Karcher K 2.900M User Manual

K 2.900M

English	2
Español	16
Français	30

5.961-668.0 07/05

HIGH PRESSURE WASHER OPERATOR MANUAL

Model Overview	3
Important Safety Instructions	4
Assembly Instructions	6
Operating Instructions	7
GFCI Instructions	8
Using the Accessories	8
Working with Detergents	9
Shutting Down & Clean Up	10
Care and Maintenance Instructions 11
Winterizing and Long-Term Storage11
Cleaning Tips	12
Troubleshooting	14

Specifications

Operating pressure	1550 PSI
Water volume	1.2 GPM
Amp draw	13 AMPS
Voltage	120 V
Part No.	1.671-343.0
Serial no.

Safety Alert Symbols

DANGER

indicates “an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.’’

WARNING

indicates “a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or injury.’’

CAUTION

indicates “a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury’’ or in property damage incidents.

Kärcher Customer Support USA

Call: 1-800-537-4129 for help or visit our website: www.karcher-usa.com/home

Please take a moment to register your presure washer online at www.karcher-usa.com/warranty

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MODEL OVERVIEW

1On/OFF switch

2High pressure outlet

3Detergent suction tube with filter

4Dirtblaster® (Rotating spray wand)

5Vario Power Spray wand

6Trigger gun

7Trigger gun safety lock

8High pressure hose

9Water inlet with garden hose connector

10Power cord with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

11Trigger Gun Holder

12 Spray Wand Storage

13Handle

14Collapsable transport handle

15Hose/Cord Caddy

CAUTION

This unit has been designed for use with cleaning detergents recommended by the manufacturer. The use of other cleaning detergents may affect the operation of the machine and void the warranty.

For household use only!

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING

When using this product basic precautions should always be followed, including the following:

Read all the instructions before using the product.

To reduce the risk of injury, close supervision is necessary when a product is used near children.

Know how to stop the product and bleed pressures quickly. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls.

Stay alert – watch what you are doing.

Do not operate the product when fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Keep operating area clear of all persons.

Do not overreach or stand on unstable support. Keep good footing and balance at all times.

Follow the maintenance instructions specified in the manual.

This Product Is Provided With A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Built Into The Power Cord Plug. If Replacement Of The Plug Or Cord Is Needed, Use Only Identical Replacement Parts.

Risk of Injection or Injury – Do Not Direct Discharge Stream At Persons.

High pressure jets can be dangerous if misused. The jet must not be directed at persons, animals, electrical devices, or the machine itself.

Wear safety goggles.

Do not use acids and solvents in this product. These products can cause

physical injuries to the operator and irreversible damage to the machine.

To reduce the risk of electrocution, keep all connections dry and off the ground. Do not touch plug with wet hands.

The Trigger Gun Safety Lock PREVENTS the trigger from accidentally being engaged. This safety feature DOES NOT lock trigger in the ON position.

Do not use extension cord with this unit.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

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GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER PROTECTION

This product is supplied with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) built into the power cord plug. This device provides additional protection from the risk of electric shock. If power is interrupted in the line, the GFCI will automatically re-close the circuit to the load after power is restored. Depending on the GFCI model, it may be necessary to manually operate the reset button to restore power to the GFCI load circuit. If replacement of the plug or cord is needed use identical replacement parts.

SERVICING OF A DOUBLEINSULATED PRODUCT

In a double-insulated product, two systems of insulation are provided instead of grounding. No grounding means is provided on a double-insulated product, nor should a means for grounding be added to the product. Servicing a dou- ble-insulated product requires extreme care and knowledge of the system, and should be done only by qualified service personnel. Replacement parts for a double-insulated product must be identical to the parts they replace. A doubleinsulated product is marked with the words “double-insulation” or “double-in- sulated”. The symbol “ ” may also be marked on the product.

WATER SUPPLY

(Cold Water Only)

CAUTION

When connecting the water inlet to the water supply mains, local regulations of your water company must be observed. In some areas the unit must not be connected directly to the public drinking water supply. This is to ensure that there is no feedback of chemicals into the water supply. Direct connection via a receiver tank or backflow preventer, for example, is permitted.

Dirt in the feed water will damage the unit. To avoid this risk, we recommend fitting a water filter.

Garden hose must be at least 5/8 inch in diameter.

Flow rate of water supply must not fall below 2 GPM (gallons per minute).

Flow rate can be determined by running the water for one minute into an empty 5-gallon container.

The water supply temperature must not exceed 104°F/40°C.

Never use the pressure washer to draw in water contaminated with solvents, e.g. paint thinners, gasoline, oil, etc.

Always prevent debris from being drawn into the unit by using a clean water source.

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	ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Î STEP 1:	Î STEP 3:
	Attach the high pressure hose to the
	trigger gun. Pull out the locking slide
	from the right side of the trigger gun
	handle (A), and insert the small end
	of the high pressure hose into place
	(B). Push the locking slide back into
	the trigger gun (C) to lock the hose in
	position.

Î STEP 2:

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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

ÎSTEP 1:

Connect the high pressure hose to the unit’s high pressure outlet.

