Electric motor won't stay running

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Electric washer: It has a Century motor, CAT pump, & K7 unloader, assembled by Hydro Tek.

It wouldn't stay running unless the trigger was pulled. Replaced a leaking inlet hose between the filter and pump and everything was fine for a week. Now the problem is back, but there are no leaks, anywhere, from the tank to the filter, and on to the pump. The filter is clean, the tank is full, water flows freely to the filter, but the machine will only stay on with the trigger pulled.

I checked the pressure switches on the unloader and they are good. I plan to do a pressure feed and see if that helps, but have not yet.

What else am I looking for?

[Guy B 70]

Sounds like the unloader is your problem to me.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

So unloaders on an electric washer will shut it down vs low pressure/low volume as on gas engines? That's a new one for me.

When the rain stops, I will be doing the pressure feed, then on to the unloader as my next stop.

[Guy B 70]

I could totally be off on my reply, I re-read that it is an electric motor, I have no experience with them. Does it by-pass like a gas machine?

 

I'm sure a call to Russ Johnson at Southside Equipment would solve your problem.

 

Good Luck!

[Russ Johnson 141]

Many of Hydro Teks electrics are made to auto stop and start.

[Guy B 70]

Many of Hydro Teks electrics are made to auto stop and start.

 

Russ, this is just a question because I don't know that much about Electric pressure washers......but if it has an auto stop-start....why does it have an unloader? Safety?

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Guy, yes it bypasses the same. In this case, back to the pump.

Russ, it is not an auto start/stop. It does have a timer to shut it down after a minute or so in bypass.

Normal process is to flip the on switch and push the button. It will continue to run in bypass for a minute or so when not in use. If trigger is pulled before it shuts off, timer restarts.

So now, trigger needs to be pulled while pushing start and all is normal, but shuts down as soon as trigger is released.

[Russ Johnson 141]

Timer is bad.

Edited January 12, 2015 by Russ Johnson

[Russ Johnson 141]

Russ, this is just a question because I don't know that much about Electric pressure washers......but if it has an auto stop-start....why does it have an unloader? Safety?

 

Some are time delay shut down with manual reset, like the one we're discussing. Others are instant start/stop as the trigger is pulled.

[One Tough Pressure 580]

Okay, will bypass timer and see how it goes. If that does the trick I am going to delete the timer and bypass to the tank instead.