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pressure washers

Pressure Washers – Rent or Buy?

Pressure Washers make short work of many cleaning projects.

  • Home, private owner use Pressure Washer from Lowe’s, Home Depot, or similar home improvement stores cost between $300 to $1,000.
  • Good, commercial grade Pressure Washers can be found for between around $700 to $1,500 or more.

Pressure Washer with Honda small engineBoth private use Pressure Washers and Commercial grade Pressure Washers may look nice, but the Commercial grade Pressure Washers are designed to last a lot longer.

Frequent causes of problems with Pressure Washers are old fuel, loose electrical connection, or the water pump.

Most private use pressure washers are built with a pump designed to last from 30 to 40 hours before the first operational problem happens. Then the bearings go out, and it locks up.

Unfortunately, the cost of a durable replacement pump is $150 to $200, and then there is the cost of labor for replacing the pump, and any other repairs to your pressure washer.

Of course, if clients just want to replace the failed pump with another one designed to only last 30 to 40 hours of use, we can do that too.

DeWalt Pressure Washer with small engineLet’s see – $400 for a Pressure Washer that works for around 20 hours, that’s about $20 / hour. If there is an equipment rental store in the neighborhood, people might save money by renting a Pressure Washer rather than buying one of their own.

But if you have a Pressure Washer and it isn’t running, give us a call at Black Creek Services, Inc. 904.449.3986 or email us at [email protected] .

We have over 20 years of experience with small engine repair. We may be able to get your Pressure Washer running again at a cost less than buying a new one.

Often we find problems are fuel system from sitting too long, and we can fix those relatively easily, and for not much cost.

Black Creek Services, Inc. offers reliable Pressure Washer Repair, Portable Generator Repair, Lawn Mower Repair, and Lawn Tractor Repair in the Jacksonville Florida area. We’re talking Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, and Middleburg, Florida.

Call 904.449.3986 to make an appointment to drop off your small engine powered Lawn Mower, Lawn Tractor, Portable Generator, or Pressure Washer at our Middleburg, Florida shop.

  • We also can provide pickup and delivery service for clients in our service area.

We like to help people get their small engine-powered equipment running right again!

 

lawn mowers, small engines

Lawn Mower and Lawn Tractor Repair Jacksonville Florida

Call Black Creek Services 904.449.3986 or email at [email protected] for someone you can trust when you need lawn mower repair and lawn tractor repair.

jungle in the un-mown back yardSome people don’t pay much attention to their lawn mowers and lawn tractors until they are ready to mow their lawn. Then, when the mower won’t start, or runs a little and then dies, they need someone to get their mower fixed and get that lawn mowed before it becomes a jungle out there.

More and more people are thinking ahead, and getting their lawn mowers and lawn tractors serviced when the weather starts to warm up and the grass starts growing again, so they are ready to go when their lawn needs a trim.

Husqvarna rear discharge lawn mowerBlack Creek Services helps people in the Jacksonville, Florida area get their walk behind Lawn Mower and Lawn Tractors running again in our Middleburg, Florida shop. Pickup and delivery service is available.

Sometimes a mower that won’t start just needs our regular Lawn Mower or Lawn Tractor Service to get their equipment running great again:

  • Oil Change
  • Blade Sharpen
  • Spark Plug
  • Filter Service
  • Fuel system check and cleaner installed

Other times, if your mower won’t start, it may need repairs.

Black Creek Services has over 20 years experience in professional small engine maintenance and small engine repair, including lawn mower repair and lawn tractor repair. Jimmy Stockton, owner of Black Creek Services, has helped a lot of people in the Jacksonville, Florida area keep their small engines performing well and even bring some of their dead lawn mowers and lawn tractors back to life.

Zero Turn Radius Riding Lawn MowerFor most equipment, our regular Lawn Mower or Lawn Tractor Service will get your Lawn Mower or Lawn Tractor running again. And we will be just as happy as you if our Service Special is all that needs to be done on your equipment. Sometimes, your small engine-powered outdoor equipment needs some additional work to get it going again, and if so Jimmy will explain the problems he has found, and give you an honest recommendation for what work needs to be done, an estimate of how much it would cost, and what he advises for your particular equipment.

So if you live in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, or Middleburg, Florida, give Black Creek Services a call at 904.449.3986 or email at [email protected]  for Lawn Mower and Lawn Tractor service and repair.

lawn mowers

Tips for Buying a New Lawn Mower in Jacksonville, Florida

When it’s time to buy a new mower, and you live in the Jacksonville, Florida area, here are a few tips to help deciding which to choose.

