Top man 👍! Had the same problem with little pressure from my K4 just fitted my new cylinder head exactly as you described and now power washing my drive. I have thrown karchers away before with similar problems 😣. Thanks buddy 🙏 saved me a few quid there.
I have just found two K4 machines in a skip, the first one had a dirty filter which is based at the start of the inlet pipe and now works perfectly, second one is the K4 economy, this one has low pressure and it pulsates, so I will now order a new head for it, thanks so much for doing this video 👍
Thank you for this video. Lost all pressure in my 15 year old K4. I followed your instructions and replaced the part you recommended. It’s back to normal now! Saved me quite a lot of money there!
Just changed the head on my Karcher K4 full control pressure water due to an internal leak. Your video is spot on and the leak has now been fixed. Total cost just under £20. Many thanks. Regards Ian
Thanks for your helpful video. I like to try to fix all at home. I have a K4 BASIC bought two years ago that, since new, it had a hard start pulsing, but after several seconds it worked fine. This would happen again if I stopped using it for some minutes. I thought about taking it to the supplier, but due to COVID, I did not do it and now it is out of warranty and now is just pulsing with just a few hours of use. I let it bleed for more than 20 minutes several times and it did not help. Now I'm going to start by opening it and exploring to see what I find. Already have good information to try to get it back without overspending. Thanks a lot and best regards from México.
Good job well done. Av got a K4 & it has started to leak & dropped in pressure a bit so I need to take it apart & investigate. Thanks for video. All the best for 2024. 👍🎄
Thank you so much!!!! 💓 This helped us fixed the whole thing. It was pulsing so we replaced it with the part you said. Then it kept pulsing at the highest level. So we saw the tip of changing the lans. And that worked too! You made our day!!!
Thanks for this video! My K4 lost some pressure, was still operational but would not go above soft power. I have replaced this part and now works as new again!
I'm going through this right now! Mine did exactly what you said and the pump was on today and there was no water pressure at all. I'm here in the states, my Karcher is slightly different than yours, but I'll be looking for the same thing. It's hot as hell here today and my pressure washer died in the middle of me cleaning my house. Thanks mate! I appreciate this.
Follow up: We were trying to piece ours together tonight...There's a filter in the black PVC bit...I just took mine out with a pair of needle nose pliers....icky nasty mineral buildup. Currently soaking in vinegar
I used this pump to replace the pump on a Ecell 3100 PSI pump. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxEU8wdEWW31diRsOawsCNfWEho39M27qd The model # is PWZ0163100.02 for those looking for a matching pump. It went on very easily - 10 minutes at most. Feels like a lot more power than the original but that's to be expected. Can't tell a difference when cleaning with the wand or floor sprayer. Would recommend as it was cheaper than most I found. The maintenance free aspect is definitely a plus too. Have used it through about 6 tanks of gas and have zero issues so far.
dOOd, the guy at the start of the vid said "lay it flat when running"... just sayin'. Oh, and thanks for the tips. Clear and thorough. Motivated me to fix mine instead of factory refurbish. Nice. Good job.
excellent video, all I needed to know to repair my Kacher. really good to see where to get the parts, overall very helpful and made it very easy. Thanks
I bought new pressure washer in around April by Dec it's not building pressure I took a look cleaned up thr filter and checked the lance. It's too late at night to see if that'll be enough! I think it's the pump inside. It'll be me doing the work on my own if not. I have a pro kleen in brand. Honestly I've had enough of these types though I saw the drill type cordless ones I think I may have to just buy another. Again. Great video really appreciated.
Great video, my k2 wasn't gaining any pressure and the motor wouldn't turn off and kept on regardless. After replacing the entire head unit I discovered that the metal gear on the motor has separated from the shaft. If you turn it by hand it all spins but under any physical pressure it doesn't spin just the shaft on the motor spins. If you ever have similar issues its worth looking at, Im going to put a bead of weld on the tip over the gear and shaft tip to hold the gear solid onto the shaft
Hey yugiranger, my K4 has the same behaviour as what you described here. I opened the machine but haven't actually replaced cylinder head yet as I'm collecting some info first before buying the replacement part. I'm now looking where to find this metal gear you are talking about but can't find it. Is it visible in this video somewhere or do I have to disassemble it a bit further in order to find it?
thx,m8te. nice video and explanation. yes it is cheaper to repair,than just buy new. more people should do it, it's fun and y learn from that.....:) best regards from vikersund,norway
Hi Jammyone - thanks for your video - I’ve just put a new water pump on my K3 - this was surging and really was not fit to use - now with the new water pump I still have problems but to a lesser degree - my K3 is circa 2006 - I hope that you can help - all the best to you - Geoff
Very useful and easy to follow video. Ive replaced the part as youve demonstrated but cylinder head very difficult to screw back on. One screw inparticular very trickys if its cross threaded.when put back together it still surges and leaks fromcylinder head as though its not fastened down tightly enough. Any ideas why?
Yes if you have cross thread it it will not seat properly and therefore leak. I'd recommend checking and retightening it. Perhaps use some lock thread for the one if it is not tightening
Thanks. Managed to secure it all down OK but still some leaking fron top of cylinder head near pump so low pressure. Is it probably just not tight enough?
Excellent. Thanks for the vid. My k4 only hits level 2 medium now so will give this a try. Parts costs $85 in Australia though unfortunately vs 20 gbp.... Grrr
@@JackZapper yes it worked but took me a lot longer than it should have. Taking the hose reel and putting it back on took ages cuz the pinch clip is angled to lock and a nightmare to get back in of you have a premium version. Replacing the cylinder head is easy enough. I used an impact driver to undo the bolts. So tight I would have had no chance doing manually. I also lost HOURS because I snapped the on/off lever as I lay it face down to help put on the reel so do not do that. I had to reglue and still then it isn't exactly straight or smooth. Anyway the install is easy enough apart from the issues I had. Was very satisfying it worked.
