Small Engines: questions, answered with sources
Each answer cites the public sources it was checked against, with the date it checked them. Jobs that need a licensed pro in Virginia say so, and explain the job instead of teaching it.
Blade & Chain Sharpening
4 answers
How do I sharpen a chainsaw chain?
Switch the saw off, clamp the bar, and set the chain brake. Match a round file to the chain's pitch, seat a filing guide on a cutter, and file each cutter away from you with smooth strokes with a filing guide to set the angle, one side and then the other. Every third filing, lower the depth gauges. Wear gloves; replace a worn-out chain.
How much does chainsaw chain sharpening cost in Virginia?
Virginia shops set their own prices, so ask for the price per chain in writing before you drop it off. What drives it is the chain type, the bar length, how damaged the cutters are, and whether the shop can sharpen your chain at all. Filing it yourself costs only a file and a guide.
Should I sharpen my chainsaw chain or replace it?
Sharpen it if the cutters are still long enough and undamaged. Replace it when the longest part of a cutting tooth is under 4 mm, when you find cracks, or when it has been filed to the witness line on the cutter. A chain that cuts crooked or needs heavy pressure but is otherwise whole usually just needs filing.
Why does my chainsaw cut crooked?
A chainsaw usually cuts crooked because the cutters on one side are duller or shorter than the other side, so the saw pulls toward the sharper side. A bent or burred bar, a worn bar that lets the chain wiggle, and a worn sprocket can do the same. Resharpen evenly, then check the bar.
Carburetor Service
5 answers
How do I clean a small engine carburetor?
Start with the cheap, safe fixes: pull the spark plug wire, drain the old fuel, put in fresh gasoline with a stabilizer and clean the air filter. If it still will not run, a carburetor cleaner used as its label directs often clears light varnish. Do not turn the mixture screws; a gummed-up or badly worn carburetor is a shop job.
How much does carburetor cleaning cost in Virginia?
Virginia shops set their own prices and no state schedule or published source gives a dated figure, so ask for a written estimate. The price depends on whether the carburetor is cleaned on the engine, removed and cleaned, or rebuilt, plus parts and labor. Fresh fuel, stabilizer and an air filter are the cheap things to try first.
When should I take a small engine in for carburetor service?
Take it in when fresh fuel, a clean air filter and a carburetor cleaner used as labelled do not fix hard starting, surging, stalling or poor idle, or when fuel is leaking. Adjusting the mixture screws or taking the carburetor apart are also shop jobs. A seasonal check before storage costs less than a repair after.
Why does my small engine only run with the choke on?
It is usually running too lean: the carburetor is not delivering enough fuel for the air coming in, and the choke hides that by cutting the air. Old fuel, a gummed-up carburetor, a dirty fuel or air filter are the usual causes. Try fresh fuel and clean filters first; leave the mixture screws to a shop.
How do I keep a small engine carburetor from gumming up?
Keep fuel fresh and the tank full. Buy only what you will use in a month or so, add a stabilizer before the engine sits for more than a few weeks, run it a few minutes so treated fuel reaches the carburetor, and follow your manual on whether to store with a full or empty tank.
Chainsaw Repair
5 answers
How do I adjust chainsaw chain tension?
With the saw off and the chain brake released, loosen the bar nuts slightly, turn the tensioning screw until the chain just touches the underside of the bar and still pulls around easily by hand, then tighten the bar nuts while lifting the bar tip. Re-check after a few minutes of use, because new chains stretch.
How much does chainsaw repair cost in Virginia?
Chainsaw repair shops in Virginia set their own rates, so there is no standard price. The bill depends on what failed: a chain, bar or sprocket is a parts job, a chain brake or oiler is more labor, and an engine that will not run takes diagnosis time. Ask for a written quote and compare it with a new saw.
Is it worth repairing an old chainsaw?
Usually yes if the fault is a chain, bar, sprocket, filter or other wear part and the saw's chain brake, hand guard and chain catcher are intact. Usually no if the engine is badly worn, the housing is cracked, safety parts are missing, or the written quote nears the price of a comparable new saw.
Why won't my chainsaw start?
A gas chainsaw that will not start is usually missing fuel, air or spark. Check the stop switch and fuel, then replace old fuel, clean the air filter and the spark plug, and clear the fuel-cap vent. Follow your manual's starting sequence to avoid flooding. If it still fails, or the chain moves at idle, see a shop.
