custom pressure washer cart build

[Norm]

Hi Guys, I've been after a decent petrol pressure washer for a while now, but nothing I've seen is either quite what I want or is very expensive to buy new. My old Karcher unit bought second hand for £50.00 has served me well for a few years now but it has a Tecumseh engine which can be a right barsteward to start sometimes and drinks fuel at an alarming rate ,

I've been gathering some bits and pieces together and plan to make my own unit based on some of the welding cart projects I've seen on here, the plan is a wheeled trolley with the pressure washer and engine at low level and a top box for all the brushes and accessories with welded on lugs for hose storage so everything is contained on one wheeled unit saving multiple trips to the garage when I want to use it.

I plan to strip my existing unit and salvage the detergent tank and lance holder. The top box came off an old McAllister unit.

The frame will be made up from some old desk framing, plus some other bits and pieces,

and the business end will be powered by this bad boy

That's a brand new Honda GX200 engine and pump which cost £360.00 in total and should prove to be very reliable. I'm hoping to start stripping the old unit down and making a start on this over the weekend and will update as I go.
Cheers for now, Norm

 

[brokenbiker]

that tecumseh engine. Is it a vantage 35 by any chance? Looks like a good project so far

 

[Norm]

that tecumseh engine. Is it a vantage 35 by any chance? Looks like a good project so far

Hi not sure to be honest, I've not looked at it in great detail, It was a cheap purchase when my electric pressure washer gave up and has lasted a lot longer than I expected it too. I'll have a look tomorrow when I take it to pieces

 

[brokenbiker]

Looking at the pics it looks a bit bigger than the one i am re building. It was given to me to 'fix' after being taken down to every last little component. Not a job in enjoying to be honest, never dealt with these engines before

 

[Norm]

seems to be the carburettor's are the problem with them I searched the net about the fuel / starting issues and I think the carbs / jet assemblies are now obsolete, it runs well to be fair once it's started but consumes fuel like a v8

 

[Tman]

seems to be the carburettor's are the problem with them I searched the net about the fuel / starting issues and I think the carbs / jet assemblies are now obsolete, it runs well to be fair once it's started but consumes fuel like a v8

Just sounds like the carb mixture is out

 

[MattF]

That looks like it has the potential to be a beast of a device, by the time you've done Norm.

and the business end will be powered by this bad boy

Could just imagine you popping the garage door up whilst saying: "Look at this bad boy" to a friend/neighbour. I'd love to see the look on their face. "Listen to the pop of that pressure relief valve...."

 

[Norm]

Just sounds like the carb mixture is out

unfortunately theres no mixture adjustment and replacement needles / valves are not available, (I always wanted a honda engine)

That looks like it has the potential to be a beast of a device, by the time you've done Norm.

."

plenty of potential Matt but sorely lacking in execution at the moment, I've had one of those if it can go wrong it will go wrong days today

knocked together a basic trial frame for it , after much deliberation and rigging things together I've had to ditch the idea of mounting the topbox permanently, as it wont fit under the bench for storage due to its height with it in place, so thinking of just making a framework for the box to sit on will post some pics once I have worked out the best configuration for it.

 

[MattF]

No fun when you have one of those days. I don't envy you.

With that top box, could you not make the frame as planned, so that it sits on top but rather temporarily affixed by locking/snap clasps than by being bolted/screwed in place? If you have a lip around the shelf it's going to sit on, so that the box positively locates in exactly one position, should only then be a few second job to flick the clasps to lock it or remove it.

 

[Norm]

Hi Guys. pleased to say I've made some good progress with this, having gotten very frustrated with it at the weekend, at one point I couldn't weld to save my life and was having major problems getting anything to look reasonable. In the end I binned the old desk sides, bought some new 40mm box section and put a new lens cover on my mask and wow I can now see what I'm doing and have run some great for me beads, usually my welding involves 50 pence of wire and gas and ten pounds worth of flap discs but I'm happy to leave these as they are. most of the frames now done, I'm awaiting some 125mm rubber tyred castors and will add some more bits and pieces to locate the top box and washer lance.

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Looks good mate

 

[MattF]

Nice work. That looks tidy.

 

[Norm]

Hi Guys almost done with this now, welded on the castors tonite and a fixing to secure the lance, I decided to use another toolbox for the brushes as it's in better condition than the other one I had. I just need to get some snap lock fittings to secure the top box and drill the mounting holes for the engine. I plan to use etch primer and qd90 machinery paint to finish it. Got to say I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out and it should serve me well .

Heres a few pics of what it will look like once assembled

 

[DrNik]

Come on Norm, needs some bright paint,

I vote for yellow

 

[Norm]

Sorry DrNik, the paints ordered and as Henry Ford said you can have any colour you like as long as its black, so black it will be

 

[Shedendman]

Cant quite see from the photos,but have you fitted the engine/pump to the frame without anti vibration mounts?

 

[Norm]

Cant quite see from the photos,but have you fitted the engine/pump to the frame without anti vibration mounts?

Hi its not mounted properly as yet, I have drilled holes for m8 bolts and intend to use some 5mm thick rubber between the engine base and the frame, hopefully that should do the job?

 

[Jim Davey]

It won't. Look online for "anti-vibration mounts" you find exactly what you need. The ones you want look like a rubber barrel about 40mm diameter with a short length of M8 threaded rod out of each end. You'll see how they work once you get them. The high frequency vibration will shake the thing to bits and cause damage even if you bolt it down with rubber sandwiched in between the engine and frame. It will also cut down on noise a fair bit too.

 

[Norm]

It won't. Look online for "anti-vibration mounts" you find exactly what you need. The ones you want look like a rubber barrel about 40mm diameter with a short length of M8 threaded rod out of each end. You'll see how they work once you get them. The high frequency vibration will shake the thing to bits and cause damage even if you bolt it down with rubber sandwiched in between the engine and frame. It will also cut down on noise a fair bit too.

Thanks Jim, thats great advice and very helpful. much appreciated

 

[captain-destructo]

dont want to throw a spanner in the works but have you checked you have left enough space to put fuel in???

nothing worse than spilling petrol over a nice hot engine safety first and all that