String trimmers are one of those tools that are used and abused during the summer lawn care season, but then put away for winter without a second thought to maintenance. It’s only when we go to use it the next season do we find that it’s not working right. Here are a few simple power loss maintenance practices that can help restore the performance of a faulty string trimmer.
How old is the Fuel
Today’s ethanol-containing gasoline can break down in relatively short time periods. If your blended fuel supply is more than two or three weeks old, blend a new batch of fuel. Using a fuel stabilizer can help lengthen to life span of fuel for those of us who don’t go through a lot of mixed fuel during the lawn care season.
Ethanol Fuel Problems
Ethanol is attracted to water, so you need to be aware of the conditions in which you store and operate your equipment. lawn & garden equipment should not be stored in damp or wet environments or left outside uncovered. Water collecting in the gas tank causes a phenomenon known as phase separation, which can create a variety of problems, including the formation of gums, varnish and other insoluble debris that can plug fuel passages and negatively affect engine performance.
Prevention of phase separation is possible and treating the fuel with AMSOIL Quickshot® as a preventative measure can avoid rough-running equipment and other performance issues. If you have contaminated fuel tanks, they should be emptied and refilled with fresh treated fuel.
Replace your Fuel Filter
If you look inside your fuel tank and see debris floating around, you should empty the fuel and get all the debris out. Clogged fuel filters will reduce the amount of fuel getting to the carburetor and will lead to poor running conditions. Once it’s empty and clean, replace the fuel filter to make sure the proper amount of clean fuel gets to the carb.
Clean the Air Filter
A clogged air filter prevents the engine from getting the correct amount of air to operate properly. Before removing the air filter, brush away loose debris from around the filter cover and filter element. Tap the filter on a tabletop or the palm of your hand to dislodge any dirt or debris. If you use compressed air with a nozzle, make sure you direct air through the filter from the inside to avoid lodging debris deeper in the filter.
Avoid washing these air filters as this can collapse its micro-fine structure. If cleaning doesn’t remove debris or it’s been used for a long time, replace the filter with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.
Replace the Spark Plug
Spark plug fouling occurs when oil, carbon or other foreign substances coat the tip of the plug and interfere with normal firing. Too much oil in the gasoline, low quality oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will eventually cause spark plug fouling. Replace the spark plug with a new one recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.
If a new plug is not immediately available, remove the plug and clean all carbon and oil deposits from the plug tip. Set the gap according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and reinstall the plug.
Check Plug wire
While you’re working on your spark plug, it’s a good idea to also inspect your plug wire for damage. Cracks in the outer insulation or bends that break the wires inside can cause poor running or no running conditions. Exposed plug wires can also cause you to be shocked if you accidentally touch it while the engine is running. Take your trimmer to a repair shop to get this fixed, if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself.
Clean Spark Arrestor Screen
On many trimmers, a small screen covers the exhaust outlet and prevents sparks from exiting the muffler and potentially starting a wildfire. For this reason, trimmers should not be operated if the screen is missing, punctured or disintegrating.
Just Like Spark plug fouling, too much oil in the gasoline, inferior oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will plug the screen with carbon deposits. This prevents exhaust gases from flowing out, which leads to power loss or not running at all. To fix the problem, remove the spark arrestor screen and inspect it for plugging. If plugged, either replace it with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer or clean it.
To clean the spark arrestor screen, spray it with AMSOIL Power Foam® to soften the deposits before cleaning the screen with an abrasive pad. Reinstall the screen and test the trimmer.
If these attempts to restore power fail with these Maintenance practices for power loss in a string trimmer, take the trimmer to your servicing dealer for more in-depth testing.
Use High-Quality 2 Stroke Oil
Using a high-quality two-stroke oil with excellent detergency can help avoid many of the problems listed here. Two-stroke oils that burn cleanly help reduce plug fouling and spark arrestor screen deposits. AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil withstands high heat and stress to protect handheld equipment engines against wear and harmful deposits. It can be mixed at conventional mix ratios (32:1, 40:1, 50:1) or the SABER Ratio™ (80:1, 100:1), offering the convenience of one mix ratio for all applications.
SABER Professional was tested at a 100:1 mix ratio compared to other two-stroke oils at 50:1, and the results are clear: SABER Professional dominated the competition in every area of performance like fighting carbon deposits create power loss and reduce their service life.
Performing these simple maintenance practices for power loss in a string trimmer at the beginning of each lawn care season, will make each lawn care season less frustrating.
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