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Advice on pressure washer

Posted on 6/28/14 at 1:36 pm
Posted by papt99
south louisiana
Member since Jun 2007
890 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 1:36 pm
What's the best pressure washer for the money for home use like cleaning house, 4 wheeler, concrete,etc? Looking at one with a Honda engine at lowes 3100 psi for 459$.
Posted by sonoma8
Member since Oct 2006
7662 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 1:41 pm to
My FIL just got one for fathers day, I want to say its has the exact one you talking about, PSI is the same anyways. Cleaned my boat with it, good amount of power, light weight. I'd recommend it!
Posted by bossflossjr
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2005
12260 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 1:51 pm to
Whatever u do, DO NOT BUY A VERTICAL PUMP.

Lowes & HD sells these POS. My dad had one for 6 months, used it twice. About 3 weeks ago, I borrowed it and it wouldnt crank. I took it to Cliffords Small Engine off of Perkins, $129 later - it ran like a top. Not pump doesnt work. I took it to Bozemans on Airline and the gent n there said he wished those stores would quit selling those PW's, as u cant get parts. He could sell me a new pump, at $150+$65/hr labor, but could not work on those.

Whatever u do, or whomever u buy from - get a horizontal pump.

Do not buy this POS
This post was edited on 6/28/14 at 1:52 pm
Posted by hogdaddy
Krotz Springs
Member since Feb 2010
5153 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 2:03 pm to
I have a BlackMax that uses Honda engines. Been having it for 2 years now and happy with it.

sams
Posted by sonoma8
Member since Oct 2006
7662 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 2:07 pm to
quote:

Do not buy this POS


HAHA, thats almost the same exact on he has. Glad its not mine if it has that type of reputation!
Posted by tipup
Member since Sep 2005
1649 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 2:08 pm to
PSI isn't as important as GPM. You need to move volume to clean effectively!
Posted by Swampeast
On the Mississippi
Member since Feb 2014
141 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 2:10 pm to
You will put your hand on the hot exhaust when leaning to restart it, but only once.

Posted by Chatagnier
Member since Sep 2008
6851 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 3:42 pm to
quote:

Whatever u do, DO NOT BUY A VERTICAL PUMP.


What's the difference? The amount of vibration tears it up?
Posted by bossflossjr
The Great State of Louisiana
Member since Sep 2005
12260 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 4:29 pm to
no idea....just know the pressure washer people at Bozeman's said dont buy vertical pump. there are no repair shops around here to fix them. have to replace the whole pump if there is an issue.

he obviously has horizontal pumps for sale, but alot of other people do too.

evidently the only vertical pumps you can find are some of the less expensive models Lowes and HOme Depot sell
Posted by DownSouthDave
Beau, Bro, Baw
Member since Jan 2013
7366 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 5:46 pm to
I was looking to buy one a few months ago. Read a bunch of forums and stuff. Brand doesn't seem to matter as long as it has a honda motor and a CAT or General pump.

You can take those pumps apart and rebuild them if they were to ever fail, unlike big box pressure washers. These things are light commercial grade and should last a homeowner forever. Some may say that they are a little more than you need, but if I have to wash a driveway or something like that, I sure in hell want to get it knocked out quick.

Pressure Pro

Dewalt
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
21903 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 8:12 pm to
quote:

CAT or General pump



I lucked ouy about 8 years and bought a Craftsman with a CAT pump and a 3HP Briggs for $99.99 on clearance. Its still holding up well.
Posted by Rebman601
Tejas
Member since May 2010
2689 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 8:57 pm to
I bought a cheaper dewalt a while back to piddle with. I think I paid $899 for it give or take. It's pretty good but usually have someone running it for me. I know it hasn't broke yet.
Posted by Larry Gooseman
Houston
Member since Mar 2014
2655 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 9:18 pm to
Get one with long enough shaft that you don't have to bend at waist to pressure wash. I had muscle strain in my back for 5-6 weeks.
Posted by Pepperidge
Slidell
Member since Apr 2011
4311 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 9:27 pm to
make sure it has a Honda GX motor...not the GC.

also get a reputable pump built with ceramic plungers

Cat...General...and one other slips my mind...

