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Weed wacker not running right

dillymann

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Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Messages
338
Location
Newmarket Ontario, Canada
Ok so im fixing a homelite trim and edge weed wacker for a friend of mine... The problem i was fixing was that it leaked oil from the crank case because a gasket was no good now its having problems running.. It will start up and bog or just won't start at all. The carb is clean and there is nothing in there that could be broken other than the diaphragm. I had the trimmer running after i fixed the first problem and it ran great then i left it for a few days and now this?!?! Any info would be greatly appreciated


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jim1987

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Feb 16, 2014
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Ohio
Carb. Even though you said it's clean. Id bet there's still something in there or out of adjustment.
Check the plug?
 
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dillymann

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Dec 31, 2013
Messages
338
Location
Newmarket Ontario, Canada
Ya plug is fine... What do you think it is in the carb? I'd guess diaphragm but i dont know how to check if they are still good or not


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jkwilson

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Dec 5, 2012
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758
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SW Indiana
While you are in it, don't forget to pull the muffler and clean things there. They can get clogged and cause problems.
 

Vegaman_Dan

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Jun 1, 2012
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2,453
Location
Pacific, WA
I've had this problem with existing trimmers and even one new out of the box. Each and every time it has been the fuel. Even with new fresh fuel, the ethanol in the fuel is just very harsh to small 2 cycle engines. I hate to buy the fuel at the home store, but it made a big difference in performance. I need to get some ethanol free fuel from a station that has race fuel and keep that handy in the future instead.
 

Falcon67

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Jun 11, 2009
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Location
Merkel, TX
I'm willing to wager that weed whacker is whacked. As above - check the fuel. These things - even the $$$ ones - are kinda sensitive to the amount of oil mix and fuel quality. I battle a chain saw, weed eater and a pair of chinese quads.
 

Andamo

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Mar 23, 2005
Messages
154
Location
Trinity, Florida
I accidentally left my weed trimmer sit over the winter with gas in it. In the spring I could not get it started and it was shooting raw fuel out the muffler. Took it back to where I bought it and they had to replace the carb since it was gunked up with the Ethanol based gas. I switched over using VP Small Engine fuel which is Ethanol free and 92 octane. But even at that, I sit the trimmer out in the sun for a hour before trying to start it. It's a real bear to start when it's cool.
 

bad_idea

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Jun 11, 2011
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4,332
Location
Pasquotank, NC
Recently my leaf blower gave me hell. I rebuilt the carb for it to do the same thing still, start and die. I then found out the EPA requires the carb adjustment screws to be "Professional Use" only and the manufacturer tuned them lean to pass emissions. I re-tuned the carb to run richer and it runs fine now.
 

Todd.Brock

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Jul 15, 2008
Messages
4,249
Location
Cincinnati
My Stihl weed wacker wouldn't idle. Four week wait at the shop. 25 bucks for a new complete carb from the Stihl dealer fixed the problem. Couldn't believe they were that cheap. Pre-tuned out of the box. The Stihl guy was super nice. Said they hardly even rebuild them anymore for that price !
 

Arthropraxis

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Oct 25, 2010
Messages
186
When mine acts like that the fuel hose has fallen apart in the gas tank. Once a new pickup line is installed with the ceramic filter on the end of it, all is well. The ethanol eats the rubber tubes.
 
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dillymann

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Dec 31, 2013
Messages
338
Location
Newmarket Ontario, Canada
Ok so I went and took the carb apart again and double checked it to see if it had any air leaks or anything and I didnt notice anything so I put it together and back on the trimmer and it started and ran fine... So i left it for about a half hr and it started to act up by bogging and then dying


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Silver6.0

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Sep 16, 2011
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N.E. Michigan
if there is a H screw on the carb open it up just slightly, counterclockwise. You many have to dremel a slot on the screw to use a flathead since they are a 12 point special wrench . A red heat shrink connector works too.
 
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dillymann

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Dec 31, 2013
Messages
338
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Newmarket Ontario, Canada
Is this a 4-stroke machine? You wrote " leaked oil from the crank case" so I'm assuming no pre-mix fuel.

Nope 2 stroke but there is a plastic cover and seal that covers directly over the crankshaft and the seal was no good so it would leak oil while it was running...


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dillymann

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Dec 31, 2013
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Newmarket Ontario, Canada
if there is a H screw on the carb open it up just slightly, counterclockwise. You many have to dremel a slot on the screw to use a flathead since they are a 12 point special wrench . A red heat shrink connector works too.

I tried adjusting the carb but that did not work well...


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Ocho

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Jun 16, 2010
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Location
DFW, Texas
When mine acts like that the fuel hose has fallen apart in the gas tank. Once a new pickup line is installed with the ceramic filter on the end of it, all is well. The ethanol eats the rubber tubes.

This. Had to replace fuel lines on both my Homelites (Trimmer and Blower).
Both run like a champ now. Pretty easy fix. $8 worth of parts from Home Depot for each one. :3gears:
 

czr12x

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Mar 2, 2011
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Location
WI/IL stateline
This. Had to replace fuel lines on both my Homelites (Trimmer and Blower).
Both run like a champ now. Pretty easy fix. $8 worth of parts from Home Depot for each one. :3gears:

^^ this. however, i forgot what line the ceramic filter connects to. i believe it was the yellow line to the primer bulb? mine still runs but stalls every so often as well,
 

Chace365

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Dec 15, 2013
Messages
17
Location
Suffolk, VA
Take the plug off, push the piston down to BDC, and inspect the cylinder with a flash light. Sounds like mild scoring. If it was leaking oil out of the crankcase, this sounds a LOT like scoring.
 

justin1795

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Aug 7, 2013
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442
Location
blue grass IA
my echo had a blocked exhaust. later the carb I suspect was bad I replaced the carb and the lines. was one of the two.
 

Bobf

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Feb 16, 2012
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308
Location
Poway, CA
Let me chime in blaming the ethanol gas. I have two weed wackers and two blowers and all four have had the gas lines turn to mush and close off or out right break. The supposedly "ethanol resistant" fuel line from the local small engine shop is just that, resistant, but not immune. The same thing happens, just takes longer to happen:)
 
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dillymann

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Dec 31, 2013
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338
Location
Newmarket Ontario, Canada
Let me chime in blaming the ethanol gas. I have two weed wackers and two blowers and all four have had the gas lines turn to mush and close off or out right break. The supposedly "ethanol resistant" fuel line from the local small engine shop is just that, resistant, but not immune. The same thing happens, just takes longer to happen:)

I just threw some new lines on and adjusted up the carb and it seems to be running good now


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kbs2244

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Nov 11, 2006
Messages
14,065
Don't forget that 2 cycles have oneway valve in the gas cap.
They can go bad like the other rubber parts.
 
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