The engine on my Karcher K2.26 turns on when you turn the switch and continues to run rather than just when you pull the wand trigger. Lower pressure also results.Any solutions?

Maybe press regulator was reset before the unloaded was installed and needs to be set at lowest and then increased as needed.

If you are unable to shut off the pressure from the wand, there may be an issue with the unloader valve that is stopping it from switching into bypass mode when the trigger wand is released. The unloader valve is designed to respond to the spike in pressure created when the trigger wand is released, and to divert the flow of water coming from the pump to bypass the pressure hose and flow back into the intake end of the pump. If the unloader valve fails to switch into bypass mode, water may continue to flow out of the trigger wand. This may also cause damage to the wand. If you are unable to shut off the pressure from your power washer, stop the engine and discontinue use immediately. The unloader valve should be removed and possibly replaced if found to be malfunctioning. The inability to stop the flow of high-pressure water from the wand can be dangerous and should be fixed before continuing to use the machine.

Hi Cliff:
My experience is that the pump pressures prevent the engine from starting, so we hold the trigger while starting.
My brother has cut a wedge of wood that he uses to jam the trigger open to bypass the problem. It can get a bit wild if the wand is not secured when the unit is started..

Put the tube into a bucket with detergent that is recommended for your machine then put the wand into low pressure mode and if it has a valve where the hose connects turn the valve to the on position and pull trigger and watch to see if soap starts being drawn out of the soap bottle if it starts pulling the soap up continue to allow it to flow till you get your part soaked with soap, then let it set for 10 minutes then hit it with high pressure hose to wash off, when it is clean then put it on low pressure and pull hose out of bucket with soap and then allow the soap to be pulled out of tube and until there is no longer any soap coming out then store the hose for use later. some machines have a control valve at the end of the wand by turning the tip or pushing tip in or pulling it out some models requires you to use quick disconnect fan tips to lower pressure to use soap.

Yes, the water should be turned on first but if it only ran for a minute or two it should be OK. Most late model pressure washers have an automatic shutoff when the trigger on the wand is released. Turn on the water and then the machine and then squeeze the trigger on the handle of the wand and the motor should start as soon as the air is cleared from the line by the flowing water (about 10 seconds). If the unit was put away wet last season you may need to clean the nozzle with a piece of wire too.

sounds exactly like the problem and the soluition you are looking for.

The wands that it will not run with would most likley have a little dirt in the tip of the nozzle. This would not allow the water to flow through in turn activating the pressure switch and shutting the machine down

Troy

Sounds like the pressure valve is broken thats why you cant depress the trigger , the valve is on the pump , i would suggest taking it to a repair shop as they are fiddly things to fix

To determine if your problem is due to an easily replaceable part, follow these steps:

1. Connect the water supply hose, the pressure hose, and the wand WITHOUT any nozzle tip.

2. Turn on the water supply, and press the trigger until water is smoothly running out of the nozzle
after any air is all purged out. Release the nozzle trigger.

3. Start the engine, and let it warm up for about 30 seconds.

4. With the engine running smoothly, press the nozzle trigger. The water should flow out of the nozzle (without the tip installed) at a faster rate, while the engine noticeably loads down as it used to do before your "no pressure" problem. If it does not load down, turn it OFF, and disconnect everything, and contact a Karcher repair facility.

5. If the engine does load down, release the trigger, and install one of the nozzle tips (not the black one).

6. Press the trigger, and the engine should load down, and you should have normal pressure from the wand. After you release the trigger and press it again, you will probably again have no pressure, and the engine will not load down. Removing the nozzle tip, pressing & releasing the trigger, and re-installing the tip should give you normal pressure again, but releasing the trigger will cause no pressure until you again remove the tip, press the trigger, and re-install the tip.

This is caused by a bad UNLOADER VALVE, which is located under a black cap with a metal button on it located on the top front of the pump. I don't know if you can purchase the replaceable parts from a Karcher repair shop, but when a neighbor & I took his washer to a repair place, it looked pretty simple to do this repair, and he was charged about $60 to replace a $5 (maybe) part, and it took about 5 minutes.

To determine if your problem is due to an easily replaceable part, follow these steps:

1. Connect the water supply hose, the pressure hose, and the wand WITHOUT any nozzle tip.

2. Turn on the water supply, and press the trigger until water is smoothly running out of the nozzle
after any air is all purged out. Release the nozzle trigger.

3. Start the engine, and let it warm up for about 30 seconds.

4. With the engine running smoothly, press the nozzle trigger. The water should flow out of the nozzle (without the tip installed) at a faster rate, while the engine noticeably loads down as it used to do before your "no pressure" problem. If it does not load down, turn it OFF, and disconnect everything, and contact a Karcher repair facility.

5. If the engine does load down, release the trigger, and install one of the nozzle tips (not the black one).

6. Press the trigger, and the engine should load down, and you should have normal pressure from the wand. After you release the trigger and press it again, you will probably again have no pressure, and the engine will not load down. Removing the nozzle tip, pressing & releasing the trigger, and re-installing the tip should give you normal pressure again, but releasing the trigger will cause no pressure until you again remove the tip, press the trigger, and re-install the tip.

This is caused by a bad UNLOADER VALVE, which is located under a black cap with a metal button on it located on the top front of the pump. I don't know if you can purchase the replaceable parts from a Karcher repair shop, but when a neighbor & I took his washer to a repair place, it looked pretty simple to do this repair, and he was charged about $60 to replace about a $5 (maybe) part, and it took about 5 minutes.