Troy Bilt Pressure Washer Problems: Pump & Water

Troy Bilt is a reliable power tool manufacturer renowned for producing gas-pressure washers and spare parts. However, these machines should be used thoughtfully to yield better results. Just like other power tools, pressure washers can malfunction at times, impeding their normal functioning. These issues generally fall into two categories, engine or motor and pump/water related. In this post, I shall discuss the latter.

When a Troy Bilt pressure washer springs a leak, it’s usually at the connection points at the pump. Check the connections between the pump, high-pressure hose, inlet hose, and the spray gun if your pressure washer is leaking water. Confirm that all the connections are fine and that the O-rings and seals are in good condition. In case of low water pressure, ensure all nozzles are free of any blockage and that the unloader valve is calibrated appropriately. Pumps that leak oil or make other unusual noises must be oiled, and their seals checked regularly.

If your Troy Bilt pressure washer leaks water or has a faulty pump, I’ll explain how to identify the issue and undertake the repair procedure yourself.

Troy Bilt Pressure Washer is Leaking Water

Water may leak from the connecting joints of your Troy Bilt pressure washer. Check the pump and spray gun connections separately to troubleshoot the water leak.

A leak is more likely to occur at one of three points. The pump itself may be the first source of leaking, and the second point might be the pump’s intake and exit hose connectors. Apart from that, water may potentially leak from the spray gun’s connection to the high-pressure hose.

● Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Water Leaking from the Pump

If your Troy Bilt pressure washer leaks right from the pump, it’s probably because the piston seals are worn out and need to be replaced.

Most pressure washer pumps force water through the piping using a piston mechanism with positive displacement. A piston seal prevents water from leaking from the pump. These seals are prone to wear down over time, possibly resulting in a leak. To inspect this, disassemble the pump’s casing and look for evidence of wear on the piston seals.

This applies only if you have a plunger pump. Axial and wobble plate pumps are factory built and cannot be disassembled. As a result, in such a case, seals cannot be replaced individually, and the whole pump must be replaced to solve the problem.

● Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Water Leaking from the Hose Connection

If the hose connections on your pressure washer leak, the connectors at these attachments have degraded and should be replaced.

A connector/pipe connects the hose to the pump’s low-pressure input. This coupling contains a leak-proof seal. The connection and its seal are most likely broken if there is a leak at this point. Likewise, the outlet seal should be changed if the coupling between the pump high-pressure outlet and its corresponding hose leaks.

● Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Water Leaking from the Spray Gun

If your Troy Bilt pressure washer’s spray gun spills water, check the hose-gun connection and fix it by tightening the screws. Then, inspect the high-pressure hose’s outlet for a broken O-ring and replace it if needed.

A press fit is used on most pressure washers to connect the high-pressure hose to the spray gun on most pressure washers. Check to see if the fit is operating correctly and that the connection is not loose. If it has screws, ensure sure they are secured properly. If the leak still occurs after tightening the fit, please inspect the O-ring at the hose to see if it is still present and intact.  A damaged or missing O-ring might have been the cause of this leak.

Pressure washer seals, gaskets, and O-rings can be purchased online or via a pressure washer parts store.

Pressure Washer: Water Pressure Problems

If your Troy Bilt pressure washer is not producing sufficient water pressure, follow the steps:

● Issue 1. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Low Pressure

To troubleshoot low water pressure, ensure enough water supply and that debris does not obstruct the inlet line. Also, ensure that the nozzle isn’t damaged either.

The pump’s input water supply must be sufficient to generate the required pressure. You should check and remove any twists or bends in the inlet hose. In addition, most inlet hoses have a dust filter at the pump’s connection point. Check the filter for any dirt that might be stuck in it. If the pressure remains low, make sure you’re using the correct-sized nozzle and that it’s not stuck with any debris.

● Issue 2. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: No Pressure

If your pressure washer loses pressure, check the water supply, hoses, and nozzle. After that, inspect the unloader valve and the pump, at least one of which is defective.

While dirt caught in the nozzle or insufficient water supply can also cause pressure loss. In this case, however, the pump and the unloader valve are most likely faulty. To see if the pressure improves, gently adjust the unloader valve while keeping the pump running and the trigger engaged. If it doesn’t improve, replace the unloader valve, as it’s not working correctly. The plungers and O-rings of your pump may also need to be inspected for damage.

Furthermore, cavitation-induced air bubbles can cause long-term damage to various pump components, resulting in pressure loss. Consult the owner’s handbook before beginning to replace parts on your pump. Because most pumps are manufactured as single whole units, they cannot be disassembled and must be replaced with identical ones.

● Issue 3. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Surging Pressure

If the water pressure rises suddenly, check your nozzle for blockages or signs of damage. Also, your unloader valve should be adjusted so that more water enters the bypass and less goes into the spray cannon.

