There is a big difference between my karcher 2000 and the hf 1600 it's easily noticeable.
Got rid of my Overpriced Karcher PW and bought a Cheap Ryobi & Upgraded it... way better setup!!
- Thread starter zmcgovern45
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There is a big difference between my karcher 2000 and the hf 1600 it's easily noticeable.
richy
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- Mar 27, 2007
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I read this thread with quite a bit of interest as I just purchased a new Karcher electric power washer. My old one just started to run continuously even though it was plugged in (even with the switch off!). HOWEVER, the unit is 8 years old...it doesn't owe me a thing!!
There are about an equal # of bad reviews and good ones for the unit I bought on both the Crappy Tire website (any good Canadian knows Crappy Tire=Canadian Tire) and the reviews on Amazon. Here is the review I just posted on Crappy Tire's website:
"I have owned a Karcher K3.68M electric power washer for 7 or 8 years. It just broke. After 8 years, it didn't owe me anything! I checked online and found this K5.540 (last year's model) on for a significant savings ($380 down to $250). I literally read 100's of reviews on both here and Amazon about this unit. An equal # of bad reviews match the # of good ones. People's main beefs are: leaking water at the inlet and top heavy and failing to work.
I have used my new one a few times. I have a procedure that I follow to use mine and I suggest if you do the same, your power washer will last you a very long time too. Also, I employed a plastic quick connect on my old unit (it comes included on the new one). This is a very efficient way to connect it. The following is my start and finish procedure:
Start:
connect hose with the hose off (easier to do with no pressure)
turn hose on
squeeze trigger to let out any air and ensure a strong stream of water
Plug in unit and push top button
Turn on unit with switch (I leave mine on always after the first time) The pump will cycle for a second and then stop. It's primed now and ready to go. Do your job.
Finish:
Unplug machine
Disconnect hose
Squeeze trigger to release pressure and any remaining water in unit (VERY important step!)
Wind up hose, you're done.
As far as being top heavy, I suggest unrolling as much hose as you need first. So far, the reel is tight and I need to use the handle to unroll it; pulling on the hose won't do it. I use mine 99% of the time for washing cars and I use it several times a week. My old unit had no reel so I had to wind the hose around the machine, which was a PITA. I had to unwind the hose completely to use that one, so this is no different in terms of unrolling it. I always need the entire length anyway. A lot of other electric pw's have only a 20' hose. 2 Karchers ago, my little one only had a 20' hose...they're useless. I am would not have purchased this unit with only a 20' hose; that's a deal breaker for me.
I definitely notice a difference in power between this and my 1800 psi old one. I have an aftermarket foam gun and even it works better with the higher pressure. I kept my old wand for a spare and it works with the new unit as well. I had bought an extension wand for the old one too which also is compatible. I am happy staying in the Karcher family.
This unit is regularly priced at $380 and I bought it for $250. That's a steal for this unit. It was in an unopened box. I am delighted with my purchase for both price and performance. If you can still find one, snap it up quickly!!
There are about an equal # of bad reviews and good ones for the unit I bought on both the Crappy Tire website (any good Canadian knows Crappy Tire=Canadian Tire) and the reviews on Amazon. Here is the review I just posted on Crappy Tire's website:
"I have owned a Karcher K3.68M electric power washer for 7 or 8 years. It just broke. After 8 years, it didn't owe me anything! I checked online and found this K5.540 (last year's model) on for a significant savings ($380 down to $250). I literally read 100's of reviews on both here and Amazon about this unit. An equal # of bad reviews match the # of good ones. People's main beefs are: leaking water at the inlet and top heavy and failing to work.
I have used my new one a few times. I have a procedure that I follow to use mine and I suggest if you do the same, your power washer will last you a very long time too. Also, I employed a plastic quick connect on my old unit (it comes included on the new one). This is a very efficient way to connect it. The following is my start and finish procedure:
Start:
connect hose with the hose off (easier to do with no pressure)
turn hose on
squeeze trigger to let out any air and ensure a strong stream of water
Plug in unit and push top button
Turn on unit with switch (I leave mine on always after the first time) The pump will cycle for a second and then stop. It's primed now and ready to go. Do your job.
Finish:
Unplug machine
Disconnect hose
Squeeze trigger to release pressure and any remaining water in unit (VERY important step!)
Wind up hose, you're done.