Depending on the type of grass you’ve chosen for your lawn, the mild winters we enjoy in northeast Florida mean you may be using your lawn mower from late fall to early spring, to keep your slowly growing lawn from looking shaggy and uneven. And if you do use your  mower year-around, buying a lawn mower to suit your needs is even more important.

There are basically two types of “Walk Behind” Lawn Mowers:

side discharge lawn mower1. Push-type Mowers

The operator provides the power to move these lawn mowers, and can burn off a good amount of energy while mowing an average lawn.

Many lawn mowers have Safety Brakes installed on the handle bar, so that when the Brake lever is released, the blade stops.

Cut Width of the lawn mower tells how wide a path of grass will be cut by each pass of the lawn mower; the wider the cut, the less trips it takes to mow the lawn.

Height adjustment levers (usually one at each wheel) allow the operator to adjust the height of the lawn mower cutting blade; cutting too close to the ground can hurt the grass, cutting too high can mean shorter times between mowing.

Recoil start lawn mowers have a traditional rope which is pulled by the operator to turn the engine over and start the engine. Electric started mowers are started by turning a key to complete an electrical circuit and start the mower engine with a small battery which is mounted on the lawn mower. Recoil start lawn mowers take more physical energy to start. While it is much easier to turn the key for an electric start lawn mower, the lawn mower battery will need periodic maintenance to provide easy starting. Many electric start mowers have recoil start capability, in the event the battery runs down.

Side discharge lawn mowers are the most common, basic lawn mowers; as grass is cut, clippings are ejected to the side of the mower, left to settle to the ground and decay back into and nourish the soil. Rear discharge lawn mowers are also known as rear bag lawn mowers, because the grass clippings are discharged to the rear of the lawn mower deck, into a removable bag. When the rear bag is sufficiently filled, the clippings can be dumped into a compost heap or recycled by the community, with other yard waste. Rear (bag) discharge lawn mowers tend to leave the lawn with a cleaner appearance, as apposed to the layer of clippings left on a lawn by side discharge lawn mowers.

Troy-Bilt Lawn Mower with Briggs and Stratton small engine.2.  Self Propelled Mowers

The lawn mower propels itself, the operator has to steer the  mower. The operator still uses energy to steer the mower over the lawn. If the lawn to be mowed is medium to large in size, a self-propelled  mower can be a real asset.

Some self propelled lawn mowers have swivel wheels at the front of the mower deck, which makes the mower easier to maneuver.

Cut Width of the mower tells how wide a path of grass will be cut by each pass of the  mower; the wider the cut, the less trips it takes to mow the lawn.

Height adjustment levers (usually one at each wheel) allow the operator to adjust the height of the mower cutting blade; cutting too close to the ground can hurt the grass, cutting too high can mean shorter times between mowing.

Rear wheel drive gives better traction control and maneuverability than front wheel drive self-propelled mowers, because the operator has to lift the front wheels of the lawn mower to make a turn.

Adjustable speed settings allow the operator to speed up or slow down the speed the mower is going over the lawn, to meet the conditions of the lawn, and to help the operator find a suitable, maintainable pace for mowing.

Recoil start mowers have a traditional rope which is pulled by the operator to turn the engine over and start the engine. Electric started mowers are started by turning a key to complete an electrical circuit and start the mower engine with a small battery which is mounted on the lawn mower. Recoil start mowers take more physical energy to start. While it is much easier to turn the key for an electric start mower, the mower battery will need periodic maintenance to provide easy starting. Many electric start mowers have recoil start capability, in the event the battery runs down.

Many self-propelled lawn mowers have an engine shut off built into the handle bar, so that when the operator lets go, the engine shuts off. It’s a good safety feature.

Many mowers also have Safety Brakes installed on the handle bar, so that when the Brake lever is released, the blade stops.

Which ever new mower you buy, to keep it running like new, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for periodic maintenance.

lawn mowers, portable generators, pressure washers, small engines

Reliable Small Engine Equipment Repair in the Jacksonville FL area

Black Creek Services logoBlack Creek Services, Inc. offers reliable lawn mower, pressure washer, lawn tractor, and emergency power generator repair and maintenance in the Jacksonville Florida area.

