Repair/Maintenance Tips and Information
Lawn and Garden Equipment
It is very important to keep your lawn & garden tools oiled, sharpened and maintenance before using them for the season. The main thing with lawn mowers and pressure washers is changing the oil and making sure the oil level is correct. Too much oil and the oil will get into the combustion chamber or carburetor causing it to smoke, run badly and eventually not run at all. Too little oil and it will overheat causing major engine damage quickly.
Weed eaters, tillers and leaf blowers require that you use the correct oil/gas mixture in most cases. Make sure you read your equipment for correct mixing ratio and use high quality gas. If you use too much oil the engine will be hard to start, this will not cause any major damage but can cause equipment not to start at all because of the low explosive properties. If the mix does not have enough oil the engine will overheat causing damage.
We recommend using small bottles with a gallon of gas, using premixed gas/oil or using oil that has a measuring reservoir on top for quick, easy and accurate mixing. Spark plugs in all of these items should be changed yearly to ensure proper running and blades/chains should be sharpened or replaced if needed to cause less stress and resistance on the engine, belts, pulleys and bearings.
Keeping these done will ensure your equipment runs like new for years to come and your yard will look great. If you would like us to take a look and do regular maintenance give us a call.
We service all major brands of lawn equipment including but not limited to - Ariens, Gravely, Bad Bay, BeeLine, Bush hog, Briggs and Stratton, Murray, Woods, Snapper, Simplicity, Ferris, Craftsman, Sears, Dixie Chopper, Grasshopper, Excel, Husqvarna, Dixon, Poulan, McCulloch, WeedEater, John Deere, MTD, Troy-Bilt, Toro, American Yard Products (AYP), Kubota, Stihl, Bolens, Cub Cadet, White, Yard Man, Yard Machines & Huskee, Scag, Kohler, Kawasaki, Honda and National.
Small Engines
Small engines take a beating especially from contractors and builders. None of us are as good as we like to think about checking oil and making sure things are operating properly.
The number one thing to remember on you small engines is to maintain a proper oil level and change when needed. We recommend changing the oil at least once per year, twice per year is best, once before season and once toward the middle of season.
If this is not done your engine will run hot and likely severely damage the piston, valves and other parts which will cost you majorly to have replaced or repaired.
Make sure you do not overfill the oil because this will cause oil to get into the carburetor or combustion chamber and the engine will smoke, run badly or not run at all.
Make sure your intake filters are always cleaned regularly and replaced when needed or your oil will get contaminated causing the engine not to run as efficiently, premature engine damage or not run at all because the engine is being choked out.
MAKE SURE FUEL IS FRESH:This is the single most problem we see all year, dirty carburetors cause major engine trouble such as hard starting, bad idling, stalling or not starting at all. If fuel is
more than two months old, do not use it plain and simple!
We service and repair all makes and models of small engines on all construction equipment, lawn equipment, snow blowers and air compressors. We also offer preventative maintenance such as tune ups, oil changes, carburetor cleaning and complete engine rebuilds. These services will save you a lot of money and hassle in the future from breakdowns.
Fuel Treatment
Ethanol in fuel causes major issues in small engines. This is a carburetor completely corroded from bad gas. Some fuel treatment's help with keeping your gasoline fresh over time and combat moisture issues. Others do not do such a great job. The original point of treatments used for many years was maintaining the quality of the gasoline through chemical additives. Times have changed and with all the ethanol added small engines need an extra boost by eliminating this enemy.
Phaser 3000
We think the best way to do this is through a treatment called Phaser 3000. It is the only fuel additive that is certified to be added to pump fuel and still used at a fueling station. Otherwise use ethanol free fuel to prevent these buildups in the first place.
Nail Gun's and Other Pneumatic Tools
For all of our nail/staple guns and other pneumatic tool repairs we use a high temperature silicone grease for lubrication along with premium Bostitch tool oil. This grease is essential in giving your tools o-rings and seals the most longevity possible.
Other companies just use tool oil or inferior silicone compounds which cause your tools o-rings not to last as long. We use this for all repairs and do not charge any extra for this service even though it is an expensive compound. Stop paying other businesses more for less and switch to Individualized Repair for all of your nail gun repair needs today!
This summer when using your tools make sure they are well lubricated and keep your tanks drained as often as possible. During a high use day oil at least once in the morning and once after lunch. Drain tanks at the very least once daily after use.
We recommend Bostitch PREMIUM tool oil, there is a difference between the premium and regular Bostitch tool oil. Senco also makes a good premium lubricant.
This winter make sure that if you have to use your air tools and compressor that they are properly maintained. Most compressors pumps need the oil changed to a winter grade because of the viscosity summer grade oil has.
Use a tool antifreeze to keep air lines from freezing up. We recommend KilFrost or Coilhose Pneumatics winter grade oil. They run almost exactly the same price and most customers have good luck with both of them.
Automatic air tool mist lubricators work best to make sure your tools are getting the right amount of oil throughout the day.
No need with this to add oil to each tool, just one reservoir on the tank. Keep your tools running great and get more life out of them with this inexpensive means of oiling your tools.
