Small Black & Decker Electric Trimmer Repair Hack! Why throw it out when it can still be useful?

I found this old electric trimmer in a shed I cleaned out awhile back and thought it would be handy at home to trim up the garden edges! But bugger - it doesn't work!! Never mind, I'm sure there's a solution to this problem! 👍😊
Here's a security set similar to mine - they are very handy!
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[@dianekowalski7277]

Chris , I have to thank you so much . I’m a 60+++ female with a 90 yr old mom who i now live with . Have two old (20 plus )B&D edgers . One looks almost new . Well I always had issues with one the one that sometimes worked (the rusty one that worked once in a blue if i gave it the evil eye or prayed ) the new looking one never or hardly ever worked i thought i would use the shinny handle or ??? The other parts which I have no idea what i was doing . Kept it for another 10 plus yrs. Finally decided to either fix one or throw out both . I found you video and fixed the one with an old extension cord . Works great !! Tks so much maybe in another 10yrs I’ll fix the rusty on again off again one that worked .lol. Tks again . Psss I have three lawnmowers . Last one (new well 3 yrs old now great a self propelled toro ) also a non self propelled ughhh 90 yr old mom bought (sears craftman) when she was doing the lawn , still starts in one pull with the same gas . Then the lemon i bought at Lowes (briggs n Stratton motor ) had it serviced several times until the place told me it was the gas and i need a new carb. Which was the last straw and I bought the Toro. Any suggestions /videos that might help So that i might be able to regift it to someone who could use it /help them out . Looks great just doesn’t produce :)))

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks for the detailed comment Diane! I'm pleased my video was helpful and I do have plans on doing some lawnmower repair videos in the future 👍😊

[@gabrielmaligeorges6996]

Good fix Chris. Love your veggie garden.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Gabriel! Mostly recycled pallets there. That's Christine's domain! 😉😊

[@DocJonesGarage]

Good job! another one saved.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Doc - saving things never fails to satisfy! 😊

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

Drill out the rivet! Great idea - that's how my trimmer head is attached to the shaft - it looks like a rivet. I'm gonna try drill it out to get the trimmer head off. haha.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Drill away mate! 👍👍😁

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

@@TheUltimateRecycler I found another weed trimmer vid where he just used a small bit and then I pounded it off. Turns out the plastic was extruded around this metal stop pinion thing - also there's no thread on the shaft. So that was the end of that! haha. The spool cover has been "out of stock" for 7 months. So it got two years of use (1 acre of lawn at 20 housing units) for an $80 tool.

[@christinescalero660]

You are a good teacher, I understood your troubleshooting logic, and the workings of electrical gadgets are mostly a mystery to me. But maybe not for long by keeping up with your videos. Also nice raised garden bed arrangement. Christine is a woman after my own heart, as I have taken to mowing my grass too. Could you do a video on sharpening mower and tool blades?

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Christine, appreciate your input! That's something I could and should do! 👍😊

[@georgemartinezjr]

You could try sprayingvthe Switch with Contact Ckeaner first see if itvwirks then . Got nothing to Loose since your Goung swap itbout any way. Or replace remove Rivit and clean it up have itvfir a Soared

[@streetcopper1151]

I think that’s a great idea .. this is a great example of how to think out side of the box.. I mean heck you could zip tie the new switch to the side of the handle.. great idea 👊🏻..I’ve got a question how long have torques screws been around

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Google tells me they were developed in the late 60s, but don't really appear much on general stuff til the early 80s I think. Thanks mate - always appreciate your input! 😊👍

[@streetcopper1151]

@@TheUltimateRecycler and thank you for your teachings … TEACH 👊🏻

[@joandorsey2242]

Being that the plug was so close to the handle, I would have bypassed the switch, and just pulled the plug out when you wanted to shut it off.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

That would certainly work Joan, but requires two hands which means putting the trimmer down while it is running! It was just as easy to bypass the original switch with a cord which has a switch. Thanks for watching! 😊👍

[@robwebnoid5763]

Flooding that switch with Electronics contact cleaner, without taking the switch apart, could have possibly saved it as the chemicals would/should help erode & dissovle the gunk/oxidation on the metal contacts insde. 04/15/24

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Yes Rob, that could have worked. I don't think I had any good contact cleaner on hand way back then!

[@nelupopa797]

yep!

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks for watching Nelu 👍

[@longship789]

Nice hack Chris and I agree a spade does a neat trimming job, it just requies a bit more muscle power. Do you get many spades in your deals?

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks Longship! Yeah, lots of garden tools and alike. The spade I used in this vid is a very solid & heavy one from around the 1950s or so - they made much better tools back then! 👍

[@akirby2886]

I have a strimmer that I was using which started smoking and stopped working. Is this worth looking at? Is it a easy fix? I can hear I slight humming sound from inside the motor section.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

It's always worth having a look and you have nothing to lose by doing so! It does sound like the motor may be burnt out which isn't really worth repairing, but it could just be a shorted wire, or something easily fixable. You won't know for sure until you investigate!

