Customer Reviews

Factory-Reconditioned Karcher K3.68M 1,800 PSI 1.5 GPM Electric Pressure Washer

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I've had a consumer grade Karcher electric pressure washer for a number of years, and the one listed here is no different. It has served me faithfully for many years until yesterday, when I stepped on the input garden hose just in front of its input hose bib - crack!! (*&#$*&(*&#$

Its input hose bib was plastic (polycarbonate?) and not strain relieved!!!

I dissasseble the plastic case (deeply recessed torx screws!! - no problem) and discovered that the plastic hose bib is integrated into the cylinder head and was non-replaceable.

Karcher's web site has no useful consumer information re: non-waranty repairs or parts. Only non-waranty repairs are for pro-grade gas washers (which have nice brass hose bibs by the way). No parts list available for my model and discontinued.

I ended up encasing the cracked hose bib with epoxy putty. Sealing the margins with RTV silicone, then conpressing the RTV with adhesive conpression tape, so maybe I can finish my deck project before having to buy a new washer.

What I find disheartening is here you have a moderately expensive piece of equipment, ~$200, with moderately expensive components (electric motor, precision machined pistons, check valves, GFI switch, etc.) and it's completely destroyable by a non-replaceable, non-strain relieved, externally exposed, cheap plastic hose bib! They could have put in a brass one, or mechanically supported the plastic one, or even mechanically decoupled the whole thing by a short flexible section of hose!

-Bruce

Just received this today. 3-4 day shipping, fantastic.
Put it together (pictures only, nothing written for assembly) hooked up the water, plugged it in. Released the trigger switch and started power washing.
Now I've only used gas machines in the past and only 3 or 4 times in my lifetime. I have to admit, I wasn't too impressed with the force and volume of water coming out BUT, it was cleaning, some. Did some concrete, some siding and guttering. A little disappointed but, as I said, it was working some. Made sure the hose wasn't kinked and almost resgined myself that, well, it's not a gas model and surely it couldn't be 2000 lbs of pressure.
The hose was leaking a bit at the connection so I decided to work on that.
Only to find that there was a little switch I had overlooked. Turned it to the ON position and went back to the gun and I was so glad none of my friends were around to witness my chagrin. WHAT a DIFFERENCE. I love this machine. You gotta try if for youself but it heartily recommend it. No gas, no maintenance, compact, and a whole lot more powerful when you turn on the switch!

This is my second Karcher power washer. I kept the first one in the garage in below freezing temperatures (the manual warns you not to do this), but it still lasted 4 years. I blame myself for wrecking the first one. But the blame goes to the manufaucturer for the new one. I finished the assembly, which was very easy, and wheeled it out of the garage for its first test run. When I came to the lawn (newly cut that morning) the handle to the pressure washer snapped off in my hand. The screws holding the handle were still embedded in the broken off section. Treat this model very, very gently. Very poor design suggests that even the slightest resistance on the handle will cause it to sheer off. I took mine back for a refund. Now I'm stuck trying to find a decent replacement. My guess is that Karcher has some very good products, but this is not one of them.

This Karcher pressure washer is exactly what it was advertised to be. It does a good job with the amount of pressure it generates, is easy to asemble and light weight. I bought it because of price and compromised the amount of pressure I wanted. If you don't need a high powered piece of equipment, this is a really good buy. If you need something bigger and more powerful, you'd better pay more and get more. I am very satisfied with what I have.

First, the assembly "instructions" (i.e. the text-free diagrams) are weak, at best. If they are going to only use diagrams, they should at least make them BIG and DETAILED enough to really see what needs done. I found this to be the barest of minimum of adequacy.

The manual specifically lacks one important instruction -- get the AIR out of the system! I was getting pathetically low pressure. I read the manual cover to cover, and wasn't missing anything there. I read another reviewer here missed the switch, and I thought maybe there was another switch (besides "off/on") that I needed to find -- I admit, I'm surprised that someone could both forget and not immediately see the off/on switch, AND would admit to it in a review! :-)

Anyway, I went to the manufacturer's website and found a FAQ that mentioned the air, though the "how" to get it out was kind of confusing. Eventually, the pressure picked up, and now it seems to work okay. I've used a gas-powered one before, and let's just say the difference between 2800 psi and 1800 psi, in terms of cleaning power, is a much bigger deal than I expected - that's not the product's fault, but be aware if you have big jobs, you may want more power.

