Predator power washer new. No pressure now

Just bought this in the summer and used once and has been sitting in the shed since. Went to use it today and not much power in it.

Just a quick Google search now once I got a min to sit down, I think it's air locked. If it's this, does anyone know how I bleed it out in this type washer.

Or could it be something else?.

You want water running through the lance before you power on.

Even better to have water flowing though lance at the point of switching on. This prevents air lock.

Other problem is the water freezing inside machine if stored in outbuilding. That will kill it

Wayners said:

You want water running through the lance before you power on.

Even better to have water flowing though lance at the point of switching on. This prevents air lock.

Other problem is the water freezing inside machine if stored in outbuilding. That will kill it

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I did have a try before the cold weather came so it's definitely an air lock. I know you saying running water through it and having water through before switching on prevents it, but how can I get the air out that's in there.

After Googling, I did come across about it freezing too . Hopefully that hasn't damaged it too. What damage can the ice cause?

Freezing will split the pump or crack internal parts.
Just by getting mains water running through will shift the air lock.
If the pump is being switched on without water inside that creates a bubble of compressed air.

It is critical to have water running through a jet wash before switching it on. Running a pressure washer without a constant water supply...which is known as running dry..can cause damage to the pump.

You can also use antifreeze in a pressure washer for winter storage. This is crucial to prevent pump damage from freezing water

First pic im getting good pressure from this when i unscrew the top. I dont even know wyat the screw is for. Maybe for air locks.

Second pic wyen i put the handle/gun on it, the preesure isnt as great.

3rd pic, the same as pic two. Splutering

2020c said:

Second pic wyen i put the handle/gun on it, the preesure isnt as great.

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You appear to have pressure, at the washer, and at the end of the hose, but not much from the lance, when that is connected. Maybe the lance is faulty?

Maybe a filter in the lance or pipe connector that's blocked.
Remove lance and pipe and see what it's like.
Then connect pipe only and try

Is that lance adjustable i.e. can you twiddle the end to get various pressures?

Is the lance a 2 piece one that you can interchange the bottom for different fittings. If so is there an o-ring on the plug in part as if that has come off it will allow the lance to suck air in and drop the pressure.

Have you poked something like a needle through the very end of the lance nozzle to ensure it isn't blocked? It's amazing how one bit of sand can nerf a jet wash nozzle.

If it does seem blocked (can you see daylight through the nozzle when removed from the handle?) poke it and back-wash it with the hose, or remove the nozzle jet (sometimes they're brass and unscrew) before you poke it. Not much point, if it is blocked, poking the blockage back into the lance body as it will simply block the jet again at some point

Old Salt said:

Is that lance adjustable i.e. can you twiddle the end to get various pressures?

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They don't normally vary the pressure per se; they just move a pair of flaps so they squash the water jet into a fan. The pressure emerging from the jet will be the same

2020c said:

Second pic wyen i put the handle/gun on it, the preesure isnt as great.

3rd pic, the same as pic two. Splutering

Click to expand...

You've got half the handle/lance on it. The pressure there seems ok; you have to remember that the hole on the end is tiny and where all the power comes from. Without that part of the lance fitted the end won't emit water much faster than it would from a standard hose connection because the bore of the pipe inside the lance is huge compared to the jetting nozzle at the tip of the lance


The process for getting the air out of an jetwash, if the lance comes in two parts (trigger and end) would be to remove the end, squeeze the trigger and turn on the hose pipe but do not turn on the jetwash machine itself
Wait until it's finished blowing air bubbles (there may also be air in the hose pipe)

It isn't clear from your photo but you should really have an inline filter on the hose pipe just before it enters the jetwash, to help keep grit out of the pump and lance, something like eBay item number 124936232174 is convenient