Power washer troubleshooting/help

drglinski · #1 02-22-2017, 03:30 PM

I don't feel like I'm completely inept here, but I've got an issue with a power washer that I hope I can get some help troubleshooting.

I inherited a NorthStar power washer (cold) with a honda 4 cycle engine (approx age made in 2011) that works well, some of the time. When the engine is cold, it starts right up, runs great, pushes a whole lotta water for about an hour, then stalls. No warning. When I go to start it again it acts like it's fuel deprived- IE gotta choke it and it sputters to start then dies again. (checked, it's got gas.) Let it sit about 5 min and it'll start up, run for a bit, then die again. Normally at this point I'm just

and I give up. Sometimes I can idle it down before I shut it off and typically when that happens when I kill the ignition it stops running and backfires.

Possible ideas for it not running;

-Stuck float. (but why does it run good for an hour then quit?)
-It's getting hot, vapor lock?
-I'm not sure what kind of maintenance has been performed on it other than an oil change here and there, gummed up carb/line?

Any ideas? Things I should look for? Thanks

Alvy · #2 02-22-2017, 04:29 PM

Dumb question Daniel but That Honda has a low oil sensor that will do weird things. Oil level good? If it is try to bypass just for testing purposes and see if it quits again. If not it sounds like mag breaking down when getting hot. I don't think it can be fuel related it runs too long for that.

olds45512 · #3 02-22-2017, 04:36 PM

Is the vent clear in the gas cap?

Mike McKown · #4 02-23-2017, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alvy

Dumb question Daniel but That Honda has a low oil sensor that will do weird things. Oil level good? If it is try to bypass just for testing purposes and see if it quits again. If not it sounds like mag breaking down when getting hot. I don't think it can be fuel related it runs too long for that.

I have a power washer that has a Honda engine on it. It acted very similar to the OP's engine. I fooled with it just long enough to find if I disconnected the oil sensor, it would stay running.

That was 4-5 years ago. I think it's still unhooked. Can't remember.

drglinski · #5 02-23-2017, 05:10 PM

These have an oil sensor???? I'm going to have to get the engine ID to confirm.....but I didn't think just by looking at it it's that complex.

Sam Mac · #6 02-23-2017, 06:30 PM

Dan

Here is some info on low oil sensors on Honda's
https://www.google.com/#q=honda+low+oil+sensor&*

darkminion_17 · #7 02-23-2017, 07:16 PM

Daniel,
Get a new sensor,one day you will forget to check the oil with the disconnected one and you will be sad....

Sam Mac · #8 02-24-2017, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkminion_17

Daniel,
Get a new sensor,one day you will forget to check the oil with the disconnected one and you will be sad....

Lew it looks like you need to open the engine to replace it.

drglinski · #9 02-24-2017, 05:27 PM

It's a Honda GX160. I emailed the company that makes the power washer with the problem (I was asking for a part number for a new sensor) and they thought it was a vapor locking problem- IE not enough airflow into the fuel tank. I'm gonna try running it next time with the fuel cap loose to see if that helps.

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the ideas.

Billy-O · #10 02-24-2017, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drglinski

It's a Honda GX160. I emailed the company that makes the power washer with the problem (I was asking for a part number for a new sensor) and they thought it was a vapor locking problem- IE not enough airflow into the fuel tank. I'm gonna try running it next time with the fuel cap loose to see if that helps.

Thanks for your replies. I appreciate the ideas.

Or, more ideally for vapor lock issues, the engine is getting too hot. You could look under the tins and make sure there's good airflow for cooling.