I have an older crafstman 1100 PSI pressure washer. Works great except now the on/off switch is broken. Go to my file draw in the shop to find the manual so I can get a part number. I can't order online because the part number has changed. This morning I call Sears parts direct and finally after a little research on the parts direct employees part find the part number has changed. I go through all the address, cc info and she states "now that'll be 80.00". I about fell over. Needless to say I told her to forget it as I can buy a new "more powerful" pressure washer for 99.00. She went on to say that if that's all that was wrong why not fix it. I explained to her I'm all for fixing things but 80.00 for a maybe 10.00 part was out of line in my opinion. Anyone got an old craftsman power washer that doesn't work but the switch is good :D. Just thought I'd share that with you all. Have a wonderful day.

On a side note the 70 gets new front tires today that have been ordered since November :hurray:. Pete

Oh yeah, you always get that impressive exploded view with part numbers every time you buy a Craftsman tool. Sure makes you think it's totally serviceable, until you see the price tag. :noway:

Pete,
As I'm sure you know, the switch (and the washer) were not made by Sears.
Any way you could remove the switch and see if there's a P/N or maybe even a manufacture name on it? Often there is.
Then do a search online...

What is the purpose of the switch Pete?
I bet you can find something somewhere that will work.

Take the switch and go to Grainger with it or look on McmasterCarr's
web catalogue. You should be able to find one pretty cheap.

Thanks for the suggestions. The purpose of the switch is to turn the power washer on and off. I took it apart last night and it appears to have two sets of contact points in it. Pete

Thanks for the suggestions. The purpose of the switch is to turn the power washer on and off. I took it apart last night and it appears to have two sets of contact points in it. Pete

Can you take a picture of it and post it here?

Picture, not a problem. Now posting that's another story. I'll try tonight or tomorrow. Pete

Is it just a kill switch for the gas motor? Regular toggle switch should work. Does each set of contacts have separate wires? Use two toggles....

Just bust the switch out, twist the wires together for "on" and pull them apart for "off". And I'll only charge you $50.

Tim.

I've got a bunch of "push-on, push-off" rocker switches laying around, if that's the type you need, Pete. About 1 1/2" long, 3/4" wide, if my memory is good.

I worked for Sears for 8 yrs in the parts dept. You should have seen some of the dirty looks or heard the crap I took at the counter when I told a customer that shipping/handling was $7.50 for their 50 cent part. I couldn't blame 'em either.

Dave

Google the switch manufacturer and part number, or go to Grainger.
My local HVAC guy wanted $450 for a blower/fan, I got it at Grainger for 125. Most switches are marked with the manufacturer and part number. Then again, if it's just a common switch, look at the rating and size one up.

Here are links or whatever, hope they work. Pete

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/th_DSCI0121.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/DSCI0121.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/th_DSCI0122.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/DSCI0122.jpg)
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/th_DSCI0123.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/DSCI0123.jpg)

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/th_scan0001.jpg (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h88/docmag/pressure%20washer%20switch/scan0001.jpg)

Are you sure those are the right pictures? The date stamp says they were taken in 2006.

Yes, just have the wrong date in the camera. I'll have to change that. Pete

Followed advice given here and found the company online. They are based out of Germany. I emailed the company and they want me to send the switch to them so they can see what went wrong and will either fix it or replace it. Below is the email I received from them.

Dear Mr. Magnifico,

we are sorry to hear, that our switch caused a malfunction of your power washer.

We would be interested to learn about this fault, so if you please could send the switch together with a copy of this mail to my hands:

Schulte Elektrotechnik
c/o Mr. Martin Hilley
Juengerstr. 21
D-58515 Luedenscheid
Germany

We shall test and fix your switch in our laboratory, or send you a new one. Cost arising will be only for postage.

Kind regards
Schulte Elektrotechnik
Martin Hilley

How much is it going to cost to ship a switch to/from Germany?

Are you going to do this?

How much is it going to cost to ship a switch to/from Germany?

Are you going to do this?


About five times what a switch from Grainger cost ;)


Rocky

That's pretty cool of the company to replace the switch. They might even learn something by the failure, and make improvements to prevent it in the future. How cool is that? :cool:

Just gotta love German engineers. Most manufacturers would just send a replacement and ask you to try again (or sometimes they won't even do that), but they want to investigate the cause of the failure and make sure it doesn't happen again. :thumbsup:

How much is it going to cost to ship a switch to/from Germany?

Are you going to do this?

I'm going to check at noon today what the cost to send is. I'll let you know. Pete

Cost to ship to Germany 2.70 for 5-10 day delivery or 30.00+ for 5-7!! I opted for the 2.70, not bad if you ask me especially when I get a new or repaired switch. Pete

Cost to ship to Germany 2.70 for 5-10 day delivery or 30.00+ for 5-7!! I opted for the 2.70, not bad if you ask me especially when I get a new or repaired switch. Pete


Yeah, that doesn't sound too bad. Let us know if/when you hear anything else once you've shipped it.

Is your name really Mr. Magnifico? Lol.:D:D:D

Also, if you havent sent it yet. I would at least locate the correct part at Grainger or similar place so just in case you dont get the switch back.

Is your name really Mr. Magnifico? Lol.:D:D:D

Also, if you havent sent it yet. I would at least locate the correct part at Grainger or similar place so just in case you dont get the switch back.

Name is real. i looked on Graingers website and looked through all their switchs and none were like the one in my power washer. Thanks Pete

Some of you may remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about the switch going out on my 10+ year old power washer and Sears wanting 80.00 for a replacement switch. I emailed the company(located in Germany) and they wanted me to send them my switch because they were concerned about the failure. Told me to ship it to them and they would repair or replace for the cost of shipping.

Today I received a new switch from them. Cost me 2.80 to send it and they shipped it back and it cost them 4.00(not sure if US$$ or German $$). Anyway I think it's awesome of the company to stand behind their product even after all these years. Pete

Did it work?? ;)

Did it work?? ;)

I'll install it tonight!! I'm sure it will. Pete

One of those simple things that makes your day so much brighter. :thumbsup: Maybe you should send a letter to Sears and tell them what customer service really is?

One of those simple things that makes your day so much brighter. :thumbsup: Maybe you should send a letter to Sears and tell them what customer service really is?


shoot, it brightened my day, and it's not even my power washer!

Keep us posted, Pete!

Thanks to who ever UPDATED me. If I knew how to do that I would.

Yes my day was brightened when I received the switch. I was just saying to my wife last night I hadn't heard anything from Germany yet. Thanks Pete