Gas Pressure Washer Stalls when squeezing trigger

[NiceGuyEddie]

I’ve watched about every YouTube video I could find so…

I took a chance on this pressure washer at a garage sale for $40. It looked pretty clean and hardly used. It was hard to start, but it would kick over. I pulled the plug and it was BLACK. (Attached above is a NEW plug.)

I changed the plug, the gas, the oil, the air filter, cleaned the gas cap. It started much easier, but when you’d turn off the choke and pressed the wand, the engine would stall. It will run with the choke ON, but with only a little pressure.

I then took apart the carburetor to clean it, but it was perfectly clean as far as I could see, and nothing was stuck. I put it all back together and same results.

The photo of the plug above is a NEW plug with the unit running only 4-5 minutes for a warm up.

The engine surges, but the best I understand it's supposed to (some kind of neat-o auto-choke mechanism)

Chinese-made carburetors for Honda GCV180 on Amazon are as little as $16, it might be worth a shot.

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[gbranham]

A friend of mine had a power washer that sat unused for a few years and behaved the same way. I cleaned the heck out of the carb, put it back together, and voila. I did use quite a bit of carb and choke cleaner on the carb and used pressurized air to blow out all the passages; quite a bit of varnished gas came out with the air, even after cleaning it well. You might want to clean out the gas tank, as well, and make sure the feed from it to the carb isn't gummed up, too. My neighbor had a John Deere zero turn that sat all winter, and would run, but as soon as you'd engage the blades, it would die...I tore that thing apart, rebuilt it, and still behaved the same.I ended up taking out the tank, and sure enough the hose from the tank to the carb had a nasty phlegm globber stuck at the bottom of the hose that sits down in the tank. Blew that out, put it back together, and it's been running great since.

Greg

[Cobradavid]

The ethanol in pump gas is not friendly to many small engines - even E10 fuel - especially the rubber and plastic parts.
I always add fuel stabilizer (like Stabil) to my gas cans for the fuel going into the lawn mower, generator, etc..

[herb427sc]

A lot of stations sell ethanol free gas. Whenever I shut off any yard equipment, I shut off the gas and run it till it quits.

[Dash]

Almost certainly the carb. if you dont feel like messing with it (cause I have cleaned many and some you cannot fix), just go on amazon and order a Chinese replacement. Probably cost you about $10 and worth the hassle. Should fire up immediately. Just went thru this with a Honda lawnmower. I cleaned 3 times and while better, never ran right, new carb worked perfect and I did not have to adjust anything.

edit: did not see at the bottom where you talked about Amazon! Do it!

Chris

[NiceGuyEddie]

I'm going to clean out the gas tank (you never know) and completely remove all gas lines to be sure they are clear.

I found it impossible to find a carb online with MTD Products or Briggs and Stratton. The last two numbers are 00 and that might mean year 2000 manufacture.

it's weird that on amazon a search for Honda GCV180 carburetur comes up a $16 part that fits so many models. I'll give it a shot, this is my last chance before I throw in the towel.

I imagine the inside of the cylinder is blacked up, if I get it running I'll try some snow foam.


s

[narly1]

One thing you haven't told us is if you have the power washer hooked up to a water supply or not. It could also be the unloader valve in the pump circuit.

Earl

[cv2065]

It's your carb. They are inexpensive and easy to change out, so I keep a couple on hand and swap out each season if its been sitting.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Earl: Yes, I have water hooked up, I heard running it without being attached to water is a no-no as the water cools (and lubes) the pump

I ordered a $25 carburetur. Comes up from an Amazon search for the engine. They allegedly sold over 1,000 units. I would be happily surprised if this works and will advise results.

[narly1]

Earl: Yes, I have water hooked up, I heard running it without being attached to water is a no-no as the water cools (and lubes) the pump

I ordered a $25 carburetur. Comes up from an Amazon search for the engine. They allegedly sold over 1,000 units. I would be happily surprised if this works and will advise results.

No argument that a gunked up carb is the usual suspect. If you don't have the time/expertise/ equipment, etc. to take it apart and clean it, spending $25 to eliminate that as the problem is a good first troubleshooting step. If it's still stalling after that then you can go looking at the unloader valve.

Earl

[NiceGuyEddie]

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SUCCESS!

Took me 5 minutes to change the carb and I also replaced the inner and outer gaskets. One pull and it ran like a trojan!!!!

I had NO IDEA a carb kit for only $25 would have come with the air filter, spark plug, a few gaskets, and even a few fuel lines.

Here's what's interesting: You pull the choke to start, it and after it starts it pulls the choke cable back in automatically. It then surges a bit as needed depending on load and/or as you run the on/off cycle with the wand. With the old carb, the choke would stay pulled out, and you would push it in yourself after starting. With the new carb, you can't pull the choke out when it's running even if you tried. It must have been something on the old carb what wasn't allowing the auto-choke to function properly.

I'm really happy now, I think I might be $80 all-in. I had a $100 electric pressure washer and got good use out of it for 10 years. The main reason I want the gas pressure washer was for fun with my snow cannon. It worked so-so with my electric pressure washer. (I understand it's a different orifice to help but I don't want to hijack my own thread.)

The inside of the cylinder must be fowled. I have a whole can of Snow Foam and I plan to use some snow foam for the next few tank-fulls.

thanks everyone!!!!

[gbranham]

I know you're talking about a snow cannon, but it made me think of my foam cannon. I works great on my gas-powered pressure washer, but not as much on my electric one.

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