Northstar Pressure with heat help

[outatime]

Hi All

Need a little advice please, I picked up a Northstar 1700psi pressure washer and diesel burner. I only paid $200 for it as I really only want it for parts and the seller said it wasnt pumping correctly. So I get it home and plug it in and the pump seems to work , bit of a leak from the unloader which I believe is causing the gun to keep spraying unless the gun is bad and I notice a lot of smoke from the burner when it kicks in.

I also have a Hotbox add on and only have this to compare it too, one thing I did notice that my hot box has a fan running all the time when the burner isnt running but with the pressure washer it doesn't seem to have that fan or it isn't working. Also the unit is a bit noisy but it could be normal.

Video link below


Would appreciate what you guys think.

Thank you

Stuart

 

[goomer]

Mine smoked, but not sure if it was that much.

These big fuel burners are not exactly clean burning.

First thing to try to do is adjust the burner ...

This is from a similar Northstar unit.........Not sure if it is the exact same burner....usually Becketts....But likely similar.

 

[Anderson]

Hi All

Need a little advice please, I picked up a Northstar 1700psi pressure washer and diesel burner. I only paid $200 for it as I really only want it for parts and the seller said it wasnt pumping correctly. So I get it home and plug it in and the pump seems to work , bit of a leak from the unloader which I believe is causing the gun to keep spraying unless the gun is bad and I notice a lot of smoke from the burner when it kicks in.

I also have a Hotbox add on and only have this to compare it too, one thing I did notice that my hot box has a fan running all the time when the burner isnt running but with the pressure washer it doesn't seem to have that fan or it isn't working. Also the unit is a bit noisy but it could be normal.

Video link below


Would appreciate what you guys think.

Thank you

Stuart

so what are you gonna use it for???
carpet cleaning or pressure washing
just parts???

the pump is easily treplaced with 4 bolts
takes 10-15 minutes.....

i would take your burner to northern tools or pressure washer place
they always seem to be reasonable since they have their name on it

i replaced my fuel flow regulater too go to around 1/3 gpm
if you want to use it for carpet cleaning.....

 

[outatime]

Thanks guys
I guess I would be using it for carpets but I would like to get it work for pressure washing right now...I just can't push it in the shed for spares knowing its not working right!

Question for you guys, does your fan on the hotbox run all time? Mine does, is it faulty or is that normal? Or do you have nothing coming from the burner till you pull the trigger? Right now on the pressure washer heater its only coming on when I pull the trigger.

Think first thing I am going to do is dump the diesel in the tank as it looks a little murky and clean out the fuel filter and start again.

Do you think the constent flow of water from the gun is a faulty gun or bad unloader?

Thanks again

Stu

 

[Anderson]

i have the northstar
\fan runs all the time...the way it is built to do

heat only comes on when you pull the trigger to maintain heat

dont know about the gun or unloader???
check the gun first

call northern tool.....if you want a new pump
bet that pump is around 300$

 

[Anderson]

i have the northstar
\fan runs all the time...the way it is built to do

heat only comes on when you pull the trigger to maintain heat

dont know about the gun or unloader???
check the gun first

call northern tool.....if you want a new pump
bet that pump is around 300$

 

[goomer]

Thanks guys
I guess I would be using it for carpets but I would like to get it work for pressure washing right now...I just can't push it in the shed for spares knowing its not working right!

Question for you guys, does your fan on the hotbox run all time? Mine does, is it faulty or is that normal? Or do you have nothing coming from the burner till you pull the trigger? Right now on the pressure washer heater its only coming on when I pull the trigger.

Think first thing I am going to do is dump the diesel in the tank as it looks a little murky and clean out the fuel filter and start again.

Do you think the constent flow of water from the gun is a faulty gun or bad unloader?

Thanks again

Stu

There should be 2 burner controls....

One flow switch and one water temp setting.

Only when there is flow will the burner be allowed to fire once the temp sensor detects output temp below setting.

It should only fire intermittently based on demand.

 

[outatime]

Hi Guys, today's update, got the unloader to stop leaking so that looks good but think I discovered why so much smoke, diesel is being blown to the top of the coil as I can see it sitting and that's what's causing the smoke. Fan is working just doesn't blow as strong as my hot box.

This might have been mentioned but any ideas why it's blowing so much diesel out?

 

[JD5150]

Hi Guys, today's update, got the unloader to stop leaking so that looks good but think I discovered why so much smoke, diesel is being blown to the top of the coil as I can see it sitting and that's what's causing the smoke. Fan is working just doesn't blow as strong as my hot box.

This might have been mentioned but any ideas why it's blowing so much diesel out?

