Karcher pumps on consumer pressure washers

While Karcher has a fine reputation as a premium brand in the industrial and commercial market, the demands of a low cost product in the consumer market has lead to some problematic units.

One persistant problem has been their flow-initiated, high pressure kick-in, feature on their pumps. Especially on the lowest cost units that feature an aluminum head housing. White corrision and hard mineral deposits easily inhibit the required sliding action in the "spill-valve" housing and the actual valve's O-rings.

This problem is easily diagnoised by the washers progressively worstening hesitation to "kick-in" when the trigger is pulled. And then the complete failure to "kick-in" at all.

There are some tricks to making this a one hour repair and keeping the total cost to $79.00, but that is what several days and lots of experience with dozens of these little pumps will get you when you bring this unit for repair at my shop. 513-242-4500
Thanks, Doug