Stihl RE 129 Plus
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Stihl RE130 – I own a Stihl RE130. same problem as many. the trigger valve in the lance is made from plastic. its just not up to the job. broken twice now in as many weeks. why is this part not made from brass like so many of its predecessors. Stihl are known for quality products...they have let themselves and their customers down.
Great Chainsaws, very ordinary pressure cleaners – Great for a year, then started to leak around handle took it back and got it fixed, in was fine for another 12 months and started leaking again, put up with it still worked OK, now it got much worse. Show details
Best one I have owned – I purchased my Stihl pressure washer approximately 5 years ago I have had other major brands that have failed so this time I decided to do some research by asking repairer’s and it seems the biggest problem is the machines are either not used regularly and stored with a residue of water in the pump which causes electrolysis and corrodes the… Read more
internal parts and also leaving machine to switch off by letting go of the trigger and if you have a leaky hose or fitting the pump keeps stopping and starting. So I turn the machine off at switch and when I’m finished I put pump saver in machine which a repair centre told me and have not had a problem it’s fantastic. Would highly recommend.
Not overly impressed – It seems that my unit developed the same issue mentioned in a few of these reviews - the plastic end of the lance split and therefore leaking under pressure. It amazes me that if this is such a common issue then you’d think that a major company like Stihl would do a recall.
- +6
An Excellent pressure washer – To say that I am confused and dismayed by the fact that most other reviewers of this product have had so much trouble, is an understatement. I have nothing but praise for mine, which I purchased in October 2017 for $549 from an authorized Stihl dealer, and it's still currently available. I remember thinking at the time that there were a lot of… Read more
pressure washers out there for far less money, but Stihl chainsaws have a longstanding excellent reputation, so I was prepared to "take the plunge".
The main reason I selected this brand and model, was that the high pressure hose pivots at the hand held wand. I previously had a Karcher which did not, and I was constantly getting the "kinks" out of the hose. If you tried to just pull out the kink by force, the hose would burst. This happened to a friend of mine. The fact that this hose pivots at both ends ensures that it won't kink. Even if it did, this top end model has a steel reinforced hose which they advertise as being "burst proof". The only negative around the hose is that it has a fairly hard rubber exterior which can rub off if laid against something (each time you turn the machine on and off, the hose vibrates a little causing rubbing). This is minimal and only something to be aware of. The hose is a very generous 9 meters long, which means you don't have to move the machine very often at all.
This washer obviously has an electric motor with lots of "windings" as the machine is quite heavy. The windings are the loops of copper wire that wrap around an armature in the motor . The more windings a motor has, the stronger it is. I have used my machine for really extended periods like cleaning our exposed aggregate driveway in preparation for re-sealing. This takes about an hour and I did it in one straight session. I have used the patio cleaning attachment to clean our outdoor paving, which also takes an hour. Never once has the machine stopped due to heat overload, or missed a beat at all. Most of the reviews I have read speak about water leaks. I put lubricant (the type you get in a domestic tap refurbishing kit) on the connection point between the hose and the trigger handle and have not had any issues with leaks. I also applied a small amount of lubricant at the connection point of the garden hose, and again no leaks. I think this small but effective maintenance operation is suggested in the users manual.
The variable pressure of the Stihl RE 129 Plus (achieved by rotation of the end nozzle) has been a valuable feature, allowing me to clean various surfaces with the appropriate pressure. I don't necessarily want to clean the underside of the lawn mower using full pressure, as I do with the driveway. The pressure is strong enough to cope with every job I have given it, and there have been many varied tasks. I am super impressed with it's pressure. My receipt shows that I received the patio cleaner for free, it must have been a promo at the time. This little number is a real gem. It too has a pressure control with a rotary switch which regulates the amount of water coming into it and thus, the pressure. I only had mine a short time and it stopped working, so I returned it to the dealer only to be told later that mud wasps had made their home in there. I now know that mud wasps like any round hole to build into, so now I put a plug in the water connection hole, and I do the same with the washer. This attachment does a fantastic job of outdoor tiles and bricks, and is far quicker than using the wand with an end nozzle. Just one small criticism is that the bottle supplied to add cleaner to the water ie. car wash, patio cleaner etc. leaks everywhere if it falls over. Clearly a poor design, but certainly no deal breaker. Also, it does not hold it's position in the accessory slot provided for it very well, as it falls out quite easily. So there you have it, nearly four years old and still going strong. I have nothing negative to say about this great product at all, in fact quite the opposite. It just keeps doing the job very very well, without any issues. It's worth the full FIVE STARS I have given it.
