How to take care of the engine?

What type of oil should I use in my Hecht engine?

The maintenance must be based on the information in the user manual of the specific machine for each individual Hecht engine model,.

Hecht machines use both two-stroke and four-stroke engines. In the case of two-stroke engines (chainsaws, trimmers, etc.), oil is added to the fuel mixture, i.e. directly to the petrol. Unless otherwise stated in the instructions, the oil/fuel ratio is usually 1:33 for running engines and 1:40 for running engines. The break-in time is usually based on the fuel consumed and it is approximately 4-5 litres of fuel for small two-stroke engines.

A suitable oil for two-stroke Hecht engines can then be, for example, HECHT 2T.

Machines equipped with four-stroke engines are delivered with drained oil from the factory to prevent oil leakage during transport. If a customer purchases a machine from one of our Hecht - garden specialist stores, the store staff will adjust the machine and top up the operating cartridges, including oil, at the time of sale. However, if the product is purchased from an e-shop, it is not possible to top up the oil before dispatch, because it could leak during transportation. In this case, the oil must therefore be topped up by the customer before the Hecht machine is put into operation for the first time. For HECHT four-stroke engines, we recommend HECHT 4T or HECHT 5W-40 oil as standard. Both oils are developed for year-round use in engines used to power garden machinery, even at temperatures down to -30°C. However, for engines over 200cc we recommend HECHT 5W-40.

The oil content of the engine oil fill is specified in the manual of the specific Hecht machine, usually ranging from 0.4 to 0.6 litres. However, when topping up the oil, it is important to remember that the engine contains an undetermined amount of residual oil from the factory and therefore we will base the top-up on the oil level on the engine dipstick. As well as a lack of oil, overfilling beyond the prescribed amount can cause damage or even complete destruction of the engine.

How do I change the oil in a Hecht four-stroke engine?

Regular oil changes are important for the long term reliability of your engine. The recommended frequency of oil change is determined by the design of the specific engine and therefore it is necessary to follow the recommendations in the user manual. However, it is recommended to change the oil at least once a season during the normal machine use.

In most modern four-stroke engines, the use of oil drain screws has been phased out to ensure greater reliability. The advantage is that there can be no oil leakage. For example, on mowers the drain screw would be located in the blade area, which would not only make it more difficult to handle when draining, but would also increase the likelihood of possible damage to the screw.

Therefore, if your engine is not fitted with a drain screw, it is essential to obtain a Hecht oil change service kit to drain the old oil from the engine through the oil filler neck. Before draining, it is advisable to leave the mower at rest for some time to allow the old oil to drain from all components to the very bottom of the oil compartment. Then slowly drain as much oil as possible from the engine by using the Hecht service kit. It is important to remember that it is not possible to drain all the oil and minimum of residual oil in the engine is not a bad thing. However, when topping up new oil it is important to take this residual oil into account, so the topped up amount is not the amount indicated in the manual, but the reading on the engine oil dipstick. Excess oil can cause damage or complete destruction of the engine as well as thr insufficient oil in the engine.

Why is it recommended not to use a fuel mixture older than 14 days for two-stroke Hecht engines?

Two-stroke engines don´t allow oil to be present in the crankshaft area as it is the case with four-stroke engines due to its design. The smooth running of the piston in the cylinder is therefore ensured by the oil added to the fuel. The ratio of oil in petrol is usually 1 part oil to 40 parts petrol. However, prolonged storage of such a fuel mixture will cause the oil in the petrol to degrade and thus lose its lubricity. In older fuel mixtures, this can lead to increased engine wear and, in extreme cases,to an irreversible damage. It is therefore recommended to mix only as much fuel mixture as you use before work and to store oil and petrol separately.

What should i do if a two-stroke engine doesn´t start?

Although it may seem like a trivial matter, more than once the entire starting problem was caused by an inexperienced operator making several attempts to start with the "START" switch off. After the switch was later turned on, the engine was overwhelmed with gasoline by the previous attempts. It is then necessary to unscrew the spark plug, dry it and remove the fuel from the engine by pulling the starter cord several times with the spark plug removed.

For two-stroke Hecht engines, a choke is recommended for cold starts. A common problem with inexperienced operators is that they repeatedly operate the choke due to improper starting procedures, resulting in more and more fuel entering the engine with each start. When starts are unsuccessful, the operator then makes matters worse by pumping more fuel into the engine in an attempt to ensure the engine starts. The excess fuel in the engine then makes it impossible to start.

How to proceed? First of all, always use a good quality, freshly mixed fuel mixture in the recommended proportions. Poorly and long stored petrol can contain condensed water which will prevent the engine from starting and running smoothly. If you use the choke during a cold start, and the engine fails to start on 2-3 attempts, make another 10 -15 subsequent attempts without the choke engaged.

If the operator manages to saturate the engine with gasoline due to failure to follow the procedure and the engine will not start even after several attempts to start without the choke, remove the spark plug, carefully clean and dry it. At the same time, remove excess fuel from the engine by pulling the starting cord several times as described above.

If the engine does not start even after repeated attempts to start as prescribed, remove the spark plug and check it. The spark plug must be clean and should not be completely dry after attempts to start. A dry spark plug often indicates a fault in the fuel system. It could be a blocked carburettor, broken or blocked feed lines, blocked fuel filter, etc... In this case we recommend you to visit a specialist workshop and have the carburettor professionally checked, cleaned and adjusted.

If the spark plug is wet with fuel, carefully clean it of any carb or replace it with a new one. The spark plug of a properly functioning engine should not be heavily clogged with black soot, the space between the electrodes must be perfectly clean. The correct "tear off" of the electrodes on the spark plug is also important. At the same time, also check the cleanliness of the air filter to make sure it is well passable.

If even replacing the spark plug does not solve the problem, there may be a fault in the ignition system and it is therefore again advisable to contact an authorised workshop.

Engine doesn´t revving and there is no power

In order to achieve the required performance, the engine needs a sufficient, but at the same time adequate and balanced fuel/air ratio.

If the engine does not reach the required revs, it is advisable to start with the simplest steps to find the cause of the problem.

• First and foremost, check to see if the choke lever is in the wrong position.
• Next, it's a good idea to check if the air filter is clean, clear and the engine can draw in enough air.
• Check the spark plug. The spark plug in a properly functioning engine must be not excessively clogged with black soot and carbon, especially the space between the electrodes must be completely clean.
• If you are not sure of the quality of the fuel, replace it with new fuel. Water can condense in poorly and long stored petrol.
• Check the fuel filter, a poorly permeable clogged fuel filter is not able to ensure sufficient fuel supply at higher speeds.

Other common causes are usually a poorly adjusted or clogged carburetor, ignition system failure, and in engines with many hours of operation, leaks due to wear and tear can be the cause. Therefore, if you are unable to rectify the fault in points 1 to 5, we recommend a visit to a specialist workshop.

In recent years, bio-based additives added to petrol are also a common cause of starting problems and poor engine performance. These quickly degrade in the air, binding air moisture and forming a gel-like substance that clogs the fuel system. Removal is often only possible mechanically. If you are not going to use the machine for a long period of time (for example, a lawnmower that is shut down for the winter), you should drain the fuel completely, start the machine and let the engine burn off any residual fuel in the carburettor.