on edit: As someone posted already...
Pressure Pro is a good brand...that is what I have...nice aluminum cart that won't rot like most other brands...
This post was edited on 6/28/14 at 9:31 pm
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 10:51 pm to
quote:

Cat...General...and AR
AR is some Italian name I can't remember


That John Deere pressure washer posted above is a good one. I have used and worked on a few(ethanol shite), and don't have anything bad to say about them


Eta: Everyone is talking about pumps being rebuildable, but I'd bet they haven't tried rebuilding one yet. CAT pump parts are expensive and they are a PITA to work on. Not for the faint of heart. They are really good pumps though, and for residential use, only need oil changes every 50 hours. I have always used CAT fluid in them, which is also expensive

The main problems that frick up those pumps is hard water
This post was edited on 6/28/14 at 10:58 pm
Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
6810 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 11:33 pm to
bossflossjr,
I've got that exact same pump. Bought it at Lowe's. Ran fine for 4-5 years w/ light use, then went down this past fall. I think my son last the inline water filter, allowing some junk to get in the water pump and plug it up. It runs better after spending MANY hours cleaning it, but still only about 75% capacity. The funny thing about that "Troy Bilt" pressure washer is that it's NOT a "Troy Bilt." It's actually a Briggs & Stratton. Troy Bilt no longer makes ANY products. B&S bought the name and puts the Troy Bilt name on that particular product line. My pump is the AR brand pump mentioned later in this thread. AR is an Italian company, but pump is made in China. You can buy a brand new one from eBay for &75-85. The local small engine repair store said they could fix the washer for $185; a brand new one only costs $225. It's really not that hard to replace the pump. If mine doesn't straighten up after a second cleaning, I'm going to get a new pump. From what I've read, the pumps on the entry level models usually break w/in 40-50 hours of use. Of course, the engine should have MANY of hours left in it.

To the OP, whatever pump you buy, be sure you:
1. Buy an extra inline "birds nest" filter for it.
2. Be sure the inline filter is ALWAYS in place.
3. At the end of the season, instill "Pump Saver" into the water pump. This is an anti-freeze and also protects the inside of the pump from corroding.
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 6/28/14 at 11:51 pm to
While more expensive than a big box store, the pressure pro ones I have used are very high quality. Both my mom and dad have one. My dad went through 3 of those Troy-built ones before getting the 4000psi pressure pro from pressure washers direct. IIRC, they give you a free wand and 50ft of hose when you buy them

I just have a regular old Northern Tool Tecumseh that runs fine, but I take care of it, and use my parent's for big jobs. I wouldn't count on mine as a primary one. It was free, so I'm happy with it. I did three houses in a day with one of those push jobs that looks like a round mower about a month ago. Rented it from Sunbelt for $30. Once you've used one, you won't ever go back to doing a driveway or sidewalk with a wand
This post was edited on 6/28/14 at 11:55 pm
Posted by tigerfoot
Alexandria
Member since Sep 2006
56191 posts
Posted on 6/29/14 at 9:12 am to
quote:

end of the season, instill "Pump Saver" into the water pump. This is an anti-freeze and also protects the inside of the pump from corroding.


I do this, I have a cheapy going on 5 or 6 years. Used it last week, still works perfect. I use Stabil in it all the time and treat the pump with the Pump Saver or whatever mine is called once or twice a year.
I am sure it goes tits up soon, but I have gotten my money out of it many times over.
Posted by Uncle JackD
Member since Nov 2007
58627 posts
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:51 pm to
Does lowes, HD, Or stines sell any pressure washers with CAT pumps? I looked at a few on the websites but it doesn't say pump name.

To recap... GX honda engine & CAT or AR pump are needed. Anything else to look for?

Where's the best place to look for one of these if big box stores don't carry em?

I really didn't wanna spend $800 or more right now but if it'll last 3-4x longer than a big box one, I might as well.
This post was edited on 6/30/14 at 3:54 pm
Posted by DownSouthDave
Beau, Bro, Baw
Member since Jan 2013
7366 posts
Posted on 6/30/14 at 3:53 pm to
I'm thinking it would be a selling point, and would be advertised.

Buy off amazon, free shipping and no tax!
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