  • We’re talking the Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, and Middleburg, Florida area.

mobile lawn mower repair service to save your pickup truckIt is frustrating enough to have problems with your lawn mower, lawn tractor, pressure washer, or portable generator when you have a lawn to mow, ready to clean your home, driveway, or your boat, or are preparing for a surprise power outage. And even worse when you have to load your small engine powered outdoor equipment into your truck and take it somewhere to get it fixed!

And still even worse if you have to borrow or rent a truck to get your equipment to where it can get worked on!

workshop benchBlack Creek Services, Inc. is a different kind of small engine service provider. We provide repairs and maintenance in our Middleburg shop.
And, we can provide pickup and delivery service, if you need it.

We can handle anything from routine maintenance service to more complicated repairs.

Call Black Creek Services, Inc. 904.449.3986, email us at [email protected], or Contact Us with your Lawn Mower, Lawn Tractor, Pressure Washer, or Emergency Portable Generator Problems.

If you need reliable lawn mower, lawn tractor, portable generator, or pressure washer repair or maintenance, we look forward to helping you get your gasoline powered outdoor equipment running well again!

lawn mowers, portable generators, pressure washers, small engines

Outdoor Power Equipment Winter Care in Jacksonville FL

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rlawn mower in outdoor shed - available from Home DepotWhen it’s wintertime, a lot of people put their outdoor power equipment away until the Bermuda grass starts turning green again in the spring.

But before you put your outdoor power equipment away, it’s important to do some winter care for your outdoor power equipment.

Doing a little preventive maintenance winter care on your equipment will help you avoid problems when you try to start it up in the spring.

One of the easiest preventive maintenance steps to protect your power equipment this winter is to add  fuel stabilizer to your gas tank.

  • We recommend that the first step in any small engine maintenance is to review the instructions in your power equipment Owners Manual.
  • Next run your lawn mower, lawn tractor, or pressure washer (outside). Running the engine will get the fuel additives and preservatives that protect your small engine from the effects of ethanol damage through your engine fuel system.
  • Finally, top off your fuel tank to prevent accumulation of moisture that could lead to corrosion.

Please read our Portable Generator article for preventive maintenance recommendations.

Don’t have time for winter care to repair or maintain your outdoor power equipment?

Black Creek Services has over 20 years of experience, working on small engines. We work on:

  • lawn mowers
  • lawn tractors
  • portable generators
  • pressure washers

Just Call Black Creek Services 904.449.3986 or shoot us an email [email protected], or Contact us. We can help you keep your small engine-powered equipment maintained for a fair and reasonable price.

  • Pickup and delivery service is available, too!

Black Creek Services, Inc. LogoWhen springtime rolls around, we can also help you make sure your power equipment is ready for a busy season with a Springtime Small Engine Maintenance Service.

Black Creek Services, Inc. offers in-shop portable generator, pressure washer, lawn mower, and lawn tractor maintenance and repair for clients living in the Jacksonville Florida area. We do our work in our Middleburg, Florida shop.

  • If you have questions about maintenance or repair of your small engine powered outdoor gear, Please Contact us to make an appointment to bring your portable generator, pressure washer, lawn mower, and lawn tractor in, or we can provide pickup and deliver service.

Black Creek Services works on outdoor power equipment for people living in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, and Middleburg, Florida.

We like to help people get their small engine-powered equipment running right again!

portable generators

Ready for Florida Hurricane Season in Jacksonville?

Being prepared during this hurricane season in Jacksonville Florida is very important.

Hurricane Season for the United States Atlantic Coast runs from June through November.

Hurricane winds pushing waves to batter beach.Waiting until you see a storm nearby in the Atlantic, or see a Hurricane Watch or a Hurricane Warning being flashed across your television or smart phone screen could be too late to protect yourself, your family and loved ones and your property.

A little preparation goes a long way to being prepared for a hurricane coming to the Jacksonville Florida area.

Please take some time to go over Hurricane Preparedness lists like the one at the NOAA National Hurricane Center.

A few minutes spent gathering resources and preparing a plan for you and your family can mean the difference between survival and sorrow.

  • Do you have a portable generator for providing emergency electrical power to your home or business?
  • Is your portable generator maintained annually, and run periodically, to make sure it is ready when you need it?

Generac Portable GeneratorBlack Creek Services, Inc.  904.449.3986 provides reliable in-shop portable generator maintenance and repair. No portable generator is too big or too small.

