Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! Grass, weeds, and hedges are growing quickly as temperatures rise. Having just a lawnmower is not enough to keep your yard looking well maintained. You do not want to be THAT neighbor who does not take care of their property. A STIHL trimmer (AKA weed wacker or weed eater) is essential to trim the edges of your driveway, walkways, flower beds, hedges, around fencing, and against the side of your home and any other structures on your property. At HomCo we carry a wide variety of STIHL gas and STIHL hedge trimmers. Our technicians are ready to answer any questions about which model is right for you based on your needs. Considerations include how large your yard is, whether there are any obstacles in your yard and what they are, and how many areas need to be edged.
Like every piece of equipment, proper cleaning and maintenance is essential to prolong the life of the STIHL parts that make up your trimmer. As your local certified STIHL dealer, we are here to help you and we are providing you with basic cleaning and maintenance advice for this crucial yard care product. We asked Cody, our silver-trained STIHL technician, to give us his expert opinion on how to clean and maintain a standard gas hedge trimmer. Here is what he had to say:
How to clean and maintain your trimmer’s air filter:
A question that frequently comes up is how often should you clean your air filter on your STHIL trimmer. You should always clean it after 10 hours of use and stick to that time interval. Follow these steps to clean and maintain the air filter, while also checking the fuel mixture and pull cord while you are at it:
- Take off the side cover by loosening the bolts.
- Check for dirt and debris that has built up around the air filter before taking it out so that does not fall into the air filter.
- Use a nylon brush to clean the air filter. “Do not use compressed air as it can separate the fleece and allow contaminants to escape through the air filter.” - Cody
- Check the fuel mixture - Make sure you are using 89 octane or better and HomCo’s HP ultra full synthetic two stroke motor mix.
- When filling up fuel, clean dirt and debris around the fuel cap so it doesn’t fall in your tank when you open it. If you have been running your unit in the field and it has warmed up, open the fuel cap slowly so it can vent, then take the cap off.
- Make sure your pull cord is not frayed or split, or showing any signs it will break. Pull it all the way out and inspect it while you are doing this basic maintenance.
Replacing your trimmer head attachment:
The second important STIHL part to examine is your trimmer head attachment. Over time they will get worn out and need to be replaced. HomCo has specific trimmer heads that fit on specific models. “Look at the operator manual to make sure you have the right attachment or you can come into HomCo and we will help you make sure you have the correct one.” - Cody Here are Cody’s steps to replace the STIHL trimmer head attachment:
- Insert a small screwdriver or nail into a small hole on the head of the trimmer and then turn it counterclockwise to remove the head, being sure to keep the small disc attached.
- Insert the new head on the shaft and turn clockwise until you feel tension. Hold the screwdriver or nail in place where you placed it to remove the old head attachment. Continue to turn in order to tighten the head attachment a little more (roughly half a turn).
- Depending on the model of the head attachment, you may need to pull a few inches of string out before using your trimmer.
Conclusion
At HomCo we are your local Flagstaff STIHL dealer. STIHL is the #1 selling brand of outdoor power equipment in America and you can only find STIHL products in independently owned stores like ours! In other words, no big box stores carry STIHL. We carry the full line of STIHL gas, electric, and battery operated hedge trimmers, so no matter the size of your yard, we have you covered with many options to choose from. We also carry all the supplies needed to clean and maintain your trimmer so it functions properly for you and lasts a very long time. Basic cleaning and maintenance is crucial and it only takes a few minutes when you know how to do it properly.
Cody is one of several technicians we have ready to assist you at HomCo and we are so grateful he took the time to share with us tips for cleaning and maintaining a standard STIHL trimmer. Our expert STIHL certified technicians are here to help you with any questions you may have about which model is right for you and how to clean and maintain your trimmer. Come on in and we will help you get your yard looking the best it ever has!
Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! Grass, weeds, and hedges are growing quickly as temperatures rise. Having just a lawnmower is not enough to keep your yard looking well maintained. You do not want to be THAT neighbor who does not take care of their property. A STIHL trimmer (AKA weed wacker or weed eater) is essential to trim the edges of your driveway, walkways, flower beds, hedges, around fencing, and against the side of your home and any other structures on your property. At HomCo we carry a wide variety of STIHL gas and STIHL hedge trimmers. Our technicians are ready to answer any questions about which model is right for you based on your needs. Considerations include how large your yard is, whether there are any obstacles in your yard and what they are, and how many areas need to be edged.
Like every piece of equipment, proper cleaning and maintenance is essential to prolong the life of the STIHL parts that make up your trimmer. As your local certified STIHL dealer, we are here to help you and we are providing you with basic cleaning and maintenance advice for this crucial yard care product. We asked Cody, our silver-trained STIHL technician, to give us his expert opinion on how to clean and maintain a standard gas hedge trimmer. Here is what he had to say:
How to clean and maintain your trimmer’s air filter:
A question that frequently comes up is how often should you clean your air filter on your STHIL trimmer. You should always clean it after 10 hours of use and stick to that time interval. Follow these steps to clean and maintain the air filter, while also checking the fuel mixture and pull cord while you are at it:
- Take off the side cover by loosening the bolts.
- Check for dirt and debris that has built up around the air filter before taking it out so that does not fall into the air filter.
- Use a nylon brush to clean the air filter. “Do not use compressed air as it can separate the fleece and allow contaminants to escape through the air filter.” - Cody
- Check the fuel mixture - Make sure you are using 89 octane or better and HomCo’s HP ultra full synthetic two stroke motor mix.
- When filling up fuel, clean dirt and debris around the fuel cap so it doesn’t fall in your tank when you open it. If you have been running your unit in the field and it has warmed up, open the fuel cap slowly so it can vent, then take the cap off.
- Make sure your pull cord is not frayed or split, or showing any signs it will break. Pull it all the way out and inspect it while you are doing this basic maintenance.
Replacing your trimmer head attachment:
The second important STIHL part to examine is your trimmer head attachment. Over time they will get worn out and need to be replaced. HomCo has specific trimmer heads that fit on specific models. “Look at the operator manual to make sure you have the right attachment or you can come into HomCo and we will help you make sure you have the correct one.” - Cody Here are Cody’s steps to replace the STIHL trimmer head attachment:
- Insert a small screwdriver or nail into a small hole on the head of the trimmer and then turn it counterclockwise to remove the head, being sure to keep the small disc attached.
- Insert the new head on the shaft and turn clockwise until you feel tension. Hold the screwdriver or nail in place where you placed it to remove the old head attachment. Continue to turn in order to tighten the head attachment a little more (roughly half a turn).
- Depending on the model of the head attachment, you may need to pull a few inches of string out before using your trimmer.
Conclusion
At HomCo we are your local Flagstaff STIHL dealer. STIHL is the #1 selling brand of outdoor power equipment in America and you can only find STIHL products in independently owned stores like ours! In other words, no big box stores carry STIHL. We carry the full line of STIHL gas, electric, and battery operated hedge trimmers, so no matter the size of your yard, we have you covered with many options to choose from. We also carry all the supplies needed to clean and maintain your trimmer so it functions properly for you and lasts a very long time. Basic cleaning and maintenance is crucial and it only takes a few minutes when you know how to do it properly.
Cody is one of several technicians we have ready to assist you at HomCo and we are so grateful he took the time to share with us tips for cleaning and maintaining a standard STIHL trimmer. Our expert STIHL certified technicians are here to help you with any questions you may have about which model is right for you and how to clean and maintain your trimmer. Come on in and we will help you get your yard looking the best it ever has!