Operating Guide

20 Owner’s Manual for Trimmer/Mower™
Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Engine smokes
Check engine oil level and adjust as needed.
Verify the machine is not being operating on too great of an incline. See Slopes for
more information.
Check the air filter and clean or replace as needed.
Verify the correct oil weight is being used. The engine may smoke if oil is too light
for the ambient temperature.
Clean the engine cooling fins and carburetor housing if dirty.
Contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722, or www.generac.com.
Engine lacks power or is not
running smoothly.
Refer to the engine owner’s
manual for engine-specific
procedures.
Check the throttle travel. Verify the throttle is in RUN position when the engine is
warm.
Check for debris clogging the air filter intake and clean as required.
Verify the engine blower house, throttle linkage and cooling fins are free of debris.
Clean as necessary.
Verify the air filter is clean. If the air filter is dirty, change it following the procedure
in the Engine Owner’s Manual.
Remove the spark plug wire and dry connection with a rag.
The spark plug may be dirty or cracked. Change as necessary. If the spark plug is
oily, leave it out, hold a rag over the plug hole and crank engine several times to
blow out any oil in the cylinders. Wipe off plug and install.
Fuel must be fresh, clean, and unleaded with no more than 10% Ethanol. If the fuel
is old, change it. Use a fuel stabilizer if the gas will be kept longer than one month.
Verify the engine has the right amount of clean oil. If the oil is dirty, change it. See
Changing Engine Oil for more information.
Contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722, or www.generac.com.
Trimmer head won’t spin or
lacks power
Verify the V-belt is properly aligned. See Replacing Trimmer Belt
Inspect the belt for wear. If the belt is worn or frayed, replace it.
Increase the belt tension. See Adjusting Trimmer Head Belt Tension for more
information.
Contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722, or www.generac.com.
Symptom Possible Cause