@@meteora8888 extremely frustrating , my product isn't 3 years old and used 2 or 3 times a year max, very unhappy with Karcher, and the price and this happens
@@JackZapper I think it's a 3yr warranty in Australia so would cover most ppl maybe with a k4. I think it's good it's an easy fix and cheap compared to the purchase price depending where u live. But expensive compared to the full cost of say a gerni. At least it is repairable if you were otherwise happy with the k4. Unsure if the usual things like emptying out all the water and pressure help prevent these issues. I got my k4 for $80 used with a pressure issue so all up not bad including the repair bill and some wrenching. I did however just buy a brand new k5 which has 7 yr warranty in Australia so pretty comfortable it's covered despite being quite overpriced. The k4 was a little low on flow and pressure and the k7 was stupid expensive and way too big to be practical.
Thanks for that.. I had my k4 full control fixed by a local guy after most likely frost damage, leaking and pulsing. It was neven fully right after, didnt have the power to swirl the dirt buster nozzel.. Now its running very little pressure and the pump is not pulsing but is running all the time? Do you think same fix would solve it?
I'd take it the cover off and check for any leaks, broken pipes etc. ensure the head bolts are tight. If all looks ok, I'd suggest changing the cylinder head as this is the most common fault for low pressure.
I have discovered that there is another possible cause of pulsing with the K3 unit. The housing that contains the low pressure water inlet and the high pressure water outlet can crack, allowing water to leak out OR pass from the high to the low pressure side. This results in pulsing. It requires the replacement of the very expensive manifold (currently about USD$ 82-115 !! The cracks can happen if water freezes in the unit. I just replaced the pump head as you showed, now I'm faced with another expense that begs the question "is it worth fixing?"
My K4 was pulsating similarly so suspect it was the valves replacement part - but you also mentioned leaking water which mine has ; so could be the black outward pipe you mentioned. Will have a go ! Good video 👍🏼
Thanks for a really helpful video. Tt made taking my K4 apart really simple. However, my leak is coming from elsewhere so I'm wondering if you or anyone can please provide advice as neither Karcher (who only want me to send it for an expensive repair or buy a new washer) nor several spares companies seem willing to do so. My K4 started pulsating when I power it on and the pressure is very weak when I press the trigger on the lance. I can’t see any leaks at all when a hose is connected with the water tap on (with the yellow case removed). However, when I turn on the power, a lot of water sprays from near the top of the washer control head (where the chemical tube attaches) so I assume this is where the K4 is losing pressure. There don’t seem to be leaks from anywhere else. I’ve taken the K4 apart and found 2 connected parts (Washer control head and cylinder head) . The control head has 9.075.073.0 and 9.075.072.0 printed on it. The cylinder head looks different inside to the spares on several supplier websites in that I have 3 small white plastic pieces with springs in the top of the cylinder head, instead of one larger white piece. Is this a one with the single white central piece a replacement? Do I need to order the cylinder head as well as the control head (where the leak is)? Anything else? Sorry for the 'wordy' description but I can't attach photos. TIA
Hello, Great video. Thank you. We have a Karcher K4 Full Control. The water pressure from the hose is fine. I've run water through it without the high pressure hose attached to clear any air locks or debris. When I turn the pressure wash on, it doesn't pulse. With the vario lance attached and set to low pressure it doesn't pulse. If I turn the vario lance to the highest pressure, that's when it starts to pulse. I can turn the vario lance ever so slightly below the highest pressure and it doesn't pulse. I've attached the dirt blaster lance which operates at the highest pressure and the washer still pulses. It certainly looks like a pressure issue. Is it likely to be the cylinder head pump that is faulty? Thank you, Ant
Hi mate great video. I stripped mine down as my K4 water gushing water internally. Could see it leaking on the control head seen in your video. I have replaced that. Good news is I no longer have any visual leaks. The inline filter at the inlet is clear. And pressure seems good. But the motor isn't kicking off when you stop with the trigger. The new control head came assembled but the part came with a white insert collar and flat seal which the kit said I had to fit. Plus I lost the tiny pea ball valve on the soap line that connect to the pump head. Would that cause the pump to not shut off? Or have I reassembled wrong somewhere. I am tech savvy and pretty sure I assembled everything right. Any help help appreciated. Great video...
Most likely if you have replaced the head it may not be sealed or tightened down enough. Also check you haven't any leaks from the high pressure hose! Just double check the cylinder head bolts a little grease helps it seal too.
I will have another go. I had to split the pumphead apart as I had to use the lower part that attached to the pump with the triangular seal. As I pulled it apart the 3 springs popped off and I had to refer to another video. I put the on the top of the 3 while plunger type valves on the top over what looks like a mercedes emblem on the top. But have a feeling the go under.neath . Eitherway I will try your suggestions and certainly appreciate the time you have taken to reply. Subscribed and like. Many thanks Jammy.
@@jammyone100Hi jammy this will help anyone out there. Mine is now working like new. So in the new control head the kit had a white insert collar and a rubber flat seal about 3mm thick. The instructions tell you to fit this but the original part didn't have this. And this part is what trips the motor off and the rod on the piston plunger with this extra part effects the travel distance of this plunger. And I thought about it. And thought we'll if the old one didn't have it then why should the new one ? I was right. But appreciate your help. And I know others had the same issue as me with the pump still running after changing the control head. Hope this helps others with this issue. Many thanks
Thank you so much for your excellent video. I have carried out the replacement following your instructions step by step and it went smoothly. The pressure hs returned but the motor still ' searches ' every 10 or 15 seconds ? Any ideas please.
Thank you & Glad it helped. Have you tried putting the other vario lance on? Alternatively, run the water through with the power on holding the trigger on to bleed the pump.
@@jammyone100 Hi thanks for the speedy reply. The machine searches every few seconds with or without the lance attached. Also there must be a problem with the two adjustable lances that I have as you cannot get pressure with them attached yet when I attach my new lance it works perfectly ( but still searching when trigger not pressed ). It works fine with both old and new dirt - bust lances. I have stripped both old lances down and they are so so simple it can only be the end pieces not adjusting or leaking. Can you buy new ones ? Thanks
@terrycleary679 Yes, you can buy new lances. Have you tried reducing the pressure on the adjustable lance then turn up to full pressure. I would think there is either low water pressure, or an air lock in the pump. Kärcher Vario Power Jet VP 145 Full Control amzn.eu/d/92EapHy
@@jammyone100 thanks for that , yes I've tried twisting to full power but no great increase in power, I think the simple valve at the end of the lance isn't operating. I'll invest in a new one.
good video. Gave me to confidence to give it a go on my K4. Put the part in and put it all back together but the pulsing is still there. Any ideas what other (if any) things might cause it?
