Need small engine repairs in Maryland?

Here is a maintenance list for small engines to reduce the risk of small engine repairs:

• Replace oil
• Inspect the air filter (and fuel filter if present). If dirty or clogged, clean or replace as appropriate.
• Remove and inspect the spark plug.

Reduce small engine repairs with maintenance!

Checking the oil

Small Engine Repairs for Hot and Cold Water Pressure Washers

Proper oil level is essential for the mechanics in the engine helping to reduce small engine repairs. Inadequate and it also may overheat causing engine parts to seize and fail and costly small engine repairs. Make it a habit to check the oil regularly. An average small engine in reasonably sound condition doesn’t consume lots of oil but checking oil is mandatory. Oil must be checked once the engine is cold or after waiting ten minutes with this particular engine to empty into the oil sump after running the engine. Put the machine on a flat area. If there’s a dipstick – take it off, wipe it obtaining a rag, and reinsert it directed in regards to the information sticker or in regards to the stick itself – usually threaded fully in place and removed to find out. When the level is low, progressively add the new oil to just below the entire mark.  If under 1/4″ roughly below the lip, add new oil. If oil level is high drain enough oil to lower again to the full mark.  Check oil regularly to reduce small engine repairs.

Oil change

Proper oil changes need to be performed at the recommended intervals to reduce small engine repairs.  For small engines, the oil change interval is generally specified by the manufacturer of the machine. More frequent oil changes might be desirable when the items are operated in a very dusty atmosphere. We also suggest an oil change at the end of the season to stop old contaminated oil from sitting in the crankcase over the winter, which may cause small engine repairs.

Troubleshooting Guide for Small Engine Repairs

Instant troubleshooting chart – most typical problems and possible causes for small engine repairs:

Problem: Engine won’t start or is tough to start.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Gas tank is empty or shutoff valve is closed, or fuel line or gas tank cap vent is clogged.
• There’s water within the fuel.
• Carburetor is completely clogged.
• Carburetor is incorrectly modified or needs service.
• Ignition system or its wiring is defective or ignition switch is off, or timing way off (e.g., damaged flywheel key).
• Cutoff switch is open or defective.
• Spark plug is fouled, incorrectly gapped, or broken.
• Engine compression is poor.
• Operator must read user manual.

Problem: Engine begins easily but dies in seconds.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Gas tank is empty or shutoff valve is closed, or fuel line or gas tank cap vent is clogged.
• Carburetor is completed clogged.
• Carburetor is incorrectly modified or needs service.

Problem: Engine idles roughly, unevenly, or surges.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Carburetor is dirty.
• Air leak in carburetor or intake manifold (e.g., bad O-ring, gasket, primer).
• Carburetor is incorrectly modified or needs service.

Problem: Engine misses under load.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Spark plug is fouled, incorrectly gapped, or broken.
• Breaker points are pitted or incorrectly gapped, breaker arm is sluggish, or condenser is harmful.
• Carburetor needs adjustment or service.
• Fuel line, fuel filter, or gas tank cap vent is clogged, or fuel shutoff valve partly closed.
• Valves not modified correctly or valve springs weak.
• Exhaust ports blocked (2 stroke).

Problem: Engine knocks.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Magneto isn’t timed correctly.
• Carburetor is situated too lean.
• Engine has overheated.
• Carbon buildup in combustion chamber.
• Flywheel is loose.
• Cylinder is excessively worn.

Problem: Engine vibrates excessively.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Engine isn’t mounted safely.
• Engine or other driven items are unbalanced.
• Crankshaft is bent.
• Counterbalance shaft isn’t timed properly.

Problem: Engine lacks energy (possibly after warm-up).

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Old gas, bad spark plug, very thick/dirty oil.
• Choke is partly closed.
• Carburetor needs adjustment or service.
• Ignition not timed properly.
• Air filter is clogged.
• There’s inefficiencies in lube.
• Valves aren’t sealing correctly.
• Piston rings aren’t sealing correctly.
• Mind loose or mind gasket blown or broken.
• Exhaust ports blocked (2 stroke).

Problem: Engine works every once in awhile, surges, and runs unevenly.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Fuel line or gas tank cap vent is clogged.
• There’s water within the fuel.
• Fuel pump is defective.
• Governor isn’t set correctly, adhering, or binding.
• Carburetor needs adjustment or service.
• Loose carburetor/intake pipe leading to vacuum leak.

