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Dear Sir,
The power washer stops when the gun is closed. This happens because pressure is exerted on a control valve (Spill Valve)...which in turn touches a micro switch and cuts electricity. Now most probably your machine is dead because the spill valve is stuck down and closing the micro switch. This happens when one stores away the machine with pressure still in it. NEVER store a power washer with pressure in it. The spill valve also gets gammed because left with soap and machine not rinsed. I rarely service spill valves...I change with a new one. To locate the spill valve open cover (using a TORX T15screw driver)...and where you see 2 wires coming out...there is the spill valve. If you can manage to do this..you can try if you want to lubricate it by spraying SILICON spray. If you get it out..you use silicon grease. Sometimes these machines have the spill valve incoporated with the head....in that case the whole head must be renewed. The lack of pressure is sometimes also due to a faulty spill valve. So if this valve is corrected or changed the pressure returns. Weak pressure also is caused by faulty suction and delivery valves (6 in all). Remove the gun from machine...connect water...and start. Touch the outlet...if you feel suction ...the valves are faulty. Then for a few seconds try to test the inlet. Do this fast so that you do not turn the machine for long without water. If from the inlet you feel pushing....the valves are faulty. Which ever case always change the 6 valves. Regards,
Fulltech.
hav u recently spilled a little water on it? i did that n now i need a new battery or i need my dsi fixed if uve spilled water on it, n u tryed 2 start the ds right after u hav spilled water on it its gonna b fried so get new battery n try it out otherwise hav it fixed hope this was hlpful!
Dear csdamman,
There is a valve called the spill-valve. It is often called the control valve. This valve activates the micro-switch. When the gun is released, pressure builds up and compresses this spill valve. At the same time it puts off the micro-switch. This will then stop the machine. Now when the spill valve is faulty it cannot hold compreesion under pressure so it starts de-compressing and starts the machine again. This goes on in a cycle as you explained. So you have to change the spill valve. If the spill valve that operates the micro-switch is part of the upper head,...then the whole head must be renewed. Myself I rarely service Spill Valves. The best thing is to renew it. From your explanation it seems that you did not take notice of this Spill-Valve. Infact when you mentioned Pressure Switch, I do not know if you are refering to the spill valve. If you are....then saying that the Pressure Switch moves and operates freely, does not mean that it is OK.
In certain machines in the outlet...there is a small valve, coloured black and red or green and yellow. This sometimes when faulty, it gives the fault you mentioned. Sometimes an inlet valve gives the fault you mentioned. But from my expirience it is most of the time that the Spill-Valve is the fault.
Regards,
Fulltech.
Dear emmettbrickw,
Many of the models of Karcher machines, have a valve that under pressure...will compress and at the same time it will let water by-pass and circulating inside the head. As this valve compresses it also puts off a micro switch. This all happens when the gun is closed. This valve is called a SPILL VALVE or sometimes a CONTROL VALVE. Now for various reasons (example you store the machine with pressure in the system)....the seals of this Spill Valve get damaged. So you can have a problem in which the machine stays off....or a problem like yours...the machine continues running with gun closed. Your problem with gun closed...the spill Valve is not compressing and therefore not stoping the machine. At first when this happened it caused a fault also in your machine's valves. The gun was closed...pressure grew high...and this burst the intake valves for sure.
So my advice is that the spill valve must be renewed and also the intake valves. You must also check the Miro-Switch to see if it got stuck in the on position. If micro-switch is faulty, this also must be renewed. The Spill Valve is often located where you find a micro-switch holder with an electrical wire coming out. When you find this micro-switch...detach it from machine...then put on machine for a few minutes and press micro switch to see if machine stops. If machine stops...then at least Miro-Switch is OK. Always do these tests with electrical protective clothing, Shoes and Gloves!! Now if your machine does not have a micro-switch...then you have a spill valve which only by-passes water. This type of spill valve also needs checking and if need be renewed.
