Why your Pressure Washer Starter Rope is so HARD to pull, and how to fix it
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- Опубликовано: 28 авг 2024
- Let's discuss the reasons a pressure washer rope starter can be difficult or nearly impossible to pull. Then, let's fix it! We'll discuss...pump pressure, broken or bent rocker arms, improper valve clearances, and faulty compression release mechanisms. Which one will it be this time?
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I personally just did this to my 190 pressure washer. Thank you much for this do it yourself video. I literally took the pressure washer out to the curb after the recoil almost took my hand off. I went back out and got it after watching this video. You saved me lots of $$$$$$$$!
Ok, great. I'm glad you are gonna fix this yourself. Another thing to check is the flywheel keyway pin. If misaligned, one symptom is that the starter rope literally rips itself right out of your hand....startling and potentially painful. Good luck.
😊
Holy crap!!! I was having this problem and followed your advice to release the pressure of the wand...BANG! First pull. Thank you man!!!
Hey, that's great! And you didn't even have to break out any tools!
Thanks, brother! This saved my ass! I've never used a pressure washer before and I borrowed my girlfriend's John Deere 3800 4.0GPM and the sucker locked up on me after initial start and then fail. Turns out it was out of gas when I tried to start it. The solution was filling it with gas so it can actually run, and then triggering the wand as you suggested! That initial trigger pull to release internal pressure before trying to start it made the starter pull work again! Thank you!!!!
Glad you got it all up and running!
Thanks for the video, I'll check for that broken/worn out part, this winter when I dont' need the washer and I have more free time. In the mean while, I turn off the incoming water before pulling the rope. This relieves all of the pressure. As soon as the engine fires up, I turn the water on. And a safety warning for anyone with this issue. The washer chassis can and will pull up and hit you in the head, if the recoil start locks up. I found out the hard way and it almost took me out. :)
This is the best repair video ever made with regards to this type pressure washer, I wish I could have given this video a million likes. Thank you sir
Thank you so much! You've made my day! Did you get your machine back up and running?
Thanks…. I just realized that I need to remove water pressure from the wand and then I can start it again. Not sure what that is but it’s working for me now….Thanks again…
-Pieter
I have this problem but the cam and valves look like they are working fine. No pressure at the wand it's open. It's easier to pull with the spark plug out? Maybe a bit too full of oil - more oil on the cam and valves than your video.
Thank you so much releasing the pressure did the trick without having to take apart
thank you so much for this video
You are awesome. You just save me from having to take something and get it fixed and all it needed was me to pull on the wand.
I know you’ve heard this over 42 thousand times but…. This is the best informative video I have ever watched. Thanks a million 🫡
Thank you!
This is the best video on this topic. Every other one simply discusses valve clearance adjustments. I adjusted (more than once!!) and still no go. You covered the exact steps to troubleshoot and fix this. Thanks so much. I just subscribed! -DT
Thank you so much. I try to be thorough...which sometimes means long-winded, ha ha! I hope your machine is now up and running!
@@Buckwsr No apologies needed. I had looked over and over for more thorough information. Most do a good job simply talking about valve adjustments, but yours was the first I found that started with the trigger on the gun, then the valves, and finally the compression relief valve. What we be a scary task to most was clearly shown how simple it is. Your style, content and clarity are spot on in my opinion. Keep you the great work!! All the best. -DT
@@Buckwsr It's official. Watched the video on Saturday, ordered the part from Amazon ($9.50), received it on Monday, installed immediately in under 10 minutes, effortlessly pulled the cord and she started up!!! Once again, thanks a million!!!!!
@@homebrewingtips6029 Wow, that's great! Good job doing it yourself. Made my day to get your note! Thanks!
Thank you Mr for posting this video clip ! And your meticulously details while repairing the engine !!! I thought you are the best RUclipsr to show peoples how to repair stuffs on RUclips !!! Once again thank you for your video !!! 👍👌👏👏👏❤️
Thank you for the kind words. Good luck with your machine!
I had trying your suggestions. But my commercial Honda engine pressure washer still locked. Do you have any other suggestions??? Please help ! Thank you in advance ! 👍
Helped me out! All I had to do was to release the pressure in the wand and it started right up. Thank you sir!
Awesome! Easy fix....
Buck your the best!.I just replaced the unloader on my power washer and then I go to use it and I can’t start it. Believe it or not it was the buildup of pressure in the pump. I release the pressure with the wand and Wala! I already had enough aggravation with the reloader, although a simple repair, it tripped me up on the last weekend I wanted to power wash my house. Now the hard pull…no more! Thanks again. Barb in NJ
Easy fix! Great job, Barbara.
