Pressure Washer Wont Start?

[5Toes]

Okay so my Craftsman 6.75hp pressure washer wont start. It always starts first or second pull, but last week it gave me lots of trouble and wouldnt do anything.

I just pulled all the covers off and took 1000 grit sandpaper to the magneto thingy. I degreased it with some gas on a rag and put it back on.
Gas tank is 2/3 way full, and I have spark. I grounded plug to engine and I have strong spark.

I know timing cant go off... and I can smell a bit of gas fumes through the exhaust.

Maybe something with the carb? I need some help :(

[Roysneon]

Is the fuel getting into the cylinder?

[Roysneon]

The carberuator on one of those things is dead nuts simple, btw. Recently had a problem with a generator. Thing sat for a year with the same crappy gas in it. Gas had turned all red and shit and smelled disgusting. The smell of bad gas is worse than gear oil.

[5Toes]

Gas smells fine. Ill try to start it again and quickly pull amd smell the plug. I just don't are what could have happened. Cause it ran great a few days before!

I guess I could pull the carb and take some carb cleaner to it

[e30vert]

Most pressure washers require water to be flowing through the pump so that it will cool the pump. If the pressure washer was allowed to idle for a long period of time 3-5 minutes without the trigger being pulled to spray water then the pump may have become damaged. Damaged pump = more resistance to starting.

[5Toes]

Damn. I usually let it idle for a while more than 5 minutes at times without pulling the trigger. Crap

So it should still start? Just have to pull harder? Pump seems fine. Makes some noise similar to a jetaki being ran for a few seconds out of water

[der affe]

if you don't purge the air out before you fire up the pump, you can also do damage to it.

turn on the hose and squeeze the trigger until water comes out........then fire up the pump

[5Toes]

Yup I purge the pump every time. Well shit.. might need a new pump

[u3b3rg33k]

if it turns over by hand it's probably not the pump's fault the engine won't run...

post a picture of the spark plug if it doesn't look new.

[MAXELHOFF]

Try starting fluid. Remove air filter. If it starts for a second. It is a fuel related issue.

[5Toes]

Good idea. Ill have to go get some starting fluid.

Engine turns over by hand just fine.

Plug isnt fouled, because it IS sparking.

[u3b3rg33k]

it doesn't have to be fouled to cause problems, and it's much harder to spark at 150psi than it is at 14psi.

We just changed the plugs on our turbo volvo a few weeks ago - car was having tons of trouble starting and running cold. put in new plugs, and the car runs perfectly.

[spike68]

I know mine is hard as shit to turn on when water is flowing and i know its bad to start it without the water.
I usually hold the trigger while the water is flowing and pull at the same time. You could always try that. Its wayyyy easy to start for me. I barely have to pull

thats my 2 cents.

[slammin.e28]

Quit putting Capri Sun in it.

[5Toes]

Okay I have torn into this thing and done all this:

Last night:
- polished magneto with 1000grit sandpaper then degreased
- verified spark
Today:
- Drained gas tank. Observed some water in fuel, so fresh gas is going back in
- Pulled air filter (it was clean but I washed it anyways, it is sitting in the sun to dry now)
- Pulled carb. Took off bowl and noticed nothing unusual. Very clean, float moves smooth
- Re installed carb to find that the linkage is jacked. The choke works great, but the throttle/governor linkage is messed up... the thing is always at full throttle. Cant figure out how it works though, and spring seems springy enough. The repair blow apart diagrams didnt help much at all.

So I guess I found the problem? lol