It's normal to get a puff of white smoke every time the burner is told to fire. By watching the video it did seem to put to much white smoke out and by what you said on the diesel spray it looks like you need to clean or replace the jet. Jet is spraying like a obstructed jet on your wand causing smoke because diesel didn't get burnt properly. Most likely sprayed the side of the coil and up to the top of the coil. Jets are cheap I'd replace it. Once you drop the burner out it is easy to take out. Should be a number on it or call Northern Tool to see which one it is.

 

[JD5150]

Be careful not to bend the aluminum fins. You take this cap off, only two or three screws holding it on You might want replace this also. It's cheap. It will have a number on it F2, F3. Jet sits right in the middle of it

 

[SRD]

Typically to much smoke is an air and/or fuel problem. Need to check clean or replace the fuel nozzle then check your fuel pressure make sure its at its proper psi, then adjust the air vent till it burns clean.

 

[JD5150]

Another thing you can do is take the top cap off an inspect the coil. Look for soot build up between the coil wraps. If air can't get through it will cause the heater to smoke an malfunction. Usually will smoke black but wouldn't hurt to look. If it is dirty with soot, take it out and take to the car wash and power wash it clean.

 

[outatime]

Hi Guys

Back again, hope you guys had a good 4th, I got to play with my Northstar again, it's got a new wheel on so now I am not dragging it about to get it in and out which is helpful.

I drained out the old diesel, I don't know much about diesel but when I drained it it sort of separated into a cloudy mess and oil, not sure if it got water in it or maybe someone added gas to it but it wasn't right. See photo after it sat for a while in a bucket.

Cleaned out the old fuel filter and refilled it after a flush.

Started burning again and started and stopped when it got to temp...think flow switch is good.

Still lots of smoke, think park of it was the bad fuel left in it, also adjusted the air fuel ratio under as suggested and almost like magic the plumes of smoke vanished . Have it set on 4 on the burner....about right?

Inspected under the cover for electrical issues and it all looks brand new, in fact this whole unit has been well looked after with little wear.

Everything is looking good now but I did have issues with rust from the burner clogging the tips on the pressure washer which I am sure would also give my wand issues too. Has any here ever done a wash of a coil acid or otherwise to remove exess rust?

Lastly the only other issue is the pressure gun doesn't shut off the pressure straight away, maybe still the unloader ?

Thanks guys

Stuart

 

[outatime]

Sorry forget video link.
Thanks

 

[keep it clean]

Hi Guys

Back again, hope you guys had a good 4th, I got to play with my Northstar again, it's got a new wheel on so now I am not dragging it about to get it in and out which is helpful.

I drained out the old diesel, I don't know much about diesel but when I drained it it sort of separated into a cloudy mess and oil, not sure if it got water in it or maybe someone added gas to it but it wasn't right. See photo after it sat for a while in a bucket.

Cleaned out the old fuel filter and refilled it after a flush.

Started burning again and started and stopped when it got to temp...think flow switch is good.

Still lots of smoke, think park of it was the bad fuel left in it, also adjusted the air fuel ratio under as suggested and almost like magic the plumes of smoke vanished . Have it set on 4 on the burner....about right?

Inspected under the cover for electrical issues and it all looks brand new, in fact this whole unit has been well looked after with little wear.

Everything is looking good now but I did have issues with rust from the burner clogging the tips on the pressure washer which I am sure would also give my wand issues too. Has any here ever done a wash of a coil acid or otherwise to remove exess rust?

Lastly the only other issue is the pressure gun doesn't shut off the pressure straight away, maybe still the unloader ?

Thanks guys

Stuart

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Your gun issue is just that the guts in the trigger or valves. My old valve i had on my wand did that. It would be stuck open for a second or so after releasing it. Man what a pia. New valve all good now. You may just have rust chips in the trigger valve holding it open or its just bound up rusted or dried out. Try another gun but first get as much rust out as you can. Take the tip off or use largest tip you got so it can blow out the chips.

 

[outatime]

Thank you, I actually used a new gun this time to check it but it's still causing issues randomly..is it possibly too much heat build up?. I read about people doing an acid wash on the coils?

I have let the heater run for a while but whatever tip I use gets clogged with rust.

So pleased with this unit thanks for all the advice , I was prepared to put money into it but so far it's cost me a new wheel

 

[JD5150]

Thank you, I actually used a new gun this time to check it but it's still causing issues randomly..is it possibly too much heat build up?. I read about people doing an acid wash on the coils?

I have let the heater run for a while but whatever tip I use gets clogged with rust.

So pleased with this unit thanks for all the advice , I was prepared to put money into it but so far it's cost me a new wheel

Yes you need an acid flush and it has to be better than vinegar. You probably know how so I'm not going into detail on how to do it. If you know what you are doing on using only good water and rust inhibitor/anti corrosive/rinse agent chemical through it from now on out. Probably will never have to do an acid flush again but I'm not positive on that but mine sure seems to have way less crap caught in the inline filter.