Great video !! I have a Generac that has the same issue, very hard to pull even with the wand fully open. I don't know where the pressure relief is but I'll find it. Thanks for the video.
Great information, helped me understand what I did wrong when I changed the decompression valve. Put back to TDC and lined up the marks. Engine fired up on first pull. Thankyou
Glad you got it all sorted out! Good job.
Omg mines was just the WAND pressure it worked right away😭 I was so scared my husband was going to be upset if I messed it up 😂 thanks Great video
Glad you solved the problem. Good luck.
Nice one, Buck! This shows the great engineering Honda does - making it so easy to replace a compression release compared to most small engines. I definitely learned something new today, so thanks!
I would have appreciated seeing exactly why that failed. Did some of the plastic wear over time?
I would have replaced the O-ring while I was at it, although I see Honda supplies the shaft and O-ring along with the cam gear for a pretty decent price.
Was looking for an automatic starter for this unit. Will have to give this a try. Thank you! Mine acted like this out of the box. Honda should have done a recall.
Which motioso you have? Mine is the GCV 160 . It's never started smoothly
Thank you very much, i was about to junk mine in the trash. Saved me 400 dollars. Thanks brother
Great job! Buy yourself an ice cream!
Great Video - Fixed my issue. Cord was impossible to pull. Replacing camshaft pulley did the trick. Best way to test if camshaft pulley is the issue is to remove spark plug and pull the cord. if the cord pulls easy you know its the pulley. Part # for GC 160 engine is 14320-ZL8-010
You were great help!. All it was is my water pressure was too high. I pulled the trigger and it fired right up for me!. I'm subscribing!
Great easy 'fix' !! Thank you so much!
I’m amazed at the number of people in this comment section who had to release the wand pressure to make the engine easier to turn over. The first steps with any pressure washer are to run the garden hose before hooking up to make sure no debris gets into the pump, then hook up the pressure hose and wand and operate the wand to confirm water flow so as not to burn up the pump by running it dry.
Of course many people never read their owner’s manual. 😉🔧👍
Thanks for getting to the point. Pulling the trigger to release the pressure worked.
Awesome. Glad it was an easy fix.
Thank you very much ! You saved me from a repair shop trip $$$ 👍🏻
Great job, Dave!
Thanks so much for the very well done instructional video. Once I get the part will work on fixing my mower
I've been debating on getting a milwaukee socket wrench for a few weeks and now I know I need one
I had to force myself to use it, as it was new and different. I decided to keep it in my everyday toolbox, and not in the carrying case, so that I could grab it easily and get in the habit of using it. I'm using it a lot more now.
Great video! Helped me alot with fixing my GC160.
YUP!
That is my problem.
I found my pressure washer in a dumpster, certainly could not pass it up on account of that Honda engine on it.
After watching vids I found yours, and, WALLAH, my camshaft pulley is messed up too!
Just ordered the new gear and if it has more problems than I know of, so what!
The new gear is under $20.
I'll give you an update when I install the new gear, Thanks Buck.
Awesome! Hope you get it fixed soon. What a great dumpster find! And your spelling of Voila cracked me up!
I have this problem but the cam and valves look like they are working fine. No pressure at the wand it's open. It's easier to pull with the spark plug out? Maybe a bit too full of oil - more oil on the cam and valves than your video.
Thanks. Mine was the pressure built up. Been using pressure washers for years. Never had an issue
Gotcha. If the engine is reluctant to start for whatever reason, the pressure in the pump can build up and make you think you have even worse problems. Glad you're back up and running!
Dude youre a lifesaver. I jammed my tip accidentally. Fixed that using a wrench but did not relieve pressure prior to trying to start. Such an amateur mistake, but hey, you learn something new every day.
Good job. Nice easy fix for you there!
this solved my problem. that compression release valve on my gcv190 camshaft was no longer working. was not springing back into place which made it a bugger to pull. replaced the camshaft pulley for $10. easy fix. took longer to clean off old gasket seal than it did to replace the pulley. appreciate the video and insight!
Great job, Todd!
Just ordered the cam pulley for my GCV190 pressure washer also... Got it on craigslist a week ago for $60... It would run for around 10 minutes and then would like to pull your arm off when trying to restart it... The small metal protrusion piece on the cam would stick and not allow the compression release to work properly...Thank God for RUclips and it's posters !
