WAth could be rong

[@Joe-wy2bn]

My pressure washer (2700 psi AN brand) reads 2700 psi on the gauge when it's running and im not using it. When I actuate the gun trigger, the pressure goes to 300-600 psi. It's getting a good water supply. Water filter is clean. oil in the pump. New proper nozzles. Any ideas whats going on

[@PoweredbyVeloci]

Generally low operating pressure means there's a leak in the system somewhere. Could be a bad hose, QC connection, or something internal like a bad O-ring or check valve.

[@sivucit]

1. Wrong Nozzle. you should have correct orfice. 2. No external visibie leak. check especailly where the pump head bolts to pump body. if there is then you have to change high and low pressure seal. 3. remove unloader valve and temproriily plug that with corrrect plug .. do it only for few seconds, not more than a minute, if pressure comes back right then it is unloader valve. 4. if alll above fails, then check valve.. No rocket science.

[@Joe-wy2bn]

@@sivucit Yeah was the wrong nozzles. The supplier I bought them from said all nozzles are the same but obviously that information is incorrect.

[@ramonagudelo1888]

No pressure

[@captainclean342]

Someone fart?

[@jgconnelly]

No.