joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 We have an amazing neighbor. His work allows the employees to borrow equipment from work, and he brings home a commercial pressure washer each year to clean the roof, deck, and driveway. His son was paid by our home's owner to pressure wash our roof; he's not done with it. Yesterday, he let DH and I use it to pressure wash our driveway, which is covered in moss. Everything went great. He told us to keep it so we could finish. He won't need it for a few days. So, I went out this morning to work on the driveway some more (we have a huge driveway). I hooked everything up. It started right away. All was going well. But it was sounding like it wanted to quit, so I turned it off and checked the gas. It was low so I added another gallon. And it wouldn't restart. I can't get it restarted. In fact, I ended up putting it back away because I couldn't get it to restart. And the pull cord is easy, so I'm reasonably sure that it isn't that I can't pull it fast enough. Did I break it somewhow? Was there some secret lever I was suppose to push before putting gas in that he didn't tell me about? There's only one place the gas can go (big tank on top), so I don't think I put it in the wrong place. The only other thing I can think of is that it is out of oil too? I have no idea. He's at work and won't be back home for a couple of days. Dh isn't home either. So, I'm freaked out. There's no way we have the money to replace a commercial pressure washer. And I don't want him to get in trouble at work if I somehow broke it. There's nothing I can do but wait until he or DH gets home to see if resting fixes it or if they can figure it out. But still, it's hard not to be sick over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beaners Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Is it a two-stroke engine? Does it need a mixture of gas and oil, or just straight gas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad 4 Boys Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Make sure you turned the ON/OFF switch back to ON. I've done that before, and it's maddening. You can pull and pull and pull, but it won't start if the shutoff switch is in the OFF position. It's an easy mistake to make. I'm really irritated once I figure it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevergiveup Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 You might need to choke it a little to get it going again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Is it a two-stroke engine? Does it need a mixture of gas and oil, or just straight gas? Straight gas. I definitely put in just gas. Make sure you turned the ON/OFF switch back to ON. I've done that before, and it's maddening. You can pull and pull and pull, but it won't start if the shutoff is switch is in the OFF position. It's an easy mistake to make. I'm really irritated once I figure it out. Did that several times. Checked all of the levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homebody2k Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Google the make and model number for info - without that info we are all just guessing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 You might need to choke it a little to get it going again. I thought of that but didn't see a choke on it. It has a throttle, which I checked was on full like he showed me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasRachel Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Is it a two-stroke engine? Does it need a mixture of gas and oil, or just straight gas? or does it use diesel? We have different small engines that do all of these. I did once put leaded fuel in my mom's unleaded car. We were told to just put a lot of high octane unleaded in and it should be fine for a one time thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 We have a really great pressure washer. Really, it is fabulous. But it can be a bear to restart, and I do NOT have the magic touch for it. You most likely didn't break it. Letting it rest will probably do the trick. That is what always did it for me, when DH wasn't around. Even he had trouble getting it to REstart on occasion and he is something akin to a machine whisperer. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nevergiveup Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Then maybe throttle it way down and crank it a few times. Open it up again when you get it running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 It's definitely unleaded gas. I'm sure of it. I've started it the first time; it's the easiest cord pull I've ever started. Maybe I'll get it all set up again in a bit and try the throttle all the way down. I'm looking for a manual now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 There is also a good chance you flooded the engine which won't hurt it, but it won't start until it has a chance to dry out. Does it have a "choke"? If the choke is set to "slow" or the turtle picture, it will sound unhappy when it runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 I found the manual for the engine and printed the start pages out so I can be sure everything is in the right position when I go out there again. I thought of flooding too. How long to dry out if that is the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Be *absolutely sure* you are putting in the right fuel before doing anything else! The wrong fuel can damage it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I found the manual for the engine and printed the start pages out so I can be sure everything is in the right position when I go out there again. I thought of flooding too. How long to dry out if that is the problem? 15 or 20 minutes should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Yay! It was flooded. Got it started and spent an hour and a half cleaning the driveway. DH is out there doing some now because I have to leave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_JWM Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Yay! Glad it all worked out. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Yay! Doesn't that flood of relief feel so relieving? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joannqn Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 Yay! Doesn't that flood of relief feel so relieving? Yes. And I'm done with the driveway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 That would have had me freaking out too. Glad you figured it out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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