How To Repair Jammed Hedge Trimmers

The frequent use of powered hedge trimmers poses the risk of the blades becoming jammed (and it is highly likely that this will happen to your model at least once). The most common cause of jamming is due to dull blades and debris becoming caught in the cutting mechanism. Finding that your trimmer has jammed up, however, does not mean that you have take it to a professional to get it repaired or that you have to buy a new one – you are able to fix this problem yourself.

The first step in the process is to ensure that your hedge trimmer is completely switched off – if you have an electric model, unplug it from the power point or remove its battery; if you have a petrol model, unplug the spark plug. This will prevent the trimmer from accidentally turning on whilst you’re using it. You can then carefully examine the blades to determine what actually caused them to jam in the first place. Pruning shears are helpful for cutting away any garden debris that has managed to lodge itself in the blades.

The next step is to place the hedge trimmer on a flat surface so that you can check whether any debris has lodged itself between the teeth of the blade. You can use a wooden dowel to push this debris out from between each tooth, making sure that you’re wearing protective gloves at all times to protect your hands from the potentially sharp blades. Take this opportunity to give your blades a good look over, as if they are cracked or bent they can cause your hedge trimmer to jam. If they are damaged, replace them.

Your hedge trimmer should now be un-jammed and ready to be used once more, providing that you take some preventative measures to lessen its chances of becoming jammed again. You can do this by:

• Keeping the blades sharp
• Washing the blades down with soap and water after every use (to remove any left over garden debris)
• Using a resin remover for excessive sap problems
• Applying WD-40 to the blades to keep them newer for longer

To prevent getting your hedge trimmer jammed whilst you are using it, avoid twisting the machine if you become stuck in a bush. This is how the blade can become cracked and the teeth bent. Never increase the power you are using to cut, as this could ruin the mechanics of your trimmer. Instead, slowly and steadily work your way through the bush until you can get the hedge trimmer unstuck.