Garage Gazette
TOOLS AND THE SHOP => PROJECTS, ALL EXCEPT VEHICLES => Topic started by: goodfellow on September 28, 2018, 07:51:21 PM
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Never fails -- I was washing the deck and half way through the pressure washer pump lost pressure. It went very fast; one minute I had pressure and the next just a trickle. Not surprised because these things are notorious for seal failures and they are no longer available. They have been replaced by a new design universal pump and they are available for this washer for about $85 from Amazon.
That said, I decided to give it a shot -- nothing lost but an hour of work if it doesn't hold a rebuild. So let's grab a beer and a cigar and have a "go" at it.
Here's the culprit -
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0732%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0733%20Medium.jpg)
T-40 Torx bolts hold the entire thing together, and I removed the main shaft by wedging the cam with a prybar and loosening the bolt. Then the top pressure section is removed by loosening the four manifold Torx bolts on each side revealing the seals.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0734%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0735%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0736%20Medium.jpg)
Next the cam and cam follower can be removed
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0738%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0739%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0740%20Medium.jpg)
Next the top and bottom straps and the left/right pistons and the radial arm ring are removed
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0741%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0742%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0743%20Medium.jpg)
The valve assembly is next -- just a plastic cover, a spring, and a flat metal valve
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0744%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0745%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0746%20Medium.jpg)
Here's the entire pump apart = -- LOL
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0747%20Medium.jpg)
The rebuild seal kit sells for $70 -- not worth it, so I'll rejuvenate the old seals by soaking them in lacquer thinner to make them swell and using Permatex Gasket Maker #2 to aid the old seals in making a good bond. My grandpa used to make old seals usable again using this technique and for the most part it worked.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0748%20Medium.jpg)
The valve assemblies were covered with a bit of grease and reinstalled
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0749%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0750%20Medium.jpg)
The pistons were also covered in grease and reinstalled with their seals and some more Permatex sealer on the main seal to help it bond.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0751%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0752%20Medium.jpg)
The cams, bolt and straps were reinstalled and we'll let this thing sit overnight for the Permatex Gasket Maker #2 to cure.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0753%20Medium.jpg)
Done --
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0754%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Pressure_Washer/PICT0755%20Medium.jpg)
Tomorrow I'll reinstall on the engine and we'll see if grandpa's old seal tricks worked. If not we can always order the Universal pump off Amazon -- no problem.
Hope this helps some of you when you find yourself in a similar situation. These pumps were in millions of pressure washers and parts are very hard to find these days.
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Nice job Ray!
Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk
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Thanks Tim -- it seems to hold; for now. Not "counting my chickens" though because these pumps were/are truly a POS when they get a few hours on them.
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Ray, good luck but I don't hold much hope. As you stated, they were junk when new and haven't improved with time :D
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Ray, good luck but I don't hold much hope. As you stated, they were junk when new and haven't improved with time :D
True Phil -- it's a band-aid and I ordered a new universal pump this week. The rebuild is working for now, but I don't expect it to last very long. I was able to finish the wood deck and washed the rear patio concrete deck with it, but it's definitely not up to full capacity as far as pressure is concerned -- probably the seals around those plastic piston assemblies. Either way -- it'll get a new pump (found it for $65 on ebay), and will keep this old one as an emergency spare.