Alright, so my pressure washer pump decided to kick the bucket. Just what I needed, right? Instead of forking out cash for a new machine or paying someone else a fortune, I figured, "Hey, I can probably swap this thing out myself." So, that's what I set out to do today, and let me tell you, it was a bit of an adventure.

Getting Started - The Teardown

First things first, I wheeled the pressure washer into the garage where I've got a bit more space to make a mess. Safety first, people! I made sure the spark plug wire was disconnected. Don't want that engine accidentally trying to start while my hands are in there. Then, I grabbed my socket set, a few wrenches, and a can of penetrating oil – I had a feeling some bolts would put up a fight.

The initial steps were pretty straightforward.

• I disconnected the main water inlet hose. A little water dribbled out, no big deal.
• Then, the high-pressure hose that goes to the wand. Again, pretty simple, just unscrewed it.
• There was also a small soap injector tube, pulled that off too.

I tipped the machine a bit to drain any remaining water from the old pump. Didn't want a shower when I finally pulled it off.

The Real Work - Unbolting the Beast

Okay, now for the main event: getting the pump itself off the engine. I looked underneath and around the pump housing. Most of these things are held on by three or four bolts that go directly into the engine block. Mine had three. And of course, they weren't all easy to reach.

The first two came off without too much drama. A bit of elbow grease, but they unscrewed. The third one, though? Oh boy. It was tucked in a really awkward spot. I had to use a socket extension and a universal joint, kind of wiggling it in there. Patience, my friends, patience is key. And maybe a few grunts. It finally gave way.

With the bolts out, I expected the pump to just slide off the engine shaft. Ha! Wishful thinking. It was stuck on there pretty good. I wiggled it back and forth, trying to work it loose. It moved a tiny bit, but not enough. These pumps usually sit on a keyed shaft, and sometimes they can get a bit seized up from corrosion or just being on there for ages.

I sprayed some more penetrating oil around where the pump meets the engine shaft and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, more wiggling. I even gave it a few gentle taps with a rubber mallet on the pump housing, trying to shock it loose. Be careful here if you try this, you don't want to break the engine casing or the pump if you're trying to salvage parts.

Success! (And a bit of a mess)

After what felt like an eternity of careful coaxing and a bit more forceful persuasion, it finally started to give! Inch by inch, or rather, millimeter by millimeter, it slid off the shaft. And there it was, the old pump, finally free. The engine shaft was a little grimy, but looked okay. There was that little metal key still sitting in the keyway on the shaft, just like I figured.

So, the old pump is off. It wasn't the cleanest job – bit of oil, bit of water, bit of rust dust – but it's done. Now I just need to clean up the mounting surface on the engine, get the new pump ready, and reverse the process. Hopefully, putting the new one on will be a bit quicker. Famous last words, eh?

But hey, feels good to get this far. One step closer to having a working pressure washer again!