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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: jvanick on April 25, 2016, 11:08:22 AM

Title: pressure washer explosion
Post by: jvanick on April 25, 2016, 11:08:22 AM
literally the pressure washer pump EXPLODED this morning.

(http://www.oaknet.com/gallery/var/resizes/MiscJunk/20160425_092226.jpg?m=1461596798)

sounded like a gun going off when it let loose.

this was a 'general' brand pump... any suggestions, or just replace it with the same?
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: Zelko-4-EVA on April 25, 2016, 11:43:09 AM
how old is the pump?

check the warranty on the general website


ive had three general pumps and not seen a head break off like that - i have had a bearing/ring break though...
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: jvanick on April 25, 2016, 11:55:57 AM
no idea, but it's old... apparently the newer ones have their manufacture date stamped into them... this one doesn't.

a person over on facebook mentioned to have it replaced with a 'Emperor' series from General as it's a heavier duty pump head.

I was just inside the washer last week replacing a failed flow sensor.. I'm wondering if there was something else going on tho either with the unloader or pump head as switching out the flow sensor didn't fix the problem, and I ended up just 'rigging' the flow sensor to run constantly (and I'd just flip the power switch to turn it on and off).  I was supposed to take it in this wednesday to have them look at it.

sometimes I guess it's just better to have the pros handle it from the beginning.
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: screenprintguy on April 25, 2016, 12:15:00 PM
Holy Crap!!

Reminds me of when a pump on an old air compressor we had blew out. Sent a chunk of broken piston right out of the side wall of the pump and took a chunk out of the block wall. Things under pressure can be scary man, glad it didn't fire off and hit ya!
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: ebscreen on April 25, 2016, 12:43:33 PM
Jeeebus. Did it still have oil in it? Get super hot at all?

Looks like "physical interference" between the piston and the head, IE something
got in one of the cylinders. That or a casting/machining defect.

Our Cat pump was getting hot last week, so I ordered a new replacement to use
while I take the old out and rebuild if necessary. Of course since I ordered a new pump
the old one is now working perfectly. You kinda need two of everything in this business though.


 
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: blue moon on April 25, 2016, 02:01:49 PM
Holy Crap!!

Reminds me of when a pump on an old air compressor we had blew out. Sent a chunk of broken piston right out of the side wall of the pump and took a chunk out of the block wall. Things under pressure can be scary man, glad it didn't fire off and hit ya!

when I was in the Navy, we blew up one of our main diesel engines. 18" wide piston flew through the side of the block and missed the guy taking readings by about a foot! Think 20' long engine. . .

pierre
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: screenprintguy on April 25, 2016, 03:35:08 PM
Holy Crap!!

Reminds me of when a pump on an old air compressor we had blew out. Sent a chunk of broken piston right out of the side wall of the pump and took a chunk out of the block wall. Things under pressure can be scary man, glad it didn't fire off and hit ya!

when I was in the Navy, we blew up one of our main diesel engines. 18" wide piston flew through the side of the block and missed the guy taking readings by about a foot! Think 20' long engine. . .

pierre



Whooooaaaaaa now!!! That would be scary
Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: GKitson on April 25, 2016, 05:19:28 PM
If you can limp by for a week on something disposable our neighbor www.aquablast.com (http://www.aquablast.com) builds heavy heavy duty ag and industrial pumps.

When you drive down for the Greaves on Garments you can take one home with you.

We have 3 and they run like champs, 2 run every day with a third as backup.

See you soon my friend,

Title: Re: pressure washer explosion
Post by: jvanick on April 25, 2016, 06:11:18 PM
Our local company Lorchem is a Landa reseller and is taking care of us.

We are using a HF unit (disposable) and making do, but oh man, it is awful... after you've used an industrial unit, anything less is terrible.  I know they'll get us back.and running by the weekend, but wanted to know if there's something better I should have them install so I don't have to deal with this in the future