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- Verified Buyer
Two units sent to me we’re both damaged in shipping.I bought the pressure washer because of the really well-made Honda engine. I also chose this because I own a carpet cleaning business and several of my units had cat pumps that were very reliable. It appears the manufacturer does not put any packing in with these units and so both were damagedGreat machine, delivery driver sat it upside dow so I had to pull the spark plug and use some starting fluid, was missing the white nozzle, but as far as the machine it works great!This has to be one of the best power washers out there. I have been through many and the steel frame ones seem to crack or disintegrate after years of punishing work (2-3 weeks a year shouldn't be too punishing). This one is well designed, very sturdy, does not vibrate as much as most other ones and starts almost every time with one pull.I used for pressure washer services and is stronger , when I open the box say is too small but when I try for wash my car change my mindHandle could be a little longerWe're using it, now - to prepare a house for painting. It started on the first couple pulls, runs smooth and did a good job on the house. We'll use it in the future for washing the house and vehicles etc....This is my first pressure washer and I wanted to get a good one. Sure, I could save some coin buying a lesser unit, but I didn't want to spend all weekend cleaning my driveway and patio. I'm glad I got the big one.Mine was slightly damaged during shipping; more on that later.After adding the included oil and filling the tank with fresh gasoline, I fed the pump some hose water and pulled the recoil starter. It fired right up, as a Honda should! I started off with the rotary head (rated for 4.0 GPM) and it immediately began to clear the scum from my driveway. The engine is well muffled for such a large displacement, by the way. The 50 foot hose is adequate for most residential needs, but adding a 100 footer to the accessories pile would help for cleaning off rockeries and brickwork around the backyard. This is the Evergreen State after all and moss is EVERYWHERE! Moss has met it's match with this unit, but I digress..The 4500 PSI rated hose is of a 3/8" size, and it's burly but not too unwieldy; there is a price for power. I found the hose needs a bit of attention to deliberately lay out according to your intended cleaning path because loops and twists are not easily handled without setting down the wand, walking back to the problem and uncoiling it manually. Again, it's par for the course here.The big Honda 390 pushes 4 gallons per minute with serious authority; it's easy to get cavalier with the wand but care must be used when getting close to wood as it will tear it up in no time flat, especially with a turbo head. Reducing the pressure and flow with the regulator on the wand proved invaluable around delicate structures and planter areas; I can't imagine using this machine without it.I really love the aluminum base and frame. It's nice to know that it will never rust and weight has been kept to a minimum. As for the CAT pump, what's not to like? Industrial duty and rebuildable, it's the best money can buy. And when it comes to pressure washers, it's really all about the pump.I can also say that if your plans for a pressure washer consist primarily of auto or boat washing, this unit is overkill extreme. An electric Karcher or similar machine would be much better suited to you. If you value your time as much as your money and want to spend more of it enjoying your property then cleaning it, this is the one to get!Now about the damage. The courier that delivered the box to my house had noted that they received it with the cardboard already torn and plastic shipping wrap bandaging up the sad sight. A brief inspection didn't show anything wrong, but as soon as the courier left, I noticed the frame had gotten bent and the handle wouldn't slide on. I decided to just bend the post back in place enough to slide the handle on and live with it. Thankfully the engine proper didn't sustain any blows.I've given the unit 5 stars because I think it deserves it, but Simpson has got to do something about their packaging. It's totally inappropriate to ship a 1300 dollar 125 pound machine in a 2 dollar single corrugated cardboard box. The machine was essentially swimming in a paper sack by the time it made it to my driveway. The wand and tube were simply dropped in the box without any extra protection and the fact that they weren't damaged or missing is nothing short of a miracle.In summary, I would say that if you order one of these, you're rolling the dice when it comes to damage. Be prepared to refuse the shipment or hassle with aftermath from a significant impact.Very easy to assemble. It's worth the money and the pressure and power was amazingPackaged, crated and shipped extremely well - no problems and no damage.Started up right away - 4 pulls after assembling out of the box. It ran for several hours straight and didn't stall once. It felt more powerful than others that claim 3400 psi, but that's hard to quantify. The frame is made well, there's adequate clearance on the underside, the handle is a good length away from the engine that it balances well when moving,, and the wheels are a good size with good treads.Both the printed instructions and the labels attached to the engine and sprayer were complete, comprehensive, and very well done (I appreciate instructions in proper English with good diagrams!) It even looks impressive with the red Honda engine, black trim, grey hose, and aluminum frame. I just hope the Honda engine lives up to its reputation for longevity.The only "complaints" (and they are minor) are the spare spray nozzles can't be snapped on to the frame (they just rest in holes), the hose is stiff and challenging to unwind when coming out of the box, it is difficult to coil the hose and hang it from the frame after use (hanger doesn't hold all the hose), the handle kicks a fair bit when the trigger is depressed (because of the power), and my neighbours like it so much they've already asked to borrow it several times!I was amazed at how small and light this unit was. My 12 yo daughter can lift it in and out of the truck..BUT....I bought this for use on a job site. Got it late this afternoon. Being no stranger to Honda engines I expected to be up and running in a couple pulls.. Nope, just flooded..Pulled the spark plug, dried it off, checked gap - it was off by 0.4 mm - adjusted it, pulled the starter cord a few times.. reinstalled plug.. tried again.. nope just a single backfire that brought the cop next door rushing over.. It's not even trying to tun overHonestly a brand new Honda motor should be a no brainer.Very tempted to just drain the gas and oil and return it.. will update tomorrow after I take the time day off to troubleshoot furtherUpdate..Figure the pressure washer had been stored or transported upside down. the spark plug was coated in oil, something I missed when I checked the gap, air filter was saturated as well so had to replace that. Fired up on first pull once I cleaned up all the oil, adjusted the throttle and it runs well. One thing that I find annoying is it's so light and the vibration tends to make the machine walk on its own, so chock the tires and keep it away from any curbs or other dropsFurther UpdateLike others I am having difficulties starting this pressure washer on subsequent days. The process has become an ordeal. Several pulls, let sit 10 minutes, several pulls, get 1 backfire, let sit 10 minutes, several pulls, get the first signs of sputtering life, let sit 10 minutes, several pulls and it'll start but stalls in 30-60 seconds, another 10 minutes and it'll start..Replaced the air filter, cleaned the carb, replaced the spark plug.. still near impossible to start..Returning itI use pressure washers for a variety of cleaning and stripping chores. I had acquired an extended pole that reaches to the peak of a second story house. My old pressure washer didn't have the power to run it...this one does effortlessly (I also have a gutter wand and can now clean the gutters without going near a ladder).Not an indictment against this model or brand, but against all pressure washers in general. I wish someone would come up with an accessory bracket or some way to support the garden hose so it does not stress the connection (I know. Shut the machine off and grab the hose and move it, but I have large areas I do and like to keep going)Initial start was difficult - it could use a prime bulbThe throttle was stuck and I had to pull very hard to release it. After working it back and forth 20 times it loosened up.After that it ran perfectly. I used it for an hour without issue. The throttle gives good control.Some complained about backfiring when shut off. This only happened at full throttle. The easy fix is to throttle down before shutting off the engine, not a surprise.The hose is super stiff but works. easily replaceable if you don’t like it.I got the 3400...Love it, not to heavy, has great pressure, does an amazing job, has the perfect pressure for being able to do light or heavy work. Contractor grade. It does backfire quite a bit which is a little annoying and the pressure adjuster is impossible to get your hand around as the frame leading to the handle is in the way
