How a Pressure Washer Works.. Featuring Sun Joe SPX4001 

I love that simple switch for high, low, and off. Very smart for them to use parts that can be bought pretty easily and not have to make a special one. Looks like a pretty well made unit.

Pretty nice, well-made machine. I like that they didn't reinvent the wheel to find a solution to that switch, too. Thanks, Moe!!

I like the reel, I am going to cobble up something similar for my gas powered pressure washer. Incidentally, the book that came with my craftsman washer recommends using RV antifreeze in it over winter to prevent oopies.

I like that switch idea too. Pretty cool actually. "Swash-plate" That's a part on a helicopter too, kind of cool. I trust your reviews Moe, thanks for the info.

nice work on the video, ive seen so many frozen yard sale machines, no one blows them out,l liked the real too, hate wrestling with wrapping it up,

Thank you for the great tutorial. I'm a senior lady and love to see how things work. I have the spx3000. I hope it has the same motor and pump. When it dies i might have to dismantle it and look for a replacement pupm or motor on alibaba 😋

Thanks for the tear-down. You are right about the water freezing in there, I ruined a pressure washer pump because of that. Now every fall I run RV antifreeze through the pump before putting it away for the winter. I see now that Home Depot carries the SunJoe brand/

My spx3000 worked 8 times then no pressure. Still going on 2 years trying to get them to replace. Either way still great info, thanks man.

Great review and video. I take exception to one point. You said that it isn't designed to fail at any point, I disagree. The unloader valve is made of nylon, you kind of glossed over this, and the company doesn't make a replacement part. If the unloader valve gets gummed up (which they tend to do) there is no way to disassemble it and clean it out. The nylon body is too flimsy to be unscrewed and so it is impossible to take it out and clean it. But, even if you do manage to get it out, (likely damaging it in the process) the company, Snowjoe, does not sell a replacement part and only offer a 15% discount on your next purchase. If the unloader valve is gummed up it will permanently cut off your motor rendering the entire machine worthless. I believe this unloader valve is designed to fail so that you will be forced to purchase a new product. If this wasn't the case the company would just offer a replacement part so the owner could repair it. But, they don't want us repairing it, they want us to buy a new one. This is the world we live in now, and it is sad.

Having the reel on it is a real plus over many other units.

Sold me on the older unit Sun Joe SPX3000... My garage is my office and she needs a floor makeover. Home depot 137.02 delivered to my door with Illinois state tax. I have been looking for one of these for a while, the review and the tear down was helpful in my decision. The new model was going for 199.. The next question to ask would be after I wash the cement garage floor; what would be a good sealer to use? Also thinking of vinyl tiles. The floor is sound. Just needs a cleaning a seal. Thanks for the great advice as always!

Hi Moe. Excellent tear down and theory explanation of what can damage one! That does look to be a well made machine for a smaller one. Several people I know who have complained about different brand machines they have, always wondered if they froze and don't fess up. :) Great idea where you showed how much water is retained in that valve body when someone would think different and then storing in a cold place for winter.

great take down Moe , Looks like a pretty good pump setup ! Thumbs up man..

Finally a good explanation !

Thanks for explaining the pump

Great review Moe. That unit seems surprisingly well built.

Just a btw comment water does not compress, the pump just moves a precise amount of water. Pressure is made by the pressure rated hose pushing the water through the gallons per minute nozzle, that model is typically a 2 gpm.

I recognize that electric motor. Many dishwashers use it too. It's a good salvage from tossed d/w's.

Man you are the best. Thank you so much

I saw oil in the pump, I didn't see you put back the oil?? How do you fill back the oil and what kind of oil?

I have never seen inside one of those pumps, cool vid! Where did all that snow go...you'll be out boating in no time.

