Pressure washer issue

My pressure washer won't work properly. I need to choke it to start it, that's fine. However, when I push the choke pin back in (even when done vewwie vewwie slowly) the engine will die.

It runs with the choke out, but it doesn't seem to generate as much pressure as it should, and the engine of course doesn't sound right. Not sure if running it like this actually damages the engine.Why can't I undo the choke? Any small engine experts here?

I cleaned my entire truck that way, and even after that the choke pin will kill the engine. So it's not that the engine is still cold ..


--- FIXED: carburetor needed cleaning. As suggested it was all gummed up. Thanks everyone!

 

When was the last time you ran it and it worked right?? When is the last time before today that you ran in at all??

 

Try a new spark plug and clean or replace the air filter. Not an expert but my lawnmower does the same thing.

 

Does it take a mix of fuel/oil? If so maybe it's a bad mixture or possibly just old fuel from last year?

 

... it's been a while. Last season?

 

It takes pure gasoline. I'm sure it's from last year. Would that make a difference with the choke/no-choke? (No mechanic here).

 

Air filter is clean; I checked it. Didn't think about the spark plug. Will look into it.

 

I've always heard if you have gas for a long time the effectiveness goes down. Not sure why but I've heard don't keep gas more than about 6 months.

 

Ditto on the bad gas or maybe even varnish in the carb. You can try to clean it yourself or get a small engine mech to tune it up for you.

STABIL or some seafoam might help....but I'm not positive...

 

Where can I guy the fuel stabilizer?

 

This is separate from the fuel stabilizer right?

 

Having never taken anything apart before, is this something I could do by myself just by trying? (lol) I'm good with puzzles!
How much with it take to have someone take it apart and clean it? $40? $80 $150?

 

after you clean it, drain the existing fuel and fill it up with premeum gass. lots of two stroke engines can't run (or run poorly) with the ethenol that is put into the low/mid grads gassoline. our lawn mower was doing the same exact thing as your pressure washer, and premeum seems to do the trick

 

If you leave fuel in a carburetor for too long the waxes in the fuel will separate and turn to gum. More than likely the main jet is plugged. The main jet comes straight out of the float bowl up into the venturi. If it is plugged (the holes in the main jet are very small), the vaccuum from the engine can not draw fuel through the main. With the choke pulled you are giving the engine just enough fuel to run but not enough to run properly as the choke just enriches the fuel/air mixture for cold starts. I would pull the carb and take off the float bowl. You will see the main jet at that point. Clean the main, re-assemble, and you should be good to go.
Fred.

 

Yeah what you need to do is take the carb off, and remove the varnish residue, and since it only runs with the choke on most likely the pilot jet is clogged, but also check the main jet. Get some good carb cleaner from the depot and a tooth brush, but be carful of the throttle cable and the float valve.

 

I had this problem too. I found some tutorial to take part of the engine apart and cleaned off the o-rings and it started running better again but it still had the same problem a little bit but not as much. I cant remember where I found the tutorial though

 

Thanks everyone. I think I got myself another weekend project lol

 

x2. i usually change the spark plug and the air filter. Home depot or lowes usually has a tune up kit for small engines.

 

yeh. gas turns "gummy" even after a few weeks of sitting. (learned this when i had a motorcycle) the gas could be bad. drain the gas and put fresh gas in there.

if it has a carb, seafoam should work.