RAC 2000W pressure washer

While my parents were in a shopping mood (re PS3) I persuaded them that they needed a pressure washer. Argos were doing an RAC model with a whole batch of tools cheaper than less powerful models with fewer tools on offer elsewhere.

As with so much technical, I set it up and gave it a blast. What fun setting it up. First off there's a clip for the cable which needs to be fitted to the side. The diagram shows it being pushed on in that there's an arrow pointing towards the washer; it slides on; or at least that's the idea - very tight.
Next fasten the male connector to the hose inlet, except said connector is already fastened to the female connector and refused to come off. On hefty tug later and a sticky lubed connector pops free. Fasten the gun hose to the front, easy; fasten the gun to said hose using two 17mm spanners (not supplied). No 17mm spanners, I dig out an adjustable from the boot of my car. Why does it need two? It doesn't say until further down the list where it states that one should be used on the nut and the other on the gun to prevent stress. Yeah could have told me at the time.

Attach the lance to the gun, three lances with only one with a peeling label "High -Low" with arrows; luckily they're different lengths with different nozzles so matching them up wasn't too difficult; except they were shown in the diagram as 10, 11 and 12 okay but the one you want me to start with is number 11; why not make it number 10?

[Update - The lances can fit directly to the gun, but there is also a lance extension I fitted without thinking about it. It's only an extra foot or so in length. I've also found the turbo lance, probably good for close work as it has a limited range]

I connect the hose thanking the 'universal' hozelock system works; unreel the electric cable and find the extension cord and try it out. Woah nice kick to it, but it still won't reach the back of the conservatory unless I get closer on a ladder (I'm standing on the raised garden).

I decide to try the patio cleaner on the lawn path. Pretty much useless as it's so dirty and no detergent comes out with the patio cleaner attachment. The high pressure lance does the trick and I can see the original colour once again, but no detergent. Low pressure and it's a trickle, but the detergent kicks in. So I swish it down and switch to the patio cleaner, then back to the high pressure.

Well it's clean(ish) now and hopefully it won't need as much doing in the future if done regularly.

Anyway the washer itself. Not that noisy; heavy, but it has wheels; a reasonable length for both hose and power and a simple on-off button operation; and changing lances was a piece of cake. Cons. How do you clean out the detergent; it drops to the minimum level in use, but won't empty any further. Other than tipping the machine upside-down there's no way to empty it. The lock on the gun is a bit tricky, it only pushes one way and you have to find it each time. No wrapping points for either the hose or the power cable when not in use I ended up wrapping them around the main body of the machine. Not sure if there's a pressure cut-out; I managed to kink the hose and it was trickling at 'high' pressure but still working, the manual warns against running it without water, but does it cut-out if the supply is cut?

I've yet to try the static brush or the rotary brush.

[Update -Both the static and rotary brushes don't connect to the pressure washer, they connect directly to the hose pipe. That means using the turbo lance or the pressure lance at low to get the detergent; then shutting down the washer, disconnecting the hose and adding one of the brushes. Not that clever.]

[Update 2 - the problem with cleaning the detergent tank also applies to any water left in the tank.TOP TIP - don't leave this out when the temperature drops to -10°C; the tank split and the washer is now broken]