Lock down have caused many of us changing way of life including the saloon visits. So use of Wahl clippers and trimmers have increased tremendously so as asking me resolutions on issues like  Wahl clippers won’t turn ON/OFF, Pulling hair, Cutting skin, Loud noise, how to assemble Wahl clipper blades, Wahl trimmer flashing blue light, Wahl clipper tuning and so on.

Hence I decided to put on comprehensive troubleshooting guide which will help you fixing any issues with Wahl clippers and trimmers.

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How to Fix Wahl Clippers | Trimmers – Quick Troubleshooting Guide

Article Index

1. What is the difference between a clipper and a trimmer?
2. What are the types of wahl clippers?
3. Wahl clippers won’t turn ON (Cordless Clippers)
   1. No Power (cordless clipper)
   2. Check your battery charger too
   3. Check and Replace Charger Cord
   4. How do I replace battery of my Wahl clipper?
      1. Wahl 8900 Clipper – Battery Replacement
      2. Wahl Magic Clip / Sterling 4 Clipper – How to replace Battery?
4. Wahl clippers won’t turn OFF (Cordless & Corded Clippers)
5. Clipper Blades jammed
   1. 5.1 How to assemble wahl clipper blades?
   2. 5.2 How do I align my Wahl Clippers blades?
   3. 5.3 Attachment stuck on the trimmer (Blades jammed)
6. How do I fix my Wahl Clippers not cutting?
7. My clipper/trimmer seems to pull the hair
8. How to fix wahl clippers loud noise?
9. When I switch on my clipper it makes a loud thud?
10. Wahl clippers cutting skin
11. Wahl trimmer flashing blue light

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1. What is the difference between a clipper and a trimmer?

A clipper is designed to have bulk hair cutting on larger areas, however they do not cut very close to the skin.

A trimmer is designed for precision edging, outlining, dry shaving on smaller areas like around ears, back of neck, around sideburns etc.

Animal trimmers can be used on the paws, ears, muzzle and tight areas where you can’t use clipper blade.

So in-general a trimmer cuts closer to the skin than a clipper.

Now lets go to the Wahl clipper problems and resolutions one by one.

2. What are the types of wahl clippers?

There are two types of Wahl clippers : Corded or Cord/Cordless.

Corded clipper needs to be connected to your main power source and can be used continuously, this type will be useful for home use where you wish to use clipper for an extended period of time.

A cordless clipper is generally powered by built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery source and provides you freedom of movement. Specially useful for those who are on travel.

Good thing is that all Wahl cordless clippers can also be used with cord in case the battery is running low.

So I personally prefer using cordless clipper (And have one too)

3. Wahl clippers won’t turn ON (Cordless Clippers)

No Power (cordless clipper) – Drained/ Dead Battery

Cordless clippers will not work in case the battery is dead.

This can happen if you have not used the clipper for prolonged time period getting the battery in deep discharge state.

You can try putting the clipper for charging overnight, in case it does not get to life again, then you need to replace battery of your clipper.

Check your battery charger too

Also another reason can be that your battery charger is not working. So to confirm that you need to check the voltage across terminals of your Wahl charger, it should be somewhere around 2.2V DC.

In case this voltage is less or no-voltage then your battery may be good but you need charger replacement.

Check and Replace Charger Cord

One more probable reason is with the power cord.

This is the most simple reason and still ignored to be checked.

Again if you have multi meter, use it to check the output voltage, alternatively borrow power adapter from your friend to check if the wahl clipper gets charged to life overnight. If it works all you have to do is spend $10 to get new Power Adapter (example check Power Adapter Wahl-Charger 9854l 9864 9876l 9818 9818L)

How do I replace battery of my Wahl clipper?

Now depending upon which model of cordless clipper you have the type and model of battery will differ and so as how to open it will change.

