Say fellas, I have a Weed Eater featherlite fl26 that won't start. I can prime and pull all day and not a pop or sputter at all from it. I have good fresh gas in the tank. A new plug that gives me a good, fat, blue spark. There is compression. Enough to blow my thumb off the plug hole. I tried starting fluid but nothing. What I'm wondering is.....could there be a timing problem like with lawn mowers where the flywheel key gets sheared off throwing it out of time. I've replaced many keys where the mower won't fire at all. Replacing the sheared key makes it start immediately. I've never had any experience with trimmers so I thought I would ask before tearing it apart. Gas is getting to the cylinder as the plug gets wet. Trying to start according to the directions on the engine does no good. Gas is moving through the hoses when I prime. It used to start OK until last week. I used it, shut if off and a week later no start. The three basics.... compression, spark and gas but no start. Any thoughts on this problem?. Thank you.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Weedeater trimmer fl26 no start
- Thread starter collieman
- Start date
More options
Export threadbertsmobile1
Lawn Royalty
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2014
- Threads
- 65
- Messages
- 24,995
Timing or blocked exhaust.
Try removing the muffler.
Bad news is most micro engines cast the key into the fly wheel so it is generally a new fly wheel.
Try removing the muffler.
Bad news is most micro engines cast the key into the fly wheel so it is generally a new fly wheel.
You need to get a true compression test. blowing the finger off the spark plug hole may not be enough compression for it to run. Poulan says 90 psi is the minimum for combustion. And second checking for a clogged muffler. Have seen more than one dirt dauber plug mufflers, as we as some will have a screen that can be removed and cleaned. Gets clogged with carbon. Some of the newer models have the screen internal, and cannot be cleaned. Just have to replace the muffler.
A easy and fast test is to remove the muffler and see if it will start and run.
A easy and fast test is to remove the muffler and see if it will start and run.
Thanks fellas for your replies. Looks like I'm going to have to tear it down. I don't have a compression tester so I'll have to find someone that has one and check that out. No keys for the flywheel? I was hoping that might be the problem. Clogged muffler. I will definitely check that out. It just seems strange that it ran very well for my last cut and a week later...nothing. Thanks again for your help. Got some work to do on the machine.
The Ryobi used a tapered flywheel hole with a cast in key. In the past 2 stroke guys have also suggested checking crank case pressure ( intact), gaskets. Check runout of flywheel and shaft looseness. Any contact scratches on flywheel?
Check and/or disconnect the kill switch and give it a try.
I have a good spark with the new plug but I'll give it a try when I tear it down.
The Ryobi used a tapered flywheel hole with a cast in key. In the past 2 stroke guys have also suggested checking crank case pressure ( intact), gaskets. Check runout of flywheel and shaft looseness. Any contact scratches on flywheel?
I disconnected the stop switch wires and took the covers off. The flywheel looks OK with no scratches. The magnet is strong. Tried starting with the stop switch wires disconnected but still not a sputter from the machine. One thing I noticed is that when the flywheel magnet is aligned with the coil the piston is positioned before TDC a bit. Checked that with a screwdriver in the plug hole. When the piston is at TDC the magnet is a tad passed the coil. Might that be like timing on a car engine at so many degrees before TDC?
It would be good if we could check timing with a light like on a car. The digging I have done shows that the little 2 strokes which work so hard and well at 7000 rpm do have up to 22 degrees advance at WOT, but I do not know if initial setting is BTDC. Unlike points operated stuff the mags put out a wave that peaks and is used by the circuit in the module to produce spark, so I think it would be hard to static time. But there are 2 stroke guys on this forum who may be able to comment.