Pressure Washer Fault Diagnosis

[richie00boy]

I've got a Nilfisk C110.3 pressure washer which has provided great service over the last 15 years or so, but has developed a fault in the last couple of years which now seems to be stopping it working.

It started by pulsing when the lance trigger wasn't being pressed. It has been doing this for a couple of years, but I don't use it much. I used it yesterday for about 20 mins and it was doing this, but then it stopped and i couldn't get it to start pumping.

Could this be something to do with a pressure switch? The motor seemed strong and wasn't noisy.

 

[zzr1200]

Probably or the mechanism that senses when the trigger is closed and pressure builds in the hose, some makes used a plunger and a diaphragm to operate the switch which jamms/sticks.

 

[hotponyshoes]

The pulsing is normally caused by a small leak.

Cutting out totally after a period of running is often the thermal overheat switch.
Leave it half an hour and try it again.

 

[pedrobedro]

My Nilfisk was taking longer and longer to kick in after the trigger was pulled and it was the sprung plunger sticking. I stripped it and put a spot of rubber grease in there and it worked for a couple of years till I needed to do it again. It was still working when I put it away last year but I haven't used it yet this year.

 

[Smallfry]

When it pulses, do you get a small jet of water from the end of the lance ?

If the trigger leaks, it will cause this. Usually due to wear/corrosion or dirt in the water.

If left, the machine eventually gets bored of this and turns itself off. Thats what mine did.