Extremely disappointing for a Stihl product – I rarely if ever comment on products, however my frustration with this item has pushed me to the brink. I own several other stihl products including chainsaws, line trimmer, hedger and & petrol blower vac which I rate as very good products. Unfortunately I’ve had nothing but problems with the RE129 plus pressure washer. Purchased in 2019 the… Read more
trigger mechanism has been replaced twice, I’m now onto my third foam cannon, the first one I purchased, the second one was replaced under warranty which has recently failed again. Im now on my second patio cleaner which typically comes with a 30 day warranty. O rings on the hose need regular replacement. I’ve spent more time returning this pressure washer to the dealer than all my gear combined. On the bright side the dealership is always professional, easy to deal with and apologetic. It’s just extremely frustrating when each time I need to use it, it’s another trip back to Stihl.
Unreliable – Same problem mentioned elswhere. Plastic high pressure connector in lance has split. Getting a replacement under warrenty... good luck. Chainsaws great. Pressure cleaners.. terrible. Machine only used four times before lance failed. Show details
Stihl not good – Stopped working so many times, was spending more time returning it for repair than using it, customer service was even worse .... just don’t buy a Stihl product and life will be good Show details
Very disappointing – The plastic wheel fell apart in the first day. Stihl refused to supply another wheel. I replaced both wheels with metal lawnmower wheels. Now the machine will not spray water under pressure. No more Stihl. Show details
Stihl – Used 4 times,approx 20 min each and developed a issue in the pressure switch,then started tripping out.Sent back under warranty, been waiting 2 months.$700 wasted,shouldve just brought another $200 michelin.Bout as good as the stihl whipper snipper.First and last stihl in my shed. Show details
Garbage. Constant leaks and repairs (Updated review) – I’ve owned this for 12 months and it went back for repair in the first month due to a leak where the input hose connects. Now it’s leaking from the lance handle and appears to be the same issue that others here have reported. The plastic high pressure connector inside the lance handle has split. Back to the dealer again........ I would not… Read more
recommend this product based on my experience.
Update May 2020: The spray lance has been repaired so I was without the washer for another month. Seems ok for now. This machine is too unreliable. I'll be looking to replace it with something better.
Good product that needs improvement – I purchased this less than 2 years ago. Overall I find the pressure washer to be good quality, it feels very solid, has a lot of weight and power to match. I am assuming with Stihl that the motor and pump will be top quality and go the distance but only time will tell. The cord, hose and attachment stowage are all very functional. Pressure is very… Read more · 1
good and hose length makes this easier to use as you rarely have to move the pressure washer once in place. Ok the things that I don't like and need improvement by Stihl if not already addressed in a later model. The lance itself rotates on the handle which is great for getting the jet at the angle you want however the jet itself has an adjuster for pressure also by rotating independently from the lance. So when you want to adjust the pressure the whole lance rotates so you cant adjust the pressure while pulling the trigger to get the spray pattern just right as you would need three hands. One to pull the trigger, one to hold the lance shaft and one to turn the nozzle jet. Next issue is the foam/detergent bottle that comes with it. It leaks by design so it needs to stay upright which is very difficult on the end of a long lance when you need to put it down etc. I took mine back and it was replaced with a brand new one that does exactly the same thing. Who knows what they were thinking with this design. The last point which I am very disappointed with is that the handle has started leaking after very little use albeit ~18mths of ownership. I have pulled the handle apart and although no visible cracks in the plastic tube it is leaking. I suspect it is an o-ring on one of the push fitting seals that when under pressure it pushes back past o-ring. Exactly same problem as one of the opening posts, I will be returning under warranty tomorrow and hope it doesn't happen again. C'mon Stihl you mustn't test things that well you can't just rely on the quality of other components, it needs to be the whole package!
