Replace top bearing impossible? SOLVED

Solved: I figured it out. Was rather dumb, removing the swash plate just required back and forth rotation and pulling with pliers. Now I just have to remove the glorious treasure of a bearing below and throw it away to replace. I figure I will have to hammer the shaft through the bearing and top motor housing, then pull out the bearing somehow. Maybe drill some pull holes if regular tools dont work. Could MAYBE Dremel out the center w/ a 90 degree attachment. And pry the balls and outer ring out.

I would much appreciate any ideas on how to do this…
** edit I was only allowed one picture, so chose the Karcher diagram which is similar, bearing I want to get to is #15 in the pic.

We bought Briggs and Stratton’s 2000 psi 3.5 GPM pressure washer and it was left outside in a small spa and garden hose filled it up slowly while I was away. Terrible to leave it out like that I know. Anyway that was months ago. I opened it up, tested the capacitor and it was bad. Good thing because the motor had a bunch of corrosion inside and running it would probably make things worse. I have cleaned it up a bit, still a bit more to go and I ordered a new bottom bearing for the motor shaft and capacitor.

I am a bit concerned now about the top one because I used a Dremel to cut off the bottom bearing and it was totally disgusting inside. Rust and corrosion, a bunch if filth really. The top one sounds OK I guess , just a mild whir sound but it has to be no bueno also… It is smooth enough but not like new bearings would feel. If you look at the Karcher Diagram (not my model, I think I got this from your site) it would be #15. Just using it to help illustrate what I mean, it is NOT the open thrust bearing “sandwhich” in the first pic. Would look like a regular bearing probably like the last pic.

Do you have any idea how I can access this bearing? I will attach pics. There is the open thrust bearing like in the one pic, but there has to be another below that and the swashplate I think it is called (tilted round plate that turns to make the pistons go up and down). Removed a hex screw in thsme middle of it but it doesnt seem to come off and as you can see from the other pic showing the underside, it is not accessible without removing it, pulling the shaft from the motor top maybe.

I am pretty confident that it will be in good shape if I can replace that hidden bearing. Any ideas? I also got new oil, wish I knew if the 3 piston chamber should be totally full. The pressure washer was $230 so I really want to fix it. Thank you so much for your time.

pressure-washer-karcher-patent

No offense, but you’re putting all this effort into a 3.5/2k machine? Am I missing something?

Yes, you are. No offense taken. I have more time than money now and I like to fix things. It cost about $250 w/ tax and all and I would rather spend less than $50 on the parts. If I were running a business or not otherwise inclined it would not be worth my time. Also, I will have extra bearings and will know how to fix it in the future rather than replace it.

1 Like