Dead pressure washer - any ideas?

[wristpin]

Probably 15 years old but has always been useful. Did most of the patio, stopped for a cuppa and on restart it tried to go and then blew the fuse . Checked everything including making sure that the pump wasn't seized and tried again - same result. Thought that the starting capacitor may have gone down so pulled it apart to find two capacitors and two other gizzmos - none showing any signs of distress and no cooked motor smell!
That's the limit of my knowledge so before taking it to the local re-wind shop to be told that it's too old etc I would appreciate any input.

 

[piman]

Hello Wristpin,

simple things first, cable damage, water in the motor or other terminal boxes?

Age is no barrier to rewinding but the cost might make it uneconomic?

Alec

 

[Pete.]

Have you ever oiled it? I suspect the red cap is for oiling the pump and if it has never been done it may well have seized.

 

[madkayaker]

Does the motor turn by hand?

 

[the snooper]

Checked everything including making sure that the pump wasn't seized .

Does the motor turn by hand?

 

[madkayaker]

there is quite a difference between seized and to stiff for motor to turn

 

[wristpin]

Thanks for suggestions.
Answers as follows!
Oil clean and up to the mark in the sight glass on other end of the pump.
Motor and pump turn freely.
No water anywhere it shouldn't be.

Have actually had the motor apart, no sign of any overheating or damage to either the windings or the rotor and the bearings are fine.

 

[jasonmcc]

The other two gizmos are a Relay (black box) for cutting the start capacitor out of circuit and a resistor IIRC (blue box) most likely cause is that one of the capacitors has started to break down. Make a note of which one goes where and take them to a rewind shop to be tested. could also be the relay starting to fail and not working correctly but most likely the capacitors.

 

[wristpin]

The other two gizmos are a Relay (black box) for cutting the start capacitor out of circuit and a resistor IIRC (blue box) most likely cause is that one of the capacitors has started to break down. Make a note of which one goes where and take them to a rewind shop to be tested. could also be the relay starting to fail and not working correctly but most likely the capacitors.

Thanks - capacitor failure was my initial uninformed diagnosis as have experienced similar on induction motors on lawnmowers (my pre-retirement trade) but was "thrown" by there being two and no external signs scorch or bursting. I will take your advice and get them tested.
Angus

 

[carbon]

I used to sell those machines (if in a red and black hinged fibreglass case) until the company that built them got bought out. Pumps go on for years, parts readily available. Never really had that many problems but definitely get the capacitors checked out first.

Chris

 

[the snooper]

there is quite a difference between seized and to stiff for motor to turn

would that not be partially seized ?

 

[wristpin]

I used to sell those machines (if in a red and black hinged fibreglass case) until the company that built them got bought out. Pumps go on for years, parts readily available. Never really had that many problems but definitely get the capacitors checked out first.

Chris

Yes, spot on - TW Frank/Martin Storey. Cat pump (The pump with nine lives)!!
Pump recon kits still available and even a video on line to show one how to fit the kits but as you say the assembler is no more.

 

[wristpin]

Local rewind shop gave me two capacitors on sale or return and the first one changed (the starting one) solved the problem. While the motor and pump were out of the casing and accessible I took the opportunity to give everything a good clean up and changed the pump crankcase oil. New lease of life - thanks again.