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To keep your lawn looking glorious and the edges of your patio, sidewalks, walkways, and driveway neatly trimmed without breaking the bank, you need a weed trimmer. This tool makes light any landscaping work that involves trimming soft vegetation such as grass and weeds. It is also one of the best domestic lawn mowing tools for cutting vegetation around the perimeter of obstacles such as posts, stones, landscaping sculptures. It can also be used as an edging tool for trimming grass on the edges of sidewalks and patios.
There are three main types of weed trimmers; gas-powered, electric, and battery-powered. They all work on the same principle of using a string to cut vegetation. However, each of them is powered differently and is suitable for different performance and mobility needs. Nonetheless, regardless of the type of your weed trimmer, they all require some level maintenance work to keep them in good shape and operating optimally for a longer time. In this article, we shall explore some very simple and important maintenance routine activities that will extend the life of your weed trimmer and keep it performing like new.
How to Maintain a Cordless Weed Trimmer
Cordless weed eaters are hyped as maintenance-free tools but that is not entirely true. All tools need some level of maintenance to keep them working optimally. The following are maintenance care tips that will extend the life of your weed trimmer and keep it in optimal performance.
- Clean the weed trimmer
Dirt makes tools degrade quite fast. Therefore, it is important to always clean up your weed trimmer after work before storage to keep it free from dirt. As far as cleaning up a cordless weed eater is concerned, the first step should be to remove the battery. Afterward, wipe the shaft and where the battery sits with a wet cloth. For the head, clean with a stiff brush to remove gunk and debris. You can disassemble the guard assembly for more effective cleaning. Use soap and water as the cleaning liquid.
- Clean the guard assembly
The guard assembly of a weed eater collects most of the dirt in many cases. Therefore, it needs specialized cleaning. Besides, it takes all the beating for you, so, why not give it a nice cleaning? You need a plastic scraper in addition to a brush. The plastic scraper helps to remove stuck grass and debris without scratching the surface of the guard. The brush, on the other hand, is for scrubbing the surface to remove gunk in order to get a sparkling finish.
- Inspect the trimmer line
String trimmers use a string to cut vegetation. Therefore, it is important to inspect the trimmer head to find out if there is enough cutting string before you start your yard work. You can run the trimmer and bump it on the ground to see if more string is dispensed. Alternatively, you can take out the spool and visually inspect the amount of string left. If there is no string, restring using one of these methods of replacing a trimmer line. Also, detangle kinked string and remove any debris or grass inside the spool to make sure that the spool rotates smoothly and releases string effectively.
- Inspect the trimmer head and the spool
If the trimmer head is broken, the string trimmer will definitely malfunction. It will either not dispense the trimmer line, not rotate when the trigger button is pressed, or just not operate as it should. If that’s the case, consider replacing the trimmer head. Inspect the eyelets as well to ensure that they are not clogged with debris that may deter the smooth flow of the trimmer line from the spool.
- Remove the battery
If you want to store your weed trimmer for a long time, remove the battery. Do not, however, keep the battery charged. Also, avoid storing the battery with other tools in the toolbox or drawer unless it is enclosed. This is because batteries can be accidentally shorted by other tools, resulting in fire and/or damage to the battery internals.
- Charge the battery if you want to work
If you are preparing to do some yard work or landscaping, ensure the battery is fully charged before inserting it into the tool. This will ensure that you get more work done before the next recharge.
- Sharpen and fasten the string cutter.
The guard assembly is fitted with a string cutter blade that cuts the trimmer line to the right cutting swath. Sharpen the blade so that it can cut the string effectively to maintain the right cutting length.
- Inspect the trimmer wheel
Some string trimmers such as the Worx GT series have a wheelset. These wheels enable the trimmer to effectively function as an edger by allowing the tool to glide smoothly and consistently sidewalks, patios, and driveway. In order to keep the wheels rotating smoothly, it is good practice to inspect them ahead of any yard work. Replace them if they are cracked and remove debris that may inhibit smooth rotation. You may also add some light grease to the axle although it is not necessary
How to maintain a Corded Electric Weed Trimmer
Corded weed wackers are similar to the cordless ones except that they are powered from the mains socket and not a battery. Therefore, their maintenance procedure is exactly the same as the one above. However, instead of taking care of a battery, you take care of the power cord. The following are some of the ways you can ensure that the power supply cord is always delivering power to your grass trimmer effectively.
- Inspect the power cord for any physical damages
Due to the regular winding and stretching, power cords may kink or develop cracks that may eventually cause it to short or cut. Therefore, it is important to inspect the cable before plugging it to the power socket. This is both safe and keeps your tool from damage in case the cable is damaged. If you see cracks, test the cable for continuity and short circuit between cables. If any of the two problems is detected, replace the cable immediately. Otherwise, use the cable but plan to replace it.
Follow these weed trimmer maintenance tips to keep your tool operating as good as new and your lawn, backyard, walkways, and patio will always thank you!