K, I'm pretty pissed now. I got a Karcher 3.97M electric PW from Sears last fall (or end of summer) and by spring it wasn't working right (the dreaded cycling issue). So Karcher sent me another one under thier Rapid Exchange program.
Well fine by the end this summer that one is doing the same thing. I called them up and they said there is nothing they can do for me becuase I'm now out of warranty except refer me to the local Service Centers. Of which the only one who will work on it is like a kazillion miles from my house.
I'm going on holidays to Toronto in a few weeks and just brought a new laptop so I wasn't in the mood to buy another PW (esp another cheapie electric one) so I decided to try and fix it myself. I figured if I can tear down and rebuild Carbuerators and other parts of the engine I should get this.
I located a place on the net called Pressure Parts and they sell OEM parts for just about every Karcher (electric and gas) there is, among other manufactuer/models.
They have the real parts diagrams there too, so after looking at that and talking to thier support guy (Jeff, who is a real great guy) I figured I could handle replacing the pump.
I had the PW broken down in 10 minutes and the pump off the motor in about 10 more. I'm waiting for the spare part kits that make up a new pump (should be here monday).
Here's some other interesting things these folks (as well as other repiar facilities) have told me about Karcher Electric PW's.
1) Karcher is a big name in PW's and has been since 1950 or so. But the quality of the electric PW's is poor because they are made in Mexico and China with plastic parts for pumps. This was the result of them starting to sell at big box stores.
2) The best Electric PW Karcher makes (from a repairman's stand point) is the 5.20M which has a direct-Drive Axial Aluminum Pump. They also cost about $100.00 more than the other one's you see at Lowes, HD, or Sears.
3) They are not made for continous use and when designed they are not expected to last over a year with normal use.
Hopefully this thing will last me the winter after it's repaired. Then I'm going to get a gas operated one (Craftsman Clean and Carry maybe). One reason I wanted to keep this one is I like the variable wand idea, and I have purchased a second wand that bends (up to 90 degrees) which has proved invaluable when washing the car in the garage.
Morbid
Well fine by the end this summer that one is doing the same thing. I called them up and they said there is nothing they can do for me becuase I'm now out of warranty except refer me to the local Service Centers. Of which the only one who will work on it is like a kazillion miles from my house.
I'm going on holidays to Toronto in a few weeks and just brought a new laptop so I wasn't in the mood to buy another PW (esp another cheapie electric one) so I decided to try and fix it myself. I figured if I can tear down and rebuild Carbuerators and other parts of the engine I should get this.
I located a place on the net called Pressure Parts and they sell OEM parts for just about every Karcher (electric and gas) there is, among other manufactuer/models.
They have the real parts diagrams there too, so after looking at that and talking to thier support guy (Jeff, who is a real great guy) I figured I could handle replacing the pump.
I had the PW broken down in 10 minutes and the pump off the motor in about 10 more. I'm waiting for the spare part kits that make up a new pump (should be here monday).
Here's some other interesting things these folks (as well as other repiar facilities) have told me about Karcher Electric PW's.
1) Karcher is a big name in PW's and has been since 1950 or so. But the quality of the electric PW's is poor because they are made in Mexico and China with plastic parts for pumps. This was the result of them starting to sell at big box stores.
2) The best Electric PW Karcher makes (from a repairman's stand point) is the 5.20M which has a direct-Drive Axial Aluminum Pump. They also cost about $100.00 more than the other one's you see at Lowes, HD, or Sears.
3) They are not made for continous use and when designed they are not expected to last over a year with normal use.
Hopefully this thing will last me the winter after it's repaired. Then I'm going to get a gas operated one (Craftsman Clean and Carry maybe). One reason I wanted to keep this one is I like the variable wand idea, and I have purchased a second wand that bends (up to 90 degrees) which has proved invaluable when washing the car in the garage.
Morbid
The PW itself seems to work OK, it's just the engine...or maybe it's never run long enough for the pump to get any real use.
Too noisy and polluting for them to sell it these days though...