Echo srm-225 weed trimmer will only pull when spark plug is out.

[Bassett72]

OK, this is weird I did the same winterizing (per the manual) I do each year and this year when I go to start it won't pull. However, if I pull the plug out, it moves smoothly. I pulled the muffler off thinking maybe it was causing some back pressure or something and it didn't help.

Thoughts?

 

[dougand3]

Hydrolocking w/ fuel or a ton of carbon on top of piston.

 

[cpurvis]

Correct spark plug?

 

[bertsmobile1]

I did find a field mouse in the cylinder of a trimmer one time
Suppose a good reason for leaving the spark arrestor in place
If it has been exposed to water the bearings can rust solid, seen that more than once .
And of course the pull start itself can jamb .

 

[Bassett72]

Well, I store it with oil in the cylinder and the plug in, just without the wire attached, on the wall, in my heated garage. Tried to pull with the gas cap off, no luck.

OH, and yes, the spark plug is correct.

What next?

 

[StarTech]

It might be jst too compression cause by the oil you put in the cylinder becoming too thick. Try a fuel mix rinse of the cylinder as you turn it through.

Also as mention I have seen recoils to become worn and jam (stick) under compression load but I never one to become a window or door jamb. (vertical side of a door/window frame)

 

[catbob]

You said it was free with the spark plug out, did you try with the spark plug in and exhaust taken off. Oil along with carbon build up on screen might not let out the exhaust. Just a thought.

 

[steve0701]

Get the oil out of the cylinder. Oil does not compress like the fuel-air mix that is supposed to be there.