As far as being top heavy, I suggest unrolling as much hose as you need first. So far, the reel is tight and I need to use the handle to unroll it; pulling on the hose won't do it. I use mine 99% of the time for washing cars and I use it several times a week. My old unit had no reel so I had to wind the hose around the machine, which was a PITA. I had to unwind the hose completely to use that one, so this is no different in terms of unrolling it. I always need the entire length anyway. A lot of other electric pw's have only a 20' hose. 2 Karchers ago, my little one only had a 20' hose...they're useless. I am would not have purchased this unit with only a 20' hose; that's a deal breaker for me.
I definitely notice a difference in power between this and my 1800 psi old one. I have an aftermarket foam gun and even it works better with the higher pressure. I kept my old wand for a spare and it works with the new unit as well. I had bought an extension wand for the old one too which also is compatible. I am happy staying in the Karcher family.
This unit is regularly priced at $380 and I bought it for $250. That's a steal for this unit. It was in an unopened box. I am delighted with my purchase for both price and performance. If you can still find one, snap it up quickly!!
WRAPT C5Z06
New member
- Nov 12, 2009
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The Karcher X series has a high quality motor and pump for it's price. The downfall is the spray wand it comes with; even at the widest setting, it sprays at about 15 degrees which is way too narrow. Not for saftey, but coverage area. Takes forever to rinse. You cannot change to a different tip which sucks!
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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- #24
Based on the GPM listed for the Ryobi, and some assumptions on the properties of the hose, properties of water, etc... a .25" diameter 25 long hose will produce a significantly larger pressure drop than a .375" diameter 50 ft long hose when calculating the losses due to friction (both of which are small in the grand scheme of things).
I did some basic calculations to show this...
50 ft hose, 0.375 in diameter...
25 ft hose, 0.25 in diameter (using same assumptions as in the 50' .375" D calculations)...
The more critical part of the system downstream from the pump is the nozzle. The nozzle is what generates the output pressure by effectively reducing the area for the water to flow through. This is why I purchased a new set of nozzles that are appropriately sized for the flow rate of the pump and the desired output pressure using the chart found in the PDF I had provided a link to.
"The nozzle does not create the pressure in and of itself. The pressure washer pump creates a specific amount of flow. By damming the flow with nozzle, you create the pressure—much like when you put your thumb over the end of a garden hose to create a more powerful stream of water. The nozzle is part of a system and must be properly sized to be correctly paired with the flow of the pressure washer. Putting on too small a nozzle can over-pressurize the pump and cause problems. Putting on too large a nozzle lowers the pressure, meaning a loss of efficiency and cleaning power. "
Link for Reference
If you read through my OP, you will see a link to a PDF which has photos, descriptions, and links to all of the parts that I purchased.So, can you tell me how and where to shop for a replacement hose?
And where did you purchase yours? I would most likelly try to do it locally but just in case
To replace your hose, you just need to find another hose with the same connection (assuming it isnt a proprietary connection like the Karcher), or use a converter to change from whatever size connection your PW output is to a more common hose size like I did (convert from M22 to 3/8").
The flow rate and water pressure of most household water supplies is way more than is needed for a tiny pressure washer pump.
Having a 50' hose allows me to connect my PW to the water supply and maneuver myself around my entire driveway (and previously in my entire shop when I was a professional) without the need to move the pressure washer. A 25' hose means I would have had to have placed the PW fairly close to the vehicle, and then it would barely reach around both sides of a larger vehicle.
Like I said, the PW functioned just fine... it was the little things that really bugged me over the 4+ years I owned it. The hose, the spray wand, the parts falling off of the unit, etc.
Again, as was said in my OP, the Karcher operated perfectly fine. No one is disputing that. As a whole package, it is my opinion that the K5 was lacking in terms of quality of sprayer, hose, gun holder, cord holder, etc. that did not justify the 3x price over the cheap unit I have purchased. Upgrading the cheap unit with high quality parts for a lesser price than the K5 has made, for me, an ideal car washing unit.
Agree... the internals of the unit are nothing to be upset at. They work as expected and were perfectly fine for me... it is the attachments (hose, sprayer, wand, hose holder, cord holder, etc) that were poor and should have been higher quality for the price tag IMO.
WRAPT C5Z06
New member
- Nov 12, 2009
- 12,615
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You said basic calculations????Based on the GPM listed for the Ryobi, and some assumptions on the properties of the hose, properties of water, etc... a .25" diameter 25 long hose will produce a significantly larger pressure drop than a .375" diameter 50 ft long hose when calculating the losses due to friction (both of which are small in the grand scheme of things).
I did some basic calculations to show this...
50 ft hose, 0.375 in diameter...
25 ft hose, 0.25 in diameter (using same assumptions as in the 50' .375" D calculations)...