@@jammyone100 I put on my other lance which is different from the vario and it worked ok. Do you reckon this is because its a different type of lance or is the vario one playing up. The lance I used is a powerful one. No good for washing the car.
Great video well done, but after building back up my leaking is fixed and machine is starting up but without pressure, is there anyway it could have an air lock in system as I have been told to run water through the switched of machine for about 5 -10 minutes then it should start with pressure??? unsure.
Thanks for getting back to me but I also just changed the cylinder head and working better than ever , didn’t realise that they were so cheap, so now I’m looking for a non kink hose, never happy 😂😂👍
Great video, very helpful. I’ve just ordered one of these to fix my own washer. Could you tell me what tools you used please so that I can make sure I have the right ones? Thanks
Hiya, I have a k4 power control. I'm not struggling with it pulsing, it just wint reach maximum pressure, it reaches medium, rather than high. I've checked the nozzle end and it's clear, do you have any idea what next to look at? High pressure hose? This cylinder head? Any help is greatly appreciated, TIA
You may need to rebuild or replace the pump. If the pump is more than a few years old, and you use the pressure washer fairly often, replace the pump. If the pump is relatively new, and you don't use the pressure washer often, either rebuild the pump or replace the pump seals.
Its only a couple of years old and not used a great deal to be honest. Ill probably try the cylinder head first like you did in this video and see how it goes, if no luck, ill have to look at taking the pump apart.@@jammyone100
I have a K4 full control. Replaced the high pressure outlet and suction connection elbows due to leaking from suspected frost damage. When build back up with new parts, i plugged in the hose to check all was good. Water started leaking from the cylinder head control unit. Would that be a simple enough replacement lke the full head?
Hi Jammy, my KB9020 made a dull popping sound when in use and lost all pressure. There was a fine spray emitting from the vent (ruptured seal?). Before I start throwing good money after bad, do you imagine replacing cylinder head, as per video, would resolve this. Thank u
just changed my cylinder head on my k4 full control and have full power again now. took me quite a few hours as i snapped the on/off shaft lever TWICE after gluing back together. would have otherwise not been too bad. dont lay your machine face down when reinstalling the back cover. would be a much quicker process if i had to do it again although a PITA.
hope you can help after stripping the k4 karcher down I find there is just a crack on the black pipe that fits into the cylinder head, I think thats why it doedn,t pulsate just leaks, can I remove the pipe without unscrewing the cylinder head, instructions would help plz, great video cheers
Before undoing the 4 socket head bolts you should have mentioned to keep the motor+pump combo vertically, now my workbench and myself are covered in a very very low viscosity shiny silver oil, the silver color coming from the aluminium part that has been destroyed by rubbing against the springs on the plungers.
Just before anyone does this, if you havent already, and its not leaking, take the nozels apart and give them a wash. T10 star screw head for the main wand. and just unscrew the cone one with your hand. Gave mine a wash and a poke with a pin, didnt see any dirt, but all is fine after now. I was also having pulsing issues
I agree with jjfreer. Whilst the method of replacing the piston might be required check the jets in the lance or patio cleaner 1st off. My karcher K4 started pulsing when using the karcher T5 Karcher patio cleaner attachment for the 2nd time. It’s brand new and has only been used to clean 25m2 of patio. When using it again the K4 started pulsing so thought the piston head was shot. I tried the standard lance and the K4 worked fine. On removing the two jets on the patio cleaner one jet was blocked which I cleared with a piece of 5amp fuse wire. Reassembled it and it now works fine.
Hi Jammy My K4-200 has lost pressure but is not noticeably pulsating. Is this likely to be caused by the cylinder head or the pressure regulator? I will appreciate any advice? Rod
good detailed video, my washer has water gushing out of the motor compartmet but I can't locate where it is from? I know you might think if you don't know, how do I know where it's coming from? but just want your opinion where the problem may be? thank you in advance
I have K3 which has no pressure at all it’s not leaking water the water is coming out I’ve bought the part in this video but I realise the inside is different to the k4
Great video! Sadly, people chuck stuff away,without even considering it for repair! I have a 15 year old plus,Karcher B203 think it was K2 or something .A great pressure washer So I discovered the pressure lance outlet pipe was leaking ,spraying high pressure water out through my washers vents! I reckon I lost around 30% power, while This outlet pipe to the spray lance, has no support or brackets. The outlet pipe, is a lot smaller in diameter than the mains water inlet pipe too ,which is a lot thicker. Surely it would have made sense to either make the outlet out of alloy (given the amount of pressure coming through there) or thicker plastic with some sort of support I like Karcher products,but think the R and D side has gone out the window
Hey thanks for this video really helpful. I have a K3 which I’m trying to sort just now. Ordered what I thought was right part but it’s too big. Can you point me in the direction of somewhere to buy replacement part for K3 washer? Thanks
Great video, thank-you. I followed the steps and replaced a cracked cylinder head. Now however I have a pulsing issue, but only when the nozzle is turned to hard (strongest mode). If there is no nozzle on or if it is turned to soft, then there is no pulsing. Any idea why this may be happening?
i second this! was about to do this fix, but then realised all the nozels come apart. (didnt think dirt could really get back up into it to be honnest) gave them a wash and a prod with a pin, didnt notice any dirt but all works fine now.
Fantastic video... I have the same machine but it has done a weird thing today, leaking water from the body of the machine and it wont switch on.. i.e the on- off button doesn't fire up the motor, any thoughts>
Hi I have the K4 which seems to have this problem, i have removed the part but it looks different to the part listed can you advise please? Mine says PA66 GF50 QC6 thank you
Thanks for the info. I have a k3, would you know where I could buy a control head? I am in USA. If parts are available, I don't mind buying internationally. Thanks.
I borrowed a friend's karcher 2.94 and after a bit it stopped and now only hums for a few minutes and then stops and the trigger does not do anything. I've changed the capacitor as that was a potential fix but no luck. Any ideas?