The water inlet connection (from your garden hose) is awkward to get tight. Having read a review here about snapping it, I can see how this would happen, and I feared the same problem.

Overall, I rate this as a decent product, but not outstanding in any way. Three stars.

I bought this in February, received it in March and tried to use in May. Mine worked for 10 minutes. I tried to look online to fix myself and then I emailed them for support which is what the website suggests. After a week of waiting for them to get back to me, I called to get a service repair and they told me it was out of warranty by 3 days and could not help me. I told them I sent them an email last week and they said they have no record of that even though I did have a record. I told them I received it in March but they said the warranty starts the day of purchase. It took almost 3 weeks for them to get the washer to me. I stated to them it only worked for 10 minutes but they told me pretty much, "too bad". Well that will be the last karcher product I buy.

I got mine in 5 just days and put it together right away. I got this for pressure washing the house in preparation for paint, and saved $50 off retail by purchasing it referbed. After I got it together (7-8 minutes) I went out to test it.
First the Vario Power Spray (VPS) Wand: Nice spray pattern, adjustable pressure output, good for washing the car or getting dirt off the house and deck. Not too powerful so you don't have to worry about stripping the paint off your car/house.
Next the DirtBlaster Spray Wand: I took aim at some peeling paint on the porch roof post and BAM! Gone. Then I went for a blister the size of a penny on the siding. BOOM! Done.
This unit is even more powerful than I expected. It even took paint off concrete. Overall the unit is sturdy and well built. Other reviews mentioned that the water inlet was flimsy and can break off. I noticed that it does have some give to it, in case you bump it and that it's recessed back into the unit. I personally think that you would really have to do something bad for the inlet to break off. Not a negative point for me.

After reading all the comments on this product I went for it. Great risk, since I live in Costa Rica and, if it should turn out faulty, the return shipping would exceed the cost of the pressure washer itself.

I don't find it "flimsy" and the plastic is quite sturdy. The setup is easy and it worked perfectly from the first minute. The unit is not too noisy, like other brands, the supplied cables and hoses are long enough to reach whatever one has to reach. The "safety plug" is a bit oversized, but surely it has a reason for being that way. ...and I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I like the rotary wand especially since it eats through mold (on pavement) like butter.

Washing a car is a waste of time and money, since the original Kärcher detergent (see separate comment) is not worth its money, nor does it work. But that is not a detriment for the pressure washer itself, so it gets my full five stars.

UPDATE on June 21st, 2010:
After almost two years of intermittent operation - I use it about a couple of times a month - it still works great. Due to the tropical temperatures here (Costa Rica) the O-ring that connects the pressure hose to the washer is showing signs of cracking and is difficult to insert.
Another small minus is the small space available to connect both hoses to the washer. Should've left them more protruding so one can get a firmer grip.

UPDATE on January 1st, 2011:
Today I wanted to do a quick hose-down of the car port. No go! The washer produced a small hum, upon switching it on, and then simply went quiet/died. Returning it for servicing from Costa Rica would cost more than a new one. We'll see what the local Kärcher dealer says.

I never wrote a review in my entire life.

I bought this 12 months ago @ AMAZON who did their part to my satisfaction. $200+

Used it twice and neighbor used it twice in April "09, worked fine but the wheels which did never roll.

This year it is not working and leaking. The horrible tech support told me to open it up and check on leak provenance It is the high pressure elbow bib that is leaking at the seam/weld (plastic). Just bought $18 replacement and hope to fix it this WE.
However during disassembly I broke the cheap little plastic shaft that connects the power knob to the valve. Not fixable!

Now i Hopefully have a half ass working pressure washer that I can never turn off!

I am ashamed to own this thing.

bought this and used it one time and then put it away for 8 to 14 months. brought it out to clean the staircase today and it would not even power on. i could not find the receipt for warranty but even if i did, i would not want this product to take up space in my garage. I mean it won't even power on after 1 use. Ridiculous. would rate this product even lower if i could.