Can Electric Hedge Trimmers be Repaired?

Electric hedge trimmers are an excellent alternative to gas powered models. It is lightweight, powerful and easy to use. These trimmers come with a battery so you can run it without the cord. But just like with any power tool, technical problems can occur. Can an electric hedge trimmer be repaired? In a lot of cases yes, and without needing professional help.

If your electric hedge trimmer won’t start, check if the cord is securely plugged into a power source. Clean the blade and air filter regularly too. Also make sure the battery is fully charged and the connecting wires are tight.

Safety Guidelines

Hedge trimmers are powerful tools and carries potential risks. Follow all safety guidelines in your owner’s manual. Also do the following before doing any repair work.

Turn the hedge trimmer off and unplug from its power source. It is not enough to just turn the switch off. If you leave the tool plugged in and you accidentally flip the switch on, the trimmer will start running. If you are cleaning the blade that can lead to a serious accident.

Wear gloves and eye protection. Even if the trimmer is turned off the blade is still sharp. You are handling electricity here so it is always best to be careful.

Do not fix an electric hedge trimmer near any flammable object. Keep the tool away from any wet material as well. Having a fire extinguisher nearby is recommended.

Blade Will Not Cut

No matter what type of hedge trimmer you are using, problems with blades not cutting is common. There are many reasons why this happens. The most likely are:

• Some of the blade teeth is broken
• The blade is not installed properly
• Blade is dull

The blade is dull. Repeated use will dull the blade. At some point it will no longer be able to cut. The solution to this is to sharpen the teeth with a file. There are lots of choices but we like the Sharpal 103N because it works on hedge trimmers, lawn mowers, shears,, axes, you name it.

How to Sharpen an Electric Hedge Trimmer

1. Wear gloves. Put the hedge trimmer on a table.
2. Wipe the dirt off with a cloth.
3. Use the file to sharpen the teeth. Do not use a sawing motion. File forward, lift the tool and then file it again. Do not use a back and forth movement.
4. Use whetstone to get rid of any burrs.
5. After sharpening, apply resin solvent to the blade.

The blade is dirty. If the blade is ditty, wipe it off with a cloth. Damp the cloth in water if needed. If the teeth are not broken and still sharp, cleaning is all you need to do.

If any of the teeth are missing or broken, you have to replace the blade. Your instruction manual provides information on how to sharpen the baled. You should not sharpen too much because you could end up removing a good chunk of the teeth.

If the blade is not installed correctly, it will not run. So double check the installation after you are done sharpening. If everything looks fin, plug the trimmer back into the power and turn on the switch.

Motor is Overheating

The motor on an electric hedge trimmer can overheat due to high temperature, overuse or both. If the trimmer is used for extended periods or to cut a lot of materials, it puts a lot of pressure on the electric motor. If the task is at the limit of the motor capacity it will overheat.

You can tell when the motor is overheating. It is hot to touch and in some cases will smoke. This can cause serious damage so the right action must be taken.

Solution. Turn the hedge trimmer off if the motor is overheating. Allow it to cool down completely before using it again. If that does not work, clean the trimmer. It is also a good idea to invest in a durable electric hedge trimmer to minimize these problems. One of the best out there is the BEHT100 from Black + Decker as it is designed for long term use.

If the motor keeps overheating, it might need some cleanup. Check the air filter. Hedge trimmers need ventilation to run properly. If the filter is clogged, the dirt will block the air and increase the internal temperature.

The best way to prevent motor overheating is regular maintenance and proper usage. Check your owner’s manual for usage guidelines. It should have information on what materials it can cut, the temperature range, maintenance tasks and more.

If the temperature is too high, wait for it to drop before resuming work. Usually that is enough to get the trimmer running again.

The owner’s manual provides all the information on the hedge trimmer capacity. As long as you do not go beyond it, the tool will be fine. Remember to clean the blade and filter after each use. This is essential to keep the motor running smoothly.

Loose Wiring

If you are using a corded hedge trimmer, make sure that it is plugged into a power source. If it not the motor will not be able to start. If the cord is too short it could get disconnected from the power outlet or the trimmer.

Solution. If the trimmer stops working, check the cord. If might have come off the outlet or the trimmer. If it did, secure it tightly. If it is too short, you will need an extension cord.

The additional length will allow you to move freely and hedge trimmers are specially designed to handle these long cords. This can also help if your hedge trimmer will not idle.

If you are using a corded hedge trimmer, take care not to get the cable entangled. This can be a problem if you are cutting a lot of bushes, hedges and shrubs.

Never use a corded electric hedge trimmer outdoors when it is raining. This is applicable for any electronic device. The risks are lower if you have a cordless hedge trimmer.

Battery is Not Charging

Electric hedge trimmers are often equipped with a battery so that you can run it cordless. Charge the battery, unplug the cord and start trimming. If the battery is not charging that does not mean the trimmer is damaged.

Solution. If the battery is not charging, it can be due to any of the following.

• The battery connection is loose
• The battery is old
• The battery is damaged

The first thing to check is the charging cable. It might be loose. Tighten and try again. If possible, try another cable to rule out the possibility the original wire is damaged.

If the connections are secure, the battery is either old or damaged. Old batteries take longer to charge and discharge quickly. Over time the battery may eventually lose its ability to charge.

A damaged battery obviously cannot carry a charge. Whether the battery is old or dead, it has to be replaced. Hedge trimmer batteries last a long time but they will eventually run out of power. The batteries on these hedge trimmers last 2-3 years so it will take a long time. Depending on the brand, you may be able to replace the battery or have to get a new trimmer.

No Power

These trimmers need a power source to work. If it is cordless that would be the battery. If it is corded it would be the power outlet. How you fix this depends on which source you use.

Solution. If your hedge trimmer is connected to a power outlet, check the cable. It could be loose from the outlet or the trimmer. Turn off the trimmer, unplug the cord and plug it in again tight. Turn on the trimmer.

If that does not work, the cable might be damaged. Try another charging cable. If you suspect it is the power outlet, connect another device to it. If the device does not run, the power outlet is broken.

If the device works, the hedge trimmer has a problem. You should get another charging cable or plug the trimmer to another source and see if it works.

If the trimmer won’t run when cordless, the battery does not have enough power. Recharge it until full. How long this takes depends on how depleted it is. If the battery is fully charged but the trimmer will not start or starts and stalls, the air filter or blade might be clogged up.