Fixing surging can be as simple as changing o rings on the lance commectors, also changing the large o ring inside the pump housing. I’ve fixed mine a few times over the years that way but now my power won’t turn off, and the lance is maybe putting out 20% of what it should have so away to look at the cylinder head and electrical module.
Many thanks for the hugely helpful video. Unfortunately, my machine was exposed to frost and since then I have the pulsing problem exactly as you describe. Do you think following your instruction should fix it? Or could it be pulsing for a different reason caused by the frost? Also, do you know is the part in your description compatible with a regular K4 (ie not compact version) Thanks again
Hi, i just done all that and it made no difference at all, but the triangular gasket looked a bit iffy and was a sloppy fit, would this make a big difference do you know please? Thanks.
Changed the head as shown but still have the issue with pulsing and water coming out from the body. Works ok when using but pulses when not pressing trigger on the lance
@@jammyone100 it looks like the pump will just not retain pressure. It works fine when pumping water through the hose and any tools but will not hold pressure when idle. When using I get a constant stream and good pressure with no leaks. The minute I take my finger off the trigger it starts leaking and pulsing. Stripped down again and everything looks fine. Appreciate your reply thanks 👍🏼
@@jammyone100have done so today. Have taken a couple of vids that show what happens but no idea how to post them 😂😂 It’s an age thing…. There is a small leak with the pump off which turns into a large spray when the pump is switched on. Any way I can send you the images?
I do not have this model, the one I have is a 405 which I think is a bit older. The problem I have with it is that its not pumping the water in for it to even come out, please do you have any idea on how to fix this problem? Thank you
This doesn’t seem to be like my K4 full control… my washer kept running with wand (small hand gun part), or if I release the trigger it keeps running but not water coming out. It wasn’t pulsing just kept running… do they have uploader Switch/valve something? Mine is now about 200 quid. Bought in 2018 I think, latest 2019. That make sense to you? Thanks for your vids, they’re great, just not this time I reckon.
Great video! I have a K5.79. It has not been used for a few years indeed. I tried it and it worked fine for about 3 minutes, then suddenly capacity fell down substantially, and there was a rubber smell. Do you think that is the same cause of the cilinder head? Thank you
Top man 👍! Had the same problem with little pressure from my K4 just fitted my new cylinder head exactly as you described and now power washing my drive. I have thrown karchers away before with similar problems 😣. Thanks buddy 🙏 saved me a few quid there.
Good to hear glad it work for you.
I have just found two K4 machines in a skip, the first one had a dirty filter which is based at the start of the inlet pipe and now works perfectly, second one is the K4 economy, this one has low pressure and it pulsates, so I will now order a new head for it, thanks so much for doing this video 👍
Thanks: I thought this won't work but in minutes my washer was back to life and you've saved me a few hundred quid!
Glad I could help!
Hi Jammy, came across your vid. This helped me to decide to tackle mine. Bang on. Thank you. £20 repair over buying new.
Thank you for this video. Lost all pressure in my 15 year old K4. I followed your instructions and replaced the part you recommended. It’s back to normal now! Saved me quite a lot of money there!
Just changed the head on my Karcher K4 full control pressure water due to an internal leak. Your video is spot on and the leak has now been fixed. Total cost just under £20. Many thanks. Regards Ian
You have completed everything while wearing your slippers; great job.
Correct.
Glad I watched this.I was worried about the grease being emulsified. None of the other videos give that type of info.
Thank you very much. I discovered today my 520 m has the very same pulsing problem. Now to order the replacement part. Saved my bacon.
Thanks for your helpful video. I like to try to fix all at home. I have a K4 BASIC bought two years ago that, since new, it had a hard start pulsing, but after several seconds it worked fine. This would happen again if I stopped using it for some minutes. I thought about taking it to the supplier, but due to COVID, I did not do it and now it is out of warranty and now is just pulsing with just a few hours of use. I let it bleed for more than 20 minutes several times and it did not help. Now I'm going to start by opening it and exploring to see what I find. Already have good information to try to get it back without overspending. Thanks a lot and best regards from México.
Jammy the legend , I could do without this job , but you have gave us the knowledge . thanks
Glad it helped. 👍
Good job well done. Av got a K4 & it has started to leak & dropped in pressure a bit so I need to take it apart & investigate. Thanks for video. All the best for 2024. 👍🎄
Cheers and to you. 👍
Thank you so much!!!! 💓
This helped us fixed the whole thing. It was pulsing so we replaced it with the part you said. Then it kept pulsing at the highest level. So we saw the tip of changing the lans. And that worked too!
You made our day!!!
Glad it helped!
Great video. I ordered the part from the link in the description and it came next day. Easy to fit if you follow the video. 👍
Thanks for this video! My K4 lost some pressure, was still operational but would not go above soft power. I have replaced this part and now works as new again!
I'm going through this right now! Mine did exactly what you said and the pump was on today and there was no water pressure at all. I'm here in the states, my Karcher is slightly different than yours, but I'll be looking for the same thing. It's hot as hell here today and my pressure washer died in the middle of me cleaning my house. Thanks mate! I appreciate this.
Follow up: We were trying to piece ours together tonight...There's a filter in the black PVC bit...I just took mine out with a pair of needle nose pliers....icky nasty mineral buildup. Currently soaking in vinegar
Hope it's sorted it for you.
I used this pump to replace the pump on a Ecell 3100 PSI pump. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxEU8wdEWW31diRsOawsCNfWEho39M27qd The model # is PWZ0163100.02 for those looking for a matching pump. It went on very easily - 10 minutes at most. Feels like a lot more power than the original but that's to be expected. Can't tell a difference when cleaning with the wand or floor sprayer. Would recommend as it was cheaper than most I found. The maintenance free aspect is definitely a plus too. Have used it through about 6 tanks of gas and have zero issues so far.
Many thanks for posting your excellent video. Just ordered genuine Karcher part from eBay for just under £20
dOOd, the guy at the start of the vid said "lay it flat when running"... just sayin'.
Oh, and thanks for the tips. Clear and thorough. Motivated me to fix mine instead of factory refurbish. Nice.