[@davidk8699]

I worry about that kind of fix, as to whether the lamp cable and swiotch can handle enough amps. Old lamps probbaly use a lot of power though. Probably a lot more than the motor.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Yes, I should have addressed that in the vid Dave. In this case the motor draws very low current, so all is fine 👍

[@joandorsey2242]

Ok, so do you have plugs that require a twisting motion? Here in the US, we give it a tug and the plug will come right out.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Nope, they pull out the same however it's not good practice without holding the socket as it puts extra strain on the wires. It would be the same with your plugs I think..

[@anrivera1975]

Need help with an issue inhave with my husqvarna trimmer 128ld. I changed the cylinder and piston, i also calibrate the magnets in the flywheel, I have a conpression of 100psi, new spark plug(sparks good), new carb, new fuel lines. It wont start. Any ideas?

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Does it fire with starting fluid sprayed into the carby throat? Does the plug get wet from fuel mixture after pulling over for awhile? Is the exhaust blocked with a wasp nest? (it happens a lot!) Are the crankcase seals ok? These are the things I'd be checking..

[@glenhehir3833]

Yes Chris but... what sort of switch are you going to put on the lamp? 😂

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Hahaha - I think I'll just twitch the wires together with rubber gloves on! 😉🤣

[@glenhehir3833]

The Ultimate Recycler 😂😂😂

[@luckygen1001]

Yep those pesky trigger switches strike again, I had the same problem with a 7 1/4" power saw. About that person complaining about your test methods, I would have done it the same way as you. When I made a video about using a microwave oven as an induction furnace it attracted every so called electrical expert on youtube and you know what everyone of those so called experts were wrong. KZbin seems to bring the worst out in people.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks mate, I really appreciate that comment! Yeah - there's plenty ready to criticize at the drop of a hat.. but that's ok, it's all interaction which helps channel growth and I've got a thick skin! 😁

[@jd5787]

Hi! I have a tacklife which starts then stops after a few seconds then starts again etc. Do you think it can be a faulty capacitor? Thank you

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Hi JD. I'd be checking the cord and plug first in case there's a broken wire or poor connection somewhere. Then the switch. Usually faults occur on moving parts rather than a part go bad for no apparent reason!

[@jd5787]

@@TheUltimateRecycler thanks! It's a cordless one. I guess I need to take the screwdriver to it this week :)

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

@@jd5787 Sounds like you do!

[@alvendetti4600]

how do you take it apart?

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

It was pretty easy - just screws in the plastic casing..

[@alvendetti4600]

i need parts for 8206 black and decker 8206

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Sorry, I can't help you there. Maybe try ebay?

[@hanneloremaisch8297]

👍

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

👍👍😁

[@jasonsmith3573]

this is a good example of how not to do it. A simple continuity test with power OFF is all that is needed to check whether the switch is working or not and then if need be to eliminate a break in wiring between the switch secondary and motor. Very basic beginner stuff. Also they didn't have whipper snippers back in the 70s so you may have been fooled by the brand name. Your expertise lies elsewhere.

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

Thanks for your input Jason!

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

I might also add that Black & Decker stopped manufacturing in Australia around 1990 - so the 1980s would be the latest this unit could be. I might also point out that a simple continuity test isn't the only way to test a switch!

[@jasonsmith3573]

@@TheUltimateRecycler what you should really point out is your repair videos are for entertainment purposes only and you are not responsible if somebody gets electrocuted following your dangerous instruction to test an unknown issue with a mains powered device with the power ON. A continuity test is done with the power OFF and is a much more sensible and safer option. You are holding yourself liable by not having any disclaimer at the start of this video. Good luck with that. Just because B&W stopped manufacturing here doesn't mean they stopped being sold here. cheers

[@TheUltimateRecycler]

@@jasonsmith3573 I appreciate your concern mate and actually do appreciate the input in a civil manner 😊 Ok - for a start, the unit is clearly labelled Made in Australia (Croydon, Victoria) where manufacturing ceased c.1991 I believe. I said in the video 1970s, and then corrected myself and said maybe '80s. I'm still going with that 👍 Next - I know a continuity test with the power off is a simple and safe method, but it's not always the most accurate. It can quite often happen that a switch has continuity until there is some type of current draw when the contacts can fail. In some cases I'll test continuity but often I'd rather test voltages. As far as safety goes, that is perfectly acceptable and safe for a competent person. I believe I cover basic safety information for anyone who wants to have a go themselves. There are many, many cases where testing appliances with the power off tells you very little about faults. Repairs to electronics usually require measuring of voltages at various points to diagnose issues. Cheers

[@jasonsmith3573]

@@TheUltimateRecycler well ok if you are now saying it was made here that’s a different story. I’ll accept the rest of what you said regarding B&D as you are more familiar with their history. The continuity test is always the safest option when dealing with an unknown. In this instance a continuity test across the switch would have given an accurate result and would have avoided turning on the mains which is always a prudent choice. in my experience switches either work or don’t and if contacts are going to fail they will do so totally which a continuity check will determine since current is still being passed through the contacts as part of the test. Yes at a lower dose but still passing current although I do agree measuring voltages and currents is a great testing tool and often unavoidable but should always only be done after safer static tests are performed not instead of. As for the ‘tar’ around the motor windings being for waterproofing it is more likely bitumen insulation that is there to prevent electrical shorting as well as for mechanical stability. They are more commonly lacquered as I’m sure you know.