Karcher K 5.85 M User Manual

K 5.85 M

English 2
Español 17
Français 33

5.963-445.0 (11/09)

HIGH PRESSURE WASHER OPERATOR MANUAL

Model Overview 3
Important Safety Instructions 4
Assembly Instructions 6
Operating Instructions 7
Using the Accessories 8
Working with Detergents 9
Taking a Break 10
Shutting Down & Clean-Up 10
Winterizing and Long-Term Storage 11
Maintenance Instructions 11
Cleaning Tips 12
Optional Cleaning Accessories 13
Troubleshooting 15

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.”

Specifications

Max. Pressure 1850 PSI
Max. Water Flow 1.5 GPM
Amp draw 13 AMPS
Voltage 120 V
Part No. 1.396-703.0
Serial no.

Owner/User Responsibility

The owner and/or user must have an un­derstanding of the manufacturer’s oper­ating instructions and warnings before
using this pressure washer.
Warning information should be empha­sized and understood.
If the operator is not fluent in English,
the manufacturer’s instructions and
warnings shall be read to and discussed
with the operator in the operator’s native
language by the purchaser/owner, mak­ing sure that the operator comprehends
its contents.
Owner and/or user must study and
maintain for future reference the manu­facturers’ instructions.

Customer Support

USA and Canada

In the U.S. or Canada, please call
1-800-537-4129 for warranty issues and
visit www.karcher-help.com for techni­cal support and product assistance.
Please take a moment to register your
pressure washer online at
www.karcher-register.com. Be sure
to save your purchase receipt, it will be
required for repairs covered by warran­ty.

Customer Support

Mexico

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

For household use only!

2 English

MODEL OVERVIEW

1 Water inlet with garden hose connec-

tor
2 ON/OFF switch
3 High pressure hose reel
4 Spray Wand Storage
5 Handle
6 Cord Hook
7 Power cord with Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupter (GFCI)
8 Hand crank for hose reel

9 Detergent tank

with Detergent metering regulator
10 Trigger gun
11 Key to detach the high-pressure

hose from the trigger gun
12 Trigger gun safety lock
13 High pressure hose
14 Dirtblaster

®

(Rotary spray wand)

15 Vario Power Spray wand

English 3

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 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 doing.
 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.

 WARNING

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 unit itself.

 Wear safety goggles.

 WARNING

Risk Of Explosion – Do not spray
flammable liquids.

 Do not use acids, alkaline, solvents,

or any flammable material in this
product. These products can cause

4 English

physical injuries to the operator and ir-

reversible damage to the machine.

 CAUTION

Gun Kicks Back – Hold with both

hands.

 The Trigger Gun Safety Lock pre-

vents the trigger from accidentally

being engaged. This safety feature

DOES NOT lock trigger in the ON po-

sition.

 WARNING – Risk of Electrocution

 Inspect cord before using – Do not

use if cord is damaged.

 Keep all connections dry and off the

ground.

 Do not touch plug with wet hands.
 Do not use extension cord with this

product.

 Connect to individual branch circuit

only.

 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.

 WARNING

 DO NOT SPRAY ELECTRICAL APPA-

RATUS AND WIRING

 DO NOT USE WITH FLAMMABLE

LIQUIDS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS.

 HIGH PRESSURE. KEEP CLEAR OF

NOZZLE.

 INJECTION HAZARD: EQUIPMENT

CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF

THE SPRAY PENETRATES THE

SKIN. DO NOT POINT THE GUN AT

ANYONE OR ANY PART OF THE

BODY. IN CASE OF PENETRATION

SEEK MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY.

 THIS SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF PRO-

DUCING 1850 PSI TO AVOID RUP-

.

TURE AND INJURY, DO NOT
OPERATE THIS PUMP WITH COMPO­NENTS RATED LESS THAN 1850 PSI
WORKING PRESSURE (INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO SPRAY GUNS,
HOSE AND HOSE CONNECTIONS).

 BEFORE SERVICING, CLEANING OR

REMOVING ANY PARTS, SHUT OFF
POWER AND RELIEVE PRESSURE.

 IF CONNECTION IS MADE TO A PO-

TABLE WATER SYSTEM, THE SYS­TEM SHALL BE PROTECTED
AGAINST BACKFLOW.

GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS

This product must be grounded. If it
should malfunction or breakdown,
grounding provides a path of least resis­tance for electric current to reduce the
risk of electric shock. This product is
equipped with a cord having an equip­ment-grounding conductor and a
grounding plug. The plug must be
plugged into an appropriate outlet that is
properly installed and grounded in ac­cordance with all local codes and ordi­nances.

 DANGER

Improper connection of the equipment­grounding conductor can result in a risk of
electrocution. Check with a qualified elec­trician or service personnel if you are in
doubt as to whether the outlet is properly
grounded. Do not modify the plug provid­ed with the product - if it will not fit the out­let, have a proper outlet installed by a
qualified electrician. Do not use any type
of adapter with this product.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT

INTERRUPTER PROTECTION

This pressure washer is provided with a
ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI)
built into the plug of the power-supply

cord. This device provides additional
protection from the risk of electric shock.
Should replacement of the plug or cord
become necessary, use only identical
replacement parts that include GFCI
protection.