Good job.
Yes well spotted this was mainly for the thumbnail, but yes lay it flat as stated on your machine.
@@jammyone100 Do you have any advice where we can check the compatibility of the part number against the model we have?
@@januyg www.kaercher.com/uk/services/support/spare-parts.html
excellent video, all I needed to know to repair my Kacher. really good to see where to get the parts, overall very helpful and made it very easy. Thanks
Tks a LOT - Resolved my issue in now time - glad I found you before deciding to throw it away ;-)
Glad I could help!
great video and saved me a lot of money as I already had the tools to do it, thanks again
Great to hear!
Very nice video!!!
I followed your instructions but some grease spilled when I opened the pistons. Do I fill in or not?
No need it'll be ok
@@jammyone100 Thank you very much!!!
Good informative, well presented video, my power washer has that exact problem, now be able to attempt a repair
I bought new pressure washer in around April by Dec it's not building pressure I took a look cleaned up thr filter and checked the lance. It's too late at night to see if that'll be enough! I think it's the pump inside. It'll be me doing the work on my own if not. I have a pro kleen in brand. Honestly I've had enough of these types though I saw the drill type cordless ones I think I may have to just buy another. Again. Great video really appreciated.
Very very helpful video. I’ve just repaired mine thanks to your video 👍
My k4 is pulsing, now I'm going to fix it myself, thanks pal for the informative vid..👍
Glad it helped
Great video, my k2 wasn't gaining any pressure and the motor wouldn't turn off and kept on regardless. After replacing the entire head unit I discovered that the metal gear on the motor has separated from the shaft. If you turn it by hand it all spins but under any physical pressure it doesn't spin just the shaft on the motor spins. If you ever have similar issues its worth looking at, Im going to put a bead of weld on the tip over the gear and shaft tip to hold the gear solid onto the shaft
Hey yugiranger, my K4 has the same behaviour as what you described here. I opened the machine but haven't actually replaced cylinder head yet as I'm collecting some info first before buying the replacement part. I'm now looking where to find this metal gear you are talking about but can't find it. Is it visible in this video somewhere or do I have to disassemble it a bit further in order to find it?
thx,m8te. nice video and explanation. yes it is cheaper to repair,than just buy new. more people should do it, it's fun and y learn from that.....:) best regards from vikersund,norway
Hi Jammyone - thanks for your video - I’ve just put a new water pump on my K3 - this was surging and really was not fit to use - now with the new water pump I still have problems but to a lesser degree - my K3 is circa 2006 - I hope that you can help - all the best to you - Geoff
have you tried replacing the cylinder head?
The piston spring below which has grease is it advisable to pour some car engine oil for good lubrication.
It's about time they brought out an upgraded part for this design flaw, must be making a mint on parts, on my 3rd head same machine...
@@PaulMappud think your right. And on new machines lots of people throw them away too.
Laurie Haynes , great talk Jammyone you have explained everything great video many thanks , I will get my old 620M all good again
Great video mate very helpful. Only thing you didn't explain was how and what way the triangle rubber seal sits in on top of the cylinder head.
Very useful and easy to follow video. Ive replaced the part as youve demonstrated but cylinder head very difficult to screw back on. One screw inparticular very trickys if its cross threaded.when put back together it still surges and leaks fromcylinder head as though its not fastened down tightly enough. Any ideas why?
Yes if you have cross thread it it will not seat properly and therefore leak. I'd recommend checking and retightening it. Perhaps use some lock thread for the one if it is not tightening
Thanks. Managed to secure it all down OK but still some leaking fron top of cylinder head near pump so low pressure. Is it probably just not tight enough?
@@stevesmith2809 yes probably. If it's not sealed properly it'll be losing pressure.
I went through your link to get the part I think I need hopefully it works it's turning up today
Excellent. Thanks for the vid. My k4 only hits level 2 medium now so will give this a try. Parts costs $85 in Australia though unfortunately vs 20 gbp.... Grrr
Hi same problem with my k4, did this work ?
@@JackZapper yes it worked but took me a lot longer than it should have. Taking the hose reel and putting it back on took ages cuz the pinch clip is angled to lock and a nightmare to get back in of you have a premium version. Replacing the cylinder head is easy enough. I used an impact driver to undo the bolts. So tight I would have had no chance doing manually. I also lost HOURS because I snapped the on/off lever as I lay it face down to help put on the reel so do not do that. I had to reglue and still then it isn't exactly straight or smooth. Anyway the install is easy enough apart from the issues I had. Was very satisfying it worked.
@@meteora8888 extremely frustrating , my product isn't 3 years old and used 2 or 3 times a year max, very unhappy with Karcher, and the price and this happens
@@JackZapper I think it's a 3yr warranty in Australia so would cover most ppl maybe with a k4. I think it's good it's an easy fix and cheap compared to the purchase price depending where u live. But expensive compared to the full cost of say a gerni. At least it is repairable if you were otherwise happy with the k4. Unsure if the usual things like emptying out all the water and pressure help prevent these issues. I got my k4 for $80 used with a pressure issue so all up not bad including the repair bill and some wrenching. I did however just buy a brand new k5 which has 7 yr warranty in Australia so pretty comfortable it's covered despite being quite overpriced. The k4 was a little low on flow and pressure and the k7 was stupid expensive and way too big to be practical.
@@meteora8888 okay thanks for this info , I'll have a crack at it myself, glad to see this solved the problem with a similar issue to mine
Great video. Thx for taking the time to share the fix.
very nice. just one remark: at the end of your video you use the karcher standing up instead laying down ;)!
Yes others have said the same it was done for the thumbnail. 👍
Thanks for that.. I had my k4 full control fixed by a local guy after most likely frost damage, leaking and pulsing. It was neven fully right after, didnt have the power to swirl the dirt buster nozzel.. Now its running very little pressure and the pump is not pulsing but is running all the time? Do you think same fix would solve it?
I'd take it the cover off and check for any leaks, broken pipes etc. ensure the head bolts are tight. If all looks ok, I'd suggest changing the cylinder head as this is the most common fault for low pressure.
Does this work with other k4 models?
Yes same pump.
