Automatic idle systems and methods

A pressure washer comprising:

• an engine drivingly engaged to a pump, the engine including an adjustable throttle and a switch movable between an ON position in which water is allowed to flow from the pump and an OFF position in which water is prevented from flowing from the pump;
• an engine speed governor coupled to the engine, the engine speed governor comprising a governor shaft rotatable in response to a speed of the engine;
• a governor linkage comprising a first portion connected to and rotatable with the governor shaft and a second portion connected to a throttle control of the engine, the first portion being pivotably coupled to the second portion at a pivot point, wherein the second portion is movable together with the first portion upon rotation of the governor shaft;
• and
• an actuator connected to the second portion of the governor linkage, the actuator being movable in response to a load on the engine to pivot the second portion relative to the first portion from a base position to an adjusted position;
• wherein when the switch is in the OFF position, the actuator is configured to automatically pivot the second portion relative to the first portion toward a throttle-closed position.

A method for automatically adjusting the speed of an engine comprising:

• coupling an engine speed governor to a small engine, the engine speed governor comprising a governor shaft rotatable in response to a speed of the engine;
• connecting a governor linkage between the governor shaft and a throttle control of the engine, the governor linkage comprising a first portion connected to and rotatable with the governor shaft and a second portion connected to the throttle control, the first portion being pivotably coupled to the second portion at a pivot point, wherein the second portion is movable together with the first portion upon rotation of the governor shaft;
• and
• moving an actuator in response to a load on the engine to pivot the second portion relative to the first portion from a base position to an adjusted position;
• wherein when the engine is in a low-load state, the second portion is automatically pivoted relative to the first portion toward a throttle-closed position.