8-12 gpm Power Washer Plumbing Kit Horizontal Leg Tank 1/2" High Pressure Hose PL-8-TA
8-12 GPM pressure washer plumbing kit for a horizontal leg tank or any tank (new hole) with everything needed to correctly plumb the supply side of the pump. You receive everything you will need from the tank connections, the unloader bypass return, the 1/2" high pressure jump hose to your hose reel and a 50' 1/2" ID high pressure hose for your hose reel to improve efficiency.
This kit fits pumps with 3/4" female inlets. Please include a note if you have any other than a 3/8" ID. If no note is included, a 3/8" bypass hose and barb will be sent.
It really is a great deal. This kit comes with all the parts and hoses you need to source from many places. You need to buy the liquid Teflon, hole saws, and heat gun from the hardware store before this kit arrives. This kit will eliminate many trips to the hardware store. If, you complicate your plumbing by using hard pipe (against all the pump manufacturer's recommendations, you set yourself up for pre-mature failure and maintenance). Do not use hard pipes. Pipe increases turbidity and becomes brittle over time. We suggest SCH 80 PVC barbs because they last. Polypropylene barbs are soft and are often reinforced with fiberglass. The UV rays break down fiberglass over time. Buy it once and depend on your equipment.
If you plumb your pressure washer using this kit, you will spray farther using your gun/wand, move faster surface cleaning, place less stress on the unloader, pump, and engine, lower the pump operating temperature, go through less O-rings and quick connects, drain your tank faster and get home to your family faster than using the 1" barb and 3/8" hose. We stopped having pump/unloader problems when our customers switched out to the upsized plumbing. Every user that has switched to the larger hoses will never go back to the smaller hoses. Completing the work faster is always better and less wear on your equipment means more money in your pocket.
Included in the kit are as follows:
- 1 x 1 1/2" heavy duty high flow 80 mesh y-strainer
- 4 x SCH 80 grey hose barbs (90-degree barb will be sent with this order)
- 1 x brass hose barb for the pump inlet
- 1 x 1 1/2" Banjo brand bulkhead
- 1 x 3' hand wash hose and ball valve for Y-strainer clean out. The 3/4" hose is crimped on both ends and includes the ball valve for clean-out.
- 1 x 3/8" female coupler to connect jump hose.
- 1 x female plug to connect the jump hose.
- 1 x male coupler to connect jump hose at reel.
- 10' 1 1/2" ID non-collapsible supply/suction hose
- 1 x 1/2" FPT bulkhead and 1 x brass barb elbow for your bypass return line from the unloader: Please indicate barb size. Do you need 3/8" or 1/2" barb? Please leave a note indicating your choice of 3/8" or 1/2" bypass barb at checkout. (Hot pressure washers often use a 1/2" bypass hose) If you need assistance, let us know. If no note is included at checkout, we will send you a 3/8" barb for the hose on your unit.
- 1 x 50' 1/2" high-pressure hose. This hose is supplied with one end that is 1/2" and one end that is 3/8". Install the 1/2" mpt end directly into the hose reel. (Purchase an additional 2582 steel coupler to install the next 100' 3/8" ID high-pressure grey hose).
- 1 x high-pressure 1/2" ID jump hose to connect your pressure washer to your hose reel up to 12' long. The hose can be ordered with ends crimped on in 3/8" x 3/8" or 3/8" x 1/2" and 1/2" x 1/2". Please indicate the length you need, and hose ends at checkout. If the note is not included, an 8-10' hose with 3/8” mpt ends will be sent.
- 6 x stainless steel hose clamps.
- 1 x 1/2" MPT x 3/8" FPT steel reducing bushing for the hose reel inlet at the swivel.
The 50' special high-pressure hose is convenient because it allows you to use either a coupler and plug (2401 and 3878) to connect or for an even better connection without an O-ring to worry about, use a high-pressure 3/8" steel coupler or part number 2582. You need to add those parts to the cart. They are not part of the kit.
Most guys use a chemical injector before the reel and require a 3/8” mpt end but may want to directly connect it to the outlet of the unloader. We can crimp both 3/8” & 1/2” MPT and FPT. A custom crimped hose really ties your rig together.
If using a hose reel, consider the hose reel connections. Most hose reels use 1/2" FPT inlet/outlet connections. This kit is set up for a reel with 1/2" FPT fittings.
