A cracked pressure washer pump is the most common problem many pressure washer owners deal with.
This is because not so many understand what actually causes a cracked pressure washer pump to avoid the problem from the beginning.
I know that some people suggest using J-B Weld, or some other kind of glue, to fix a cracked pressure washer pump.
To be honest with you, this never works, not even temporarily. So, if you want to find an actual fix to your cracked pressure washer pump, read this article.
Let’s begin!
What Causes a Cracked Pressure Washer Pump?
What is more important than fixing your problem is knowing the actual cause of the problem. This gives you an idea of what solutions you have on hand and also helps you prevent the problem from happening again.
So, this is what we’re doing here. Here are four causes of a cracked pressure washer pump:
1. Frozen Water
The most common mistake pressure washer owners make is letting the water inside the pump freeze. Water expands when frozen creating pressure on the walls of the pump leading to cracks.
That’s why it’s extremely important to winterize your pressure washer well. Using a pump saver and storing your pressure washer in a temperature-controlled room will save you a lot of future problems.
Another thing to do is to make it a habit to get all the water out of your pressure washer before you store it or even after each use, especially in the winter.
2. The Pump Got Hit
Some pressure washer owners mistakenly hit their machines while moving them from one place to another. This thing can be heavy for some people.
This hit that might seem innocent can cause serious damage to the pressure washer including a cracked pump.
So, it’s important to be careful when moving your pressure washer from one place to another.
3. Bolts Too Tight
If you did any repair or resealing in the pump, you might’ve tightened the bolts too tight than needed. This might cause unnecessary pressure on the metal causing cracks.
4. It’s Just Old
Things don’t last forever, including your pressure washer pump. Over time the pump walls become thin and can’t tolerate the water pressure.
Therefore, it eventually cracks. So, it might not be your fault at all.
How to Fix a Cracked Pressure Washer Pump
Let’s make this clear to you. There isn’t an actual fix for a cracked pressure washer pump.
Whether you’re thinking of welding or using strong glue to fix your pressure washer pump, these fixes are temporary and might not even work from the beginning.
This is because a pressure washer builds great pressure inside the pump and welding or glue isn’t strong enough to hold all that pressure.
It’s only recommended to weld your pump as a temporary fix until you find a replacement pump or if your pressure washer pump is of pressure not more than 2000 PSI.
The takeaway from this is it’s best to replace your cracked pressure washer pump with a new one.
8 Steps to Welding a Cracked Pressure Washer Pump
Even though I don’t recommend welding as a permanent solution, it might work for some pressure washers.
It’s best to take your pump to a machine shop that can weld it for you instead of doing this on your own.
Also, if you don’t already have a welding torch, it might cost the same to get a new pump. So, it’s better to just get a replacement pump.
However, if you have a welding torch and you’ve safely DIYed a couple of welding projects, then follow these steps to successfully fix your pressure washer pump:
- We’re going to do this using brass brazing rods. So, make sure you have at least a couple.
- Before we start the welding process, you need to inspect the pump and find where exactly the crack is.
- Then, you need to sand any protruding metal until the area around the crack is smooth.
- Now, light your brazing torch and wait until you get the light blue flame before working.
- Heat up the cracked area first.
- Then, apply the brazing rod to the crack while heating it up until you fill the entire crack.
- When you’re done, leave it to completely cool off for at least 24 hours.
- Lastly, clean the surface up a bit with a sand strip or a wire brush.
This should do it for you and fix the crack. Make sure that you’re taking all the necessary precautions when welding for your safety.
How to Replace a Cracked Pressure Washer Pump
As I said earlier, the best way to fix a cracked pressure washer pump is by replacing it with a new one. It’s actually fairly easy to remove your old pump and install a new one.
Before jumping to any steps, you need to find out the exact model of your pump. You’ll find this information underneath the pump on your pressure washer.
Once you get your new pump, follow these steps:
- You need to figure out how you’re going to tilt your pressure washer to get to the pump. It should be tilted in a way that the spark plug is facing up to avoid oil leaking into the firing chamber.
- Using a 6 mm Allen wrench, unscrew the five bolts that hold the pump to your pressure washer, however, don’t unscrew the bolt of the valve assembly.
- If the bolts are too tight for you to unscrew, use a PB blaster and wait for at least a couple of hours, then try to unscrew them again.
- Now, all you need to do is to install your new pump just the way your old pump was positioned.
- Put the bolts back in place and kind of finger-tighten all of them in place. Then, tighten each bolt well using a wrench. This way you avoid warping your new pump.
See how easy it is to install a new pump. Now, you can test your pressure washer and see if everything is working all good.
Final Tips
Before replacing the pump, make sure you take off the hose and drain all the water that is inside.
If you’re dealing with a frozen water situation, leave your pressure washer in a warm area first to let the water thaw. This is way better than trying to pump it up while there’s still frozen water inside, which can cause even more damage.
The Wrap Up
Here you have it, a complete guide on how to fix a cracked pressure washer pump. You either need to temporarily weld it or go with replacing it.
Don’t listen to people who suggest using J-B Weld. It won’t withstand the water pressure even for a second. So, spend your money on a fix that actually works.
Good luck!