The more critical part of the system downstream from the pump is the nozzle. The nozzle is what generates the output pressure by effectively reducing the area for the water to flow through. This is why I purchased a new set of nozzles that are appropriately sized for the flow rate of the pump and the desired output pressure using the chart found in the PDF I had provided a link to.
"The nozzle does not create the pressure in and of itself. The pressure washer pump creates a specific amount of flow. By damming the flow with nozzle, you create the pressure—much like when you put your thumb over the end of a garden hose to create a more powerful stream of water. The nozzle is part of a system and must be properly sized to be correctly paired with the flow of the pressure washer. Putting on too small a nozzle can over-pressurize the pump and cause problems. Putting on too large a nozzle lowers the pressure, meaning a loss of efficiency and cleaning power. "
Link for Reference
If you read through my OP, you will see a link to a PDF which has photos, descriptions, and links to all of the parts that I purchased.
To replace your hose, you just need to find another hose with the same connection (assuming it isnt a proprietary connection like the Karcher), or use a converter to change from whatever size connection your PW output is to a more common hose size like I did (convert from M22 to 3/8").
The flow rate and water pressure of most household water supplies is way more than is needed for a tiny pressure washer pump.
Having a 50' hose allows me to connect my PW to the water supply and maneuver myself around my entire driveway (and previously in my entire shop when I was a professional) without the need to move the pressure washer. A 25' hose means I would have had to have placed the PW fairly close to the vehicle, and then it would barely reach around both sides of a larger vehicle.
Like I said, the PW functioned just fine... it was the little things that really bugged me over the 4+ years I owned it. The hose, the spray wand, the parts falling off of the unit, etc.
Again, as was said in my OP, the Karcher operated perfectly fine. No one is disputing that. As a whole package, it is my opinion that the K5 was lacking in terms of quality of sprayer, hose, gun holder, cord holder, etc. that did not justify the 3x price over the cheap unit I have purchased. Upgrading the cheap unit with high quality parts for a lesser price than the K5 has made, for me, an ideal car washing unit.
Agree... the internals of the unit are nothing to be upset at. They work as expected and were perfectly fine for me... it is the attachments (hose, sprayer, wand, hose holder, cord holder, etc) that were poor and should have been higher quality for the price tag IMO.
Those don't look anywhere near basic to me!
I'm not very bright in math, however. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
cleanmycorolla
New member
- Apr 27, 2012
- 3,805
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Calendyr
New member
- Jun 9, 2013
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Then maybe your HF has issues. I have worked with machines from 1500 to 2000 PSI and cannot feel a difference. I have worked with machines with 3000 PSI and then I can feel a huge difference.
Maybe it's just me, but when I was working with the lower powered unit, it worked just fine, no issues what so ever.
zmcgovern45
New member
- Sep 5, 2012
- 3,443
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Based on the GPM listed for the Ryobi, and some assumptions on the properties of the hose, properties of water, etc... a .25" diameter 25 long hose will produce a significantly larger pressure drop than a .375" diameter 50 ft long hose when calculating the losses due to friction (both of which are small in the grand scheme of things).
I did some basic calculations to show this...
50 ft hose, 0.375 in diameter...
25 ft hose, 0.25 in diameter (using same assumptions as in the 50' .375" D calculations)...
The more critical part of the system downstream from the pump is the nozzle. The nozzle is what generates the output pressure by effectively reducing the area for the water to flow through. This is why I purchased a new set of nozzles that are appropriately sized for the flow rate of the pump and the desired output pressure using the chart found in the PDF I had provided a link to.
"The nozzle does not create the pressure in and of itself. The pressure washer pump creates a specific amount of flow. By damming the flow with nozzle, you create the pressure—much like when you put your thumb over the end of a garden hose to create a more powerful stream of water. The nozzle is part of a system and must be properly sized to be correctly paired with the flow of the pressure washer. Putting on too small a nozzle can over-pressurize the pump and cause problems. Putting on too large a nozzle lowers the pressure, meaning a loss of efficiency and cleaning power. "
Link for Reference
If you read through my OP, you will see a link to a PDF which has photos, descriptions, and links to all of the parts that I purchased.
To replace your hose, you just need to find another hose with the same connection (assuming it isnt a proprietary connection like the Karcher), or use a converter to change from whatever size connection your PW output is to a more common hose size like I did (convert from M22 to 3/8").
The flow rate and water pressure of most household water supplies is way more than is needed for a tiny pressure washer pump.
Having a 50' hose allows me to connect my PW to the water supply and maneuver myself around my entire driveway (and previously in my entire shop when I was a professional) without the need to move the pressure washer. A 25' hose means I would have had to have placed the PW fairly close to the vehicle, and then it would barely reach around both sides of a larger vehicle.