How do I store a chainsaw for the off-season?
Clean the saw, deal with the fuel, and store it dry with the bar covered. Gas begins to degrade in as little as 30 days, so either drain the tank and run the engine dry or use stabilized fuel, whichever your manual calls for. Clean the air filter and cooling fins, sharpen the chain, and keep spare fuel in an approved can.
Generator Repair
2 answers
Why does my portable generator run but produce no power?
Most often a tripped circuit breaker, a tripped GFCI outlet, an overload, or a bad cord or appliance. Unplug everything, reset the breaker and the GFCI, then test one known-good device plugged straight into the generator. If there is still no output, the cause is inside the generator, which is a service-centre job.
How do I store a generator so it starts when I need it?
Fuel is the problem. Gasoline begins to degrade in as little as 30 days, and gas left in the carburetor can gum it up in 2 to 4 weeks. Before storage, add a stabilizer made for your fuel, run the engine about 10 minutes, then either drain the carburetor or run it dry. Store it cool, dry and clean.
Lawn Mower Repair
4 answers
How do I fix a lawn mower that won't start?
Disconnect the spark plug wire first, then check the easy things in order: fuel in the tank and whether it is old, the air filter, and the spark plug. Old fuel is the usual culprit in a mower that sat for weeks. Replace the plug and air filter if they are dirty, and refill with fresh gasoline. If it still will not start, take it to a shop.
How much does a small engine shop charge to fix a lawn mower in Virginia?
Virginia shops set their own prices and no official price list exists, so ask for a written estimate before you drop the mower off. The price depends on the problem, the parts, the mower type and the shop's labor and diagnostic charges. Cheap fixes like a plug, air filter or fresh fuel you can often do yourself.
Why won't my lawn mower start?
Most mowers that will not start are missing one of three things: fresh fuel, clean air or a good spark. Stale gasoline is the usual cause after a few weeks of sitting, then a clogged air filter, then a fouled spark plug. Your symptom narrows it down: a dead pull cord, a cough with no run, and a start-then-stall each point somewhere different.
How do I keep my lawn mower from breaking down?
Keep fuel fresh, change the oil, replace the air filter and spark plug on schedule, keep the blade sharp and clean the deck after mowing. Those five habits prevent most breakdowns. Follow the intervals in your owner's manual, and disconnect the spark plug wire before any work near the blade.
Leaf Blower Repair
2 answers
How much does leaf blower repair cost in Virginia?
Virginia shops set their own prices and no official price list exists, so ask for a written estimate before you leave the blower. The bill depends on the fault, the parts, the blower type and the shop's diagnostic and labor charges. Cheap causes like old fuel, a dirty air filter or a worn spark plug you can often fix yourself.
Why does my leaf blower die when I give it gas?
A blower that idles but dies when you squeeze the trigger is usually starved of fuel or air: old or badly mixed fuel, a dirty air filter, a clogged fuel filter or tank vent, a fouled spark plug or a plugged spark arrestor screen. Work through those cheap checks in order. If it still dies, the carburetor needs a shop.
Log Splitter Repair
1 answer
Pressure Washer Repair
5 answers
How do I fix a pressure washer that won't build pressure?
Start with the cheap causes: a weak water supply, a clogged inlet screen, a clogged nozzle, a hose that is too long, or air trapped in the pump. Release the pressure, clean the screen and nozzle, purge the air for 30 seconds, then retest. If the pump still surges or leaks, the seals are worn and it needs a shop.
How much does pressure washer repair cost in Virginia?
There is no standard Virginia price. A clean nozzle or inlet screen costs nothing, filters, plugs and fresh fuel are cheap, and a worn or freeze-damaged pump is the costly repair. Check your warranty, then get an itemized written estimate with the diagnostic fee and parts and labor listed separately.
Is it worth repairing a pressure washer?
Usually yes for small fixes and no for big ones. A clogged nozzle, dirty screen, stale fuel, plug or filter are worth fixing on almost any machine. A freeze-damaged or worn pump on an older, low-end machine can cost nearly as much as a new one. Check the warranty, then compare a written estimate with a comparable new machine.