@@davemcgaffney9401 Yes, Dave, if you can fix things yourself, there are a lot of bargain machines out there to get for cheap, or even free. Good job.
dude! this video helped me in a bind, you rock!
Thanks! I'm pretty sure mine has the same problem. Time to dig in...
Good luck with it, Wayne!
Awesome video! Very informative! Thanks👍
Thank you!
Great Smart video there is no way I would have come up with that repair till now thanks for all you do.
Thanks so much!
So helpful with step-by-steps instructions and some alternate solutions. Thanks!
Thanks, Daniel
Hard pull issue was the pressure for me. Thanks. Turns out my cranking issue was old gas.
Great . Very well explained. I'm not a very bright bulb but I got it! Thank you.
Thank you!
8:05 wood tick drops on the table, nice touch!
Thanks a million. Had hose and water on couldn’t pull it. Sprayed the hose and just like that I started it.
Ok, great. Glad you got it running. Have fun!
I have experienced the same thanks for the advice
Very good video. I did the same thing on my John Deere tractor. The valves needed adjusting after replacing the pressure release switch.
Just fixed my machine on the jobsite, thank you!!
Great job, Clayton!
WOWZ I just got one of these from my friend for free. Having the same problem. About to get working on it. Thanks man!
Only guy ever to give bolt size. Power to you! I was just outside starting to attempt tune up and life of me couldn’t find right size - then you say #10. Thank goodness it was getting dark n I’m like “this project is off to a bad start”! So came in n found your video - now I’m not going to keep bumping into myself trying to get the dang washer to run! Thank you for excellent video! This MOM is determined!!
Thanks for watching the video, and good luck with your machine!
Haven't ran into this problem yet ! If I do this will be go to guy . Not just for reference only . Save $$$$$$$$ Big Bucks . Thank you so much for your video. Awesome job.
Thanks, Anthony!
@@Buckwsr Thank you so much for posting the video. BIG THANKS UPPERCASE LETTERS. 🤔 YOU EARNED IT.
Just found one on the curb for free with the same "hard to pull" issue. Thanks for the tips, I can't wait to dig into this and try your tips !
Hey, that's fun! Enjoy the free machine, and good luck getting it running again!
@@Buckwsr Per page 14 of cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/engines/pdf/manuals/00X31Z8B0240.pdf , I see that the valves should be gapped at .15mm (IN) and .20mm (EX) for the gaps. Do these correspond to .006 and .008? Thanks for keeping me honest!
Very nice video Sir. You just saved me a chunk. 3 thumbs up for you!
Thank you!
Thanks very much. Help me a lot fixing my mashing.
Awesome, thank you. I'm gonna check mine out.
Great video my cam gear should be here any day now and I will get it installed. Thanks
Thanks, Dean! Tell Jerry I said hello....
Thanks for this video it helps alot
Thanks so much!
Great video helped me relieve the pressure with your first tip
Great! Easy fix right there!
Did everything you said check valve clearance they were .01 reset it to .004 put it together pulled it no problem. However I let it run for a moment turned it off and I can’t pull it again. All other issues issues you discussed were fine. Any suggestions? Honda G C 160
The park came in. I changed it and it works great thank you so very very much! Awesome explanation !!
Check the compression release on the cam gear. It probably needs to be replaced, as I did in this video.
@@Buckwsr I have the spark plug disengaged but screwed in valve cover off and I watch that cam come around and move the exhaust rocker arm and compress the valve. It’s not hard to pull. However, when I let it run, shut it off and try to restart it I can’t pull it. I hope this makes sense. Thanks.
@@lanceuhde1498 The exhaust valve opening on the exhaust stroke is not the same thing as the compression release. Compression release is a small bump given to the exhaust valve. It is a small bump, just barely perceptible, unlike the more obvious opening of the exhaust valve on the exhaust stroke. That's a different event. The compression release mechanism is built in to the plastic cam gear....a moving arm connected to a spring....and it stops working reliably on these engines. You just have to replace it, as I demonstrated in the video. Good luck.
@@Buckwsr thanks for your patience. I absolutely will change it and I’ll let you know!
By the way, it is a very good video very well laid out put together.
I'm currently waiting on my camshaft pulley to do this hoping it works
Thank You for sharing your knowledge!!! So helpful solving my problem with the Honda GC190
A great channel !!!! Learning MUCH !!!
Thank you so much!
Wow.. thanks for the video, and easy to understand. 👍
Excellent video
Thank you very much!
