Last Updated on February 6, 2023
Have you asked yourself, “why is my strimmer smoking?”. You know it shouldn’t be doing that, but fret not. We’re here to help with some tips and advice on why your strimmer is emitting smoke and what steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue before calling a professional for assistance. From understanding the causes of my strimmer smoking, learning ways to prevent future issues, and when best to call in an expert – we’ve got everything covered. So grab your gardening gloves and let’s get started.
Table of Contents:
- What Causes a Strimmer to Smoke?
- How to Troubleshoot a Smoking Strimmer
- Tips for Preventing Strimmer Smoking
- When to Call a Professional
- Conclusion
What Causes a Strimmer to Smoke?
Strimmers are an essential tool for keeping your garden in check, but when they start to smoke it can be a real problem. Smoke coming from the strimmer is usually caused by one of three things: an old spark plug, a clogged air filter, or a worn-out carburettor.
An old spark plug is one of the most common causes of smoking strimmers. Over time, spark plugs become corroded and lose their ability to generate sparks that ignite fuel in the engine’s combustion chamber. If this happens, you’ll need to replace the spark plug with a new one as soon as possible to prevent further damage and ensure your strimmer runs smoothly again.
Another potential cause of smoking strimmers is a clogged air filter. The air filter helps keep dirt and debris out of the engine so it can run efficiently without getting damaged by particles in the air. If your air filter becomes clogged with dust or other debris over time, it won’t be able to do its job properly and will cause smoke from your strimmer due to poor airflow through the engine compartment.
The last common cause of smoking strimmers is a worn-out carburettor. A carburettor mixes fuel with oxygen before sending them into the combustion chamber where they’re ignited by sparks generated from the spark plug mentioned earlier. Over time these parts wear down which leads to improper mixing ratios between fuel and oxygen resulting in incomplete combustion which produces smoke instead of exhaust gases like carbon dioxide and water vapour like normal engines should produce under ideal conditions. To fix this issue you’ll need either repair or replace your carburettor depending on how badly damaged it has already been done so far.
Smoke from a strimmer can be caused by several factors, such as the engine being overworked or lack of lubrication. To find out how to troubleshoot and fix a smoking strimmer, read on in the next section.
How to Troubleshoot a Smoking Strimmer
Troubleshooting a smoking strimmer can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools and knowledge, you can easily diagnose and fix the problem yourself.
Check Spark Plug:
The spark plug is one of the most common causes of strimmer smoking. To check if this is the cause, remove the spark plug from your strimmer and inspect it for any signs of damage or wear. If there are any visible crack or other signs of damage, replace it with a new one before continuing with troubleshooting.
Clean Air Filter:
Another possible cause of smoking could be an air filter that’s clogged up with dirt and debris. To clean your air filter, use compressed air to blow out all dust particles from inside the filter housing. Once done, reinstall it back onto your strimmer and test again to see if this has fixed the issue.
Replace Fuel Line:
A damaged fuel line may also be causing smoke due to leaking fuel entering into areas where it shouldn’t be going such as around hot engine parts which will create smoke when ignited by heat generated by these components. To replace a damaged fuel line, disconnect both ends from their respective fittings then install a new line. Make sure that you double-check all connections for tightness after installation.
Check Carburetor Settings:
An incorrectly adjusted carburettor setting can also lead to excessive smoke production. To adjust yours, refer to your user manual for instructions on how best to do so depending on make/model specifications. It’s important not to tamper too much as incorrect settings could result in further issues such as poor performance or even complete failure.
If none of these steps has resolved your issue, then unfortunately you may need professional help at this point. Contacting an authorised service centre should provide you with advice on what needs to be done next; they may even offer repair services themselves.
If you have determined that your strimmer is smoking, it’s important to take the necessary steps to troubleshoot and fix the problem. Now, let’s look at some tips for preventing strimmer smoking in the future.
Tips for Preventing Strimmer Smoking
Strimmers are a popular tool for keeping lawns and gardens looking neat and tidy. However, if not properly maintained, they can start to smoke or even catch fire. To ensure your strimmer runs smoothly and safely, here are some tips on how to prevent it from smoking:
Clean the Air Filter Regularly:
The air filter is an important part of any engine as it prevents dirt particles from entering the combustion chamber. Over time, this filter will become clogged with dust and debris which can cause the engine to run less efficiently and produce more smoke than usual. It’s important to clean your air filter regularly (at least once every season) in order to keep your strimmer running optimally.
Change the Spark Plug Every Season:
Another key component of any engine is its spark plug. This small but essential part creates sparks that ignite the fuel inside the combustion chamber, allowing for efficient burning of fuel so that you get maximum power output from your strimmer. If you don’t change out your spark plug every season then it may be too worn down or dirty to create enough sparks for efficient burning – resulting in excess smoke production when starting up or running at full speed.
Poor quality fuel can also lead to excessive smoking from a strimmer engine due to incomplete combustion of fuel molecules within the cylinder head – leading them unburned into exhaust gases where they mix with oil vapours before being expelled through exhaust ports as visible white/greyish smoke plumes. It is important to use only high-quality gasoline when filling up your tank in order to avoid these issues altogether.
By following these tips for preventing strimmer smoking, you can ensure that your strimmer is running safely and efficiently. However, if the problem persists, it may be time to call a professional.
When to Call a Professional
When it comes to strimmer smoking, there are some issues that you can troubleshoot and fix yourself. However, if the problem persists or is too complex for you to handle on your own, then it’s best to call a professional.
If You Can’t Identify the Problem:
If you can’t identify what is causing your strimmer to smoke, then calling a professional may be the best option. A qualified technician will have experience in diagnosing and fixing problems with garden equipment like yours. They should also be able to provide advice on how to prevent similar issues from occurring in future.
If You Can’t Fix It Yourself:
If you know what is causing your strimmer to smoke but don’t feel confident enough or lack the necessary tools and parts needed for repairs, then it’s better not take any risks and call a professional instead. An experienced technician will be able to diagnose the issue quickly and carry out any necessary repairs efficiently so that you can get back up and running as soon as possible.
If Parts Need Replacing:
Depending on how old your strimmer is or what type of model it is, certain parts may need replacing due to wear and tear over time or simply because they are no longer available from manufacturers anymore. In this case, calling an expert who has access to specialist spares would be beneficial since they will know exactly where to find them at competitive prices so that costs don’t spiral out of control unnecessarily.
In conclusion, when dealing with a smoking strimmer issue, it is important to know when it is best to call in an expert. This can save both time and money in the long run – especially if you are unable to identify or fix the problem yourself easily.
Conclusion
It’s important to remember that if your strimmer is smoking, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong. However, if the smoke persists or you’re having trouble troubleshooting the issue yourself, it may be time to call in a professional. With some basic knowledge to the question, “why is my strimmer smoking?” you’ll be able to identify potential issues and keep your garden looking its best.
Paul is the type of person who never met a problem he couldn’t fix. He can always be found tinkering with something in his house, even if it isn’t broken! His tips and tricks are often shared on our site. He’s the one you call when something breaks because he has been known to improvise fixes for everything from leaky faucets to malfunctioning dryers.