So Having an acreage, 3 acres, a commercial Diesel mower, my lil tractor, and my nice cars I have been looking for a Hotsie, Alkota, diesel fired heated power wash machine, I cant afford a new one and justify the 8800 they get for a decent one, but have been keeping my feelers out. Im scrolling local listings on facebook, and there is a local guy roughly 25 miles from me who has an older machine for 250 bucks, but the burner dosn't work. Being a mechanic I figured I cant go wrong, Its an Alkota 518X4 belt driven diesel, or kerosene 220 power washer. Pretty good specs, 6hp, 4.8 GPM 1800PSI up to 120-200 degree water temp, set at 130 now. So I get it home, start to tinker on it, change fuel lines, clean fuel tank, and change fuel filter cause owner said it hasnt burned fuel in 3-4 years. Ive already talked to a local service guy about the machine, and the first thing he told me was to look at the vacuum switch....
I decided to take the cover off of the switch to find a rubber grommet had gotten pushed into the housing from an electrician poking a wire in there for a cord, and deciding that was the wrong place to go I guess??? But regardless it freed up the hand plunger on that switch. I decided to fire it up, and boom, it all works, but the burner only works if I mess with that switch, I did a couple things to diagnose the issue, called the tech again, and he told me to check a water screen as that could hinder water flow across the switch. Made sense to me. So tonight Ill see if its the screen or a bad switch. Even if its a switch, that is only 30 bucks, and this particular power washer sold new for almost 9K with the HD pump, and the cart it is on. The paint on the pulleys isnt even worn off, there is a little blackening from the belts, but that is it.. Its still got orange colored paint on the heater water coil!!
To say Im beyond lucky is a huge under statement!!
Free carwashes this summer!!!!!!! come with beer!
LOL
