I have a Troy-bilt power washer, that I've had for at least 20 years. I use it quite a few times during the year, and it's been trouble free until the end of last year.

When I would release the trigger, the engine would bog down. Not every time, but around 25%. Sometimes you could bump the trigger, and it would straighten out. If it bogged down enough to kill the engine, you couldn't pull the rope, to restart it, until you shut the water off, and pulled the trigger to release the pressure.

Well I was using it yesterday, and now it's bogging the motor every time the trigger is released. I watched a couple YouTube videos, and tried removing and cleaning the pressure unloader, and that made no difference. I see quite a few people having trouble with no pressure, but mines not bypassing when the trigger is released.


If anyone has a suggestion, I would appreciate it. It doesn't owe me anything, and if I have to go buy a new pump, that's not a problem, but if I can fix it for $20.00 that would be OK too.

Still sounds like the unloader valve to me. Get a new one, or a new pump assy, preferably a CAT brand, they seem to work better and last a lot longer.

I have a near 20 yo Karcher model with a Honda engine and it did the same thing two years ago. But the machine has been on the downslide for a little while. Last year, I removed the air filter and cover to see if air flow was a problem and it stopped stalling. Did the same this year. Eventually I want to replace it with a 2000 psi electric model, but hey, the old gas one lasted almost 20 years.

Watergoat, I agree. If I was taking bets, I’d bet the valve is bad. They’re not expensive, I just didn’t want to get a valve today, and then go back tomorrow and get a pump.

oddball, the way this thing is acting, I really don’t believe it’s an engine problem. I change the filter every year, when I service it. It always starts right up, and it will restart on the first pull, after I release the water pressure. I used it for about 2 hours yesterday, and it’s 100% consistent. If you’re holding the trigger back, and spraying water, it runs great. Release the trigger, and the engine immediately bogs down.