The machine will be sitting idle a lot (engine running but trigger not being used) so I’m a little concerned that the Thermal relief valve won’t give the pump enough protection.
I’ve been reading about setting up a bypass back to a buffer tank, but the issue is, this pressure washer has the unloader valve built in so it can’t be modified easily like the higher spec machines can be.
I’m wondering if I can simply buy a pressure unloader valve, some fittings, and then plumb into into the pressure side of the current built in unloader (eg, when the pressure hose that runs to the lance comes out)?
From there I can set up a hose off it to run back to my buffer tank.
Not currently but I have a 3000 litre tank I plant to use. The pressure washer will live in the one spot. If I don’t get enough flow from the tank I can continue to run it off the normal tap. Obviously the tank would fill up from the bypass but I can easily empty it onto the garden.
Your life will be a lot easier if you get rid of the direct drive. It will never work off of a tank line you want it to and the whole watering the garden thing seems far fetched. Collards and mustard greens only need so much water.
Thanks. So is there any reason I can’t plumb another unloaded onto what I have and set the pressure on the new unloader just slightly less than the current one?
Yeah it’s all the one piece unfortunately.
Is there any reason I can’t just leave that one there, plumb another one in and just make sure I set the pressure on the new one slightly lower than the one that’s on there already?
Im not sure how combining the 2 would work. I did remove the top out of one of my unloaders and took a pic for you. Im not sure why yours would be much different. Once the stem is removed it becomes an unrestricted passageway for the water to flow
I had the same exact machine, I just ordered a new pump from envirospec that is a geardrive pump with the bypass line on it. I didn’t want to worry bout the pump burning up, there was nothing to do to change it that I could find. The new pump was originally a 4 gpm pump that turns 1450 rpm but they put a 1750 rpm gear box that pumps bout 4.9 to 5 gpm. Runs great so far.
Hello, I just wanted to follow up and see if you did add an external unloader and if it worked. I have a very similar pump to yours and am wanting to do the same.
Hi, I haven’t yet actually.
I spoke to a couple of people and they certainly said it should work but what has stopped me is it will void my warranty. Maybe when the machine gets a little older I’ll do it. For now, I just leave the handle locked on, it’s an annoying, but for what I use it for it’s manageable.
Please let me know if you do change yours.
Thanks
Tim