In a few simple words, the spill valve does all the work after one has opened or closed the gun. Sometimes by changing the spill valve only....the pressure will get back to normal. If not ...suction and delivery valves must be checked.
Regards,
Fulltech.
Dear davedulmage,
To see if the unit is OK....first you must switch it on without water and without high pressure hose and gun. If machinr works smoothly, try by attaching a water supply. Now run the pump with water coming out of the outlet. If also in this case all runs smooth, then attach high pressre hose with gun but without lance. Put on the machine with gun open(to reduce initial resistance) and when you see a clear flow of water coming out...close the gun. The machine should stop. In this case I am suspecting that when you open again the gun the machine will not work. So it seems that when pressure is built in the pump a fault is occuring in the Spill Valve or also called Control Valve. When the gun is closed and pressure built up, this spill valve contracts and switches the pump off. When the gun is opened, the spill valve extends, putting the machine on and closing a valve at the base of the spill valve. So in your case it seems that the spill valve needs to be renewed. A spill valve gets stuck by incorrect using of the pump. For example leaving the pump with pressure in it for a long time. Also it gets stuck by detergents and chemicals. Sometimes I lubricate Spill Valves with high quality silicon grease....but it is much more practical to change it. When a new spill valve is put in....always run the pump with no load. This by usiing the gun without lance or wands, resulting in low pressure. If all OK...add a lance or wand that you are sure it is good. One final thing....to get to this spill valve you must put apart the body and expose the pump. If you are not that good at doing this job...it is better done by a more knowledgeable person. But changing the spill valve is worth it....because it is cheaper than a new machine.
Regards,
Fulltech.
Dear allbusiness9,
This problem is most probably due to a faulty Spill Valve( also called Control Valve). When the gun is released the spill valve is compressed and it either closes a micro switch or just opens from the bottom and keeps the water circulating. All spill valves keep the water circulating from the bottom part. Now when the gun is pulled (opened)...the spill valve extends and closes the bottom part, and thus water goes out of the nozzel. When you work with no nozzel, there is enough water flow to close the bottom part of the spill valve. So when the nozzel is placed back there is no chance that the bottom part leaks water. When the gun is started with the nozzel....the bottom part of a FAULTY spill valve,..will colapse and pressure drops. So to fix the fault you must change the Spill Valve. In some occasions, I also found that suction valves give this problem. A faulty sucktion valve will colapse under high pressure, and lets water pass the other way round.
But in my opinion and experience, your problem is in the Spill Valve.
Regards,
Fulltech.
Dear Sir(s),
The majority of power washers have a spill valve or sometimes called a Control Valve. This spill valve will contract when the gun is closed. As it contracts it switches off a micro switch. Also at the base of the spill valve, an opening opens to let water circulate. Now if this Spill Valve is defective, it will make the machine lose pressure and it will make the machine switch on and off also. I sometimes service the Spill valve and lubricate with special Silicon grease. But if the end of the Spill Valve is not closing correctly, then I suggest that the Spill Valve be renewed. To come to see the Spill Valve, you have to open the cover. Most probably you see wires or a thick wire attached to the head. The part attached to the head contains the micro-switch. Remove the Miro-Switch holder and then you might see screws holding the jammed or faulty spill valve. If you cannot pull the spill valve out, try attaching water and sometimes you can switch on the machine for a second...and with the pressure,...the spill valve will be spitted out.
The switching of ON and OFF due to a faulty Spill Valve, will for sure damage the capacitor. A damaged spill valve gives all these symptoms. Machine going on and off while gun closed and while gun opened, and added to these,... pressure gets less. One small other hint....if all is OK with the machine, and when spraying the machine goes on and off....this is due to a blocked nozzel.
Regards,
Fulltech.
Do not attempt to switch the ds on and store it in a warm / dry location for a couple of weeks. This may sort the problem. If you have tried several time to switch it on this probably will have shorted the board and caused permanent damage.
Hope this helps
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