I have discovered that there is another possible cause of pulsing with the K3 unit. The housing that contains the low pressure water inlet and the high pressure water outlet can crack, allowing water to leak out OR pass from the high to the low pressure side. This results in pulsing. It requires the replacement of the very expensive manifold (currently about USD$ 82-115 !! The cracks can happen if water freezes in the unit. I just replaced the pump head as you showed, now I'm faced with another expense that begs the question "is it worth fixing?"
Not really.
My K4 was pulsating similarly so suspect it was the valves replacement part - but you also mentioned leaking water which mine has ; so could be the black outward pipe you mentioned. Will have a go ! Good video 👍🏼
Thanks for a really helpful video. Tt made taking my K4 apart really simple. However, my leak is coming from elsewhere so I'm wondering if you or anyone can please provide advice as neither Karcher (who only want me to send it for an expensive repair or buy a new washer) nor several spares companies seem willing to do so. My K4 started pulsating when I power it on and the pressure is very weak when I press the trigger on the lance. I can’t see any leaks at all when a hose is connected with the water tap on (with the yellow case removed). However, when I turn on the power, a lot of water sprays from near the top of the washer control head (where the chemical tube attaches) so I assume this is where the K4 is losing pressure. There don’t seem to be leaks from anywhere else. I’ve taken the K4 apart and found 2 connected parts (Washer control head and cylinder head) . The control head has 9.075.073.0 and 9.075.072.0 printed on it. The cylinder head looks different inside to the spares on several supplier websites in that I have 3 small white plastic pieces with springs in the top of the cylinder head, instead of one larger white piece. Is this a one with the single white central piece a replacement? Do I need to order the cylinder head as well as the control head (where the leak is)? Anything else? Sorry for the 'wordy' description but I can't attach photos. TIA
Excellent video. I have the pulsating water pressure problem described so now I have the confidence to repair it myself. Thanks!
Hello, Great video. Thank you. We have a Karcher K4 Full Control. The water pressure from the hose is fine. I've run water through it without the high pressure hose attached to clear any air locks or debris. When I turn the pressure wash on, it doesn't pulse. With the vario lance attached and set to low pressure it doesn't pulse. If I turn the vario lance to the highest pressure, that's when it starts to pulse. I can turn the vario lance ever so slightly below the highest pressure and it doesn't pulse. I've attached the dirt blaster lance which operates at the highest pressure and the washer still pulses. It certainly looks like a pressure issue. Is it likely to be the cylinder head pump that is faulty? Thank you, Ant
Yes I was suspect the cylinder head at fault.
Hi mate great video.
I stripped mine down as my K4 water gushing water internally.
Could see it leaking on the control head seen in your video.
I have replaced that.
Good news is I no longer have any visual leaks.
The inline filter at the inlet is clear.
And pressure seems good. But the motor isn't kicking off when you stop with the trigger.
The new control head came assembled but the part came with a white insert collar and flat seal which the kit said I had to fit.
Plus I lost the tiny pea ball valve on the soap line that connect to the pump head.
Would that cause the pump to not shut off?
Or have I reassembled wrong somewhere.
I am tech savvy and pretty sure I assembled everything right.
Any help help appreciated.
Great video...
Most likely if you have replaced the head it may not be sealed or tightened down enough. Also check you haven't any leaks from the high pressure hose!
Just double check the cylinder head bolts a little grease helps it seal too.
I will have another go. I had to split the pumphead apart as I had to use the lower part that attached to the pump with the triangular seal.
As I pulled it apart the 3 springs popped off and I had to refer to another video.
I put the on the top of the 3 while plunger type valves on the top over what looks like a mercedes emblem on the top. But have a feeling the go under.neath .
Eitherway I will try your suggestions and certainly appreciate the time you have taken to reply.
Subscribed and like.
Many thanks Jammy.
@@jammyone100Hi jammy this will help anyone out there. Mine is now working like new. So in the new control head the kit had a white insert collar and a rubber flat seal about 3mm thick. The instructions tell you to fit this but the original part didn't have this.
And this part is what trips the motor off and the rod on the piston plunger with this extra part effects the travel distance of this plunger. And I thought about it. And thought we'll if the old one didn't have it then why should the new one ?
I was right. But appreciate your help.
And I know others had the same issue as me with the pump still running after changing the control head.
Hope this helps others with this issue.
Many thanks
Thank you so much for your excellent video. I have carried out the replacement following your instructions step by step and it went smoothly. The pressure hs returned but the motor still ' searches ' every 10 or 15 seconds ? Any ideas please.
Thank you & Glad it helped. Have you tried putting the other vario lance on? Alternatively, run the water through with the power on holding the trigger on to bleed the pump.
@@jammyone100 Hi thanks for the speedy reply. The machine searches every few seconds with or without the lance attached. Also there must be a problem with the two adjustable lances that I have as you cannot get pressure with them attached yet when I attach my new lance it works perfectly ( but still searching when trigger not pressed ). It works fine with both old and new dirt - bust lances. I have stripped both old lances down and they are so so simple it can only be the end pieces not adjusting or leaking. Can you buy new ones ? Thanks
@terrycleary679 Yes, you can buy new lances. Have you tried reducing the pressure on the adjustable lance then turn up to full pressure. I would think there is either low water pressure, or an air lock in the pump.
Kärcher Vario Power Jet VP 145 Full Control amzn.eu/d/92EapHy
@@jammyone100 thanks for that , yes I've tried twisting to full power but no great increase in power, I think the simple valve at the end of the lance isn't operating. I'll invest in a new one.
good video. Gave me to confidence to give it a go on my K4. Put the part in and put it all back together but the pulsing is still there. Any ideas what other (if any) things might cause it?
Have you tried putting a different lance on it or swap the vario lance for another one.
@@jammyone100 I put on my other lance which is different from the vario and it worked ok. Do you reckon this is because its a different type of lance or is the vario one playing up. The lance I used is a powerful one. No good for washing the car.
Jammy one your a legend 👍but why didn’t you put your repaired jet washer the right way up when you tested it lol 😂
Many have said the same. It was done for the thumbnail image. Well spotted though.