Problem: Engine getting too hot.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Magneto isn’t timed correctly.
• Carburetor set too lean.
• Air intake or cooling fans are clogged.
• Shroud or blower housing missing.
• Excessive load.
• Inadequate or excessive oil.
• Improper oil viscosity (4 stroke) or mixture (2 stroke)
• Valve clearance is simply too small.
• Excessive carbon buildup in combustion chamber.

Problem: Crankcase breather passing oil.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Lots of oil in crankcase.
• Engine speed is excessive.
• Oil fill cap or gasket is broken or missing.
• Breather mechanism is dirty or defective.
• Piston ring gaps are aligned.
• Piston rings are worn.

Problem: Engine backfires.

Possible causes for these small engine repairs:

• Carburetor set too lean.
• Magneto isn’t timed properly.
• Valves are adhering.

For Small Engine Repairs in Montgomery County Maryland, contact Sun Brite Supply of Maryland!

We carry fleet washing chemicals for contractors that are deciding to venture further into fleet washing. The work is steady,year-round, and it pays pretty well in high volume. Like any discipline, there are things to know before you start that will help you get off on the right foot. Besides buying a nice soft bristle brush, there are several things you need to think about before you venture into a business like fleet washing.

We carry a number of different fleet washing chemicals and types of washing methods for vehicles. Everyone knows how to pull out a bucket and a sponge and some soap to wash the family car and then rinse it with the hose. While that works fine on Saturday morning on your Saturn, it is probably not the most efficient method you could choose for finishing 50 trucks.

One well-known professional method is called “two-stepping”. In this technique, you hit the dirty surface with an acid-based fleet washing chemicals and then finish with an alkaline neutralizer. By switching between the opposite ends of the pH spectrum, the dirt is “popped” off the surface. These acid based fleet washing chemicals are used for the first part of the process is usually made with hydrofluoric acid. One of our hydrofluoric-based fleet washing chemicals is called Aluma Brite. This very aggressive fleet washing chemicals are perfect for any type of truck or fleet washing and for washing aluminum surfaces.

Most fleet washing chemicals use Hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid is extremely dangerous for inexperienced people to use, however. It travels through the skin to seek and destroy the calcium in your bones and body. Severe exposure to hydrofluoric acid can be fatal in a matter of hours.

Since so many fleet washers rely on the two – step method for fast, effective results, Sun Brite Supply developed a Safety Ointment for emergency use after exposure to hydrofluoric. It can add several hours of time for you to get medical attention. We offer this with every purchase of our hydrofluoric fleet washing chemicals.

We also offer alternatives to hydrofluoric- based fleet washing chemicals, for those who are willing to sacrifice some of the aggressiveness of hydrofluoric for the safety of a different acid. We offer a citric/phosphoric solution called Aluma Safe that we sell all over the country to fleet washing companies. Because our have been specially tested and designed for fleet washing contractors, these  products are made to remove the toughest stains and soil from any type of fleet or construction equipment.

My personal favorite fleet washing chemicals are Big Truck Brite & Fleet Brite.

This fleet washing chemical is less aggressive than Fleet Brite, but it can be used on all surfaces and it leaves the vehicle with a near-wax shine. I use it on my own truck, and those of you who know how I feel about my truck will understand exactly what that means. By the way, we have Wet Wax that you can add to any fleet washing chemical to get that shine on the vehicle that fleet managers are looking for. (NOTE: We have lots of customers who even buy Wet Wax and add it to house wash mixtures for a nice gleam on vinyl and aluminum!)

Besides all of these concentrated fleet washing chemicals, we offer a powdered product called Pearl Sheen. This product is relatively new to our stable from the folks at Extreme Solutions (the HD-80 people). We know that some of you prefer powders and some prefer liquids, so we decided to carry both.

Most fleet washing chemicals work better with hot water than cold. If you don’t have a hot water pressure washer, you will use about twice the amount of fleet washing chemicals to get the job done. It’s pretty tough to wash fleets in January in Alaska if you don’t have hot water, too. There are alternatives to buying a new hot water pressure washer if you don’t already have one, though. Sun Brite Supply has Hot Boxes, which are heaters designed to connect to cold water machines.

The water you use for fleet washing makes a big difference, too. Many cleaners like to use de- ionized water (D. I. for short). This water goes through a treatment that makes it rinse off the vehicle without spots. A good wash rinse is the key to getting the most professional results. If you don’t have a D. I. system, there are some easy alternatives to D. I. that are extremely inexpensive. We have a product call SoSoft, for example, that costs only pennies to use and is almost as effective as using D. I. with your fleet washing chemicals, you just add it to your water to end up with a spot-free rinse.