If your tools have been hibernating all winter, now is the time to take them out and put them to work!
Follow the tips below to get the most out of your STIHL tools this season.
You can always take your equipment to your STIHL dealer for a tune-up. Plan your visit early in the season to get off to a good start with all your outdoor power equipment preparation.
(Note: For the complete list of maintenance and repair tips, always consult your product's instruction manual.)
Cleaning and inspection
- Always start by cleaning the equipment, if this was not done before winter storage.
- Perform a complete visual inspection of all your equipment. Check that the housing is not cracked and that all controls are in good working condition.
- Check the condition of the hand guard and chain brake on your chainsaw.
- Always inspect the deflector on your grass trimmer and brush cutter and the blade guard on your hedge trimmer.
- Inspect the guard on your string trimmer.
- Tighten all accessible screws and bolts.
- Replace the cutting line on your grass trimmer and brush cutter. (It dries out and old line tends to break more easily, so make sure you have spares!)
- Inspect and sharpen as needed (or replace) all blades on all tools and cutting accessories; don't forget your hand tools!
- Check the oil and air filters and drain or replace as needed.
Opt for freshness
For all your gasoline-powered equipment, you must remember to:
- Start with fresh fuel. Fuel that is more than 60 days old can cause engine problems that could affect the proper operation of the equipment.
- We recommend a 50:1 mixture of high-octane fuel and oil. Click on this link to use our online calculator.
- Make sure to dispose of old fuel properly.
- If you use your tools occasionally, MotoMix pre-mixed fuel is a good choice for you… ask your STIHL dealer for all the details about this extraordinary product.
- Replace spark plugs if necessary.
Electric equipment:
- Inspect all electrical cords. Do NOT use if the electrical cord is damaged or if the insulation material is cracked.
Battery equipment:
- Charge the batteries.
- Recycle your old batteries. Find a drop-off center here: http://www.call2recycle.ca