How to maintain a brushcutter

Like all gardening machinery, a brushcutter needs to be properly maintained. Maintenance helps to prolong the service life of the machine and ensure the tool can run efficiently, as well as limiting the risk of breakdowns. Some tasks should be performed regularly and others periodically (for example, when preparing for winter storage).

Steps

1. Clean the air filter

2. Maintain the spark plug

3. Grease the gearbox

4. Maintain the cutting accessories

5. Clean the guard and cutting head

6. Prepare the brushcutter for winter

Below you'll find instructions on how to clean and maintain the air filter of your brushcutter:

• Dust the air filter using a stiff brush or hand brush.

• If the filter is made of foam, wash it in soapy water, rinse it and wring it out. Leave it out to dry before fitting it to your brushcutter.

• If you have a paper cartridge filter, bend the filter and clean between the pleats using a soft brush.

• You can then use an air blow gun to finish the job.

• Before replacing the air filter, clean the edges of the filter compartment using a cloth.

• Take care to clean inside the compartment using degreaser.

• This task should be carried out at least once a year. It is recommended to replace the air filter entirely every two years.

Clean the spark plug once a year. Remove the spark plug using the tool provided with the machine. The colour of the deposits on the spark plug electrodes indicates the condition of the engine: a light brown colour indicates good combustion.

Brush the electrodes using a small wire brush to remove combustion deposits. It is possible to use sandpaper for a more abrasive clean. Don't forget to carefully clean between the two electrodes. Use this time to check the electrode gap using a spark plug gauge (this should generally be 0.7mm).

All the components in the gearbox are in constant friction which is why it's important to grease this mechanical device regularly.

Please note that this process isn't necessary for all brushcutters since the gearbox on some models comes pre-lubricated. In this case, the grease is designed to last as long as the machine.

Some other models feature a grease compartment where lubricant can be added. This compartment is opened using a nut or a screw. Use a special grease designed for brushcutter gearboxes.

You should grease the gearbox every 15 hours or so of operation. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's intructions at all times.

• Nylon trimmer line should be kept in a slightly moist environment where possible. If your storage space is too dry, leave the nylon line in a bucket of water for several hours once or twice a month. This should help the trimmer line to retain its properties over time.

• Sharpen blades once a year (if the brushcutter is only used occasionally). Use a flat file for tooth blades and a round file for circular blades.

• Grease the blades or apply a bit of penetrating oil if the blades haven't been used in a long time. This should help to protect the blades from moisture and rust.

While not essential to the operation of the brushcutter, the cutting head and guard should be given at least a quick clean after each use. Use a wood or plastic scraper tool to remove stuck-on or built-up deposits.

You can also give it a spray with a pressure washer but take care to protect the motor from the water jet.

Once you have completed all the steps outlined above you can move on to draining the fuel from the machine. Old fuel mixes will lose properties over time and can end up clogging fuel lines and filters. That is why it is not recommended to mix fuel too far in advance and not to keep fuel for over two months. Proceed as follows:

1. Open the drain plug to drain the fuel tank.

2. Turn the machine on low to empty the remaining fuel inside the carburettor until the engine stalls due to lack of fuel.

Brushcutter maintenance tasks

When working with brushcutter blades or the cutting system of any petrol-powered machine, it is essential to disconnect the spark plug before you start work This is the only way to guarantee that the engine won't turn on unexpectedly.

If you have a mains-powered electric brushcutter, you must check that the machine is not plugged in. If you have a cordless brushcutter, check that the battery has been removed.

Required skills

The mechanical skills to maintain a brushcutter are minimal: you will need to recognise the basic components that make up your brushcutter and be able to identify the air filter and spark plug. You won't need any special tool to remove an air filter but you do need a spark plug wrench to remove the spark plug.

Time required

30 minutes for all tasks

Number of people required

1 person

Tools and equipment

• Cloth

• Spark plug wrench

• Small wire brush (for spark plug)

• Sandpaper

• Lubricant spray

• Degreaser (optional)

• Gearbox grease

• Air blow gun (optional)

• Brushcutter buying guide

• Brushcutter head buying guide

• Brushcutter blade buying guide

• Trimmer line buying guide

• How to maintain a ride-on mower