Edger: Guard Rattles or Vibrates Badly
To fix the excessive vibration your edger guard is experiencing, refer to our repair and symptom guide. Our guide will help you identify what part is causing your problem, and how to best fix it. Some of parts to check are the rod, bearings, belt, guide, cover, and blade guard. Note: this is a general repair guide. Check the manual provided by your owner for more specific repair information related to your model.
Bearings
Bearings are designed to reduce friction at the connecting points of anything that rotates inside your edger. When your bearings become worn, they will first cause your edger to rattle and vibrate, but eventually they can lead to bigger problems. If the bearing no longer rotates, the friction created at these connecting points can cause damage to various parts of the engine. To solve this problem, simply locate the bearing that is worn or damaged and replace it. This should alleviate this symptom.
Bearings are designed to reduce friction at the connecting points of anything that rotates inside your edger. When your bearings become worn, they will first cause your edger to rattle and vibrate, but eventually they can lead to bigger problems. If the bearing no longer rotates, the friction created at these connecting points can cause damage to various parts of the engine. To solve this problem, simply locate the bearing that is worn or damaged and replace it. This should alleviate this symptom.
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Belts
In order for the drive belt in your edger to work properly, it must fit tightly around its pulleys. To accomplish this, the belt is designed to hold its shape with just enough flexibility. Occasionally the belt will be out of round, and this may cause vibration. This can occur as a result of faulty design by the manufacturer, but more often it is simply as a result of misaligned pulleys that the belt runs on. If the pulleys are misaligned, you may need to replace the pulleys themselves, in addition to the belt.
In order for the drive belt in your edger to work properly, it must fit tightly around its pulleys. To accomplish this, the belt is designed to hold its shape with just enough flexibility. Occasionally the belt will be out of round, and this may cause vibration. This can occur as a result of faulty design by the manufacturer, but more often it is simply as a result of misaligned pulleys that the belt runs on. If the pulleys are misaligned, you may need to replace the pulleys themselves, in addition to the belt.
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Blades
When your edger is running, the blade can occasionally encounter debris or rough terrain. Unfortunately, this can cause your edger’s blade to become bent. When this happens, the blade may not spin true (or straight), and this can cause the guard to rattle. A bent edger blade will also result in a jagged cut, which can be a major problem. To prevent the blade from being bent, be aware of debris that may be in your edger’s path, and use caution in rough terrain. You may be able to bend the blade back into position using a wrench or vice grips, but be sure that the blade is indeed straight and spins true before you operate the edger again.
When your edger is running, the blade can occasionally encounter debris or rough terrain. Unfortunately, this can cause your edger’s blade to become bent. When this happens, the blade may not spin true (or straight), and this can cause the guard to rattle. A bent edger blade will also result in a jagged cut, which can be a major problem. To prevent the blade from being bent, be aware of debris that may be in your edger’s path, and use caution in rough terrain. You may be able to bend the blade back into position using a wrench or vice grips, but be sure that the blade is indeed straight and spins true before you operate the edger again.
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Guides
Many of the rotating parts inside your edger have some form of guide that ensures they remain in the proper alignment. If the guide itself becomes misaligned, or has become worn out over time, it can lead to vibration when your edger is being operated. You will either need to realign or replace a guide that is causing your edger to vibrate.
Many of the rotating parts inside your edger have some form of guide that ensures they remain in the proper alignment. If the guide itself becomes misaligned, or has become worn out over time, it can lead to vibration when your edger is being operated. You will either need to realign or replace a guide that is causing your edger to vibrate.
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Covers
Your edger will usually have plastic covers for parts like the air filter, and will have an engine housing cover as well. The purpose of the cover is to protect the engine, and as a result, the engine cover can occasionally become cracked or broken. When this happens, the cover will tend to rattle and/or vibrate. In most cases, a cracked or broken cover will need to be replaced before the rattle will subside. However, in some cases the cover may simply be loose, and in this case, tightening it may solve the problem.
Your edger will usually have plastic covers for parts like the air filter, and will have an engine housing cover as well. The purpose of the cover is to protect the engine, and as a result, the engine cover can occasionally become cracked or broken. When this happens, the cover will tend to rattle and/or vibrate. In most cases, a cracked or broken cover will need to be replaced before the rattle will subside. However, in some cases the cover may simply be loose, and in this case, tightening it may solve the problem.
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Rods
A bent connecting rod in your edger’s engine is a serious problem that will not only cause the engine to rattle and vibrate, but can also lead to engine failure down the line. The connecting rod connects the crank shaft and the piston, and if it becomes warped or bent will rattle around inside the engine block, eventually causing damage. It is recommended that you replace a bent connecting rod, or else your problem could escalate from a rattle to full-on engine failure. If the connecting rod snaps, the piston will become disconnected from the crank shaft, and therefore the crank shaft will not be able to rotate.
A bent connecting rod in your edger’s engine is a serious problem that will not only cause the engine to rattle and vibrate, but can also lead to engine failure down the line. The connecting rod connects the crank shaft and the piston, and if it becomes warped or bent will rattle around inside the engine block, eventually causing damage. It is recommended that you replace a bent connecting rod, or else your problem could escalate from a rattle to full-on engine failure. If the connecting rod snaps, the piston will become disconnected from the crank shaft, and therefore the crank shaft will not be able to rotate.
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Blade Guards
When the blade guard on your edger is rattling, it is generally an indication that it has been poorly tightened, or has come loose. If the guard is not firmly secured, it can rattle and cause the machine to make excessive noise as well. Normally, tightening the loose bolt or screw(s) will solve this problem, but sometimes the blade guard will become loose because a bolt or screw has fallen off completely. If you’re missing any of your bolts or screws, be sure to replace them to fix the rattling problem.
When the blade guard on your edger is rattling, it is generally an indication that it has been poorly tightened, or has come loose. If the guard is not firmly secured, it can rattle and cause the machine to make excessive noise as well. Normally, tightening the loose bolt or screw(s) will solve this problem, but sometimes the blade guard will become loose because a bolt or screw has fallen off completely. If you’re missing any of your bolts or screws, be sure to replace them to fix the rattling problem.
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