Î STEP 2:

Insert the spray wand of your choice into the trigger gun. Press in against the spring tension and twist into locked position.

ÎSTEP 4:

Connect garden hose to the cold water source and turn water on completely. Plug the power cord into the power outlet.

ÎSTEP 5:

Unlock the Safety lock. Trigger the gun to eliminate trapped air, wait for a steady flow of water to emerge from the spray nozzle.

Î STEP 3:
Connect garden hose to unit’s water	Î STEP 6:
inlet.

Turn on the high pressure washer (I).

The motor starts only if the trigger of the gun is pulled and shuts off when the trigger is released.

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	GFCI INSTRUCTIONS
	Î STEP 1: Plug the Ground Fault Cir-	1	2
	cuit Interrupter (GFCI) into a working
	outlet.
	Î STEP 2: Press ’’TEST’’, then press
	’’RESET’’ to assure proper connec-
	tion to power.
	Note: The actual appearance of the
	GFCI may be different from this illus-
	tration.

USING THE ACCESSORIES

WARNING

To avoid serious injury never point spray nozzle at yourself, other persons or animals.

Vario Power Spray Wand

The Vario Power Spray Wand allows you to adjust the cleaning pressure. To clean at maximum pressure, the wand must be positioned to the high pressure setting (Max).

For lower pressure turn the wand collar in the minus (Min) direction. To apply detergent, the wand must be positioned to the lower pressure setting (Min).

Dirtblaster®

This nozzle features a 0º pencil jet which rotates 360º for maximum dirt cutting action, effectively increasing cleaning performance up to 50%. This nozzle combines the cleaning performance of a 0º pencil jet with the surface coverage of a wide angle nozzle.

Not recommended for soft materials, siding, painted surfaces, decks or autos.

Always test an inconspicuous area before cleaning with the Dirtblaster

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WORKING WITH DETERGENTS

Detergents can only be applied at low pressure (Min.).

ÎSTEP 1:

Install the Vario Power Spray Wand. Set the spray wand to the low pressure setting (Min.).

ÎSTEP 2:

Fill a container with Kärcher detergent. Place the filter end of detergent suction tube into the container.

ÎSTEP 3:

Turn on the pressure washer (I). Pull trigger to operate unit: Liquid detergent is drawn into the

unit and mixed with water. Apply detergent to work area. Do not allow detergent to dry on surface.

ÎSTEP 4:

Always draw fresh water through the detergent suction tube when done, to rinse/flush any remaining detergents from the injection system.

For best results see Cleaning Tips for specific information on how to clean different surfaces.

Always Use Kärcher Detergent for Best Results

Kärcher biodegradable detergents are specially formulated to protect the environment and your pressure washer. The special formula won’t clog the suction tube filter and will protect the internal parts of the pressure washer for a longer life. For Kärcher Detergents, check your retailer or visit our website: www.karcher-usa.com/home

The following Kärcher detergents are available:

One Gallon ready to use

All Purpose & Vehicle Cleaner

Deck & Patio Cleaner

Heavy Duty Degreaser

Exterior House Cleaner

CAUTION

Never use:

–Bleach, Chlorine products and other corrosive chemicals

–Liquids containing solvents (i.e., paint thinners, gasoline, oils)

–Tri-sodium phosphate products

–Ammonia products

–Acid-based products

These chemicals will harm the unit and will damage the surface being cleaned.

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TAKING A BREAK ..five minutes or more

Î STEP 1:

Release trigger and engage gun safety lock.

Î STEP 2:

Turn pressure washer to OFF (O) position.

SHUTTING DOWN & CLEAN UP

ÎSTEP 1:

Turn the switch to OFF (0) position and unplug cord from outlet.

ÎSTEP 2:

Turn off the water source.

ÎSTEP 3:

Press trigger to release water pressure.

Î STEP 4:

Disconnect the garden hose from the water inlet on the unit.

Î STEP 5:

Disconnect the high pressure hose from the high pressure outlet.

Î STEP 6:

Release trigger and engage gun safety lock.

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WINTERIZING AND LONG-TERM STORAGE

Î1: Disconnect all water connections.

Î2: Turn on the machine for a few seconds, until the water which had remained in the pump exits, turn off immediately.

Î3: Do not allow high pressure hose to become kinked.

Î4: Store the machine and accessories in a room which does not reach freezing temperatures. DO NOT store near furnace or other sources of heat as it may dry out the pump seals.

CAUTION

Failure to follow the above directions will result in damage to the pump assembly and accessories.

Kärcher also recommends the regular practice of using a pump protector like “Kärcher Pump Guard’’ to help during storage in the winter months.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Cleaning the water inlet filter

Pull out the water inlet filter with flatnose pliers and rinse out in warm water.

Note: if you pull out the water inlet filter the washer gets out too. Take care to mount it again after cleaning the filter.

Cleaning the detergent inlet filter

Pull it out and rinse out in warm water.

Maintenance

The unit is maintenance-free.

