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Where can I get a carb adjuster for a Craftsman convertable weed wacker. Sears is no help, supply houses say I need to be an official repair shop to buy one, everything I try to fabricate won't work. See photos. It is a hex head driver but they are recessed into a fortress-like bunker.
Thanks

I was on Amazon.com last night looking for phototacometer and they had a set a carb tools for poulan and some other weedater.I think they were like 31.00 for two or three tools. You may just to jeck them out.:thumbsup:

the adjustment tool is only avalable to authorized poulan dealers, FYI, possession of the tool by unauthorized personnel is a EPA violation and could result in severe fines if caught. the EPA does watch amazon and ebay for violaters that can result in fines up to $38,000 for the seller and the buyer. It is classified as tampering with an emissions control device, same as a catalytic converter on an car.

Amazon has them. I picked one up last year for less than $10 after shipping.

Is there any doubt that government has gotten too intrusive?

You can't even buy a tool to adjust a trimmer under these rules. Absurd. :confused2:

WELCOME to LMF..
I posted this youtube a while back... How to adjust a 2 cycle Carburetor with "set Locked" Screws - YouTube
It will work perfectly, if you have a Dremmel tool it's not that hard... An out of adjustment carburetor is more of a problem with polluting the air than a carb that you have properly adjusted... :smile:KennyV

Thanks for all the info. Sears will adjust it for $57 plus parts. The funny thing is, I live in Cleveland, Oh. and they would ship it to Pittsburgh for service. I can purchase a new one for $40 more than fixing this one.

I know this isn't the proper forum for a deep discussion, but how many different aspects of economics, EPA regulations, resource management, DIY American spirit of inginuity, etc, are encapsuled in the issue of an individual not being able to repair his own stuff?

If you were closer to me I wouldn't charge anything close to that. If you go by the poulan flat rate time is 1/2 hour which would be $25.00 for me. any poulan dealer should have the tool to adjust your craftsman trimmer carb.

pkguy said:

Thanks for all the info. Sears will adjust it for $57 plus parts. The funny thing is, I live in Cleveland, Oh. and they would ship it to Pittsburgh for service. I can purchase a new one for $40 more than fixing this one.

I know this isn't the proper forum for a deep discussion, but how many different aspects of economics, EPA regulations, resource management, DIY American spirit of inginuity, etc, are encapsuled in the issue of an individual not being able to repair his own stuff?

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The economics of fixing vs replacing in your situation is probably typical. That means that, in many cases, people just buy a new trimmer (and ditch the old one) -- and that decision is driven by the barrier these regulations have placed on your ability to fix it yourself.

So lots of trimmers (and other types of highly regulated consumer products) end up being thrown out - - all in the name of environmental regulation.

It comes down to how much time a service center can put into a $69.00 weedeater at $60.00/ hour. I am limiting poulan weedeater repairs to carb replacement, spark plugs, and fuel lines. Anything above that exceeds replacement cost if not warranty. Air quality standards is what is fueling most of the customer can't repair there own equipment.

ILENGINE said:

the adjustment tool is only avalable to authorized poulan dealers, FYI, possession of the tool by unauthorized personnel is a EPA violation and could result in severe fines if caught. the EPA does watch amazon and ebay for violaters that can result in fines up to $38,000 for the seller and the buyer. It is classified as tampering with an emissions control device, same as a catalytic converter on an car.

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I guess the EPA would hate me then haha!:laughing:

Yeah as a two cycle specialist I see a lot of this type of problem with carbs. The tool I got was 6 bucks on eBay but isn't worth the fine if you're not a certified mechanic. Most of my carb tools such as restrictor cap removal tools and adjustment tools are shipped to me from RedMax which is the brand I'm a dealer for. And are almost impossible to buy if you're the end user. All adjustments are to be made by the factory certified technician. Which is what I had to go to redmax service school and sit through for two days just for emission control device service. I wouldn't be surprised if we need an emissions license in the next 5 to 10 years if two cycle engines still exist.

Edwards Saw Service in Glen Mills PA

O'Riellys has a carb adjustment tool thathas replacable driver heads. I haven't looked at it closely, but it looks like it would work. I think the price was about twenty bucks

pkguy said:

Thanks for all the info. Sears will adjust it for $57 plus parts. The funny thing is, I live in Cleveland, Oh. and they would ship it to Pittsburgh for service. I can purchase a new one for $40 more than fixing this one.

I know this isn't the proper forum for a deep discussion, but how many different aspects of economics, EPA regulations, resource management, DIY American spirit of inginuity, etc, are encapsuled in the issue of an individual not being able to repair his own stuff?

Click to expand...

That's the crux of where in my opinion America is heading.:ashamed:The lawmakers, who hire their lawns done, pass laws to prevent John Q. Public from repairing their own stuff. So, you end up getting 2 seasons (perhaps) out of a cheap weedeater, and then throwing it awaybecause it doesn't make economic sense to take it to a repair facility. It ends up in a landfill, or in the metal recycling bin (hopefully). All the energy and resources it took to make it, ship it, etc., are gone in two years. Wonderful..:frown:

What a crock. We are a protected society for our "own good." In reality the rules are in place to make us a throw away society.

we needed a new fuel source in the late seventies when smog control was just getting its teeth in our butts:laughing:....now we need it more than ever..as you can see....its only going to tighten the stranglehold year after year

ILENGINE said:

the adjustment tool is only avalable to authorized poulan dealers, FYI, possession of the tool by unauthorized personnel is a EPA violation and could result in severe fines if caught. the EPA does watch amazon and ebay for violaters that can result in fines up to $38,000 for the seller and the buyer. It is classified as tampering with an emissions control device, same as a catalytic converter on an car.

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I don't think this is correct; I looked up the EPA rule: It says that only a dealer can legally adjust the carburetor, and that you can't sell the special tool to the general public. But the mere possession of the tool does not appear to be prohibited; that is, it is not contraband. So the sellers of the carb adjusting tool on eBay may get into trouble, but a private party would only be subject to the up to $37,500 maximum fine if you actually use the tool to do your own carburetor adjustment. The EPA rule also says that the fine for selling the tool is up to $3,750. Per sale, apparently.

The rule is 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), Title 40 (Protection of the Environment), Chapter I (Environmental Protection Agency), Subchapter U (Air Pollution Controls), Part 1068 (General Compliance Provisions for Highway, Stationary and Nonroad Programs), rule 1068,101(b).

See also