How to Troubleshoot John Deere Weed Eaters

Deere and Company was founded in 1837. Now called John Deere, it was a one-man blacksmith shop that now has 56,000 employees. As with the automakers, one of its main units is the credit finance company; it's one of the largest equipment finance companies in the world with 2.4 million accounts. The John Deere weed eater is a useful tool, and to maintain it occasionally requires little work.

Check that the line isn't out of balance. Make sure that both cords are the same length if the shaft vibrates. Other shaft vibration problems can be caused by the saw or brush blade not being centered on the flange or grease oil infiltrating the clutch housing; if so, clean the clutch housing.

Fill the fuel tank if the engine stops. If the engine stops gradually you can try emptying the fuel tank and re-filling it with new fuel; the fuel may be bad. Disassemble the carburetor and clean it; it may be clogged.

Tighten the spark plug if the engine doesn't start, but still has a spark. If there's no spark and the engine won't start, try cleaning the spark plug and replacing it if that doesn't help.

Replace the spark plug if the engine will not stop in a timely manner when it's shut-off. The spark plug can cause other problems too and is a good thing to replace if the engine stops suddenly; it could be a short because of carbon deposits.

Clean the air cleaner if there's power loss. While you are doing that, you can also clean the fuel line. It's the tube running from the tank. Clean the fuel filter if the engine won't start but has a spark.

Tighten all the lines. Check for any loose hose fittings and check for dirt in the fan cover or cooling fins.

Try to run the machine again. If you continue to experience engine problems after completing these steps, you may want to think about replacing pistons and cylinders because they may be worn out. It may be more economical to replace the weed eater.