Blower: Engine Lacks Power

The battery provides the power to the motor in cordless, electric models. A bad battery can lead to a loss of power in your leaf blower. Order the correct battery replacement for your model; most use a lithium ion battery. The battery should easily pop out of the body of the blower.

If your leaf blower engine is lacking power, it could be due to a blocked air filter. A plugged air filter will restrict air flow into the engine, reducing power and performance. Changing the air filter is an easy fix, and should solve this issue. Disconnect the spark plug before beginning this repair to your leaf blower. The air filter is typically a foam rectangle surrounded by a rubber holder, located behind a plastic cover on the exterior of the blower. Loosen the plastic knobs or clips holding the cover on, and pull out the air filter and holder. Pop out the foam rectangle and insert your new air filter.

A plugged muffler, spark arrestor, or cylinder exhaust port will restrict the exhaust gases from exiting the engine and reduce the engine power. These parts get plugged with carbon caused by a rich fuel mixture. Correcting the fuel mix ratio could solve this issue; consult your owner’s manual to check what the proper ratio for your model is. If your muffler needs to be replaced, first disconnect the spark plug. Follow the instructions above for removing the air filter, and unscrew the engine housing cover. Next, unscrew the bolts which hold the muffler in place and remove the muffler assembly. Place your new muffler in the existing muffler cover, and reassemble the parts in reverse order.

The piston, piston rings, and cylinder work together to maintain the compression in the engine. If the piston rings or the cylinder are worn, your blower will lose power. These parts can become damaged for many reasons, such as running your blower with an incorrect fuel ratio. The most common reason to replace this part is because the piston rings are worn. Often, the whole piston assembly will need to be replaced if there is damage, and sometimes the cylinder will need to be replaced as well. The piston assembly consists of the piston, piston rings, connecting rod and its bearings. This repair is somewhat difficult but can be done.

A weak spark plug can cause incomplete combustion, resulting in a loss of power in your leaf blower. The spark plug may be weak because it is incorrectly gapped or has been fouled with gasoline, in which case it will need to be replaced. You will need a spark plug wrench or socket wrench to change the spark plug. Start by disconnecting the spark plug boot, then remove the spark plug with the socket wrench. The correct gap for your spark plug will vary depending on the model; check your owner manual to find out the correct gap size. Thread the new spark plug into the housing, and tighten with the socket wrench.

The cylinder works together with the piston rings to maintain the compression in the blower engine. If the piston rings or the cylinder are worn, power will be lost. The cylinder can become damaged due to the blower being run with an incorrect fuel ratio, or no oil at all. This issue can also occur if dirt filters into the cylinder from the carburetor. To replace the cylinder, the engine will need to be disassembled and the piston and rings will likely need to be replaced as well. Make sure to disconnect the spark plug before beginning work on your leaf blower.