Frequently Asked Questions

Run the tool dry before storing it — gas left in the tank over winter goes stale and causes hard starting in spring. Wrap engines in canvas or plastic to keep the weather off, cover the muffler, and block any opening where pests can nest. Spray exposed metal — especially long chrome parts like rail-puller rods — with a light lubricant to stop rust. In spring, start on fresh gas (mixed with the correct two-stroke oil where applicable), never last year's jerry-can fuel.

As a rule of thumb, regrease the anvil and hammer about every 25 hours of use with a proper molybdenum-disulfide grease. Tools run dry wear fast and fail early. Unsure of the interval or grease for your specific tool? Contact us and we'll give you the manufacturer's spec.

It's usually the fuel mix. Too rich (too much oil) builds carbon, blocks the muffler, and leaves the tool sluggish; too lean (not enough oil) lets the piston and cylinder run too hot, causing wear and damage. Mix to the manufacturer's ratio with fresh fuel and you'll avoid most of it.

Keep the system dead clean — contamination is the number-one killer of hydraulic tools. Wipe couplers before connecting them so you don't push grit in, make sure the filler screen on the tank is intact (replace it if damaged before adding oil), and never let water into the oil — it spreads to every tool running off that power pack. Regular service keeps the whole fleet reliable, and that's something we handle in-house.

Yes — and it's an expensive mistake. A sloppy, worn socket wears out the anvil on your impact, and the anvil is worth many times more than the socket. When sockets start looking worn, replace them: a cheap socket protects a costly tool and saves you the downtime.

Yes. We're a factory-authorized service centre for the major railway tool manufacturers we carry — including ROBEL, Stanley, WVCO, STIHL, Husqvarna, and ROMEAS, among others — and our warranty repairs use genuine OEM parts. Contact us to confirm warranty coverage for your specific equipment.

No. Because we're an authorized service centre using genuine parts, our repairs keep your manufacturer warranty intact — unlike a non-authorized shop, where the wrong repair can void coverage.

No. We service tools no matter where you bought them — from us, from another supplier, or imported from the US. Bring it in, and if we can source the parts, we can repair it.

Gas, hydraulic, high-frequency, and lithium-battery tools. We handle repairs, rebuilds, preventative maintenance, calibration, and parts & accessories.

Often, yes. We repair any tool we can source parts for, and we keep a strong inventory of obsolete and legacy parts for exactly the cases where new parts are no longer available. If your equipment is out of production, check with us first — it may be more serviceable than you think.

Most repairs are completed within one to two weeks, depending on the scope of work, parts availability, and current shop workload. If you're on a deadline, tell us and we'll give you a realistic timeline up front.

Whatever works for you: ship it in, drop it off at any location, use our mobile service, or we can arrange pickup.

All of them. Every Backtrack location is a full-service repair centre.

Yes. We service tools no matter where you bought them — from us, from another supplier, or imported from the US. If we can source the parts, we can repair it.

If a tool is imported, warranty work often means shipping it back to the US. Where Backtrack is the factory-authorized service centre for that brand, we handle warranty repairs here in Canada with genuine OEM parts, keeping your coverage intact. Contact us to confirm coverage for your specific equipment.

It depends on the full landed cost, not just the sticker price. Cross-border freight, customs brokerage, currency exchange, and border delays all add up — and the downtime while a crew waits is often the biggest cost of all. We'd rather help you weigh the true cost than promise a number on the invoice.

We keep 1,000s of parts, tools, and accessories in stock across five Canadian locations, with same-day delivery available from your nearest location. Importing means waiting on cross-border shipping and customs; buying here usually means the tool is already on this side of the border.

Often, yes. Alongside our factory-approved catalogue, we keep a deep inventory of obsolete and legacy parts here in Canada — frequently the exact components crews would otherwise chase down through a US supplier, with the freight and customs that come with it. Check with us before you order across the border.