Why is my pressure washer pulsing?
Most pulsing comes from a clogged nozzle, too little water, a blocked inlet screen or air trapped in the pump. Turn it off, release the pressure, clear the nozzle with the cleaning tool, clean the screen, use a short hose on a fully open tap, and purge the air for 30 seconds. If it still pulses, the pump needs a shop.
How do I winterize a pressure washer?
Drain the water from the hose, gun and pump, then push pump antifreeze through the pump until it comes out the high-pressure port, because water left in a pump can freeze and crack it. On a gas machine, add fuel stabilizer and run it, or drain the fuel for long storage. Store it clean and dry.
Snow Blower Repair
5 answers
How do I replace snow blower shear pins?
Stop the engine, remove the key, disconnect the spark plug wire and let everything stop moving. Line up the holes in the auger and the auger shaft, push out the broken half of the pin, fit a new pin of the exact part number in your manual and secure it with its nut, snug but not overtightened. Spin the auger by hand to confirm.
How much does snow blower repair cost in Virginia?
Virginia has no official price list for snow blower repair, so shops set their own prices and no honest single figure exists. The bill follows what failed: a shear pin is a cheap part, while a gearcase, auger or fuel system costs more in parts and labor. Ask for a written estimate that itemizes parts, labor and any diagnosis fee.
Is it worth repairing an old snow blower?
Usually yes when the fault is a wear or fuel part such as a shear pin, belt, spark plug or carburetor and the gearcase, auger and guards are sound. Usually no when the engine or gearcase is worn out, safety parts are missing, parts are unavailable, or a written quote approaches a comparable new machine.
Why does my snow blower run rough or surge?
A snow blower that runs rough or surges is most often running on stale fuel that has gummed the carburetor. Check the choke, make sure the fuel valve is fully open, drain old gas and refill with fresh gasoline under 30 days old, then check the plug wire, spark plug gap and oil level. If it still surges, have the carburetor cleaned.
How do I store a snow blower for the summer?
Clean and dry the snow blower, then deal with the fuel: fill with fresh gasoline and add stabilizer, run the engine 10 minutes, or drain the tank and carburetor, which Honda calls for beyond 3 months. Change the oil, put a little oil in the cylinder, leave the plug wire off and store it away from heaters.
String Trimmer Repair
4 answers
How do I restring a string trimmer?
Stop the trimmer and take out the battery, or pull the spark plug boot on a gas one. Clear out the old line, cut the length your manual names, thread it through the spool with equal ends, wind it the way the arrows show, and leave about 6 inches out of each eyelet. Use only the line diameter your trimmer specifies.
How much does string trimmer repair cost in Virginia?
Virginia shops set their own prices, so ask for a written estimate before you leave the trimmer. The bill depends on the fault, the parts, whether it is gas or battery, and the shop's diagnostic and labor charges. Cheap causes like old fuel, a dirty air filter or a worn plug you can often fix yourself.
Why won't my string trimmer start?
On a gas trimmer the usual causes are old or wrongly mixed fuel, a stop switch left off, an unprimed carburetor, a dirty air filter or a fouled spark plug. On a cordless trimmer, check the battery: seated and latched, charged, dry and within its temperature range. Work through these in order before paying a shop.
How do I store a string trimmer for the winter?
Clean it, then empty the fuel tank and run the engine dry so no gasoline sits in the carburetor, and keep it in a dry, dust-free place with the stop switch off. For a cordless trimmer, take the battery out, never store it fully charged or fully depleted, and keep it in a clean, dry, enclosed area.
Tiller Repair
2 answers
Why won't my tiller start after sitting all winter?
Old gasoline is the usual cause. Fuel can start to degrade in as little as 30 days, and ethanol blends can separate and leave water in the tank and carburetor. Disconnect the spark plug wire, drain the old fuel, refill with fresh gasoline, then check the air filter and spark plug. A carburetor that stays clogged needs a shop.
How do I store a tiller for the winter?
Let the engine cool, clean the tiller, add fuel stabilizer made for ethanol blends, run the engine a few minutes, then shut the fuel valve and run it until it stops from fuel starvation. For storage over 30 days, also change the oil. Disconnect the spark plug wire and keep it dry, out of sunlight and away from heat or flame.
Water Pump Repair
1 answer