If the shredder suddenly breaks down, the anger is great. But it doesn't always have to be a serious defect if the shredder doesn't work. Find out what you can do to fix your chipper.
Often the shredder is not broken at all, just clogged
The most common defects in shredders
The engine of a chipper is quite robust and engine damage is therefore rather rare. The most common types of damage are:
- The chopper (199.99€) is clogged
- cable break or
- The cutting knives are blunt
- The switch is defective
Before you disassemble and inspect your shredder, be sure to unplug it from the power supply! You should also wear gloves when working to avoid injuring yourself.
Chopper clogged
The most common thing is that the shredder is clogged. Branches and wet leaves can get stuck and paralyze the knives. This guide will show you how to clear the clog.
cable break
Shredders are often not handled very carefully and the sensitive cables in particular are affected: They are dragged across the ground and can bump into stones. The plastic can also become porous due to solar radiation and other influences. Therefore, every now and then the cable breaks and needs to be replaced.
Power connection interrupted
Not only a broken cable causes the power connection to be interrupted. It is also possible that the plug connection comes loose, e.g. if the cable gets caught and is pulled on. So check all plug connections to rule out this error.
Cutting knife blunt
If the chopper starts, but is having a hard time chopping, the blades may be blunt. Extreme care must be taken when sharpening the shredder blades to avoid injury.
The switch is defective
This error is not easily recognizable. On the other hand, if you have checked that there is no blockage or a broken wire, then the problem may come from the switch. Another indication of this is that the shredder does not give any reaction when the switch is pressed, neither humming nor buzzing or anything else. It can also be the case that the switch comes on, but jumps back to "off" on its own after a short time. You can change the switch yourself if it is available as a spare part.