Great when it's not leaking – My re129 was great for a few months, then it started leaking out of the trigger handle and lacking pressure as a result. Sent for repair but when I connected it up at home it was still leaking and low on pressure. I pulled the handle apart myself to find the leak. They use a plastic looking pipe in the handle not metal! I connected the water back… Read more
up with one side of the handle removed and I could see the plastic pipe was cracked and forcing water out the side even under low pressure only getting worse when the unit was powered on! I thought I'd done enough research when I decided to buy a Stihl, I guess I was wrong! Based on my experience I would not recommend!
Find out how Stihl RE 129 Plus compares to other Electric Pressure Washers
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Felt like a solid bit of gear. Hand piece issue resolved – Has been a great pressure washer up until now (10 months of use). The handle started leaking water badly from the inside and I lost pressure at the nozzle. Took it to the retailer I bought it from. They said this is the second one in 2 weeks. The other happened from brand new. They said they believe they've had a bad batch. Sadly they are still… Read more
waiting to hear from stihl about the previous failure 2 weeks ago. I will update this after getting some response from stihl. Disappointing from a solid brand.
Edit: I contacted stihl via Facebook messenger. They were very good and express posted a new hand piece to the store I purchased the pressure cleaner from. It feels slightly heavier compared to the old so hopefully it has better components inside to rectify this problem.
Stihl RE130 pressure washer trigger problem – Retract previous problem where I stated trigger problem whereas unit would not start. Returned to dealer and they could not duplicate problem. Seems to work ok now that they checked it out. Must be other electrical issue or the pressure within system wouldn’t allow restart Show details
Awful - avoid this brand – I bought a 129plus 6yrs ago and have had nothing but problems. The main problem is that if you connect the water and power and then turn the water on, power on and depress the trigger on the gun it won’t work. You have to depress the trigger before turning the power on. It clearly states that this is a problem in the manual yet they still sell the… Read more
machine with this defect. It is not possible to stop the trigger without having to then disconnect the power and water. Avoid at all costs and choose another brand.
will never buy stihl again – I purchased a RE129 pressure washer at $549.00 .I have had nothing but problems with the hand piece. I've always been a Karcher user but had no option but to buy this machine. If it wasn't for economic times at the moment I would throw it to the dump. Show details
Not very reliable – Had the machine 2 years had nothing but problems with the trigger on the Lance it has been back twice to the supplier last time was charged for a broken part inside the trigger not on when on that occasion still in warranty when it is working it does s fair job but I would not buy another one. Show details
Pressure function stopped working after single use – Used it once for cleaning deck and the next time I tried after a month, the pressure wasn't working. Stihl FTG fixed the issue as it's within warranty. It worked again once and failed after that with the same issue. I spoke to Stihl again and they said they can fix the issue as it's within warranty. What if this happens after the warranty period, they charge for fixing it. I have paid $400 for this unit and didn't expect a faulty unit. Show details
Worth the $ – In the last 10-months I have owned the base model Karcher and Gurni. Both died. I went out and bought the STIHL solely because of the reviews on this website. I primarily use pressure cleaners to clean my large patio and driveway, and as soon as I turned the STIHL on I could tell it was quality. It is heavy but every component feels solid - it… Read more
gives a confidence. Obviously it's got about 2000 psi which gets the job done a lot quicker than I'm used too. I like how its nozzles get stowed away behind the cowling in a little nook. It's 8m of hose is kink-proof and also gets me further away from the unit (it is noisy but not as bad as that p.o.s Gurni). Just doing concrete areas I couldn't decide which nozzle to use as they both cleaned exceptionally well. I'm being picky now but the only two complaints I have are: 1) it's quite heavy, so my wife has trouble carrying it up the few stairs from the garage (she hardly ever uses it so no big deal); and 2) the trigger, while being very sensitive and easy to squeeze is nevertheless a bit uncomfortable to grip for extended periods, a problem common to all pressure cleaners I would imagine. Bottom line: she costs a bit more but it is easy to see why. You get what you pay for. 5 out 5.
