Who makes "Dewalt" pressure washer pumps? a little urgent.

[chrisexv6]

Just got up the courage to purchase the Dewalt 3100 psi pressure washer from HD. Figured the extra cost was worth the quality components (mainly the CAT pump).

Well lo and behold I get it home and its a "Dewalt" pump (has the black plastic Dewalt cover over it). Pulled the cover off and hey guess what its NOT a CAT pump. The pump itself is open to the air (no casing around it), doesnt need oil, and is "maintenance free" according to the instruction manual.

My question is who really makes it. Is the $600.00+ for the washer still worth it, without the known quality of the CAT pump. Dewalt is closed so I cant ask them (not like theyd tell me anyway). Really considering returning it now because the best feature of it isnt there. I cant really guess who makes the pump that is there, I havent seen any "commercial" grade pumps that didnt use oil. Also pondering having HD open all of the ones they do have and see if one of them does have a CAT pump.

-Chris

[J.A. Michel]

I looked on the Dewalt website and it just says "commercial quality" pump for the 3100. it doesn't say what that is tho.

[chrisexv6]

Yeah, Ive always noticed that. Whats odd is that any product page you see on the net clearly shows the CAT pump, except for a couple images off Amazons site. Even the display model at HD has the CAT pump.

What scares me about this pump is that its not a "sideways" orientation, like all of the other pressure washer pumps Ive seen. Rather it connects straight off the engine, and the plungers are vertical to the pressure washer frame itself. There are thin metal bands going from the bottom of the pump mount to the top above the plungers. Its a really odd setup, at least from the research Ive done. It looks like the crank turns the pump, and the plungers are connected to some sort of oblong bearing and as the crank from the engine turns the oblong bearing lifts the plunger (possibly by the thin metal band on the outside, I couldnt tell).

I cant find anything like it on the net. I shoulda taken pics before I boxed the thing back up again.

It really seems like some Dewalt/Devilbiss proprietary setup, and I dont understand why anyone would pay extra for that. If I wanted proprietary Id buy a Karcher for half the price. Im hoping that HD will open a couple of them up for me and Im praying that we find one with a CAT pump. Only other alternative is to buy the display model (Id make them disco it heavily), or just return it altogether.

Really disappointing.

-Chris

[dpb]

On May 24, 7:03 pm, chrisexv6 wrote: ...

...

It appears maybe you got a "new and improved" version... :(

I'd think there would at least some difference in model or product code even if it's only a revision number to indicate the different pump--otherwise parts inventory/information wouldn't be consistent.

May be the old one was silently retired, but from the description I think your choices are appropriate...

[chrisexv6]

Just got back from HD. Whats odd is literally nothing has changed except the image on the box. UPC is the same, SKU is the same, hardware included exactly the same. The only difference is the pump. Funny how the "new and improved" version coincides with HD having a

100.00 off sale. Thats a little conspiracy theory-ish if you ask me (it is memorial day weekend after all), but they were nice enough to give me the display model (which clearly has the CAT pump attached). I tried asking for a discount, but the fact that all the seals are still on it makes me feel comfortable that it was never run, and that was their reasoning as well. The handle was a little scratched, they let me swap it with the one I had on the one I bought. And I kept my new hardware/accessory pack so nothing is missing.

Im becoming happier with HD now that its "under new management" so to speak. They seemed genuinely willing to help, which I was surprised about. I guess it also helps to remain level headed and calmly explain the situation.

I *almost* got them to give me the 3750 psi model at no extra charge. Almost meaning one in a million chance :)

-Chris

[EXT]

I have noticed, only a week after new boss was installed, Home Depot changed its "no sales" policy. We now regularly have specials and sales that are advertised.

[chrisexv6]

Yes I sorta noticed that myself. Ashame their website is still very lacking though. Lowes has plenty more stuff online that is also in store, HD really falls short in that dept. Maybe new management will see the light. The sales are nice to see, for instance the DP3100 pressure washer is 100.00 off for memorial day weekend.

Also seems like they are always handing out 10% off if you do

*anything* with your HD credit account. I was offered a contractor card to get 10% off, I was offered to "upgrade" to the HD rewards card and get 10% off, etc. I dont like opening a lot of cards, so they can actually use the existing account and just change a status on it and you'll still get the 10% off. Used that for my new Ariens snowblower. Used a Lowes coupon for the pressure washer yesterday.

This should create some decent competition I think....Lowes has been sending me ads via email for years now, and they are pretty hefty (20-30 pages).

-Chris