How to Replace a Pressure Washer Cylinder Head - Karcher

Make and Model of Pressure Washer Used in This Video

Karcher K3 (1.601-813.0)

Part Used in This Video:

Karcher Pressure Washer Cylinder Head

1. Tools required

All you’ll need are some long nose pliers, T15 and T25 screwdrivers, a socket wrench and 15W-40 oil.

To remove the cylinder head, first, eliminate all power.

2. Remove the wheels & casings

Then, remove the wheels.

Remove the plastic outer casing

You need to remove all the screws holding the plastic outer housing shell in place. These might be tightly secured, so take your time.

Remove the detergent tank holder

Then, remove the four screws holding the detergent tank holder in place at the bottom.

 You can then remove the pipe hose and the tank away from the pressure washer.

There will be two more screws that need to be removed. One on either side of the yellow housing.

3. Remove the motor and internal components

Remove the detergent suction pipe hose and lift the motor up and out.

Remove the motor casing

Remove the screws on the plastic casing with your T15 screwdriver head. You’ll then be able to pull apart the two sides of the casing and remove the motor.

Remove the old cylinder head

There are four T25 screws on top of the cylinder head which need to be removed. These can be extremely tight, so use a socket wrench to loosen them up and then use a T25 screwdriver to remove them finally.

Be careful to keep the motor standing upright as you’re removing all the screws, if there’s excess oil inside, it can drain out.

Drain the oil

Once all the screws are out and the cylinder head is removed, lay the motor on its side to drain all of the old oil.

Remove the connectors

Remove the two connectors at the bottom. Take a photo if needs to be, so you know which colour connector goes where later on.

Remove the switch unit

Then, remove the switch unit from the side of the cylinder head as shown.

Remove the high pressure outlet clamp

Remove the existing high-pressure outlet with clamp and also the existing suction cover. Your old cylinder head has now been fully dismantled.

Remove the suction cover

4. Re-fit new cylinder head and re-assemble

With your new cylinder head, go ahead and attach the old high-pressure outlet with clamp and then the suction cover. 

Re-fit the suction cover

Re-fit the switch unit

Now, attach the existing switch unit taken off a few moments ago.

Re-fit the electrical connections

The brown wire connects to the connector below the text on the motor as shown. Then, the black wire connects to the connector on the other side.

Add new oil

Now, top up the oil in the cavity and place the new cylinder head back on top.

Then, re-screw the four T25 screws in place - making sure to keep the unit upright so no oil leaks whilst you’re re-screwing. If you have had to remove the high-pressure outlet with clamp to get to the screws, make sure to pop it back on.

5. Re-fit Casings & Wheels

You can now put the unit on one side of the plastic casing as shown and then re-attach the other side of the casing.

Then, re-screw all the T15 screws back in place.

You can place the motor back in the casing and reattach the detergent suction pipe hose.

Re fit the outer casing

Then, pop the plastic housing back on. For this to attach securely and easily, you may need to unscrew the four screws with a Phillips screwdriver on the black casing at the bottom of the handle.

Then, go ahead and re-screw all the screws back into the plastic outer housing. And if you unscrewed the four screws on the bottom of the handle, also re-screw these in.

Re-fit detergent tank holder

You can then re-attach the detergent tank holder and re-screw the four screws in.

Then, attach the detergent suction pipe hose back to the detergent tank.

Re-fit the wheels

Re-attach the wheels.

And that’s it, your new motor cylinder head is all set to go! 

View all Pressure Washer cylinder head spares