Replies

1. 
   VAVince | Oct 15, 2005 03:38pm | #1

   Andy2,

        I hope others reply on this. I was always told not to operate the washer without water because it would cause the pump to over heat.

1. 
   emaxxman | Oct 17, 2005 06:00pm | #7

   My Briggs and Stratton tells me to not run it without the water on as well.

2. 
   florida | Oct 15, 2005 04:06pm | #2

   I've never run mine without water to empty them but 5 or 10 seconds dry won't hurt. Usually when they won't work after a period of non-use it's a stuck valve in the pressure adjuster. It's easy to pull it apart and clean.

1. 
   emaxxman | Oct 17, 2005 06:07pm | #8

   I wonder if that's what happened to mine earlier this year. The first itme I ran it in the spring, there was no pressure. I thought I had a clogged line but there was no grit in the screen by the hose connection. I thought I had a kink in the hose but no. I ended up just trying to let it build up pressure and then running. All of sudden after about 20 minutes the pressure returned and the thing has worked fine ever since.

1. 
   florida | Oct 17, 2005 07:57pm | #9

   Probably so. There is a spring with a steel ball under it that has to open to let the water through. The ball will corrode just enough to stick it to the housing. Sometimes a few light taps with a rubber mallet will break it loose.

2. 
   JulianTracy | Oct 25, 2005 05:58am | #10

   If you've used any type of detergent - it'll goo it up good if it's not been flushed out after each use.That happened to mine - someone borrowed it, used soap and must not have flushed it - I couldn't get any pressure whatsoever. I ended up using a small length of wire to probe the pump fitting and cleared it out.JT

1. 
   emaxxman | Oct 25, 2005 06:10pm | #11

   No, haven't used any detergent yet. I'm very hesitant to do so because 1) I would hate to see what happens when it splashed back in my eyes and 2) worried about effects on grass and plants.

3. 
   davem | Oct 15, 2005 04:30pm | #3

   i would think airless paint sprayer storage fluid would be safer than running one dry.

4. 
   BUIC | Oct 16, 2005 05:20am | #4

   A few seconds (2-3) won't hurt but aren't needed, if we're talking about clean water.  If you've added bleach or other cleaning agents it would be more important to flush everything by running some plain water thru.

   If it was a year old, did it sit with water in it and the temp. dropped below freezing ? Even once is enough to crack the pump on most washers.If thats the case fill the water line with RV type anti-freeze and all will be well in the spring.... BUIC 

1. 
   Andy2 | Oct 16, 2005 06:23am | #5

   I have never added bleach or any other chemicals. In Houston, it does not get that cold. It did, however, sit for a long time without being used. There was no pressure when I ran it and I thought may be the water supply hose was kinked which upon checking, was not the case. I did not check anything else and took it to the service shop. Thanks to evryone was their input.

1. 
   alliedpainter | Oct 16, 2005 07:44am | #6

   Running the washer between 10 sec. and 15 sec. "ONLY" will not damage the pump since the packings will still be moist.  If you leave water in the pump in extreme cold conditions you risk cracks in the porcelain and maybe the block.  If your still worried the recommendation of putting pump saver through a funnel and old garden hose will work also.  Since, your in Houston Andy2 as well I am too I would worry more about the engine gumming up.  So, its best to add an fuel stabilizer called "Stabil" to the fuel.  Also, run synthetic oil in your engine a few extra bucks will help out in the long run and change pump oil with "Non-Detergent 30 wt. only" when its a milky white which means oil and water are trying to mix b/c a seal has broke or water was made it way in.

   Cheers,

   AlliedPainter