At checkout, please list answers to these questions:
- Do you have a 3/8" or 1/2" bypass hose and barb on the unloader (Hot pressure washers often use 1/2" bypass hose; you would request the 1/2" barb elbow for your existing hose.)
- Jump hose length up to 12' and 1/2" x 3/8", 3/8" x 3/8” or 1/2" x 1/2"
The inlet line size should be adequate to avoid starving the pump.
- line size must be a minimum of one size larger than the pump inlet fitting. Avoid tees, 90-degree elbows, or valves in the inlet line of the pump to reduce the risk of flow restriction and cavitation.
- The line must be a flexible hose, not a rigid pipe, and reinforced on suction systems to avoid collapsing.
- The simpler the inlet plumbing the less the potential for problems. Keep the length to a minimum, the number of elbows and joints to a minimum (ideally no elbows) and the inlet accessories to a minimum.
- Use pipe sealant to ensure air-tight, positive sealing pipe joints.
Have you ever wondered how to correctly plumb your power washer?
Pressure Washer Products love to share knowledge. Mount the pressure washer as low to the surface as possible in relation to the supply port/bulkhead of the water tank but remember to use shock-absorbing rubber pucks (4542) on your skid L-brackets of the pressure washer. Most pressure washers can be converted from carts with wheels to skid units by removing the wheels and installing L-brackets (1213) for your unit available through us.
Minimize the use of extra fittings.
Do not use galvanized fittings or metal ball valves between your pump and water tank because they will likely corrode and flake little chunks into your pump valves leading to vibration and/or damage. Avoid extra elbows. Do not use PVC pipe anywhere. PVC pipe can become brittle and doesn't tolerate the weight of a surface cleaner, ladder, or your body weight for long. If not installed correctly, air will find its way into your pump leading to manifold damage. Install components using non-drying liquid Teflon and never use Teflon tape.
Never adjust your unloader.
The unloader should be set using a whip hose, high-pressure ball valve, high-pressure steel tee, snubber, and gauge to 200 PSI above the operating pressure of the pump and left alone. Do not install check valves or any type of swivel fitting on the suction/supply hose assembly or air may become entrained causing extensive damage from cavitation.
Working with the non-collapsible hose can be challenging.
We have several heat guns and ratcheting PVC hose cutters to tame the hose. When installing the hose into hose barbs, first slide the hose clamp a few feet away from the cut end. Grab some slo-mo soft wash surfactant for sodium hypochlorite, dish soap, or shampoo, and coat your finger or old toothbrush with a generous amount. Apply the soap to the inside several inches and to the barbed end of the hose barb. Turn on the heat gun and hold the heat source about 3-4" away from the hose end while rotating the hose as you try to apply the heat as evenly as possible. Heat only until the hose turns shiny and releases a single plume of smoke. Turn off the heat gun and set it aside to cool. Install the barb into the hose end and push it down against the ground or vertical surface. Allow the end to cool naturally, move the hose clamp up about 1/16" or 1/8" from the end toward the thread, and tighten securely. Install the hose clamp to allow you to access it easily in the future so that you do not have to struggle to use a tool on the clamp.
The unloader bypass hose that sends water back to the tank when you release the trigger on your gun should be installed using a 3/8" or 1/2" kink-resistant hose. The port should be installed so that the stream of water shooting into the tank does not point directly at the pressure washer suction/supply bulkhead. You don't want to create air bubbles in your supply of water.
The bypass hose running back to your tank will act as a backup for your thermal relief valve mounted on the opposite side of your pump to the suction hose assembly.
Do not use Teflon tape on any fittings.
Use medium, removable thread-lock (5003, 10 ml). Try not to use elbows or extra fittings. When at all possible, minimize the use of quick connects. Install the chemical injector at least 3' away from the unloader to prevent back-siphoning of chemicals into the internal components of the unloader.
Always remove the chemical injector assembly when not in use.
Before purchasing a telescoping wand, try out some long-range nozzles such as #0020, #0025, #0030, #0035, #0040, #0050, and #0060 installed into female plugs. We offer Jrod kits 6540-8 for your 8GPM units.
Use a R2 or 2-wire jump hose on the high-pressure outlet of your unloader to your reel.
