Does it get any worse than this?/HELP!

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Does it get any woarse than this?/HELP!

Just put on a new General TX151068 pump and new Pulsar 3khp unloader on one of my cold units. It is direct drive 4 gpm 3000 psi with a 11 hp Honda engine.
Well got ready to start things up and set the unloader and the fuel tank had a hole in it. Improvised and used a 2.5 plastic gas can as a temperary tank. The Honda started right up!
Couldn't get any pressure.
The bypass line coming from the unloader goes back into the inlet water filter. The back side of the pump head has a thermal relief valve on the bottom port. The upper port has a EZ start valve that appears to let water exit the pump and go into the inlet water filter until the gets up to pressure.
The unloader is attached the pump head via an inlet port.
The unloder out let port is where the high pressure quick connect attaches.
The pump appears to be mounted correctly. If you remove the fill plug and slowly manualy pulll the start rope you see the crank move. So the key has to be in place! Also have plenty of inlet water.
Can anyone please tell me whats wrong???I burned about six hours today trying to resolve this! Have been using correct nozzles.
Tired and deeply frustrated at this point.

 

[Mark]

Re: Does it get any woarse than this?/HELP!

The upper port has a check valve that appears to
let water exit the pump and go into the inlet water filter.
The unloader is attached the pump head via an inlet port.


The unloader inlet should be connected to
the pump high pressure outlet. Call me I will try to talk you through
the proper installation.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Mark,
The unloader is connected to the hp side of the pump. I get no pressure response turning the unloader adjustment knob in or out!

 

[oguard]

What pump are you using???? I went to the General Pump web site and could not find such a model.

Their web address is www.generalpump.com and they do have a technical help section.

Hope this helps? Cheers.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Oguard,
Thanks for your reply. The pump is suppose to be one of their new models. Maybe it is so new it has bugs. I don't know, I am just frustrated and stumped. Hope to call them today.

 

[Glenn]

B.E.
You said,

(The back side of the pump head has a termal relief valve on the bottom port. The upper port has a check valve that appears to let water exit the pump and go into the inlet water filter.)

This is an Easy Start valve that allows your pump to bypass while in the starting mode. If your pump is pumping water and just not any pressure then the odds are this is your problem. The General pump brand easy start valve is only a few bucks, I would start there. If your not pumping any water at all then you may have a more serious problem.
Glenn

PS This is the first time I have tried to include a quote, can somebody tell me how you guys do it.

 

[Larry L.]

Originally posted by Glenn


PS This is the first time I have tried to include a quote, can somebody tell me how you guys do it.

like dat

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Glenn,
You are correct that it is an easy start valve. The valve appears to be ok.
Talked to the disributor and he thinks the unloader may be stuck.
He suggested that I remove the unloader and hook directly into the output side of the pump.
This will varify that the pump is not at fault.
I must do this cautiously with the gun held open the whole time.
If it comes up with pressure right away the pump is good to go.
Of coarse if my hand slips of the trigger without an unloder me and my machine could be toast!
My pw repair education has grown tremendously in the past three days. Been reading and studying no recess!
I also need to have more repair parts on hand.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E., Take the twist knob off and see if the two nuts on the bolt are screwed down towards the bottom of the bolt. Also double check the arrow on your unloader and make sure it is pointing away from the pump. It is also possible the unloader is defective, it happens.

 

[ExtremeMPW]

I had the same type problem when I received my brand new skid from the factory. Had an E-Z start valve on the unloader/pump as well. When I started for the first time, the unit would go into bypass almost immediately. Realized that the FIRST problem was that there was an E-Z start valve on a unit w/ a flow unloader (don't need it to begin with since there's NO pressure until you pull trigger on gun), so took it off. Still going into bypass and no pressure. After many phone calls to factory, and checking everything I could think of, another washer suggested checking/changing the unloader (that possibly the factory had made a "mistake"). When I switched to another unloader of the same type, it worked. Finally figured out that they had put wrong size orifices on the brand new unloader restricting the flow and causing it to go into bypass. Since changing them, haven't had a problem.
Could be a place to start looking.

Good luck,
Tim

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E. , Did you get it fixed ?

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Steven,
Called the distributor and must say I am not to happy with their service. Still waitng for the pump oil cap. Was not sent with pump. Pump came with plastic shipping plug. I have taken off the unloader and am going to check pump operation tommarrow also. Just can't close the gun.
I think the unloader is at fault. The unloader is rated at 8 gpm and the pump is rated at 4 gpm. I wonder if that is part of the problem.
Checked the EZ start valve and it seeems to be operational.

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E., If you do find it is the unloader I would look at a K-7 flow unloader or one of the new crossover types. I personally like the K-7 (soft start). Keek me informed on what you find out.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Steve,
Is the cross flow design you are refering to like the ARs?
Is the K-7 sensative and reqire a lot of adjustments?
I see the K-12 is their newest model.

 

[Mark]

The Saturn flow sensitive unloader has been called a "K12" by *********
actually it is manufactured by Arrow line of Italy, and distributed to OEM's
and pressure washer distributors by AR North America.

I would suggest against using the Saturn Valve unless you have a
force fed inlet, see my notes at: Saturn Unloader For reliability
I suggest a lock up unloader such as
the AL 606, AL606 Unloader By Arrow line
you could include an easy start valve if you like.


To determine if your problem is in the unloader, I think you
should remove the unloader, and run the hose directly to
the pump, <B> be sure to keep trigger pulled</B> and see if you get
good pressure then. Lets not overlook the obvious is your inlet restricted?
Sucking air? Do we have a new key in the engine shaft between pump &
engine?

AR North America has some tips for troubleshooting pumps on their website:
Pump Troubleshooting at AR North America

Likewise General Pump also has a troubleshooting section on the web:

General Pump**Troubleshooting

Good Luck!

Once again if you are stuck give me a call

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Mark,
Thanks for the info. I was thinking on purchasing the K-12 made by Saturn but I think you changed my mind. Do you have info.on the AL606 unloader?? All the link brought up was a pic.

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E., The k-7 doesn't require a lot of adjusting. I set it once and change tips to change the pressure. When I run out of a tank I use an inline transfer pump with a check valve and water reducing valve also that way I never suck water, it is always feed to the pump just like a water faucet. And yes the k-12 is what I was talking about.

 

[B.E YOUNG Sr]

Steven,
One question. You say you change nozzles to adjust pressure? Does this mean a higher or lowwer gpm nozzle is used?
Also is it tank check valve pump pressure reducing valve and than machine pump?
I may want to set up a water tank the same way. Was thinking about gravity flow but your arrangement sounds better.

 

[Steven Rowlet]

B.E., Yes I use higher gpm nozzles to reduce the pressure. This will reduce the pressure and still deliver the same gpm. As for the tank setup, install a transfer pump between the pressure washer with the check valve on the outlet side of thr transfer pump then install a reducing valve between that and your pressure washer pump. I started using this setup because every time I would let the pressure washer pump suck the water it would starve the pump till the water reached it. This way it is just like having it hooked up to a water faucet. Let me know if you have any trouble hooking it up.

 

[Mark]

B.E.

The K-7 unloader is a great unloader, it just happens
to be a little finicky, the AL 606 is an unloader most 'do it
your selfers" can install on to their machine and be back in
business in no time.

Per your request here is more info on the AL 606:
AL 606 Unloader