Like I said, the PW functioned just fine... it was the little things that really bugged me over the 4+ years I owned it. The hose, the spray wand, the parts falling off of the unit, etc.
Again, as was said in my OP, the Karcher operated perfectly fine. No one is disputing that. As a whole package, it is my opinion that the K5 was lacking in terms of quality of sprayer, hose, gun holder, cord holder, etc. that did not justify the 3x price over the cheap unit I have purchased. Upgrading the cheap unit with high quality parts for a lesser price than the K5 has made, for me, an ideal car washing unit.
Agree... the internals of the unit are nothing to be upset at. They work as expected and were perfectly fine for me... it is the attachments (hose, sprayer, wand, hose holder, cord holder, etc) that were poor and should have been higher quality for the price tag IMO.
Finally someone that speaks English! :laughing: J/K
Thank you for taking the time to do this! I was thinking about the pressure loss while reading this thread.......it's like you read my mind. :goodpost:
215Detailing
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- May 19, 2011
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Just bought same pressure washer about a month and half or two back, right after they went off sale from $80.00 back to $119, I switched out gun and hose as well, but kept same diameter (1/4) hose just 50 feet. 50 feet is great but may switch up again to your setup thanks for posting and providing info (parts/list)
spazzz
Active member
- Jan 28, 2014
- 1,023
- 19
I bought the 1600 psi Ryobi a little over a year ago and love it.
I upgraded the hose to a 25' Flexzilla hose last year. Gets the job done with only a couple shifts
I just received my MTM SG-28 gun with the appropriate fittings today. I also bought a set of the 2.0 gpm nozzles for it.
I wanted to try the shorty handle approach and just needed a little push which I got after reading your thread.
I upgraded the hose to a 25' Flexzilla hose last year. Gets the job done with only a couple shifts
I just received my MTM SG-28 gun with the appropriate fittings today. I also bought a set of the 2.0 gpm nozzles for it.
I wanted to try the shorty handle approach and just needed a little push which I got after reading your thread.
Daviddear30
Well-known member
- May 7, 2011
- 1,411
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Does adding 2 gpm tips do much for the output of this? Maybe it was covered in the Basic Calculations post and I missed it
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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- #35
Does adding 2 gpm tips do much for the output of this? Maybe it was covered in the Basic Calculations post and I missed it
They are not 2 GPM tips, they are tips with a 2.0 orifice size. Using the nozzle size calculator shown on my parts list, you can determine the appropriate orifice size for your machine based on the GPM and PSI rating of the pump.
Too large of an orifice will result in a loss of output pressure/performance. Too small of an orifice can create too much pressure and damage your pump.
Daviddear30
Well-known member
- May 7, 2011
- 1,411
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I picked up some 4.0 tips in addition to my new pressure washer.
Added this to my tool collection yesterday.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Added this to my tool collection yesterday.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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- #37
Still loving this setup... use it every 1-2 weeks on my car, and have done some cleaning around the house with it as well
Marc08EX
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- May 10, 2008
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Zach, thanks for all these information. It helped me better understand the components I need.
Been doing a lot of research lately to prepare myself in buying all these parts. I stumbled upon this video last night. Looks like MTM Hydro will bring out a spray gun with an integrated swivel on it named "SGS35". It's coming out in August. This should mimic the Mosmatic spray gun with the integrated swivel.
Been doing a lot of research lately to prepare myself in buying all these parts. I stumbled upon this video last night. Looks like MTM Hydro will bring out a spray gun with an integrated swivel on it named "SGS35". It's coming out in August. This should mimic the Mosmatic spray gun with the integrated swivel.
zmcgovern45
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- Sep 5, 2012
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Good find... the MTM hose I bought has an integrated swivel in it which I thought was a nice feature so if I end up switching guns in the future for whatever reason I am still in good shape
choijw2
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- Jul 25, 2015
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I used to have same ryobi 1600 psi unit and it did decent job for the price while running,
but within return period time, unit I had stopped pumping waters. It's good unit, but if youre detailing for money, then I would not recommend.
in other hand, I got karcher k4 water cooled motor and its been running strong for couple years now
with about 3 times use / week.
I really hate how stiff karcher PW hoses are tho.. it still drive me nuts sometime.
but within return period time, unit I had stopped pumping waters. It's good unit, but if youre detailing for money, then I would not recommend.
in other hand, I got karcher k4 water cooled motor and its been running strong for couple years now
with about 3 times use / week.
I really hate how stiff karcher PW hoses are tho.. it still drive me nuts sometime.