Great video well done, but after building back up my leaking is fixed and machine is starting up but without pressure, is there anyway it could have an air lock in system as I have been told to run water through the switched of machine for about 5 -10 minutes then it should start with pressure??? unsure.
Take another look at your cylinder head is it seated properly
Thanks for getting back to me but I also just changed the cylinder head and working better than ever , didn’t realise that they were so cheap, so now I’m looking for a non kink hose, never happy 😂😂👍
Great video, very helpful. I’ve just ordered one of these to fix my own washer. Could you tell me what tools you used please so that I can make sure I have the right ones? Thanks
Think I mention it in the video bit I think they were T20, to remove the case Ana then 13mm socket. ?
Hiya,
I have a k4 power control. I'm not struggling with it pulsing, it just wint reach maximum pressure, it reaches medium, rather than high. I've checked the nozzle end and it's clear, do you have any idea what next to look at? High pressure hose? This cylinder head?
Any help is greatly appreciated,
TIA
You may need to rebuild or replace the pump. If the pump is more than a few years old, and you use the pressure washer fairly often, replace the pump. If the pump is relatively new, and you don't use the pressure washer often, either rebuild the pump or replace the pump seals.
Its only a couple of years old and not used a great deal to be honest. Ill probably try the cylinder head first like you did in this video and see how it goes, if no luck, ill have to look at taking the pump apart.@@jammyone100
I have a K4 full control. Replaced the high pressure outlet and suction connection elbows due to leaking from suspected frost damage. When build back up with new parts, i plugged in the hose to check all was good. Water started leaking from the cylinder head control unit. Would that be a simple enough replacement lke the full head?
Sometimes the sliding clip isn't home properly I'd check that first.
@@jammyone100 its leaking from the plastic housing, just after the connection to the high pressure elbow so defo needs replaced
Hi Jammy, my KB9020 made a dull popping sound when in use and lost all pressure. There was a fine spray emitting from the vent (ruptured seal?). Before I start throwing good money after bad, do you imagine replacing cylinder head, as per video, would resolve this. Thank u
Yes I should think so. There only around £20 so worth it
Thanks a lot...watch this space
Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge about this quick fix👍
just changed my cylinder head on my k4 full control and have full power again now. took me quite a few hours as i snapped the on/off shaft lever TWICE after gluing back together. would have otherwise not been too bad. dont lay your machine face down when reinstalling the back cover. would be a much quicker process if i had to do it again although a PITA.
hope you can help after stripping the k4 karcher down I find there is just a crack on the black pipe that fits into the cylinder head, I think thats why it doedn,t pulsate just leaks, can I remove the pipe without unscrewing the cylinder head, instructions would help plz, great video cheers
Yes you should be able to
Great video! best compliments to you! today I am starting to check and fix my Karcher K2.75 it's an old type so I hope to find the spare part!
could this cause a karcher k3 to turn itself on and off constantly without stopping? (when the knob is turned to on position)
@@zanastumasonis do you mean pulsing ? If it's surging constantly then yes the head seals have probably failed.
Nice video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
Before undoing the 4 socket head bolts you should have mentioned to keep the motor+pump combo vertically, now my workbench and myself are covered in a very very low viscosity shiny silver oil, the silver color coming from the aluminium part that has been destroyed by rubbing against the springs on the plungers.
Thanks for the info
Perfect video, thanks mate . Have you had much to do with k5 140m please, it’s got low pressure and the on and off switch is not working.
Hi, yes, it's probably air locked. Unplug the lance and run water through it for 5 to 10 mins reconnect, and it will reset the pump and switch on.
You read my mind perfectly, I have done this and it’s better but still the power is too low. Would air control the on off switch please.
@@jammyone100 you are an amazing teacher the way you describe you job you doing,
@shaunsouthern7931 Yes, it will if its not turning on, it's determined by water flow to prevent the pump sieving as its water clooled.
@@shaunsouthern7931 thank you 👍
Just before anyone does this, if you havent already, and its not leaking, take the nozels apart and give them a wash. T10 star screw head for the main wand. and just unscrew the cone one with your hand. Gave mine a wash and a poke with a pin, didnt see any dirt, but all is fine after now. I was also having pulsing issues
I agree with jjfreer.
Whilst the method of replacing the piston might be required check the jets in the lance or patio cleaner 1st off.
My karcher K4 started pulsing when using the karcher T5 Karcher patio cleaner attachment for the 2nd time. It’s brand new and has only been used to clean 25m2 of patio. When using it again the K4 started pulsing so thought the piston head was shot.
I tried the standard lance and the K4 worked fine. On removing the two jets on the patio cleaner one jet was blocked which I cleared with a piece of 5amp fuse wire.
Reassembled it and it now works fine.
Is this problem for pulsating of the power washer when turned on and water spurting out from underneath the metal frame connected by 4 silver bolts?
Yes it is.
I want to get the parts can u help me with that
Link in description for part numbers & link.
www.spares2you.co.uk/karcher-pressure-washer-cylinder-head/
thanks for the info.....
Hi Jammy
My K4-200 has lost pressure but is not noticeably pulsating. Is this likely to be caused by the cylinder head or the pressure regulator? I will appreciate any advice? Rod
@@sheilaandrodbrewis211 hi, yes most likely 👍
Excellent but what was wrong with the old plastic cylinder head?
The seals fail, so it can not retain pressure
fabulous ! thank you.. My jet wash is now like new again! for only £30.... you have a sub here!
Great news. Glad it worked for you too & thanks for subscribing as well.👍
Thanks. What tools do i need to change the part?
There in the video. 👍 but basic screwdriver and a socket set.
good detailed video, my washer has water gushing out of the motor compartmet but I can't locate where it is from? I know you might think if you don't know, how do I know where it's coming from? but just want your opinion where the problem may be? thank you in advance
Have you tried it when removing the case to see where the leak is located
I have K3 which has no pressure at all it’s not leaking water the water is coming out I’ve bought the part in this video but I realise the inside is different to the k4
Should be the same principle.
Great video!
Sadly, people chuck stuff away,without even considering it for repair!
