Troubleshooting tips for your Weed Eater lawn edger when its engine won't start
When you can't start your edger, make sure the tank has fuel and that the fuel is fresh; stale fuel can become watery and won't ignite well. Tune up the edger's engine to give it the best chance of starting. Check the spark plug and replace it if it's covered with oil or other deposits.
If you can't pull the starter rope, check for a hydraulic lock of the piston. Remove the spark plug and pull the starter rope to see if the recoil starter spins the engine. If it does, then oil likely filled the cylinder when you tipped the edger sideways or backwards. Reinstall the spark plug and try starting the engine. The engine may smoke as it burns off oil inside the cylinder then the engine may run smoothly.
Replace the engine safety switch or the ignition coil if the spark plug isn't getting current through the ignition system.
The engine won't start if you hit a rock or stump and shear off the flywheel key, so replace the flywheel key if it's broken.
Carburetor problems often prevent an edger engine from starting. Replace or rebuild the carburetor if it's clogged.
Edging tips for your Weed Eater lawn edger
- Edging is best performed when conditions are dry. If the ground is wet when edging, dirt gets packed around the blade which can cause excessive belt wear and interfere with blade performance.
- If dirt does build up round the blade, stop the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire. Remove the dirt from around the blade.
- For deep edging, first cut a shallow trench that cut the trench deeper until the desired depth is obtained.
- For uniform edging, run the blade guide along the edge of the sidewalk or driveway.