If you have a portable generator, and it needs annual maintenance, or you are having trouble getting it to start or stay running, or it will not provide the power that it used to, use our Black Creek Services Contact form. Or you can Call 904-449-3986 for an estimate or to make an appointment to get your portable generator ready to go when you are!

  • We also can provide pickup and delivery service for clients in our service area.

Let us help you have confidence that your portable generator is one thing you don’t have to worry about during this Florida Hurricane Season.

If you call us and we aren’t able to answer the phone in time, please email us [email protected], or use our handy Black Creek Services Contact form.
portable generators

Portable Generator Maintenance

Many people living in Florida have purchased a Portable Generator to provide some electrical power if their primary electrical service is lost.

Thankfully, for most of us our primary electrical service is very reliable.

hurricane weatherBut during Florida Hurricane Season (June through November each year) or even during a more common thunderstorm, or as the result of an accident, there can be a power outage that can last from minutes to hours, even days. And to provide a reliable backup source of electrical power, we have a portable generator.

Because our primary electrical power service is so reliable, often our portable generators can sit for months without being needed. If they are not run periodically, they may not perform when we need them.

8000 Watt Briggs & Stratton Portable GeneratorIt’s a good idea to have a professional service your portable generator once a year.

In addition to annual professional maintenance of your portable generator, most generator manufacturers recommend:

1.  Read and follow the instructions in the manufacturer’s Owner’s manual for your portable generator. If you do not understand the instructions clearly, give them a call; most manufacturer’s have a telephone number in the Owner’s manual, and many are toll free.

2.  Put a fresh half gallon of fuel in the generator fuel tank, once each month, and run the generator for at least an hour. Drain any left over gasoline from the fuel tank. Gas goes stale when left sitting in a fuel tank for a month, and is harder to start.

As an alternative, some people add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel in their tank, which helps the fuel stay fresh longer.

3.  Check your generator starting method.

  • If your portable generator is a manual, pull-start, check the pull rope for wear as you pull it to start the generator each month. A worn rope should be replaced so it doesn’t break when you really need that generator.
  • If your portable generator is a battery started model, check the charge on that battery, and re-charge it if necessary.
  • Some portable generators have a manual start capability as a backup for the battery starting capability, and in those cases, you should check both ways of starting your generator.

portable generator with a small engine4.  While running your generator each month, plug in a small appliance; a lamp or a portable drill or kitchen hand mixer, and run the appliance to make sure that the generator is producing electricity.

5.  Remember that Portable Generators produce exhaust gases when they operate, including carbon monoxide with is colorless and has no odor, and can be deadly.  Always operate you portable generator outside of your home or business. And do not run a portable generator near an open window, because the carbon monoxide can blow into the home or business and endanger anyone inside.

6.  Protect your Generator. When you operate your Portable Generator, shelter it from wet or damp conditions. This prevents shock hazards from the electricity being produced by the generator (and to keep your generator from shorting out, or from being damaged by corrosion). Then store your generator in a safe, dry place, to keep it ready for use during an emergency.

7.  Generator fuel is flammable. Store fuel (usually gasoline) in a safe container, and in a safe, cool and well ventilated place. Don’t store the fuel in the same space as where you operate the Portable Generator. Never add fuel to a generator until the generator cools down. Better to use flashlights for a while than take a chance on a fire or explosion!

Generac Portable GeneratorBlack Creek Services, Inc. provides reliable Portable Generator maintenance and repair service for clients in Middleburg, Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, and Jacksonville, Florida,  in our shop in Middleburg, Florida.

  • Call 904.449.3986 or email us at [email protected], or use our handy Contact Form to make an appointment to drop off your small engine powered Lawn Mower, Lawn Tractor, Portable Generator, or Pressure Washer at our Middleburg, Florida shop.
  • We also can provide pickup and delivery service for clients in our service area.

If your portable generator is hard to start, runs rough, or won’t start at all, before you start pricing a replacement, Contact Black Creek Services, Inc. for a FREE estimate. Often, with some minor repairs, we can have your portable generator running right and reliable again in no time.

 

pressure washers

Pressure Washer for Boat Cleaning

Sailboat on the waterIf you have a boat, be it a sailboat or a motorboat, you know that a clean hull helps your boat go through the water faster.

Because boat cleaning can mean some real work and take up a chunk of your day, many people use pressure washers to keep the hull of their boat clean, as part of their regular boat maintenance procedures.

