Electric powerwashers: junk?

GoldenState54 4/13/2016 7:09pm
4/13/2016 7:09pm
Got barely 5 washes out of my Karcher 5.540. Plastic part of the pump cracked at the seam. And if you tip it over the damn water inlet coupler breaks every time.
bvm111
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bvm111 3/29/2020 12:22pm
3/29/2020 12:22pm
Holy 4 year old thread batman... always fun to revisit these topics. I posted back in 2016 about the 100 dollar green one from Lowe’s, it’s over 6 years old and just won’t break... I have had zero issues with it and use it almost every weekend!


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bvm111
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bvm111 3/29/2020 12:33pm
3/29/2020 12:33pm Edited Date/Time 3/29/2020 12:34pm
I couldn’t locate a model number, but it is a “green works” 1500 psi electric. In all honesty it isn’t the most powerful so I usually pre soak it with a regular hose first to allow any dried on chunks to get wet again and even then it might take a few passes under the fenders and frame rails... but it was 99 bucks, works like it should and still kicking!
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bvm111
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bvm111 3/29/2020 12:35pm
3/29/2020 12:35pm

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stillwelding
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stillwelding 3/29/2020 12:35pm
3/29/2020 12:35pm
hvaughn88 wrote:
I got a little ryobi electric one as a Christmas gift. Haven't even used it yet. Anybody used one of these?: [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/04/13/131671/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
I got a little ryobi electric one as a Christmas gift. Haven't even used it yet. Anybody used one of these?:



$99.00 today


Boomslang 3/29/2020 12:46pm
3/29/2020 12:46pm
user760a wrote:
I am seeking opinions on electric powerwashers, mainly for bike washing (of course) but occasional "around the house" BS jobs as well. I read a review...
I am seeking opinions on electric powerwashers, mainly for bike washing (of course) but occasional "around the house" BS jobs as well. I read a review of a Karcher unit in one of the bike magazines a while back that was pretty favorable. Do these things hold up?
Have the smallest elec Karcher money could buy and the thing works hard like a donkey. Going on four years and No regrets.
agn5009
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agn5009 3/29/2020 12:50pm
3/29/2020 12:50pm
I have one from harbour freight. I've had it about 2 years now and it works great. I paid around $70 for it during one of their yearly sales.
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sandtrack315
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sandtrack315 3/29/2020 4:01pm
3/29/2020 4:01pm
bvm111 wrote:
I couldn’t locate a model number, but it is a “green works” 1500 psi electric. In all honesty it isn’t the most powerful so I usually...
I couldn’t locate a model number, but it is a “green works” 1500 psi electric. In all honesty it isn’t the most powerful so I usually pre soak it with a regular hose first to allow any dried on chunks to get wet again and even then it might take a few passes under the fenders and frame rails... but it was 99 bucks, works like it should and still kicking!
I have this one too. Got it for 80 bucks. 1500 PSI and some simple green is perfect for a dirtbike.

Greenworks 1500 PSI 13 Amp 1.2... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PSQ4X2W?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
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zippytech
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zippytech 3/29/2020 4:06pm
3/29/2020 4:06pm
I have used one of these for years. it sits outside all summer and runs great and I never need gas..





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crusher773
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crusher773 3/29/2020 5:52pm
3/29/2020 5:52pm
I bought a karcher it didn't last 3 months total junk. I bought one I love now from home Depot that has the reels built into it. Smoothest running one I've had yet.
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endurox
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endurox 3/29/2020 5:57pm
3/29/2020 5:57pm Edited Date/Time 3/29/2020 5:58pm

350 at Costco, could change stickers to KTM or repaint red and add Gas Gas graphics also.
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omalley
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omalley 3/29/2020 6:05pm
3/29/2020 6:05pm
I have always used gas and still prefer them for household stuff (driveway, decks etc). However, my new house is packed in tight with the neighbors (that’s what happens when you sign over half your shit, including the sale of the nice house, to someone you used to like). I picked up an electric so I could wash the bike early morning or late evening without bugging the neighbors. I will say my gas one seems pretty accurate on pressure, while the electric one is greatly exaggerated. If I had it to do again, I’d get the next higher PSI rated model.
stillwelding
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stillwelding 3/29/2020 6:33pm
3/29/2020 6:33pm
endurox wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/03/29/414626/s1200_shopping.jpg[/img] 350 at Costco, could change stickers to KTM or repaint red and add Gas Gas graphics also.

