Hello folks! Let me take the time to advance a thank you to anyone who might be able to help me. This little trimmer is driving me nuts.
Backround: Ive had it about 2 seasons and it has been great so far. Been running fine and using it for the last four or five days off and on. Cranked right up this morning and ran through two 1/2 tanks of gas (I only fill it about half). Then on my third fill it quits after about 10 seconds or so. I thought maybe I didn't put enough fuel in so I add a bit more. Same thing ran until I walked to the area I needed to use it, started using then 10 15 seconds quits. I try for a third time same thing. I noticed on the last try that the primer bulb was not popping back out like usual. Took apart that section of the carb, everything looked pretty clean, didn't really see any residue build up no tears in the diaphram, etc. put back together, same thing with the bulb. Took apart again put carb cleaner to several of the parts put back togther and this time the bulb wouldn't push in. Took apart again and it seem that the little plastic piece the bulb connects too might have been clogged somewhere, went to nearby shop and they had that little piece so I grabbed it. Got it back together and the bulb seemed to be back to normal, fired up the weedeater, but now it will only start and run with full choke on. Try to put it to half choke and it quits. Figured I better rebuild the entire carb so got the kit and did that. At first it would still only start and run on full choke, then I did manage to easy it down to half click, then no choke and though great. Then it does what it original was doing and quit 10-15 seconds into the work load. Finally I also replaced the spark plug and fuel filter just in case and same thing. Oh and it seems the bulb is sticking again like originally happened. Sorry for the rambling but where in the world can I go with it now?
This is the reason why people just replace the carb. Sometimes cleaning and rebuilding carb works other times it doesn't.
#3
primerbulb120
This same thing has happened to me on at least a half dozen machines. With mine, the problem was bad gas and/or bad oil. Try draining all the gas out and cleaning the gas tank. Then clean the fuel lines and fuel filter. Then take apart the carb and clean it thoroughly. Once you have everything clean and back together, buy new gas and new 2-stroke oil to put in the trimmer. Make sure that the oil is a name brand, like Stihl. Try out the trimmer and report back with the results.
Carburetor cleaner is for stripped down carburetors only, it will possibly eat up plastic & rubber parts. Are you mixing correct amount of 2-cycle ratio oil with fresh gas?
Thanks for the advice so far....as the title states this is a 4 stroke not a 2 stroke.
#6
primerbulb120
Sorry, I should have noticed that. :laughing: But your machine is having the same symptoms as my 2-stroke units. If you haven't done anything to the carb since the machine shut off, take the carb apart and clean the filter screen inside. Then put the carb back together without cleaning anything else. If the machine behaves like it did after you rebuilt the carb (working for a short time and then refusing to prime) then you have confirmed that the problem is being caused by something coming in through the fuel line.
Carburetor cleaner is for stripped down carburetors only, it will possibly eat up plastic & rubber parts. Are you mixing correct amount of 2-cycle ratio oil with fresh gas?
I don't clean my carbs with carb cleaner. I once had carb cleaner eat a big hole in the side of a float bowl! I clean them with compressed air at 60 psi. I am careful around all check valves, because they can be damaged by compressed air.
Got it up and running again. Let the metal bits sit overnight in a bath, then also tested the gas inlet again. Something seemed to bind there, previously it had seemed completely open when blown through. There is a little wire mesh screen on the backside of it (which I had tried to remove before but seemed like it was permanent). I got more aggressive with the little screen and basically tore it out and there was the issue. Behind it was some powdered gunk, must have been out of the way when I first tested it but once gas was introduced back in it would clog the screen. So there you have it, replaced the little screen and off to blood sweat and tears again. Thanks to all those that replied!
