Johnny, What you are describing are the plungers, not the valves. The valves are located under those big brass caps with hex heads. If your pump is a triplex, it has six of these caps and six valves. The three located on the front of the pump are intake valves and the three on top of the pump are the high pressure valves. If there is trash in any of these valves your pump will not be able to work properly. If any of them are stuck closed, your pump has problems also. Since you have very little flow, I would look at the intake valves first. The valve itself is two parts, both of them stainless steel, held in a plastic cage. There is also a spring in the cage which closes the valve. Now to check and clean them. Remove the brass caps and pull out the valve cages with needle nose pliers. Now look carefully at the valve, checking for any little piece of trash lodged between the two valve parts. It is critical that they are completely free of trash. If you find nothing, then make sure they are not stuck in place, (shut), by opening them manually. When you are satisfied they are clean and moving freely, replace them in the pump and try again. If necessary, do the same for the high pressure valves on top of the pump. Good Luck.
North Star Power Washer problem
- Thread starter johnnylight
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johnnylight
Gold Member
Gnash,
Thanks for that info I'll work on that tomorrow since I already have it off it should be easier to work on.
I'll post some photos.
Thanks for that info I'll work on that tomorrow since I already have it off it should be easier to work on.
I'll post some photos.
JB4310
Super Member
I had the exact problem your describing with two of my washers, one was the unloader valve dirty and one yesterday was just a missing o-ring in the tip coupling on the wand, only figured that out after I took this unloader all apart. any loss on the high pressure side before it comes out the metered tip will drop the pressure way down.
I have a pretty expensive commercial duty one with a Honda engine and a cat pump that is very sensitive to the high speed engine rpm, if it's off just a little the pressure drops way down as well.
I have a pretty expensive commercial duty one with a Honda engine and a cat pump that is very sensitive to the high speed engine rpm, if it's off just a little the pressure drops way down as well.
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johnnylight
Gold Member
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johnnylight
Gold Member
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johnnylight
Gold Member
update:
JB4310,
I checked the o ring is there.
I went to a Plumbing supply house --no good.
Pick up a oversized washer from the hardware store, amd tried to match it to the old one so I can cut it to size it came out ok.
I could not replace all washers--it's just the way it's made.
So I Put all back together and it worked released the trigger and that was it the pressure was gone again.
The pressure is a little stronger.
So am convinced it's the unloader valve.
Now it's time to find one.
JB4310,
I checked the o ring is there.
I went to a Plumbing supply house --no good.
Pick up a oversized washer from the hardware store, amd tried to match it to the old one so I can cut it to size it came out ok.
I could not replace all washers--it's just the way it's made.
So I Put all back together and it worked released the trigger and that was it the pressure was gone again.
The pressure is a little stronger.
So am convinced it's the unloader valve.
Now it's time to find one.
bob_wood
Silver Member
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- plainfield NH
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- kubota 4610, kubota 4200, JD 455, Toro 256E zero turn mower, Case 135 excavator, hydraulic dumpcart
they probably Do have an unloader valve that will work but you will need to buy a few extra fittings to adapt it to your machine. They can supply the fittings. what you have in the pictures is exactly how mine looks inside.
bob
JB4310
Super Member
I'm by no means an expert but I do have 2 pressure washers, they can be a pain, one is very old but was a commercial duty unit, the newer one is commercial quality also but both have given me trouble.
Yours does sound like it's in that unloader assembly, maybe not necessarily with the plunger that you show in the picture but inside where the little ball seats.
Like I said both mine did the same as yours, with the newer Honda powered unit it was a combination of a poorly seated ball in the unloader and not high enough rpms on the engine, and on the old one just yesterday it was the o-ring.
Do you have any other leaks when you pull the trigger and also do you have the correct tip that came with the machine, if the tip was for a higher GPM machine then you would lose pressure
This is a picture of my old M-T-M which I just put on Graigs list, no one wants to give me even $150. for it. I know it's ugly but it's been working for over 20 years, probably cost over 2 grand when new.
Good luck, JB.
Yours does sound like it's in that unloader assembly, maybe not necessarily with the plunger that you show in the picture but inside where the little ball seats.
Like I said both mine did the same as yours, with the newer Honda powered unit it was a combination of a poorly seated ball in the unloader and not high enough rpms on the engine, and on the old one just yesterday it was the o-ring.
Do you have any other leaks when you pull the trigger and also do you have the correct tip that came with the machine, if the tip was for a higher GPM machine then you would lose pressure
This is a picture of my old M-T-M which I just put on Graigs list, no one wants to give me even $150. for it. I know it's ugly but it's been working for over 20 years, probably cost over 2 grand when new.
Good luck, JB.
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johnnylight
Gold Member
Gnash,
Your suggestions are exactly what the people from North Star tech support said to try
and thanks for the help.
Everytime I mess with the unloader valve it will try to work so I found and ordered one at Karcher Pressure Washers, Karcher Parts, Karcher Accessories, Karcher Power Washers and Pressure Washers should take about a week to arrive.
I never put a dime in to this pressure washer so it's worth a shot.
I'll keep everyone posted how this turns out.
Your suggestions are exactly what the people from North Star tech support said to try
and thanks for the help.
Everytime I mess with the unloader valve it will try to work so I found and ordered one at Karcher Pressure Washers, Karcher Parts, Karcher Accessories, Karcher Power Washers and Pressure Washers should take about a week to arrive.
I never put a dime in to this pressure washer so it's worth a shot.
I'll keep everyone posted how this turns out.
OP
johnnylight
Gold Member
UPDATE:
Installed new unloader valve works great.
Thanks to all.
Installed new unloader valve works great.
Thanks to all.