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 1/2

inch or 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!

English 5

ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS

Required Tools (not included)

A Philips Screwdriver, medium size

for final assembly

B Screwdriver, small size

for connecting high pressure hose
and trigger gun.

Assembly

Î STEP 1:

Î STEP 4:

Î STEP 5:

Î STEP 6:

Î STEP 2:

Î STEP 3:

6 English

Î STEP 7:

Insert the small end of the high pres-

sure hose into place.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Î STEP 1:

Unwind the high pressure hose com­pletely from the hose reel.

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.

Î STEP 3:

Connect garden hose to unit’s water
inlet.

Î STEP 5:

Plug the Ground Fault Circuit Inter-

rupter (GFCI) into a working outlet.

We recommend that you test the GFCI as

part of your startup procedure each time

you use your pressure washer. To learn

how to peform this test on your unit, visit

http://www.karcherresidential.com/

gfci_test.php for detailed instructions for

your type of GFCI.

 WARNING

Do not use if above test fails.

Note: The actual appearance of the GFCI may

be different from this illustration.

Î STEP 6:

Unlock the trigger gun safety lock.

Trigger the gun to eliminate trapped

air, wait for a steady flow of water to

emerge from the spray nozzle.

Î STEP 4:

Connect garden hose to the cold wa­ter source and turn water on com­pletely.

Î STEP 7:

Turn on the high pressure washer (I/

ON).

The motor starts only if the trigger

of the gun is pulled and shuts off

when the trigger is released.

English 7

USING THE ACCESSORIES

 WARNING

To avoid serious injury never point
spray nozzle at yourself, other per­sons or animals.
Always test an inconspicuous area
before cleaning with high pressure.

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 reduced pressure turn the wand
collar in the „Min“ direction.

To apply detergent, the wand must
be positioned to the low pressure
setting (Mix).

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 materi-

als, siding, painted surfaces,

decks or autos.

 Before cleaning any surface an in-

conspicuous area should be cleaned

to test spray pattern and distance for

maximum cleaning results.

8 English

WORKING WITH DETERGENTS

Detergents can only be applied at low
pressure setting (Mix).

Î STEP 1:

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

Î STEP 2:

Fill the Detergent Tank with the se­lected detergent.

Î STEP 3:

Adjust detergent metering regulator.

- Medium quantity: Central position

- Large quantity: "+" position

- Small quantity: "-" position

Î STEP 5:

Turn on the pressure washer (I). Pull

trigger to operate unit. Liquid deter-

gent is drawn into the unit and mixed

with water. Apply detergent to work

area. Do not allow detergent to dry

on surface.

Î STEP 6:

Cleaning up: Always draw fresh wa-

ter through the detergent tank or si-

phon tube when done to flush any

remaining detergents from the injec-

tion 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.buykarcher.com

Î STEP 4:

To rinse, move the VPS out of „Mix“
position and pull trigger to operate
unit.

 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.

Use of these items will void the war­ranty.

English 9

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 (0) po­sition.

SHUTTING DOWN & CLEAN-UP

Î STEP 1:

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

Î STEP 2:

Turn off the water source.

Î STEP 3:

Press trigger to release water pres­sure.

Î STEP 4:

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

Î STEP 5:

Wind up the high-pressure hose on

the hose reel. Push in the handle of

the crank to block the hose reel.

Î STEP 6:

Release trigger and engage gun

safety lock.

Î STEP 7:

Store the accessories on the unit.

10 English

WINTERIZING AND LONG-TERM STORAGE

Î 1: Disconnect all water connections.
Î 2: Turn on the machine for a few sec-

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

Î 3: Do not allow high pressure hose to

become kinked.

Î 4: Store the machine and accesso-

ries in a room which does not reach
freezing temperatures. DO NOT

 CAUTION

Failure to follow the above directions will
result in damage to the pump assembly
and accessories and will void the war­ranty.
Kärcher
practice of using a pump protector like
“Kärcher
weather damage during storage in the
winter months.

®

also recommends the regular

®

Pump Guard” to prevent cold

store near furnace or other sources
of heat as it may dry out the pump
seals.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Cleaning the water inlet filter Maintenance

Î STEP 1:

Pull out washer from the water inlet.

Î STEP 2:

Pull out water inlet filter with flat-nose
pliers.

The unit is maintenance-free.

Î STEP 3:

Rinse out water inlet filter in warm
water.

Î STEP 4:

Reinsert water inlet filter and washer
into the water inlet.

English 11

CLEANING TIPS

 CAUTION

 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 sur­faces with plenty of drinking water.