350 at Costco, could change stickers to KTM or repaint red and add Gas Gas graphics also.

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ninesevenfour 3/29/2020 7:38pm
3/29/2020 7:38pm
I’m going on year 5 with a 1,600 PSI Ryobi. It gets used just about every week. Somewhere around $100
acres951
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acres951 3/29/2020 8:27pm
3/29/2020 8:27pm
Always figured lowest psi (often electric) was best as it would be easiest on seals and bearings.
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rucka356
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rucka356 3/29/2020 8:41pm
3/29/2020 8:41pm
can electric clean concrete?
Top End
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Top End 3/29/2020 10:48pm
3/29/2020 10:48pm
hvaughn88 wrote:
I got a little ryobi electric one as a Christmas gift. Haven't even used it yet. Anybody used one of these?: [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2016/04/13/131671/s1200_image.jpg[/img]
I got a little ryobi electric one as a Christmas gift. Haven't even used it yet. Anybody used one of these?:



I've had mine for about 3 years. I use it on my bike and around the house. I even hooked it up to hot water and cleaned all my old greasy VW parts. I purge it and drain it with each use. The small size is nice for storing too.
689
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689 3/29/2020 11:59pm
3/29/2020 11:59pm
rucka356 wrote:
can electric clean concrete?
I have always purchased the cheap Gerni brand ones and they can clean concrete. Have a bottom of the line karcher and it can clean concrete, they just take a long time due to the small psi.

Big thing I would note with the cheap cleaners if the hose length. They generally come with short hoses.
addimatty 3/30/2020 1:59am
3/30/2020 1:59am
Im using karcher electric pressure washer and its going strong for 5 years without any issues!
2F4A
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2F4A 3/30/2020 3:33am
3/30/2020 3:33am
Buy a decent Karcher and do you research on it. The really cheap ones are pure garbage. We don't use anything else in Europe.
Timo_2824
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Timo_2824 3/30/2020 3:57am
3/30/2020 3:57am
We havd a small fleet of Karcher HD 1.8/13 C's that are used to wash condensers. We're talking 8 hours of use in a single day, probably 35-40 days per year. They are expensive, but are reliable, and if you do have issues you can actually get parts for them. We changer the oil at the beginning of the washing season and run them hard. So far no major issues, most common thing seems to be cord damage, be glad they have a ground fault on the plug.
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alex69
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alex69 3/30/2020 9:23am
3/30/2020 9:23am
The little cheap karchers are all junk, there where some k4 and k5 version with aluminium pomp body's who are better but they still not top.
The problem is always the plastic pomp body's there are becoming little cracks in the body and it's losing pressure.
One of the mean problem this happen is the start/stop, when the machine stops the pressure is rising until the pressure switch shuts the machine down.
It's better for the machine to avoid continuously start an stops.
KTMmarkus 3/30/2020 10:47am
3/30/2020 10:47am
Had a Kärcher K5 for 7-8 years, used it at least once a week, worked flawlessly. Took it to the mountain cabin and forgot to drain it so the freezing temps ruined it. Bought another one and seems to be as good =)
stangkag
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stangkag 3/30/2020 1:29pm
3/30/2020 1:29pm
I bought a cheap harbor freight electric pressure washer and have used it to clean my bikes, cars, and house with no issues to date! Just used it 10 minutes ago actually and it works great.
petef930
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petef930 3/30/2020 2:54pm
3/30/2020 2:54pm
stangkag wrote:
I bought a cheap harbor freight electric pressure washer and have used it to clean my bikes, cars, and house with no issues to date! Just...
I bought a cheap harbor freight electric pressure washer and have used it to clean my bikes, cars, and house with no issues to date! Just used it 10 minutes ago actually and it works great.
I’ve had the $79 harbor freight pw. I have hundreds of hours on it probably in the past 3 yrs. I love that thing. I wash the bike , cars, every and house with it. Things awesome
Falcon
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Falcon 3/30/2020 4:42pm
3/30/2020 4:42pm
This is what I use: the poor man's pressure washer. Under $5, works like a charm and made in the USA:



For extra convenience, I thread it onto the end of the high-tech valve handle seen below. Grand total: $10.
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Mr. Ted
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Mr. Ted 3/30/2020 6:10pm
3/30/2020 6:10pm
I've had a riobi electric for a few years. No issues.

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