The unloader valve on your pressure washer directs some of the high-pressure flow of water to the pump intake or water tank rather than the spray nozzle. When your unloader is overly tight, hardly any incoming flow is bypassed, resulting in high pressure at the gun outlet. Loosening the unloader valve would increase the flow rate across the bypass, preventing pressure surges at the spray gun. If this does not work, inspect your nozzle for visible indications of damage and replace it if appropriate.

● Issue 4. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Drops Pressure after a Few Seconds

If the water pressure suddenly dips, it might be due to a worn-out nozzle or a hose leak.  This issue might also be caused due to a poorly calibrated unloader valve.

Unlike the above case of surging, if the unloader is calibrated too loosely, the pressure at the spray gun might fall. If this setting is too loose, even a small flow rate is sufficient to overcome the spring force and get bypassed into the water tank. As a result, the water pressure at the nozzle’s exit decreases. 

 Other than this, it would be best if you also looked for any holes or leaks in your hose. Moreover, ensure that your nozzle is not blocked with dirt.

● Issue 5. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Strange Noises from Pump

If your pump makes an unusual noise, it might be due to broken bearings or worn connecting rods. It will also produce noise if it is not timely greased.

In high-end pressure washers, plunger-type pumps have been employed that need to be refilled with oil after every three months.  Hence, these pumps have slightly higher maintenance requirements. In low-end variants, the pump used is either axial or wobble plate type. These pumps don’t need to be refilled with oil as they are permanently sealed with filled with oil during manufacturing. 

– Solution

Your pressure washer pump should be checked every three months, depending on the type (axial or plunger). Due to a lack of lubrication, the sliding of metal parts occurs more readily, thus producing noise. In this case, you can disassemble the pump and inspect the bearings and the connecting rods. A bearing replacement might do the job if lubricating the pump does not resolve the issue.

If the noise still occurs, there might be a fault with the connecting rods, particularly if your engine has become old. If your pressure washer’s engine has been used for a long time, its connecting rods will generate noise due to fatigue and wear. 

If your axial or wobble plate pump is making strange noises, replace it with an identical one since it cannot be disassembled and repaired.

● Issue 6. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Excessive Noise

If your pressure washer generates too much noise, it might be due to broken internal pump parts, the air seeping into the pump, a damaged pump casing, or the engine knocking due to poor fuel used.

Pump’s Wear & Tear:

When the air becomes trapped in a pump, the plungers make a loud grinding noise, which can wear down seals and connecting rods. If the pump’s casing fails, it may induce significant noise vibrations.

Engine Knocking:

Check the grade and quality of the fuel going into the engine if you have a gas-powered pressure washer. I recommend using ethanol-free, unleaded gasoline with an octane value of at least 87 if you want to minimize engine knocking. For further specifics, you can also consult your owner’s manual.

● Issue 7. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Oil Leaking from the Pump

A leaking oil pump has a damaged seal or a faulty O-ring. If applicable, disassemble your pump and replace all the seals by hand. If the product is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer for assistance.

If your pump allows oil replacement and your warranty has expired, you can consider disassembling it to make the repairs. Hire an expert or contact your manufacturer if you lack the requisite skills. I propose acquiring an oil seal kit with seals and rings in various sizes to help you carry out the replacements.

Check that all bolts and fittings are correctly tightened during reassembly.  To avoid oil leaks in the future, never expose your pressure washer to extreme temperatures, as it can rapidly destroy rubber components.

If the pump on your pressure washer is permanently sealed, the only solution is to replace the whole pump.

● Issue 8. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Water in Oil

Water can enter the pressure washer if the pump’s oil seal becomes faulty. In this case, you should consider replacing its seal.

Water causes the pump oil to turn milky, and this might be due to a broken oil seal. The complete pump must be dismantled to replace the seal, including the housing, valves, seals, and rings.

I’d only do this once the pump’s warranty has expired. The pump manufacturer should fix this if it’s under warranty. And this only applies to pressure washers with plunger pumps whose oil can be changed. Most low-cost pressure washers have a permanently sealed pump that must be entirely replaced if damaged or destroyed.

● Issue 9. Troy Bilt Pressure Washer: Soap Not Dispensing from Reservoir

Check the nozzle size if your pressure washer isn’t drawing soap from the reservoir. In addition, you must inspect the soap injector kit and repair any broken or worn-out parts.

See if the owner’s handbook suggests a specific type of nozzle for the soap injection function that offers adequate suction pressure for all the detergent types. Check that you’re using the correct nozzle. If it still doesn’t work, check your soap injection kit to ensure its nozzle isn’t blocked. A chemical injector repair kit can come in handy to get all the relevant spare types.

Troy Bilt Pressure Washer troubleshooting table:

● Troy Bilt Gas Pressure Washer Engine troubleshooting table: