Echo Blower Model PB-250 Carburetor Problems & Differences New VS. Old Model
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2025
- This is a side by side comparison of the Echo PB-250 blower. Old generation PB 250 VS. New generation. This is a chort video illustrating the differences and showing how the carburetor problems of the past may be resolved by some better carburetor technology.
Just wanted to thank you for posting this! Heard/read so much good and bad, but then heard about the new carbs. Problem was not knowing how to tell the difference. Bought one today that (thanks to your vid) is definitely one of the new carb models. Much appreciated!
Very good video! I had problems with the 2010 blower. still do. I love the Echo products. Just like anything else you can iron out the kinks or ignore them. I think Echo is on the right track by making their products better. Thanks!
Prende pro se apaga
I bought an Echo trimmer that went 17 years before it died; I replaced the carburetor for $17 and worked good as new - and I maintain three yards.
So, I bought the Echo PB-250LN Blower thinking it would last at least 10 years, and after a year or so I noticed a loss of power, and now I can't even get it started. I am having the same issues as you. I am also going to replace the carburetor.
Someone at Echo messed up - and now I am a little skeptical about their other products.
Same issue as me
Thanks for this video. It really helped with my ES-250.
i have the same carb on my srm230 trimmer. the trimmer is about 4-5 years old and i haven't had any problems with mine. i'm sure you will be happy with the new one you just bought.
FIXED IT!! My neighbor has the later version PB-250with Zama side primer bulb, EPA tamper proof carb. Nothing but bogging above 1/2throttle. I removed spark arrestor & retried; no improvement. I removed entire muffler and found the exhaust port of cylinder was clogged. Ran piston to BDC, scraped out carbon buildup, blew airhose in through spark plug hole to clean, reassembled it and it runs like new again. Try to use a plastic or wooden pick or scraper to clean out carbon to avoid damaging cylinder wall
What is Ran Piston to BDC? I wanna try this.
I had the older 250 version and never had a problem, It was just getting older and not a lot of power so I gave it to my neighbor. He still uses it and only replaced the spark plug, fuel filter and air filter. He use the Echo 50-1 fuel. I purchased the new PB250LN in 2023 of February. Two days ago I was using it to clear some leaves and it quit! I decided a good maintenance using the ECHO kit. I had always used the ECHO 50-1 and the fuel was still clean as was the filter but I still decided to replace the fuel filter. Still would not start! I checked for spark and none. I took it down to Homedepot with my receipt. They check it and said the coil and switch were defective. Because it was under warranty I could exchange it for a new one. They no longer have this in stock and also found it was discontinued by ECHO. Because I do all my business there I was able to exchange it for a new model ECHO. I was talking to the shop repair and they had over 20 of the PB250LN there for the same repairs!
Spark arrest is the problem. I have both of these. Very easy to take apart clean and also clean muffler and
your ready to rumble! Mae
What I want to know is do we have any options beside buying a different manufacturer's blower? Seems that is the right move, not a new one from the same people that did a bad job the first time.
Hey, I blame all the problems, with ALL brands, with the small 2 stroke carbs, on ethanol fuel. I started buying the ethanol free gas about 5 years ago. I only use about 20 gallons per year on my lawn equipment so, even at $1.00 more per gallon it only costs me $20.00 per year to be problem free! Another trick is to run your equipment dry at the last use for the season. These small carbs only require the smallest amount of sludge, gew, lacquered gas, or whatever you want to call it to clog them up. I hope this helps everyone. If you already have the problem with your equipment go to harbor freight (I know, most things suck there but if you don't use it much the tools will do the job) and buy a sonic cleaner. the one big enough to fit the carb in. Take the carb completely apart. Sonic clean it. You have to use the heat setting and cycle it many times till you have an hour or more of cleaning time on your carb. Purple simple green works well as your solvent. Put the complete rebuild kit in when you reassemble. It should work fine then.
+Michael mcgourley . I should have added on my post to spray carb cleaner through all the ports before putting the rebuild kit on to clear any loosened debris. There are many videos here on youtube to help you with this.
Michael mcgourley 2
I've got the old version, I bought the carb adjusting screw driver for a rip off price of $30.00 but that's $10 cheaper than any place else. My carb was set very slightly lean from the factory so I just adjusted it. Never had a problem with my carb other than that though it still ran really good before I adjusted it. Mine most of the time starts on the first pull.
thanks for the informative video showing the difference in the carbs
@templarsoul No problem at all. Thanks for watching my vids. So far, so good on this new model. No B.S. carb problems to speak of so far.
How has the new blower worked for you? I just purchased a Husqvarna trimmer and a Honda lawnmower and all I'm going to run in it is the pre-mixed, no ethanol 93 or 94 octane. I had two mowers die on me the same day with the same symptoms. It's the E-10 junk that's killing small engines with E-15 in the near future.
So my new SR-225 trimmer was running like shit and bogging down at WOT so i found out the new version carb(new emision laws?) has a hidden adjustment screw hidden behind the brass sleeve and plastic which is under the primer. I drilled mine out and got a flathead in there to back off the screw some and it ran awesome afterwards. I'm so happy.
Hi, I do have a McCullough leaf blower it run for about 5 minutes and them cut off, got good spark 120 compression, what I notice it get hot and cut the gas off, should I replace the carburetor?
already clean it, inspect the fuel filter and replace the fuel lines..
Bought a new carb for the 2100 and it works better now that if did 15 years ago. I adjusted the carb!. ;)
I have 4 Echo products and only the PB250 sucks (if it ain't broke, don't fix it Mr EPA!). Given the older PB250 sucks, and the newer PB250 does not, it sure would be nice if Echo had a trade-in program of a seriously discounted carb exchange kit.
Friggin EPA! Got nothing to do but write stupid rules. They are living on a different planet - no "real world" experience here on planet earth
I have the PB250 and have the same carb problems. My model is the type with the bulb on the bottom and I started seeing the problem in high speed performance as the fuel ages in the tank. If I put VERY fresh fuel it, it is still a little lean but much better than if I had the fuel in the tank for a a week. They carb needs some adjustment to fix the problme but they try hard to make this non-adjustable. Is there a special tool for adjusting the highspeed needle?
All you have to do is adjust the Walbro. The adjustment screws are in those two small holes. You need a “micro d” carb adjust tool, not a carb kit. The newer carb is a Zama. It will still need to be adjusted in time as the engine gets older but it has to be taken apart to remove a plastic plug over the high speed adjustment screw. It is located under the primer bulb. The low speed screw is on the throttle pivot on the top of the carb and is hiding under a brass or plastic plug that has to be drilled out. The Walbro is actually a higher quality carb and easier to adjust once you have the carb tool.
i have the 2010 model and had issues, took it to a echo dealer and had them adjust the carb. they told me that the EPA has them running way too lean because of pollution
Thanks for your review, mine pb 251 putted out after 2 seasons, What a piece of crap! It was low power since purchase.
I have had a carb problem with the new version. My issue was the flywheel. I think I had a carb issue first were I was spitting raw fuel out the exhaust and some hydro locking. From this I think it caused the pin in the flywheel to brake off and mess up the timming. I just orered the new flywheel
I have a ECHO PB-200 blower that is 7 years old and exactly as you described how yours was/is running mine is the same way and it sucks!! Spend that kind of money and it is junk??? I have a small yard to speak of so I am not using it that much and should last!!! Will be the last time I buy an ECHO product again, Thanks for the video....
Jim
my echo i bought at goodwill will start up for 3-4 seconds and shut off. will not run any longer no matter what i do. any suggestions?
whered you get the adjusting screwdriver, its the real small one right?
Mine was doing the same thing and there is a screen on the front of the muffler that will clog up, I removed mine and now it runs as good as new, because if it can’t let the exhaust out it will choke it down. Good luck
Well' after reading all the comments here on the PB Echo 250 ?? I have had mine for 7-8 years,have dropped it off my truck a dozen or so times, left it out in the winter and used it as a snow blower for removing snow off my truck. And in the summer ' it get's pissed on from the heavy rains we have up at the cottage' not to mention the very cold winters,and it starts every time, AND WORKS LIKE A CHAMP. I am afraid to give it a tune up.....for fear the dam thing won't run the same. Now I do use regular gas and Echo gas mix.......must of been built on a Friday' or maybe "A" longgg wknd Friday???lol...
the new one i have it u know the one with the zama carb it has that same choke problem
I bought the PB-250LN in October 2012, and according to this video it has the new carb. Worked fine last fall season, used it about 10 times. Started it up this past weekend, on 3/9/2013 and it ran fine for about 30 minutes with fresh fuel, then lost power on fuel throttle. I am extremely dissapointed to learn it seems to be a known carb issue that I cannot adjust myself. Note - I did check the muffler, arrestor screen and fuel filter and all look fine.
Your old walbro carb can be adjusted with a special screwdriver to solve your problem. Your new style over time will still need an adjustment as well. I had mine for 1.5 yrs and it needed an adjustment. The new carbs are made by zama, and have a brass tamper proof screw accessed when you remove the primer. You drill out the black plastic, remove the plug with a small screwdriver, and adjust the needle putting the plug back in when finished,
Bingo. I never removed the primer plate . I picked it out with a file to get to the screw.
Turn to the left at full throttle and it will come alive.
Ok, so I got a first gen Pb-250 from an auction. Big shocker, it didn't work. I could get it to work with some started fluid, but it would promptly die. Long story short, even had I rebuilt the carburetor from the standard kit, It would still be broken and I'd be throwing it away. Had I not barely touched the little rubber hoo-hah under the priming bulb and it fallen off. I bought a new one of those, cleaned out the rubber pieces inside that little hole and wouldn't you know it? Boom, it works.
I hope this helps. That rubber just rots away from the ethanol!
Just added cold start to my channel!
Can't believe how many people have had problems with that model. I bought one December 2010 with the Walbro carb and never had one issue with it, and it had old gas in it most of its life. Sold it to my dads boss when I inherited a POS Stihl SH85 because it blew a little harder and could suck stuff up with it and seriously regret ever selling the PB250. That Stihl is one serious hard starting, unreliable piece of crap. I used it a lot and almost always started first pull and ran great. Oh well, that Stihl will die soon enough.
Will the new carb work on the old pb250. I am having precisely the problem you were with your first pb250. I am wondering if the newer carb will mate with older version pb250.
Did you ever get an answer on this? I am wondering the same thing 7 years later.
My problem is a bit different. 2016 PB-250LN. Worked great for 2 years. It starts and runs fine for a few minutes, then when it warms up at WOT, it will not stall, but it will cycle rpms from high to idle for about 15 seconds, then back to up to full throttle. This happens about every 90 secs. Should I just try a new carb? Our local small engine shop won't even look at big box store crap. They say throw it out and buy a new one. They charge 75 pct of its cost just to look at it.
Hey the old one with the walbro carb is the best one you can adjust it at low and high throttle the new one sucks
I have an Echo PB200 that I have had for approximate 7 years, it ran decent for a while then i was only able to use about half throttle. I think it just needs a good carb cleaning. I think it's time for a new blower. I didn't realize Echo had so many bad reviews until I started doing research on which blower to buy. I have an echo trimmer that I have no issues with. I'm looking to purchase a hand held blower in the range of 400 CFM. My question is, are the new 2014 Echo blowers more reliable than the ones manufactured just a few years ago or should I go with a different brand? If so, which one?
I had the same problem thank you for saying that to me thank you.......
It's just that the carb has to be adjusted periodically but most people don't have the right screwdriver.
I have the same newer PB 250 that I bought almost two years ago and it worked great for 6 months and then it died and has the same symptoms as described here. All I do is play with it for hours to keep it running and the power is half at best and dies all the time. I spend more time pulling the chord then the actual run time. It is not the old carb causing the problem, the newer one is still bad. I looked at their web site and they are still selling this hunk of junk. They have a lot of nerve since they must know of the problem and they still are selling it. I decided to go and buy a different model from a different company. Because of this I will stay away from ECHO products which in the past I loved and owned. It is a shame since it looks brand new and only really worked a dozen times.
Have you checked your gas cap. If it can't
I just bought the PB 250 for $149. It runs like crap. Except when I bring it into the shop to work on it, then it's fine. Either it has a break in period, or it's a lemon. I regret buying it, and not getting the higher end blower. I'm wondering if it's set up to run the higher octane non-ethanol fuel. I was hoping just to use the new premix near the end of the season to cut cost. I bought it from a lawn mower shop, and not Home Depot, or I would be returning it for the better one. I've had 10 other echo's and this is the first dud. It feels under powered as well, compared to my PB 230L.
I have the newer model. I've had for 3 years now. A month ago I replaced the lines, fuel filter and primer bulb and threw in a new air filter. I usually change mine monthly just because their inexpensive ran great. It sat for 2 weeks without running and now it run right. It will start and idle for a short time then stall out or if I give it any kind of throttle it just dies. I have a used pair of hedge trimmers do the same thing the changed out the carb and it runs like brand new. I think I'll do the same to the blower now
I have a PB-250, 2010 and a PB-2100 1995. The 2100 gave me 15 yrs of superb service.2100 gave up the ghost after 15 yrs - I'll just get a new one. Bad idea. I got the PB250.
I know first productions are never very good. Always wait a year or two on something new. But I needed something ASAP and it was going to be an Echo.
My f@&#%$ with the PB 250 was no different than anyone else's. Turns out Mr EPA changed the emissions levels and Echo had to comply. That's why echo change the carb. design.
I have the new one and it shuts off and won't restart after several hours of sitting. Then I restart and it runs for a minute and shuts down again
I have the sane exact one but the vac only sucks like 2 or 3 leafs 🍃 🤔 I'm stumped
I bought the es 250 best blower!
I have the new carb model. Bought in September 2011. It does the same thing.
I bought it to replace a very similar 2 year old model that seized up. That model didn't seem to have these problems. I thought it seized up because someone put gas in it without oil, but maybe it was a piece of junk also. I'm regretting ever buying this thing
New one ran 1 season and even after replacing the carb, never ran right again
Thanks a bunch!
I have the older version and I am fed up with it. Runs like a dog, all the problems you talked about. Its not even been used much and starting was temperamental even when it was new. I have an echo trimmer and had to get carb rebuilt. Gardener told me carb goes bad unless it is used often. I will not buy another one.
Hey I know what's wrong with your blower. I contacted ECHO about my PB-251 about the same problem. The exhaust has a spark arrestor and if you mixed your fuel with too much oil, it will clog it. Remove it clean it well, and it should fix it. Let me know. Hey record it and put it on youtube. I wish I had done that when I fixed my blower
NO it's NOT OK to run 87 octane in a 2 stroke, they run way too hot and dirty with 87 octane.
I have the 260 backpack version that's at least 6 years old. It starts up with with just a few pulls even after a couple months of sitting up. But the carburetor is crap. will only run on 3/4 choke.
1- Camera work made me dizzy like hell!
2- You make a great politician, talking for 4:20 minutes without saying anything useful!
I also own the PB250 leaf blower. A real piece of crap! lasted one season and won't start. Took it in to dealer twice, started once after that, then no more. 2 trips @ 70 bucks a pop, pays for new blower. I now have the stihl. I fires up everytime. is lightter and the air intake is on the side away from you pant leg so does not suck it in and quit blowing. Much nicer and actually less than the Echo. I have many other echo machines but the blower sucks.
If your air filter was full of poop, then there’s your problem, a simple one. As the air filter gets dirtier it clogs up making it difficult for the carb to suck up more air and fuel. The engine won’t run right.
Same problem with 2012...ECHO is junk. Took it to dealer twice...same issue. After 1st season it won't run at high RPM.
I'm on 3rd carb since 2011. waiting for new one now. i even cleaned last one still nothing, waiting for new carb. just wondering if i should just buy a sthil.i got 6 year old sthil chainsaw with no problems ever
I think there's a trick adjustment on them that is a secrete. Even if you buy a new one it will not run with out knowing the secrete adjustment. I did everything that should make this blower run, but it has not.
just got new carb and fired right up but i need to figure out how to adjust it. not quite powerful at full throttle
Derek Macdonald There's a very small screw on the carburetor. It's covered in black plastic. You need to take it to a dealer and have them adjust your blower wind speed. It's not worth messing with.
Right below the primer bulb you can see a brass hole wth a plastic grommet in it.
Find a nail punch that fits in the hole. Heat the end of the punch with a liter and tap it into the grommet and let it cool. Then pull it out. Then you will need a small flat head used for watches or glasses. Start it up and give it full throttle and turn screw to left and you will get your power back.
Yeah, my "new version " PB 250 ran for 2 seasons as opposed to 1. Crap
I have the same problem, I just buy a new carb cheap online for 15 bucks and replace it every year, but yeah it's junk.
I have a PB250 (MFG 2010), these are complete junk -do NOT buy
I heard they have bad flywheels was that true on your part?
I bought it off of Ebay, from randysenginerepair
I think you have it backwards the Zama RB carb's are total crap the walbro's are way better i have my own shop and the RB series Zama's are just crap.
Yes the walbro you can adjust alot better... the zama after market you can adjust they dont have th rubber plug.... i would take an adjustable walbro any day of the week...Carl is right on the money....the zama from the factory you have to take a hot small screw driver to get the plug out... and the low is up on the top where the throttle cable is... after market are not plugged so you can adjust.... but i will go with that older walbro over the zama for sure....
So. The solution is just go but a new model. Waste of everyone’s time.
Prende pe
camera shake it too difficult to watch
Dude Your camera work makes me want to puke.....God. hold the camera still. get a shot hold it for 5 seconds. then another 5
I did it for you Stevie boy