 For additional cleaning tips and a

complete video library, visit our web­site:

www.karcherresidential.com

Deck Cleaning

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

deck and surrounding area with fresh
water. If using detergent, apply to sur­face at low pressure. For best results,
limit your work area to smaller sections
of approximately 25 square feet. Allow
detergent 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 detergent, 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 detergent 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 detergent or Degreaser, apply to
surface at low pressure. For best re­sults, limit your work area to smaller sec­tions of approximately 25 square feet.
Allow detergent 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 deter­gent, 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

12 English

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.

Barbecue Grills, Outdoor Power

Equipment & Gardening Tools

(with or without detergent). Pre-rinse

cleaning surface with fresh water. If us­ing detergent or Degreaser, apply deter­gent at low pressure. Allow detergent 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

OPTIONAL CLEANING ACCESSORIES

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 detergent, apply to
surface at low pressure. Allow detergent
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

Optional accessories are available to
further enhance your cleaning capabili­ties. These accessories are accurate as
of the printing date of this manual.
Please check our website for pricing and
up-to-date information.

Pump Guard

Specially formulated to protect your
pressure washer from freezing, corro­sion and premature wear. The Pump
Guard also adds lubrication to valves
and seals to prevent sticking. Highly rec­ommended for all Kärcher

®

pressure

washers!

Part No. 9.558-998.0

25 Ft. Extension /Replacement

High-Pressure Hose

Replacement hose fits Kärcher
sure washer with screw-on type gun

®

pres-

connections from 2400 PSI to 2500 PSI,
Extension Hose for all Kärcher

®

high
pressure washers between the original
equipment hose and machine up to
2500 PSI.

Part No. 2.640-850.0

66" Extension Wand (Four piece)

Need to clean second story windows or
other high areas? Increase the reach of
your pressure washer by up to 66" with
this extension kit. Includes 4 aluminum
sections for variable length. 66" fully as­sembled. Fits most Kärcher

®

pressure

washers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-746.0

Rotating Wash Brush (bayonet)

For more effortless cleaning of all
smooth surfaces (painted, glass and
plastic) try the Kärcher

®

Rotating Wash

English 13

Brush. Use it on your automobile, house
siding or windows. The water pressure
from your pressure washer causes the
inner brushes to gently spin, making
your cleaning job much easier. The an­gle of brush head is adjustable to help
you reach difficult areas. Excellent for
the application of detergent. A must­have accessory designed for Kärcher

®

pressure washers up to 2300 PSI. (bay­onet)

Part No. 2.640-743.0

Soft Clean Washing Brush

Made with soft bristles that will not harm
painted surfaces. Easily attaches direct­ly to the trigger gun. Ideal for stubborn
dirt on cars, boats, patio furniture and
other surfaces. Great for applying deter­gent. Fits most Kärcher

®

pressure wash-

ers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-740.0

25 ft. Pipe Cleaning Kit (bayonet)

Need to clean blocked pipes, drains or
downspouts? The Kärcher
ing kit is the answer! The pipe cleaner
propels itself forward while simulta­neously flushing out debris. For exam­ple, insert the cleaning nozzle in the
base of a downspout, pull the trigger on
the pressure washer gun and watch as
the nozzle shoots out leaves and other
debris while climbing upward. Connects
directly to the trigger gun of most
Kärcher

®

pressure washers up to

2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-747.0

®

pipe clean-

washer, add abrasive material and at­tack the rust and paint with our eco­friendly alternative. Fits most Kärcher
pressure washers up to 2300 PSI. (bay­onet)

Part No. 2.638-792.0

Detergent Foamer Attachment

Ideal for applications which require a
thick foam. Simply fill the resevoir cup
with liquid pressure washer detergent to
generate a foam spray. Connects direct­ly to the trigger gun. Fits most Kärcher
pressure washers up to 2300 PSI. (bay­onet)

Part No. 6.964-507.0

T 100 Wide Area Surface Cleaner

For cleaning surfaces such as patios,
terraces and driveways without splash­back, there is no better solution than the
Kärcher
ing a one foot wide area gently as it hov­ers, providing consistent, streak-free
cleaning. When you finish cleaning the
patio and driveway, remove the wand
and use the handle to clean garage
doors and other vertical surfaces. In­cludes two nozzles which spin at high
speed for optimum results. Our top sell­ing accessory for Kärcher
washers up to 2300 PSI. (bayonet)

Part No. 2.640-959.0

®

T 100. It saves time by clean-

®

pressure

®

®

Wet Sandblasting Kit (bayonet)

Why spend hours stripping old paint and
rust by hand using harsh chemicals? Let
the Kärcher
the work! Attach the kit to your pressure

14 English

®

Wet Sandblasting Kit do

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”

(0) position.
Power cord is not plugged in. Plug in power cord.
Electrical outlet does not

supply adequate power.
Tripped GFCI plug. Press “RESET” button on

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. Open water source full force.
Water inlet filter is clogged. Remove filter and rinse out in

Spray wand is on low pressure
position.

Not enough inlet water supply. Turn water on full force. Check

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 plug.

The reset comes automatically
once the temperature of the
unit drops.

Replace with a 5/8 inch or larg­er garden hose.

leaks and blockage.

warm water.
Turn spray wand to high pres-

sure position.

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 15