Harbor Freight pressure washer
- Thread starter Luket
- Start date
evo77
Member
- Mar 15, 2008
- 600
- 8
If the unit still runs when the trigger is not pulled then that is an indication that one of your hose connections is not properly sealed. The machine is trying to build pressure but it can't so it will continuously run until it kills itself (so hopefully you shut off the power quickly 
).Look for drips or water pooling around the connections.
).Look for drips or water pooling around the connections.
oneheadlite
Well-known member
- Aug 20, 2015
- 1,791
- 94
As mentioned above, if it's continuing to run after you let go of the trigger, it's seeing a pressure drop so it thinks it needs to run the pump.
Try making all your hose connections/bleed the unit out in one area, then move it to a dry area. Check and see if you see any signs of water from any hose connections, the spray gun, or the unit itself.
Is it a new unit or older? If older, it might just be worn internally so it's basically losing pressure inside the unit (making it think you've pulled the trigger) versus an external leak causing it to run. I've got a cheapie Ryobi pressure washer that after about 4 years starting to briefly cycle itself after sitting unused for about a minute. (Stop spraying, unit stops, sits briefly, then runs for about 2 seconds. Sits briefly, runs 1-2 seconds. Repeat until I get sick of it and power it off.)
I think any of the budget pressure washers just have a limited lifespan.
Try making all your hose connections/bleed the unit out in one area, then move it to a dry area. Check and see if you see any signs of water from any hose connections, the spray gun, or the unit itself.
Is it a new unit or older? If older, it might just be worn internally so it's basically losing pressure inside the unit (making it think you've pulled the trigger) versus an external leak causing it to run. I've got a cheapie Ryobi pressure washer that after about 4 years starting to briefly cycle itself after sitting unused for about a minute. (Stop spraying, unit stops, sits briefly, then runs for about 2 seconds. Sits briefly, runs 1-2 seconds. Repeat until I get sick of it and power it off.)
I think any of the budget pressure washers just have a limited lifespan.
oneheadlite
Well-known member
- Aug 20, 2015
- 1,791
- 94
Which model specifically do you have?
New/been in use for some time?
Do you prime the unit on start up? (Turn water on with pressure washer off, hold trigger on gun until nothing but water comes out before turning unit on)
New/been in use for some time?
Do you prime the unit on start up? (Turn water on with pressure washer off, hold trigger on gun until nothing but water comes out before turning unit on)
oneheadlite
Well-known member
- Aug 20, 2015
- 1,791
- 94
What's the warranty on their pressure washers? How old is yours?