For any of these models first thing to do is removal of back cover which is normally screwed. So take your screw driver and remove 3 screws at the back of clipper. (Do not forget to disconnect clipper from mains power)

Wahl 8900 Clipper – Battery Replacement

First look at below picture showing Wahl 8900 clipper with back cover open (remove 3 screws of back cover with the help of screw driver)

Steps for battery removal and replacement

1. Remove back cover of clipper – unscrew 3 screws of back cover
2. Unscrew the battery terminal and remove the wire
3. Now you have to remove another end of wire which is soldered to the battery (shown in bottom right corner of below image) – to do this you need to use soldering gun (with vacuum suction pump to remove solder)
4. Now get the new battery (you can order the Ni-Cad battery for 8900 from Amazon using this product link)
5. You need to solder wire to new battery (Refer to video inserted in this article below the image)
6. Screw another terminal of battery
7. Now close the back cover of clipper
8. Viola ! you are ready to go (After charging the battery)

Reference video on how to replace 8900 battery –

Wahl Magic Clip / Sterling 4 Clipper – How to replace Battery?

Now here is another example of model Magic Clip or Sterling 4. These models hold another type of battery which is shown in below image. This type of battery is easy to replace since no soldering involved.

Steps for battery removal and replacement

1. Remove back cover of clipper – unscrew 3 screws of back cover
2. Carefully pull the battery terminal (see in below image)
3. Remove battery with help of screw driver or even with fingers
4. Now get the new battery (you can order the Ni-Cad battery for 8900 from Amazon using this product link)
5. Replace with new battery
6. Refit terminal of battery (simple to click in – no soldering or jugglery needed)
7. Now close the back cover of clipper
8. Viola ! you are ready to go (After charging the battery)

Reference video on how to replace Magic Clip or Sterling 4 battery –

4. Wahl clippers won’t turn OFF (Cordless & Corded Clippers)

Now this is another funny problem faced by most of us that the clipper is not turning OFF even after operation of power switch.

You may have doubt Why will clipper not turn off after contact with water? Is it water or moisture? right?

But most of the time reason for Wahl clippers not turning OFF is faulty in ON/OFF Switch.

Be it corded or cordless clipper Wahl have same power switch design used which has got some inherent issue of permanent set in terminals and wear of terminals due to rubbing type of movement during operation.

So even though you switch OFF the clipper with power switch, the terminals contact each other (see image above) which causes power supply to be ON (terminal short)

Steps to repair Wahl clippers won’t turn OFF issue

1. Remove back cover of clipper – unscrew 3 screws of back cover
2. There are two screws that are holding the power switch – You need to remove them (make sure your clipper is disconnected from power source)
3. Unscrewing the 2 screws will disconnect two wires (orange and black) – remove those wires
4. Now lift the power switch (see video below for reference)
5. Now you are going to press the contact terminal of switch using pliers to bring them closer to each other.
6. Also you can gently push the pole (which is in contact with terminals) closer (see video)
7. Both above steps will make sure that terminals move away from the wear zone of pole
8. Now refit the power switch
9. close the back cover of clipper
10. Viola ! you are ready to go

Reference video on how to repair Wahl clippers won’t turn OFF issue –

5. Clipper Blades jammed

Clipper blades often get jammed due to hair caught in the blade tips, so obviously cleaning the blades should resolve the issue.

To clean the blades you need to take them out, clean for hair or any other objects, oil them and refit.

Steps to remove and clean blades

• Unclip the tips and remove
• Unscrew the top 2 screws to remove blades
• Clean the blades using small brush / alternatively blades can be jam due to bending, in such case you can replace blades using Wahl 1045 Precision Clipper Blade Set
• Apply some oil to blades
• screw back again

5.1 How to assemble wahl clipper blades?

Here are simple Steps to replace the Wahl 2 hole Clipper Blade

1. Move blade adjustment lever to full forward position
2. Position the small top blade over the clipper drive finger
3. Place large bottom blade on top of small top blade
4. Replace screws and partially tighten
5. After blade is aligned, tighten the screws
6. Plug clipper in, turn switch on and off a couple of times, and then check alignment of blades

Here is video from Wahl official website which guides you on how to replace the clipper blades

5.3 Attachment stuck on the trimmer (Blades jammed)

Sometimes the clipper blades get jam due to wrong fitment of attachments.

So when you find clipper blades jammed, one of the thing you can do is take-off any attachments and check if the blades work. If they work then all you have to do is refit attachment in right way.

Also sometimes if the attachments’ blades are jammed then you can apply some oil which is provided with the kit and remove any stray hairs using brush or things that could be preventing the blades to move freely.