I have another pressure washer, that was leaking water all over the place out of one of the cylinders, comparing this sun joe with mine, I can see this one is much better quality mine has plastic cylinder head. with just a cover that holds the inserts in, this one has individual metal caps, much better design I think. also noticed yours has lots of oil in the inside, mine just had a coating of grease, that oil in yours should conduct heat better to the housing, again, a better design feature. thanks for this break down, I think I know what unit I am going to get to replace the one I got. btw, regarding models, i notice 4 main models, 2 uprights and 2 cart types, the difference being whether they have a roller for the hose. so, 3000 is upright, 3001 upright with roller, 4000 cart, 4001 cart with roller, PSI and all that are the same on all 4. think I am going for the 4001, like the cart idea, I just know I will knock the other one over.

What do you do with a brand new pressure washer? Take it apart of course! Thanks 65Ford! I was on the fence about buying this SunJoe, but your video really set my mind at ease that this is a decent product. Well done. I ordered one this morning. Who says clever marketing doesn't work?!?!?! Hahaha.

is there an easy way to replace the backhose? is it advisable to attach a sewer jetter directy to the back outlet instead of the trigger nozzle? the storm drain in my back patio is proving to be a tough customer

I have the same model. My soap/detergent not working. Any suggestions?

I have a greenworks 2000psi PW I got second hand because it didn't work but it was a bad switch with the same setup as this model. I changed the switch which was burned up and it took off working. working at Lowe's I've seen a few others like mine come back with the same problem, makes me wish I could get them too but I can't​.

What kind of pressure does that develop? The electric pressure washers I've seen don't shut off power from the wand like that, but only cuts off the water flow. I guess that one doesn't use a valve at the wand, to allow the pressure to bleed down then the trigger is released, and unload the pump for startup.

How much oil goes inside the pump? I got a spx4000 second hand, looks like previous owner tried to do some sort of maintenance and spilled the oil out

I think the Total Stop System (TSS) switch in the wand is not working correctly. It senses water flow in the pump. When the trigger is released, water stops flowing through the pump. When I release the switch and go to press the switch it does not turn on the pump. I have to take off any nozzle and then reattach it before it will work again. Can I spray some electrical contact cleaner on it? And if I can how do I get to it.

Great stripdown and discription of the way it works :-D. Ive allways liked your straight forward way of explaining things. Perhaps that device on the heatsink is a triac, same idea as a lighting dimmer, chopping parts of the ac waveform out to produce less voltage, also adjusted to drive an inductive motor. Like the switch/cam, simple and repairable.

Good review buddy now I know how these things work

Cool investigation.

dude your videos are great ! this video is so gonna help me fix my little pressure washer thank you very very much

I need that valve!!! Mine froze up and it’s leaking from that part there

did you replace any of the Oil from when you opened it up? and what type of Oil did you use?

I was hoping to see you disassemble the plunger portion with the plastic nut on it I'm stumped on pulling it out to re-engage it cause it won't run, any tips or tricks with out stripping it out?

Does supposed to be theres o-ring in the head for the piston to go back and forth..yours get 3 black o-ring or gasket…Mines doesnt have thinking thats causing leak on mine..

hello sir. thanks for this video. I have this pressure washer and it's broken after one season. it appears to me that that plastic nut looking thing on the part that you called the unloader valve is broken. do you have any idea how I might replace that part? I could get it to budge with a crescent wrench.

I have an old snap-on 1750psi electric washer. So, can these cheap electric washers normally be serviced? Oiled, etc. Are the internal parts (seals/springs/bearings, etc) pretty much standard & more or less interchangeable?

Heres an odd question, If I was to flip this pump sideways for a custom mounting solution, would this affect the pump in anyway?

I have a gas powered one. I use it all the time. Every time I do any big job to a car, I pressure wash the concrete when I'm finished.

cool video...just bought a ryobi gas unit for work...has the honda engine but lets see how long the pump lasts.

Wondering if it is possible to repair the unloader valve when it's stuck? I got an SPX4600.

Wana make a video on how to make your own Heavy-Dutywater hose reel for, high pressure or low pressure ??

hi my pump has no pressure i can't take the three valves out of the pump it's a 4600 model

Good info . Thanks!

Mine is leaking out the hole by the back of unloader on the spx4000. Would the water seals on the head cause this? No parts can be found anywhere.