Update: one year on and this little beauty is still going strong. It has never missed a beat. I'm extremely impressed with it.
not good – less then 24 months old and stopped hardly any use. only cleaned shed and half of the veranda . would of thought for 500 dollars you get a good product . I have had stihl products before and done okay with them but not happy with what we purchased. yeah Show details
Cant fault – Purchased RE 129 Plus after another brand (from Bunnings) with little use had some seemly simple looking part in handle go that rendered unusable ... After research settled on the Stihl as such parts are made of steel not plastic ...Very happy as quite powerful,does job with minimum of fuss. The retractable 9 meter steel reinforced high pressure… Read more
hose just rolls up on top of unit so no chance of hose getting snagged on things when transporting and the power cord rolls up out of the way ...The unit is fairly heavy so if moving up and down e.g. stairs the trolley is very welcome addition... so far very happy with purchase
Find out how Stihl RE 129 Plus compares to other Electric Pressure Washers
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Great Pressure Washer - Quiet and Powerful – Purchased in November 2017, used it to clean brothers vacation house front and back concrete driveways, walkways, bricks, patios and car too:) Used the detergent attachment with Stihl Auto Wash and Wax works brilliantly with the pressure washer. Very good pressure maintained throughout. Used for 4 hours first session, driveways can be cleaned in… Read more
30-60 minutes with the RE82 Patio Cleaner that is a must, Stihl usually offer it for free with their Pressure Washer Range.
Update: Have also now cleaned parents front Driveway, and walkways. Going strong 4 days in a row, used it for 5 hours today. Pressure strong all the way.
6 Month Update:
After using it for 6 months its exactly the same as day one.
Have also tried Typhoon TE4000 (2500psi) and Michelin MPX 160 (2320psi) and this beast rates very highly compared to those models both from Sydney tools both top of the line in each brand. In fact the turbo rotating nozzle on the RE129 is more powerful than both models, but maybe a touch less flow of water, Not to mention alot more quiet than the Michelin and lighter than both models which are over 25kg each. Im also doing a write up on the Michelin soon.
1 Year Update:
Unit still going strong like day 1, have been using it every 2 weeks or week to wash cars and today used it to wash down parents balcony. Great Unit. No issues.
Also very important when choosing a presure washer and confused about psi, its always important to find the working pressure not the maximum pressure which is usually much higher.
The working pressure is the pressure coming out of the pump continuously, max pressure which is 150 bar is usually achieved when the machine is turned on for a second.
You will see many ebay washers claiming 3500psi but could not produce anywhere near that, so it's very misleading.
Has a nice long 9m hose, detergent spray, and comes with 2 nozzles, love the Rotating Nozzle, produces a powerful circular spray that can clean anything. Unit doesn't make a sound untill you pull the trigger. Feels like you could run it all day. Unit looks like all parts are high quality, the trigger handle is very light to pull, great for long sessions.
Very powerful. Maintains a strong 135 Bar, 1958psi. It's the most powerful electric washer i've tested.
Has a durable aluminium pump and stainless steel pistons.
VERY QUIET : 71db at 1m, 58db at 7.5m
Compared to my other Michelin 90db.
Technical Data: Max. Working Pressure bar 10-135 Max. Water Throughput l/min 7.0 Power Consumption kW 2.3 Weight kg20
Changed brands 5 times when searching for a pressure cleaner, Karcher, Gerni, Ryobi, Typhoon 'Sydney Tools' Petrol then electric, then Husqvrna, finally settled on Stihl, wanted a good brand with decent warranty, it comes with 2 years warranty.
I bought a water filter from Stihl $29.95 and attached it to the front to keep the pump clean.
And you can take it to any Stihl distributor for warranty check up and repair. Make sure to read manual! And it's a very good manual, thorough and much better than the Typhoon and Michelin manuals that I went through.
