Karcher K 2.55 User Manual

K 2.55

English 2
Español 15
Français 28

9.760-071.0 07/05

HIGH PRESSURE WASHER OPERATOR MANUAL

Model Overview 3
Important Safety Instructions 4
Assembly Instructions 5
Operating Instructions 6
GFCI Instructions 7
Using the Accessories 7
Working with Detergents 8
Taking a Break ..five minutes or more9
Shutting Down & Clean-Up 9
Winterizing and Long-Term Storage10
Care and Maintenance Instructions 10
Cleaning Tips 11
Troubleshooting 13

Safety Alert Symbols

 DANGER

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

Operating pressure 1400 PSI

Water volume 1.3 GPM

Amp draw 13 AMPS

Voltage 120 V

Part No. 1.601-501.0

Serial no.

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

Specifications

 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.

2 English

Kärcher Customer Service CDN

Call: 1-800-465-4980 for help or visit
our website: www.karcher.ca

Kärcher Customer Support Mexico

Call: 01-800-024-13-13 for help or visit
our website: www.karcher.com.mx

MODEL OVERVIEW

1 Power cord with Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupter (GFCI)
2 On/OFF switch
3 Trigger gun safety lock
4 High pressure hose
5 Trigger gun
6 Wash brush
7 Vario Power Spray wand

8 Water inlet with garden hose

connector
9 Detergent suction tube with filter
10 High pressure outlet
11 Connector for detergent suction tube

For household use only!

English 3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING!

When using this product basic
precautions should always be

followed, including the following:

! Read all the instructions before us-

ing the product.

! To reduce the risk of injury, close su-

pervision 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 do-

ing.

! Do not operate the product when fa-

tigued or under the influence of alco­hol or drugs.

! Keep operating area clear of all per-

sons.

! Do not overreach or stand on unsta-

ble 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 PRE-

VENTS 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.

 WARNING

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

SERVICING OF A DOUBLE-

INSULATED 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 dou­ble-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.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTER-

RUPTER PROTECTION

This product is supplied with a Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) built into
the power cord plug. This device pro-

4 English

vides 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.

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 run-

ning 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 sol-

vents, e.g. paint thinners, gasoline,

oil, etc.

! Always prevent debris from being

drawn into the unit by using a clean

water source.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!!

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

" STEP 1:

Connect the detergent suction tube
to the pressure washer.

English 5

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1:

"

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

" STEP 2:

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

" STEP 4:

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

" STEP 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.

" STEP 3:

Connect garden hose to unit’s water
inlet.

6 English

" STEP 6:

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.

GFCI INSTRUCTIONS

" STEP 1: Plug the Ground Fault Cir-

cuit Interrupter (GFCI) into a working
outlet.

" STEP 2: Press ’’TEST’’, then press

’’RESET’’ to assure proper connec­tion to power.
Note: The actual appearance of the
GFCI may be different from this illu­stration.

USING THE ACCESSORIES

1

2

 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).

Wash Brush

This brush is ideal for removing stub­born dirt and stains from finished sur­faces. Use with detergents possible.

English 7

WORKING WITH DETERGENTS

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

" STEP 1:

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

" STEP 2:

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

" STEP 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.

" STEP 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.

 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.

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.

8 English

TAKING A BREAK ..five minutes or more

" STEP 1:

Release trigger and engage gun
safety lock.

" STEP 2:

Turn pressure washer to OFF (O)
position.

SHUTTING DOWN & CLEAN-UP

" STEP 1:

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

" STEP 2:

Turn off the water source.

" STEP 3:

Press trigger to release water pres­sure.

" STEP 5:

Disconnect the high pressure hose
from the high pressure outlet.

" STEP 4:

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

" STEP 6:

Release trigger and engage gun
safety lock.

English 9

WINTERIZING AND LONG-TERM STORAGE

1: Disconnect all water connections.

"
" 2: Turn on the machine for a few

seconds, until the water which had
remained in the pump exits, turn off
immediately.

" 3: Do not allow high pressure hose

to become kinked.

" 4: Store the machine and accesso-

ries 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 Maintenance

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 sealing gets out too. Take care to
mount it again after cleaning the filter.

10 English

The unit is maintenance-free.

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 1­3 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-strip­ing 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.

English 11

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 1­3 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 in-

conspicuous 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 sur-

faces with plenty of drinking water.

! For additional cleaning tips, visit our

website at www.karcher-usa.com/

home

12 English

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”

(O) position.
Power cord is not plugged in. Plug in power cord.
Electrical outlet does not sup­ply adequate power.
Tripped circuit breaker. Switch off pressure washer.

Unit does not reach
high pressure.

Output pressure va­ries high and low.

Diameter of garden hose is
too small.

Water supply is restricted. Check garden hose for kinks,

Not enough inlet water supp­ly.
Water inlet filter is clogged. Remove filter and rinse out in

Spray wand is on low pressu­re position.

Not enough inlet water supp­ly.

Pump is sucking air. Check that hoses and fittings

Water inlet filter is clogged. Remove filter and rinse out in

Discharge nozzle is obstruc­ted.

Calcified gun, hose or spray
wand.

Turn switch to the “ON” (I) po­sition

Try a different outlet.

GFCI will reset once the tem­perature of the unit drops.
Replace with a 5/8 inch or lar­ger garden hose.

leaks and blockage.
Open water source full force.

warm water.
Turn spray wand to high pres-

sure position.
Turn water on full force.

Check garden hose for kinks,
leaks or blockage.

are air tight. Turn off machine
and purge pump by squee­zing trigger gun until a steady
flow of water emerges throu­gh the nozzle.

warm water.
Blow out or remove debris

with a fine needle.
Run distilled vinegar through

detergent suction tube.

English 13

Symptom Cause Solution

No detergent. Detergent suction tube not

properly connected to the ma­chine.
Detergent is too thick. Dilute detergent, for best re-

Filter on detergent suction
tube is clogged.

Damaged or clogged deter­gent suction tube.
Spray wand is in high pressu­re position.

Discharge nozzle is obstruc­ted.

Garden hose con­nection leaks.

Spray wand leaks. Spray wand not properly atta-

Pump is noisy. Pump is sucking air. Check that hoses and fittings

Water leaks from
pump (up to 10 drops
per minute is permis­sible).

Oil Drip. Oil seals are damaged or

Loose fittings. Tighten fittings.
Missing/worn rubber washer. Insert new washer.

ched.

Broken o-ring or plastic insert. Call Customer Support

Loose fittings. Check that all fittings are

Water seals are damaged or
worn.

worn.

Check connection.

sults use Kärcher detergent.
Run warm water through filter

to remove debris.
Remove obstruction or repla-

ce detergent suction tube.
Turn spray wand tip to low
pressure position.
Blow out or remove debris
with fine needle.

Insert the spray wand into the
trigger gun. Carefully press in
against the spring tension
and twist into the lokked posi­tion.

are air tight. Turn off machine
and purge pump by squee­zing trigger gun until a steady
flow of water emerges throu­gh the nozzle.

tight.
Call Customer Support

Call Customer Support

Kärcher Customer Support USA Kärcher Customer Service CDN

If you encounter any additional difficul­ties not listed, please call
1-800-537-4129 for help or visit our
website: www.karcher-usa.com/home

Call: 1-800-465-4980 for help or visit
our website: www.karcher.ca

Kärcher Customer Support Mexico

Call: 01-800-024-13-13 for help or visit
our website: www.karcher.com.mx

14 English