Before you discard your power washer because it no longer works, check the pump.
A damaged pump could be the culprit giving you all this trouble. And investing in a replacement may be a better option than getting a new pressure washer.
A triple plunger pump or an axial cam is easily replaceable. Plus, it is a cheaper option.
However, the most basic and non-professional pressure washers may not have pump replacements, and the only solution is investing in a new pressure washer.
But before that, let us find out the type of pump you have. And if there is a replacement for it, you probably would also like to know how to install it.
Types of pumps
When picking a replacement, what you need to consider is the compatibility between your pressure washer and the replacement pump. It is easier to know this if you know the type of power washer you have.
The simplest way to know is by looking at how the pump fixes itself to the motor. An axial cum pump will have the bras valves pointing straight to the driveshaft of the engine.
That way, the water pressurizes when the driveshaft directly spins the cylinders that conduct that operation. A triple pump has the driveshaft running similar to the valves.
The driveshaft, in this case, indirectly pressurizes the water by setting in motion the crankshaft, which moves the plunger rods to do the job. But that’s not all.
You still need to find out the diameter of the shaft and find out whether it is hollow or solid. And how is the flange fixed to the motor?
Check out and take measurements of the bolt pattern as well. That will ensure that the replacement is identical.
And lastly, find out if the pump has vertical or horizontal shafts. The former has the pump mounted below the engine, and the latter has the pump mounted following the engine.
The replacement
The replacement you choose needs to have the same pressure rating as the old one as well as the gallons per minute. The former uses the PSI rating, and the latter uses a GPM rating.
If you pick a replacement with more PSI or more GPM, it may end up damaging the engine, or worst-case scenario, wield more power than the hose burst.
The measurements of your current pump should match those of the new one. You can find all this information in the owner’s manual or the installation drawings. The last thing you want is to have to return the pump and pay the extra 25 percent replacing fee.
It would help if you double-checked the measurements before you settle for that pump. For instance, just because the standard flanges from all giant manufacturers have the same specs doesn’t mean you should blindly choose any flange- instead, check again.
Don’t take any chances, and feel free to contact us for any inquiries before the big purchase.
Replacing the pump
Installing the pump is the easy part. The challenging part was getting the perfect replacement. Setting it up takes only minutes before you can get back to cleaning.
Find out more on installing the replacement of the pump on this guide.