Excellent detailed presentation.
First sent trace fixed mine! Thank you
Great job!
You have a great channel. You’re very intelligent.
fixed my problem, am a happy camper.
Good job!
Thank you so much for this video!
thank you it fixed the problem it was pressure in the wand!
Awesome! Easy fix.
Release the pressure in the wand and it will make the rope pull easier.
Thank you so much that worked.😇😊
Mine is stuck to the actual machine and I didn't even screw it in that hard. How do you loosen it? I don't want to strip anything inside the coil.
Thank you! You just saved my butt!! Exactly the info I needed and exactly what was wrong with my gc190
Good job fixing it yourself!
Thanks!
Thank you so very much. I really appreciate it.
Thank you for making this video! Just got done fixing this exact issue on a GC160. Any tips on how to get any plastic or metal bits out of the oil pan?
Also for anyone else here with a GC160 the rocker specs are .006 for the intake side and .008 for the exhaust side.
Flush the oil like 5 times with diesel fuel and some 2 cycle oil premix mixed together
It was the pressure!!! Thank you so much
Oh yeah, try the easy stuff first! Thank you!
Nice video. Seems like this only happens on the horizontal Hondas. My experience anyway.
Same here. I've only seen this happen to pressure washers (horizontal shaft), but never on a Honda lawn mower engine (vertical). Interesting....
Great video hoping I can fix my 25 ton log splitter with Honda OHC motor .. Pull rope very hard to pull !!
Good luck. I would love to hear how it turns out for you. Thanks.
perfect, thanks for making this vid.!
Thank you.
Great Video !! very easy to follow and fix
Thanks so much!
Thank you
Thanks for posting this video. Exactly what my problem was! Easy fix. Thanks for taking the time and giving us a step by step trouble shooting and tutorial on how to replace the part…..saving me lot of $! Thanks again Sir! Very well done.
Thank you, Bernie. Glad you got your machine fixed!
You rock. Saved me!!!
How are you manually spinning that black part? I think you’re calling it a cam?
Good video. I have a gvc160 Honda, can hardly pull it. Last week it ran fine, went to use it 2 days ago, can hardly pull it, it popped a couple times. I am gonna do what you just did on this vid and see if its that spring loaded release thingy. Thanks for a good, detailed video
Great. Let me know what you find out.
Just purchased a new Honda mower. When cold the starter cord pulls and it starts normally. After being run and the engine is still hot the cord cannot be pulled as it reaches compression it stops. After cooling it works. Not sure what Honda will do but I am not sure I want a new mower that has to go to the shop right out of the box. Hopefully they will ship me another and allow me to return this one. I would rather repair it myself than to haul it to a shop somewhere. I purchased the mower online from Northern Tool and it was shipped in the factory box.
Rats. Sounds like you need to send it back. It's a matter of principle, however inconvenient.
Thank you!
You're a bloody Saint!
Thank's dude.
Also: Can't crank engine (like engine lock-up) ?
Certainly earned my subscription and a thumbs up.
Thank you!
hi liked video i had issue like this with my Simpson 3000 GCV 190 it was doing this when pulling but relieved pressure everytime but on my 2nd car i was puttin water in cannon to rinse out and came outside n oil was running out above pump my pump is on bottom of that model could this relelated? thx Jeff
Good stuff!
Thank you for the perfect explanation 👍
Thanks for the note, Russell.
Thank you so much 👍✌️
Great video very easy to understand did a great job thank you
Thank you.
Thank god for this video
Great! I just sold my Pressure Washer for $30 same problem.
Oops....bet you'd like to have it back now...
Great information Buck. Thanks
Thank you
Good job,just don't forget to make fresh the engine and pump oil .
Thank You
Hey! I have the same engine in mine but its an easy start... after it ran out of gas while on i decided to refuel and change the oil... tried to start it and it wont pull even 3 inches out no matter how hard i pull... its not a hard pull. It just doesnt pull at all. Any suggestions? Im going to follow the tutorial now for you hopefully this video helps
Same issue did it help?
any reply to this, my gcv 160 same issue-ran out of gas and wont pull?
Pull valve cover and check the exhaust rocker arm for cracks. Check exhaust valve clearance (and if the exhaust valve guide has started working it's way out it'll be WAY too open.)
Great video!! Thank you for making it! I think this might be my issue.
Hope you get it worked out! Let me know!
Mine did this to me today
Cool. Hope you can get it fixed soon!