6. How do I fix my Wahl Clippers not cutting?

If you are facing hair not cutting problem with your Wahl Clipper then you need to do two things

1. Tuning of blades
2. Oiling the blades

Although the brand new clippers are factory tuned, the voltage changes and frequency of supply may affect the clipper performance.

Also the periodic use and rough handling may throw the clipper blades out of tuning.

So you can follow the simple steps to re-tune the blades to get cutting performance –

1. Clean the clipper blades
2. Oil your clipper
3. Keep the clipper running, and turn on the POWER screw clockwise until you hear a loud “clattering” sound.
   Note : Power screw is the large plastic screw on the side on the Clipper
4. Now turn the Power screw anti-clockwise about 1/2 a turn, until the clattering sound stops.
5. Turn the clipper ON and OFF few times and make sure it does not clatter. If you still hear clatter sound, then turn the screw a little further anti-clockwise.
   Note : a short clank noise at turning on is normal
6. You can do such tuning once in a week to ensure highest performance of cutting.
   Note : if you tighten the Power screw too much the blades can get jam and stop moving.

7. My clipper/trimmer seems to pull the hair

My clipper/trimmer seems to pull the hair rather than cut is a common problem across all users and so as the solution is also simple and common.

Remember that blades does not cut not necessary means that you need to replace with new blades.

But when the blades starts pulling hair, you should first apply 2 drops of clipper oil to the blades, in most of the cases this should resolve the issue.

The oil helps in 2 ways, first restoring the cutting speed of blades as well as keeping the clipper blades run cooler, thereby resulting into correct cutting of hair.

Note : If your clipper blades are still pulling the hair, you can try resharpening the blades or replace your blades.

8. How to fix wahl clippers loud noise?

Loud noise have very simple solutions.

First thing to do is ensure proper oiling of blades (I have already added How to oil blades official video in this article – just refer one paragraph above point number 7)

If oiling does not solve the clipper loud noise issue, then you need to adjust the power screw. You can refer to point number 6 in this article where I have added an image and described complete procedure to adjust the power screw of clipper.

In short, you need to keep clipper running and turn the Power screw in anti-clock wise direction till the noise reduces to acceptable level.

9. When I switch on my clipper it makes a loud thud?

Well thud noise after switching ON the power of clipper is quite normal.

Its not thing to worry about.

This thud noise happens since the motor gets electromagnetic shock as it gets flow of electricity and its movement from static to dynamic state makes a loud noise something similar to hand clapping.

So this is perfectly normal and there is no need to worry about.

10. Wahl clippers cutting skin

To under stand issue of Wahl clippers cutting skin, you need to understand how the clipper blades work and positioned w.r.t. each other.

There are 2 blades moving over each other acting as a scissor. Here the bottom blades are fixed and top one are moving horizontally cutting the hair in between.

Look at the chart below explaining issues and reasons for cutting skin.

Over-biting or nipping the skin

In case the moving blades are extending over the bottom fixed blades then it is evident that whatever you do, clipper will cut the skin (this is also called as over-biting) Such wrong blade adjustment will nip the skin, even if you are holding the trimmer in the correct position.

Hence it is almost important for you to adjust the moving blades with flush or Zero overlap with fixed blades.

Correct hand pressure on clipper

Since the moving blades easily cut hair, you need not apply extra pressure onto the clipper.

In case you are using heavy hand, putting more pressure than needed, the clipper blade may nip the skin damaging it or creating cut as shown in above image.

11. Wahl trimmer flashing blue light

Cordless trimmers will have to put on charging the battery.

When you plug the trimmer to charge it, the power button will shine blue and once the battery is fully charged, the blue light will turn OFF indicating that unit is fully charged.

Also during the use, when 15% of battery charge is left, the blue indicator will start flashing to alert you to put trimmer back to charging.

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How to Fix Wahl Clippers | Trimmers – Troubleshooting Guide is an attempt to help my readers resolving issues faced during covid10 situation, where cutting hair is prime need and you are unable to visit saloon.

If you do not find resolution to any issue that you have faced on your Wahl Clippers | Trimmers please let me know by putting comment below and I will try to answer or modify the article to cover resolution of the issue.