I have a 15 year old plus,Karcher B203 think it was K2 or something .A great pressure washer
So I discovered the pressure lance outlet pipe was leaking ,spraying high pressure water out through my washers vents! I reckon I lost around 30% power, while
This outlet pipe to the spray lance, has no support or brackets. The outlet pipe, is a lot smaller in diameter than the mains water inlet pipe too ,which is a lot thicker.
Surely it would have made sense to either make the outlet out of alloy (given the amount of pressure coming through there) or thicker plastic with some sort of support
I like Karcher products,but think the R and D side has gone out the window
Hey thanks for this video really helpful. I have a K3 which I’m trying to sort just now. Ordered what I thought was right part but it’s too big. Can you point me in the direction of somewhere to buy replacement part for K3 washer?
Thanks
should be the same as the K$ www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165275895355?hash=item267b36063b:g:cfMAAOSwhT5hQuA1
Im fairly sure that is not grease inside, that is oxidised motor oil!! You need to remove it and put fresh oil in!
nice video. my problem is machine always on even knob is at 0 position. any idea ? thanks
faulty power switch I would think. have you took the case off?
Great video, thank-you. I followed the steps and replaced a cracked cylinder head. Now however I have a pulsing issue, but only when the nozzle is turned to hard (strongest mode). If there is no nozzle on or if it is turned to soft, then there is no pulsing. Any idea why this may be happening?
Have you tried changing the vario part of the lance? You may find that is the issue. The K4 usually comes with 2
If pulsing check nozzle on vario lance is not blocked
i second this! was about to do this fix, but then realised all the nozels come apart. (didnt think dirt could really get back up into it to be honnest) gave them a wash and a prod with a pin, didnt notice any dirt but all works fine now.
Fantastic video... I have the same machine but it has done a weird thing today, leaking water from the body of the machine and it wont switch on.. i.e the on- off button doesn't fire up the motor, any thoughts>
It's probably split the plastic inlet pipe. Has it had water left in and possibly frozen ?
Hi I have the K4 which seems to have this problem, i have removed the part but it looks different to the part listed can you advise please? Mine says PA66 GF50 QC6 thank you
How old is your K4 and which type is it?
Thanks for the info. I have a k3, would you know where I could buy a control head? I am in USA. If parts are available, I don't mind buying internationally. Thanks.
Should be available on amazon or directly with karcher
I borrowed a friend's karcher 2.94 and after a bit it stopped and now only hums for a few minutes and then stops and the trigger does not do anything. I've changed the capacitor as that was a potential fix but no luck. Any ideas?
Try running water through without switching on. May need to bleed the pump.
Pull the trigger with the water on and the washer off, then switch it on
@@jammyone100 thank you. I'll give that a go.
Fixing surging can be as simple as changing o rings on the lance commectors, also changing the large o ring inside the pump housing. I’ve fixed mine a few times over the years that way but now my power won’t turn off, and the lance is maybe putting out 20% of what it should have so away to look at the cylinder head and electrical module.
When the white bits fell out, are there springs in there?
If you mean on the cylinder head the white plastic valve then no.
Good tutorial mate, i have a question
do this particular kind of karcher require maitenance?
No generally they are maintenence free
Is this repair procedure the same as for a K2 Karcher, thanks.
Yes very similar
Good vid mate. Hopefully it will save people a few quid with this simple fix. 👍
Many thanks for the hugely helpful video.
Unfortunately, my machine was exposed to frost and since then I have the pulsing problem exactly as you describe.
Do you think following your instruction should fix it? Or could it be pulsing for a different reason caused by the frost?
Also, do you know is the part in your description compatible with a regular K4 (ie not compact version)
Thanks again
Should be the same. Part number will be on the unit. If its been exposed to Frost, it'll probably cracked the head so will need replacing l.
Thanks for sharing, class work and video
Sorted thanks, I’ll repair my k4 premium today.
Hope u can help
The yellow O ring from one of the lancers has become attached to the handgun. How to get the O ring out from the handgun?
Do you have a bradall pic
My karcha washer say 530m and it plusesing so would it be the same problem cylinder head pump had it a few years but apart from that
Yes I would think so
Hi, i just done all that and it made no difference at all, but the triangular gasket looked a bit iffy and was a sloppy fit, would this make a big difference do you know please? Thanks.
I would think so if its loosing pressure there
Changed the head as shown but still have the issue with pulsing and water coming out from the body.
Works ok when using but pulses when not pressing trigger on the lance
Hi Steve, I'd suggest taking the body off and have a look where the leak is coming from, sometimes the motor gets pinched when bolting down the head!
@@jammyone100 it looks like the pump will just not retain pressure.
It works fine when pumping water through the hose and any tools but will not hold pressure when idle.
When using I get a constant stream and good pressure with no leaks.
The minute I take my finger off the trigger it starts leaking and pulsing. Stripped down again and everything looks fine.
Appreciate your reply thanks 👍🏼
Have you connected the water supply wit the casing off?
@@jammyone100 will look at that tomorrow and get back to you 👍🏼🤞🏼
@@jammyone100have done so today.
Have taken a couple of vids that show what happens but no idea how to post them 😂😂
It’s an age thing….
There is a small leak with the pump off which turns into a large spray when the pump is switched on.
Any way I can send you the images?
I do not have this model, the one I have is a 405 which I think is a bit older. The problem I have with it is that its not pumping the water in for it to even come out, please do you have any idea on how to fix this problem? Thank you
Hope my suggestion fixes it.
This doesn’t seem to be like my K4 full control… my washer kept running with wand (small hand gun part), or if I release the trigger it keeps running but not water coming out. It wasn’t pulsing just kept running… do they have uploader Switch/valve something? Mine is now about 200 quid. Bought in 2018 I think, latest 2019. That make sense to you? Thanks for your vids, they’re great, just not this time I reckon.
Have you tried bleeding it before running the pump
Great fixit vid. Mines pulsing, will be doing this!
Great video! I have a K5.79. It has not been used for a few years indeed. I tried it and it worked fine for about 3 minutes, then suddenly capacity fell down substantially, and there was a rubber smell. Do you think that is the same cause of the cilinder head?
Thank you
I wouldn't think so, sounds like he motor has run dry !
Great video, this is the exact model i have :)