powerwashing do's and don'ts ??

[kjbllc]

any suggestion on what is safe and not safe for a low pressure ( cheap harbor freight ) pressure washer, i guess wheels are safe, , keep away from the engine and electrical parts , probably not grease fittings ??

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I do every square inch on mine, they are designed to be wet so as long as your not blasting parts and connection up close you'll be fine.

 

[lugbolt]

Do: wash.

Don't: wash the stickers off.

Lesson for today. Unfortunately I reckon I didn't pay attention the last time the boss got onto me for the same thing. On another note: Stickers aren't cheap.

 

[kkk]

Pressure washers have a use.
I'll never use one on a motorcycle again.
There not friendly to any stickers on anything.
They will blow water past seals and into areas you don't want water in.
They will cut a 4x4 in half.
Never get your didgets in the stream of water.

The fan type tips are the least damaging ones...Pinpoint spray is the most damaging.

I use mine for sidewalks and my old ford truck when the moss gets too deep.

my .02...

 

[SidecarFlip]

I do every square inch on mine, they are designed to be wet so as long as your not blasting parts and connection up close you'll be fine.

+1. HF sells a nice gas powered unit with an AR axial pump. The horizontal shaft model, 2500 psi, 6.5 horse Pred motor. Comes with everything but you need to add an additional hose to get some length.

Had mine for at least 10 years now, change the oil in the motor every year, oil in the pump every year too (takes 30 weight non-detergent oil). Keep it inside the heated shop so it never freezes. If one freezes, it ruins the pump, cracks the ceramic plungers.

I do like Wolfman does and I use ZEP degreaser as well. A clean motor and tractor is always easier to service and I dislike filth anyway. Both mine are over 15 years old, both mine are devoid of filth and stay that way.

Use the wide fan tip and apply ZEP beforehand with a sprayer. Let it work a while and wash it off. I've packed all my electrical connections with di-electric grease so no worries about water ingress.

 

[GeoHorn]

.... I've packed all my electrical connections with di-electric grease so no worries about water ingress.

+1. Buy a tube of dielectric grease and use it on electrical connections, light bulb bases, trailer-connectors, and spin-on filter gaskets (make’s ‘em easy to remove next time...better than cooked-on oil/grease.)