Motor Repair Go-To Resources

As fall comes rolling through and quickly changes to winter, many of us will find ourselves scrambling to get our projects done in the home and in the yard before it becomes too cold. When that is the case, there is no worse feeling than turning on your chainsaw or power tool and discovering a broken motor. Instead of running to the repair shop, take a look through our collection of favorite resources to troubleshoot and correct the issue on your own.

Tips for successful motor troubleshooting:

Consider all of the symptoms individually and carefully. Do not just focus on one or jump to conclusions

Don’t waste time on quick fixes that will need to be addressed again in short amounts of time. Look for the actual cause of the problem, and solve it at its root.

Assemble all of the information you can about the problem. For example, did the motor peter out when it was running at top speed, or during regular use? Did the motor fail to start up? Arming yourself with information will help you find the right solution for your problem, instead of wasting time on irrelevant remedies.

Briggs and Stratton Engine Performance Solutions
Briggs and Stratton, the world’s largest manufacturer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, has an expertly arranged guide with potential solutions to common motor ailments, easily making it one of our go-to resources. Easily navigate the guide to find the exact problem with your machine. For example, if your engine is smoking, Briggs and Stratton will ask a series of questions, including “is the engine emitting white or black smoke?” and “is the air filter blocked?” From there, if that problem is applicable to you, they offer links for corrective solutions, such as how to adjust the carburetor or how to clean or replace the air cleaner. Briggs and Stratton’s guide for engine problem solving tips is another handy guide to bookmark.

RepairClinic
If you are looking for assistance that is specific to your chainsaw or other power tool, Repair Clinic is a great online tool. They offer easy-to-understand solutions to such commonly heard questions as “chainsaw chain does not turn” or “chainsaw does not cut properly.” Additionally, they allow the user to look up the specific model number of their machine, and even offers videos on how to repair the problems.

YouTube
When in doubt, check YouTube. Whether you are simply looking to repair an engine, or you want help with a complete engine rebuild, there are tons of videos to guide us visual-learners. One of our favorite users is DonyBoy73, the self-appointed “Small Engine Doctor.” He has a vast video series on how to use, clean and repair all kinds of outdoor tools that you are curious about.

We are pleased to offer you tips like these here on the HL Supply blog. Be sure to visit some of our older posts for more ideas on repair resources, such as this one from last summer specifically on repairing your chainsaw.