If your small engine’s flywheel is cracked, broken or damaged, then it needs to be replaced. There should be no wobbling when the flywheel is placed on the crankshaft.
If your engine is emitting white or blue smoke, simply checking and changing the oil can resolve the problem. Also check to see if the oil is overflowing or you’re using the wrong grade or type of oil.
A tune-up is the regular maintenance step recommended by manufacturers in order to prevent problems from occurring. However, if the equipment is not working properly, a tune-up will not solve the issue and some other repairs may be required.
Scottish engineer James Watt invented the term horsepower as a marketing trick for his engines. Many scientists agreed that his estimates of horsepower were overrated. Nevertheless, the term remained and has become a standard measurement.
What causes an engine to burn oil? It may be several factors such as overfilling the crankcase with oil, incorrect oil grades, inoperative crankcase breather, crankcase air leak, worn cylinder or rings, or a blown head gasket.
Small engines can run on electricity, and even solar power. However, most of the times, these engines are gasoline-powered engines. Make sure to choose the best type of fuel for your small engine.
The function of the carburetor is to regulate air and move fuel through the engine. If the carburetor is dirty, it can cause poor engine performance or starting problems.
Black smoke is usually caused by a clogged air filter. So, if you’re noticing black smoke coming from the exhaust, inspect the air filter. If it is dirty, clean or replace it.
Do you know that there are millions of small “utility,” or “non-road,” engines in the United States? These are typically single, air-cooled, and twin cylinder, 4- or 2-stroke engines.
Overhead valve configuration, also called a pushrod engine, is the most common small engine design. It is being used by the Honda GX range since the 1980s.
Always use clean and fresh fuel for your lawnmower to protect its engine. Do you know that your lawn mower’s fuel can begin to deteriorate in as little as 30 days?
When using a machine powered by a two-stroke engine, it’s important to keep in mind that oil needs to be mixed in with the gas in the correct proportion. Adding more than necessary is a big no-no as the engine will lose power and start spewing out copious amounts of white smoke.
Before you put a long-dormant gas-powered tool back in service, it would be prudent to have it worked on first. Some things to do would be to change the engine oil (four-strokes), check the fuel line and spark plug and test the ignition system.
When your engine starts and stalls, it is often due to standard maintenance problems. These stalling problems can simply be prevented by tuning the engine.
Can you list some of the uses of a small engine? Typical uses for these engines include lawn mowers, trimmers, pumps, emergency electrical generation and several other utility tasks.
If your mower's engine is overheating (whether it's riding, zero turn, self-propelled, etc.) the first thing to check is for an accumulation of grass clippings at the blower housing and around the cooling fins. If these are clear, check the oil. Make sure there is enough and it's the right weight.
Did you know that a two-stroke motor doesn’t store engine oil internally? Instead, the oil it needs to lubricate its parts is mixed with the fuel and drawn into the crankcase by the vacuum of the rotating crank assembly.
If you use tools powered by small four-stroke engines, one thing to watch out for is maintenance. Oil changes, in particular, should never be missed to prevent excessive wear to the internal components of the motor.
With winter drawing near, it would be a good idea to get your snowblower ready for the season. In fact, this is a very important step as the machine will probably need some expert conditioning before it can be put back to use.
If it’s time to put away your small four-stroke engine, you may want to give it a quick service before you set it aside. To do this, you need to drain the gas tank and put in a little high-octane gas with a fuel stabilizer mixed in. You’re then going run the tank dry and drain all remaining fuel out of the carburetor.
Gasoline engines—no matter the size—require three basic things in order to work: fire, air, and fuel. Known as the fire triangle, it is these three elements that enable combustion to occur, thus allowing an engine to function sustainably.
If you work with gas-powered tools for a living, it would help to have a good small engine mechanic in your list of contacts. Such a tech can help you maintain your productivity by ensuring that the implements you use are always reliable.