We offer repairs on broken pneumatic tools but also offer preventative maintenance on these items. We completely dismantle tools, clean and lubricate them before there are issues that can damage key components causing costly repairs.
Damaged o-rings or seals can cause damage to cylinders, pistons, bumpers, triggers, head valves and other parts.
The preventative maintenance we perform stops this from happening and makes sure your parts are all in clean good working order without dirt, debris or damaged parts that can cause major repair expenses.
Air Compressors
We repair and service all brands makes and models of air compressors. Air compressors are great tools to have and can be very expensive to repair if maintenance is not kept up on them.
Standard splash lubed air compressors require that you keep enough oil in them at all times and keep them on a level surface to keep the pistons lubed properly.
They also require you keep a good quality compressor oil in them for reduced carbon buildup and proper lubrication. DO NOT USE regular oil. It has foaming agents that will quickly ruin your air compressor pump!
Air compressors can be seriously damaged if the intake filter is not kept clean. Always clean filters regularly and replace when damaged or blocked beyond cleaning. If you do not keep them clean then dust, dirt and debris can become lodged in your intake/reed valves or pistons/cylinders and cause serious and costly damage.
We offer maintenance service on all air compressors and will go through all of these things and make sure your compressor will operate properly without damages caused during use. These services are not costly and will save you a great deal of money and downtime later.
Most common gas air compressor problems are caused by the following:
Not running on level ground - Pumps are splash lubricated and require to be ran on a level surface. If ran on uneven ground the pump and all components become hot and will cause major damages.
Not draining tanks at least once daily - Rust, water and oil gather and will get into your unloader valves, pressure gauges, regulator, inlets and tools causing damage.
Not changing/checking oil levels in pump/engine regularly as recommended by manufacturer - Oil is very important, both levels of oil and oil quality will give your compressor much more life if kept properly lubricated.
Most air compressor manufacturers recommend changing air compressor pump oil every 50-100 hours. This means if you are using your compressor all day every day, you may want to look into a regular maintenance program with us!
Not correctly regulating air to your tools. Most tools run at 120 PSI max but some require a max of 90 PSI. If you run your tools over pressure it causes major damage very quickly. Use the pressure regulator to adjust output air and make sure the gauges are properly measuring output pressure.
If all of these are followed closely your compressor will last for years to come with little or no issues over the life of the compressor.
Automatic Oiler/Lubicator
Automatic air tool mist lubricators work best to make sure your tools are getting the right amount of oil throughout the day.
No need with this to add oil to each tool, just one reservoir on the tank. Keep your tools running great and get more life out of them with this inexpensive means of oiling your tools.
For most compressors with parts and labor to put an automatic lubricator/oiler on runs about $95. For this amount of money you can not afford to be without one! Give us a call today to get it all set up!
Electric Tools & Motors
Most electric tools and equipment are pretty easy to care for if they are not abused severely. For example when mixing mortar, use a drill that is equipped to do this job, not one that is meant for drilling or hammering.
Most electric tools will last for years if brushes are changed when they get low, bearings are changed when going bad and they are cleaned/lubed regularly.
We offer these preventive maintenance services at low costs to keep you tools running smoothly for years!
Electric motors do not have allot of issues usually if bearings are changed when they get rough. If there is loud or unusual noise coming from you motor you probably have bearing issues and need them replaced before they lock up, explode or ruin the end bells and cause the motor to heat up and burn the winding.
These services are much cheaper and easier than replacing the entire motor!
Other Repairs
We also repair cordless tools, saws, drills, generators, power washers, salamanders, small engines, chain saws, garden tractors, go-karts, lawn sweepers, power blowers/vacuums, power washers, pull behind mowers, riding mowers, string trimmers, tillers, transfer pumps, gas engines, walk behind mowers and much more.
If you would like more information on these services or have any questions at all do not hesitate to call today!
Office@IndividualizedRepair.com
Individualized Repair
607 Hannah St Bloomington, IL 61701
(309) 706-0946
Individualized Repair, Bloomington, Normal, IL, electric motor, tile saw, nail gun, tools, generator, router, saw, drill, air compressor, repair, small engine, pneumatic, service, staple guns, post hole diggers, drills, impacts, router, sander, pressure washer, snow blower, stanley bostitch, senco, craftsman, dewalt, milwaukee, little beaver, devilbiss, paslode, duo-fast, briggs & stratton, kohler, kawasaki, tecumseh, bosch, ryobi, jenny, quincy, paslode, fasco, crossfire, spotnails, porter cable, hilti, black & decker, emglo, ridgid, husqvarna, honda, titan, makita, hitachi, stihl, max tools. Ariens, Gravely, Bad Bay, BeeLine, Bush hog, Briggs and Stratton, Murray, Woods, Snapper, Simplicity, Ferris, Craftsman, Sears, Dixie Chopper, Grasshopper, Excel, Husqvarna, Dixon, Poulan, McCulloch, WeedEater, John Deere, MTD, Troy-Bilt, Toro, American Yard Products (AYP), Kubota, Stihl, Bolens, Cub Cadet, White, Yard Man, Yard Machines & Huskee, Scag, Kohler, Kawasaki, Honda and National.