Careful of fake 1 star reviews on this product, I've contacted all 3 and they haven't responded.
Final Verdict: 5/5 RE129 Plus at $549 with Patio Cleaner is an awesome pressure washer for home and even small commercial jobs. Having now tried a whole bunch of pressure washers including the most powerful electric washers from Sydney tools, Typhoon TE4000 ($499) and Michelin MPX 160 ($999), I can confidently say that the Stihl impressed me the most.
Highly Recommended.
2 Year Update: Unit works fine just like day one, have been using it every 2 weeks to wash the cars with. Pressure is still strong.
Time will tell how good this unit is – I'm a two cars a week washer (Wife's and mine) and just purchased the Re 129 Plus this morn from Plenty Mowers in Kingsbury. Replacing a Michelin MPX 139 thats getting rattle and leaky. Assembled and tested. Appears to have a good pressure and has a quality feel about it, although the fact that all the connections, bar the hose to handle… Read more
connection, are moulded plastic does make it look a little cheap and Chinesey, which is where it, and probably 90% of pressure washers, are now made. The only issue I saw on first use is the hose to handle connector. It is made of brass, BUT when rolling the hose up after use the end of the brass connection, while having some protection via a large rubber piece, does drag along the concrete. This will eventually wear the end down, or the O ring seated on it, or pit pit it, resulting in leaking under pressure and a need for replacing. The way to stop this is to keep the spray handle connected whist rolling the hose back on the carrier, Not easy given the twisting of the hose, but will solve the potential issue.
UPDATE:
Been using at least weekly now for 3 months and all good. Used a piece of plastic tube over brass hose end that connects to handle to stop it being dragged across concrete when rolling hose back up after use. Machine is incredibly quiet when in use and remains silent until trigger is pulled. So far very happy with purchase.
Just wondering if anyone who has one of these can identify the type of connector used to connect the two piece lance in the middle. The only weak point with this unit is the foam lance. I can seem to get a thick foam out of it regardless of the strength or wash used. I'd like to find the connector type so I can use another/better foam lance I have.
Still water blaster RE108 – Dear viewers! Update from last review . RE108 Yes! Old machine still going strong here in NZ NewPlymouth ! Since I wrote about the complete overhaul and rebuild I did and the modifications I did to electrical connectors and switch gear it has never had a problem since ! Used it to do spouting, roof, fence, house,garages (3) ,4 vehicles… Read more
cleaning as usual and an extensive area of driveway with concrete pavers and concrete slab alsowith it. Used The concrete cleaning revolving brush/wand scrubber attachment came with it ! Does a good job faster as it has a wide diameter of operation.
Have done over 200 hours of use with out a fault from any of the supplied gear tips nozzles I used. So fix your switch terminals and use a good supply of clean pressurised water and all models will be a winner . Cheers ! Max Harding N.P. Nz .
So far so good – Got sick of my karcher being repaired, so I have stepped up to what I think is a better more solid unit. It's quite heavy and if that has anything to do with it it should last. I like the way it's all together on the one unit (stored). The stihl salesman also convinced me this was a far superior unit to anything at Bunnings Show details
Fantastic Product - Great Quality – Purchased the Stihl RE 129 plus for Xmas from Plenty Mowers in Kingsbury and couldn't be happier. Fantastic service when purchased and the quality of this pressure washer is first class. 2 Year warranty and also received over $200 in bonus accessories due to special offer at the time of purchase. Goodbye Karcher. Show details
Beast of a Pressure Washer – After doing as much research as I could on pressure washers, we bit the bullet and spent a little more on this unit. Maintained pressure well and didn't miss a beat even though I had it running for around 45 minutes almost non-stop each time. Love the reinforced hose too.
Very good – Worth the money.its clearly a good improvement then the last model re 128 plus.quality at the highest levels...the lance is durable and the motor is very silent The problem with the rotating nozzle is solved unlike the re 128 plus. Do not use this stihl whitout a water filter just at the entry of the inlet wather.if just i little dust comes in to the pump it will damage the pump very very fast
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