Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:29 pm
Gardening is a great way to relax and enjoy nature, but it can also be a lot of work. Trimming hedges is one of the most tedious tasks, but with the right tools, it can be quick and easy. In this guide, we’ll show you how to oil your hedge trimmer in seven easy steps!
Why should you oil a hedge trimmer regularly?
When pruning an old hedge, the hedge trimmer does some heavy lifting. It also takes a lot of punishment during a normal maintenance or topiary pruning.
Coarse debris settles in and causes worn blades. Frequent use exacerbates the problem.
The tool can no longer be used properly. Regular maintenance is therefore essential, whether it’s an electric hedge trimmer, a manual hedge trimmer or a gasoline-powered hedge trimmer.
Proper care includes regular cleaning after each use and oiling at regular intervals. Dirt and resin settle on the cutting blades. As a result, the sharpness of blades decreases over time.
Contents
Oil hedge trimmers in 7 easy steps
The cutting blades are known as the weak point in any type of hedge trimmer. Their maintenance should be done at regular intervals.
By this is meant after each use. Other components are less sensitive. In the case of a battery-powered hedge trimmer, you hardly need to worry about the battery.
With gasoline-powered hedge trimmers, you also need to take care of the engine at regular intervals, such as cleaning or changing the spark plugs regularly. However, that is another chapter.
preparation
Before you start caring for it, first get the tools you need ready. You will need:
- Screwdriver
- dry cloth
- wire brush
- care product for knives
- machine oil
- Protective gloves
Do not use machine oil for oiling, but a special cleaning agent for knives. It contains both oil for long-term lubrication and cleaning agents that dissolve resin and dirt.
When working, put safety first. Make sure that motor-driven shears can not start suddenly.
Therefore, remove the battery or unplug the power cord. For shears with gasoline engines, you can remove the spark plugs and take the opportunity to check them at regular intervals as well.
removing the cutting blades
You should remove the cutting blades at regular intervals for cleaning. To do this, loosen the screws at the transition between the cutting blades and the housing as well as the second screw on the blade.
Now you can remove the cutting blades individually. 3.
cleaning the cutting blades
This step is not always necessary, only if the blades are very dirty. If they are normally dirty, it is sufficient to wipe them with a damp cloth and then dry them with a dry cloth.
Remove coarse dirt with the wire brush and wipe the blades clean. Then apply the care product for knives.
It contains substances that dissolve even the last remnants of resin and coat the blades with a thin layer of oil.
oil cutting blades
Put some special machine oil on a dry cloth and rub it generously on the blades. Do not forget the shaft and the screw connections.
If after cleaning you find that the cutting blades are no longer sharp enough, they need to be sharpened. If you want to do this yourself, you will need a grinding machine with a diamond file attachment. Alternatively, you can have the cutting blades sharpened in a workshop.
oil the gearbox
Depending on the model, this step is only necessary about every 100 operating hours. You only need a few grams of grease for lubrication.
The exact procedure for oiling the gearbox varies from model to model. It is best to consult the operating instructions for more information.
assembly and test run
After finishing the cleaning work, reassemble the parts and start the tool for a test run. Pay particular attention that all screws are tightened again.#