Michael wrote:
I didn't detach the hose from the pump head over the winter on my Simpson power washing (MS31025HT-S) and the frozen water put a hairline crack in the pump head that attaches to the wand hose. (I did winterize the pump.) Is this something that I can take to someone and get a weld on it, or will I just have to buy a new one (80 dollars or so).

Thanks!



I would be tempted to try to braze it with a butane torch (which are not
that expensive). In order for it to work, you would have to enlarge
the hairline crack a little to provide room for some other material to
flow into it. I think I could tackle this job if the part is steel, and
not if the part is relatively thin aluminum. Note that galvanized metal
will give off poisonous fumes when heated. I guess whether it's worth
it or not depends on how much you like welding, or if you know someone
who would like to do it. $80 doesn't go as far as it used to. My first
guess was to use "silver solder", but I just read that silver solder
doesn't like it's temperature jerked around, so I might be inclined to
try another brazing material. That said, someone who repaired my air
conditional a few years ago used silver solder to fill a cracked piece
of copper tubing and the repair has been successful. I am not an
expert, not even close--I learned most of what I know about this in high
school! --and from what I understand it is much easier to work on
aluminum these days.
Good luck!
Bill