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CLEANING TIPS

Deck Cleaning

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse deck and surrounding area with fresh water. If using Kärcher Deck Wash, apply to surface at low pressure. For best results, limit your work area to smaller sections of approximately 25 square feet. Allow Deck Wash to remain on surface 1-3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry on surface. Rinse at high pressure in a long sweeping motion keeping the spray nozzle approximately 3-6 inches from the cleaning surface. Always clean from top to bottom and from left to right. When moving on to a new section of the cleaning surface, be sure to overlap the previous section to eliminate stop marks and ensure a more even cleaning result.

House Siding

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse cleaning surface with fresh water. If using Kärcher Pressure Wash, apply to surface at low pressure (for best results, limit your work area to sections of approximately 6 feet and always apply detergent from bottom to top). Allow Pressure Wash to remain on surface 1- 3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry on surface, if surface appears to be drying, simply wet down surface with fresh water. If needed, use special wash brush attachment (not included) to remove stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pressure from top to bottom in an even sweeping motion keeping the spray nozzle approximately 6 inches from the cleaning surface.

Cement Patios, Brick and Stone

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse cleaning surface with fresh water. If using Kärcher Pressure Wash or Degreaser, apply to surface at low pressure. For best results, limit your work area to smaller sections of approximately 25 square feet. Allow Pressure Wash or Degreaser to remain on surface 1-3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry on surface. Rinse at high pressure in a sweeping motion keeping the spray nozzle approximately 3-6 inches from the cleaning surface. Always clean from top to bottom and from left to right. For removing extremely stubborn stains, use the Dirtblaster Nozzle.

Cars, Boats & Motorcycles

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse vehicle with fresh water. If using Kärcher Touchless Vehicle Wash, apply to surface at low pressure. For best results, clean one side of vehicle at a time and always apply detergent from bottom to top, do not allow detergent to dry on surface. If needed, use special wash brush attachment (not included) to remove stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pressure in a sweeping motion keeping the spray nozzle approximately 6-8 inches from the cleaning surface (distance should increase when rinsing pin-strip- ing or other sensitive surfaces). Always clean from top to bottom and from left to right. For best results, wipe surface dry with a chamois or soft dry cloth.

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Barbecue Grills, Outdoor Power

Equipment & Gardening Tools

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse cleaning surface with fresh water. If using Kärcher Pressure Wash or Degreaser, apply detergent at low pressure.

Allow Pressure Wash to remain on surface 1-3 minutes.Do not allow detergent to dry on surface. Rinse at high pressure keeping the spray nozzle approximately 3-6 inches from the cleaning surface. For removing extremely stubborn dirt, it may be necessary to move the spray nozzle even closer to the surface for greater dirt cutting action.

Patio & Lawn Furniture

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse furniture and surrounding area with fresh water. If using Pressure Wash, apply to surface at low pressure. Allow Pressure Wash to remain on surface 1- 3 minutes. Do not allow detergent to dry on surface. If needed use special Wash Brush Attachment (not included) to remove stubborn dirt. Rinse at high pressure in a sweeping motion keeping the spray nozzle approximately 3-6 inches from the cleaning surface. For best results, clean from top to bottom and from left to right.

Recommendations

Before cleaning any surface an inconspicuous area should be cleaned to test spray pattern and distance for maximum cleaning results.

If painted surfaces are peeling or chipping, use extreme caution as pressure washer may remove the loose paint from the surface.

When using on surfaces which might come in contact with food, flush surfaces with plenty of drinking water.

For additional cleaning tips, visit our website at www.karcher-usa.com/ home

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TROUBLESHOOTING

CAUTION

Disconnect the machine from the power source before making any repair.

Symptom	Cause	Solution
Motor will not start	On/Off switch is in the “OFF”	Turn switch to the “ON” (I)
	(O) position.	position
	Power cord is not plugged in.	Plug in power cord.
	Electrical outlet does not	Try a different outlet.
	supply adequate power.
	Tripped circuit breaker.	Switch off pressure washer.
		GFCI will reset once the
		temperature of the unit drops.
Unit does not reach	Diameter of garden hose is	Replace with a 5/8 inch or
high pressure.	too small.	larger garden hose.
	Water supply is restricted.	Check garden hose for kinks,
		leaks and blockage.
	Not enough inlet water	Open water source full force.
	supply.
	Water inlet filter is clogged.	Remove filter and rinse out in
		warm water.
	Spray wand is on low	Turn spray wand to high
	pressure position.	pressure position.
Output pressure	Not enough inlet water	Turn water on full force.
varies high and low.	supply.	Check garden hose for kinks,
		leaks or blockage.
	Pump is sucking air.	Check that hoses and fittings
		are air tight. Turn off machine
		and purge pump by
		squeezing trigger gun until a
		steady flow of water emerges
		through the nozzle.
	Water inlet filter is clogged.	Remove filter and rinse out in
		warm water.
	Discharge nozzle is	Blow out or remove debris
	obstructed.	with a fine needle.
	Calcified gun, hose or spray	Run distilled vinegar through
	wand.	detergent suction tube.

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