Goog work sir

Great review. Thanks!

hey where do you get all those cool craftsman shirts?

awesome informative video I am definitely smarter for having watched it. it just so happens I'm looking to buy a son Joe. thank you for taking the time to inform the uninformed such as myself. :))) TWO thumbs up !!

Great video! I know it's six years old, but I am hoping you can tell me which O-ring and seals to order to rebuild the head of the triplex pump on the Sun Joe SPX4001 like the one in your video. Also, can I use 5W-30W oil when I put it back together?

Is bosh pressure washer a good and reliable one? Which company makes the most durable and longlasting pressure washer? Im based in India and the sunjoe one is not available unfortunately

Nice video…i have the 2030 model, do you know where i can buy the pump…mine is leaking everywhere

How do you refill it with oil?

had a micro switch issue with a sunjoe spx3001. replaced that after searching far and wide for a cheap place to get the $2 mico switch. I got the washer used and it always had the priming issue, pump would start itself after about 10-30 seconds. saw your video so i figured i'll try to tackle that problem as well. took the whole thing apart. Everything looked ok to my surprise. The only thing i couldn't take apart was the unloader, is that replaceable? It's amazing that for such a popular brand like sunjoe there's very little in terms of available replacement parts or information about repairs compared to other brands. Is there a specific kit to replace all the internal seals? thanks for the video!

my greenworks 2000psi PW works fine after repairing the power switch but while it's on and sitting the motor kicks on/off for a split second every 1-2 seconds. what causes this?

They tested the one they sent you for review....

What about the pressure switch do you know how the orings go on the pressure switch

How do you store a pressure washer during a below zero winter? I've discovered storing in an unheated barn doesn't workout so well?

Nice teardown

Excuse me but where tf do you get the springs from? Iv been looking forever for my gas pw i have please help🙏

I spotted a $10 Craftsman power washer at the local scrap yard that had a locked up engine. Would you have bought it? I didn't go for it. Wondering your thoughts. I've never worked on one but I've worked on mowers and blowers.

We have really crappy water that leaves buildup inside the machine. My dad's was completely seized up, and I pulled it apart, cleaned everything, and it ran like a champ again. What can you do to prevent that problem?

Why there are 3 out valves and not only one like the in valve?

So, by the looks of it, an electric washer will shut off when too much load is not bring used, unlike a gas pressure washer which will heat up after no use and release itself. Right on.

I've had this washer for 18 months, but the unloader valve is broken. Does anyone know if its repairable? The top of the unloader valve broke off.

Nice video. I have model SPX4000 so the motor and everything looks the same other than the wind up hose real. I am currently having a problem where the motor doesn't shut off when I let go of the trigger. So it seams as though it's not getting enough pressure. The garden hose is fine, I cleaned the pre-filter and the water inlet filter and so far that hasn't helped. Any suggestions?

Can I use Briggs & Stratton Pump Saver to winterize the Sun Joe SPX3000.....

Hi! What kind a oil is best to use and the quantity for SPX3000? Thanks.

my unloader valve/motor shut off switch housing is leaking...can I replace this part????

You just slid the motor out of the plastic housing I cannot get the motor out of mine SPX4000 no matter how hard I pull! I need to get it out as one of the wires broke off ware it connects to the motor housing. Any Ideals? thx

Good job thanks

Where do you find parts for that pump and motor

Can a EPW pump be replaced like a GPW? I'm wanting more GPM lol

This one does not need a capacitor to run it?

Hi sixtyfiveford! Looks more like a hydrostatic-style engine to me .... ;)

Cool

"... It's more expensive than the pump." Huh, what? That doesn't make sense. How can something be more expensive by itself than the whole device that contains one?

cool!

It's plain to see that an electric washer is a better deal than a gasoline one for occasional use. It's a nuisance to shut off the engine/save the pump from damage. That explains what happened to mine, despite avoiding idling it.

That's interesting

how about just pushing the fn button? 😷🥵

Pure junk.