Motorboat on the water.New boat owner and not sure how to start cleaning your boat?

Pressure Washers Direct provided this handy step by step guide for keeping boats clean and ready for a good time on the water – “How to Pressure Wash Your Boat and Trailer”

A pressure washer can really save time and work while cleaning your boat. If you haven’t cleaned your boat with a pressure washer before, Briggs & Stratton made this helpful video about cleaning boats with pressure washers.

Is your pressure washer running well and ready to help you enjoy your time on the water in your boat?

Pressure Washer with Honda small engineIf your pressure washer isn’t running right, or not even running at all, just email Black Creek Services a call at 904.449.3986, email us at [email protected] or Contact us. We can help you keep your small engine-powered equipment maintained for a fair and reasonable price.

  • Pickup and delivery service is available, too, for Middleburg, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, and other areas in and around Jacksonville, Florida are available.
portable generators

Hurricane Season Power Generator Service

Cars drive through hurricane flooded streets.Hurricane Season runs June through November, and many of us living in Florida appreciate having a portable generator to provide emergency electrical power when public utility service is disrupted by a storm, or even an auto accident.

Call Black Creek Services, Inc. 904.449.3986 or by email  [email protected] or Contact Us using our handy Contact form to make an appointment for maintenance or repair of your portable generator.

  • Pickup and delivery service is available.

Briggs and Stratton Portable GeneratorFeatures offered in our Power Generator Service:

  • Inspecting your power generator for damaged or corroded parts, loose wires or damaged wiring insulation.
  • Inspecting all nuts and bolts, and tighten or replace them as needed. (Many generators vibrate a lot, and vibrations can cause bolts to loosen and cause a problem later.)
  • Change the oil. (Changing your generator’s oil at the beginning of every storm season follows the guidelines in most owner’s manuals.)
    • Keeping your generator lubricated is very important to reliable operation. We recommend that generator owners check the oil level of their generator before and after every use, and change the oil per the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Filling the gas tank with fresh fuel and adding Briggs & Stratton fuel stabilizer to battle the effects of ethanol.
    • We recommend generators owners replace the generator’s fuel with new gas every 30 days during Hurricane Season.
  • Inspect and clean or replace the air filter.
  • Replace and check the gap on the spark plug.

This short video by Honda gives some good reminders for how to use and properly take care of your portable generator. Please see the Owners Manual that came with your portable generator for your specific generator. Safety is always important!

10000 Watt - Briggs & Stratton Portable GeneratorWhether you live in Jacksonville,Orange Park, Mandarin, Green Cove Springs, Fleming Island, Middleburg, or nearby areas, Pickup and delivery service is available.

 

Hurricane season in FloridaDo you use a Power Generator for your business? We can service it to keep it ready to go, too!

lawn mowers, pressure washers, small engines

Black Creek Services Inc. Small Engine Maintenance Service

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Koehler Command ProWhether your small engine is in a lawn mower, a portable generator, a pressure washer, a lawn tractor, or another application, based on our experience, Small Engines perform better and last longer with an annual maintenance service.

Small engine maintenance service doesn’t cost a lot  of money. It’s really more of an investment in having a reliable small engine for whatever you want to do.

small engine Briggs and StrattonAt Black Creek Services 904.449.3986, we follow the same basic guidelines for an annual small engine service as recommended for Briggs and Stratton small engines:

  1. Change the Air Filter.
  2. Drain and replace the Oil.
  3. Change the Spark Plug.
  4. Give your gasoline a boost while protecting your engine with Briggs & Stratton Fuel Fit Treatment

As part of our Annual Small Engine maintenance service, we also look for reliability concerns like:

  • Condition of starting rope (if it is a manual, pull-start engine)
  • Condition of Battery connections (if it is an electrically started engine)
  • Missing springs or fasteners
  • Condition of carburetor throttle controls or function of governor

lawn mower small engineWe will notify you about any concerns we find with your small engine, and provide you an estimate for the cost of making necessary repairs.

We use quality parts and materials during small engine maintenance service and any repairs. Black Creek Services, Inc. has built a reputation for providing reliable, quality small engine service for people living in Middleburg, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, and all around the Jacksonville area, and we want to keep it that way.

Just email Black Creek Services a Call 904.449.3986 or email at [email protected], or use our handy Contact form. We can help you keep your small engine-powered equipment maintained for a fair and reasonable price.

  • Pickup and delivery service is available, too!