Put on new carb, primer bulb, fuel filter, spark plug, and new fuel lines. NOTHING. Took it to the shop, they to,d me it was a piece of garbage, and handed it back to me. I watched this video, the exhaust screen was totally plugged, I cleaned it, my trimmer runs better than new. THANK YOU so much, saved me $200.
I learned a thing. I quit having issues when I started using non-ethanol and synthetic 2 stroke oil. I never knew there was a screen in there. Can you imagine how many of these went out in the garbage because they did this? THUMBS UP!
@@wim0104 so true, i mistakenly put 85 ethanol on my 68 Slant Six Dart. it ran but as soon as i was at half tank i put regular gas till I reached my destination 150 miles away. now it has non ethanol and running fine.
my dad brings them home from the dump. most just need new plugs. Amazing people just throw them away. We have so many weedeaters and lawnmowers were dumped
Having a ‘pro’ do a repair and costing half of what the machine is worth doesn’t make sense. I’ll do what I can to repair it myself doing whatever research I need. After being screwed with a mower repair from the engine surging and having the issue come back after a month of use.. never again. $300 mower with a $150 ‘repair’...
@@Treyk901 you can't always blame the professional for that though. Sometimes the manufactures pricing structure makes repairing a unit simply not cost effective. Keep in mind most of the time, labor pricing is subject to local market value. So why would a repair shop cut their pricing if they don't have to? It simply the law of supply and demand. I mean don't get me wrong, your approach is great if it works for you, but most folks don't have the time or interest in fixing something themselves. But the repair to replace pricing ratio is what it is in most cases due to the manufacturing pricing structure. Repairing a carburetor on $150 piece of equipment is the same as on a $650 piece of equipment so why would the labor be less on a cheaper unit?
@@seanperdue232 yep just because they bault a 150$ power equipment not my problem labor is the same amount of time no matter what!! Go buy another they are trow aways at that price for real ! Don't expect a 20$ fix for your cheep Junk !!
Thank you so much! My trimmer had the exact issue, started easily and good idle but won’t rev or make power. I was ready to toss it and came across your video. I removed the 99% blocked screen and sandblasted it clean. The trimmer runs perfectly now! The world is a better place because of people like you who share advice and help others.
Carb cleaner is even worse becuase it is more acidic, if you get a good amount of it on your hands you will start to get white splotches on your hands,
Your knowledge on 2 stroke motors is obvious... kudos to you my friend for a great video and problem resolution. I get so frustrated with 2 strokes I can’t even put it to words. Keep up the good work brother!
my heavily endowed ex (F cup) wanted her garden tilled so i brought of a rototiller and beer and i watched her bounce for like 3 hrs (it was a moment in my life i wont forget).
This gentleman takes professional PRIDE in his work, oddly it’s a dying tradition in this country. Awesome job Sir, I appreciate your sharing this video.
It's also a dying tradition because we have become a throw away society. If something breaks we throw it away and get a new one. Often because it cost the same or close to the same to fix it as it does to "just get a new one".
I have worked on many a small engine since I was a teenager, and have people tell me they have the same problem revving up their small engine. I'd say over 90% of the time, it's due to exhaust blockage. People should realize, these engines need service at least once a year, even if it's just a plain old going over tune up, and check for un-wanted wear and blockage. Nice video, and well laid out.
Well done sir great video once the screen is out i always check the exaust port for build up a lot of times carbon builds up there i have found that many times . Pull the cord up till the piston is blocking the port past the rings carefully chip the carbon build up away with out gouging the piston
Problem with that precision screwdriver is that the bits can get stuck in a fastener and well fall out in to the abyss when you go to pull off. Also the end cap loves to jump off and drop the rest or the bits into the abyss. They love to hang out with the 10mm.
I have three or four nut- driver type screwdrivers with the most-frequently-used, replaceable hex-bits semi-permanently stuck into the tool with a little bit of sticky putty. I generally prefer that nut drivers, and magnetic bit holders for use with cordless screwdrivers, should have both a magnet and a little C-clip built into the socket, so that the bit stays in place and might even snap-in so snuggly that I have to grab the bit with pliers in order to pull it out and change it. It can be difficult to find nut drivers that have both the best possible strongest magnet built in as well has the Locking C-clip for the screw bit, but the sticky putty is a good compromise for use with those screwdriver bits and nut driver handles that would be most frequently used. Alternatively, you can you some electrical tape to hold the bit in place, but that stuff always starts melting and slipping off and leaving tape adhesive on the screw driver shaft and the screw bit itself.
any two cycle engine , this can happen to, I used to take care of a fleet of blowers and my own equipment had to clean out the exhaust every 10 to 20 hrs. thanks for reminding the masses about this.
Also better two stroke oils are available to minimise this problem, often at a more economical ratio , my two stroke engines are all running 25:1 oil mix and don’t smoke or suffer ....
This might sound strange but before working on any weedeaters I get in my shop. I always remove the covers and seal up intake port then hit them with de-greaser and give them a light pressure clean. Any small parts such as screws also get cleaned in a parts cleaning solution. Saves getting dirt into critical items while reassembling and makes them more presentable when you complete the job. I do live in a hot dry climate though so dewatering the units is rarely a problem.
I know that a vast majority of people do not have the tools or patience to do these repairs, I have the tools but need to buy a tub of patience. Lol. Thanks for sharing.
@@fringestream990 , I can't and won't touch that stuff. But I'm sure once I retire, I'll have all the patience I need. Lol. Plus a little liquid lubrication helps: ie Miller lite or Michelob.
I'm an Echo dealer. I've seen mud wasps get in things an fill them with mud trying to make a nest. Hard to see unless you are looking in the right place.
Same thing happened to me...I thought I'd never figure out why my normally very reliable trimmer would not start.Mud daubers had built a nest in the muffler; I cleaned it out and it fired right up. Who would have thought THAT would happen?
We get frequent carb problems here in asia caused by wasps plugging up gas tank vent tubes or carb vent tubes. I even had a red ant nest block up the air filter in my FZ09
Seen that also. One reason to leave the clean screen on otherwise they end up doing it in exhaust port. Many years ago I had a mouse nest in my dirt bike exhaust, buggers clogged it up bad enough it would not start.
Shout out to you sir...your video helped fix a go kart for my daughter this weekend after much frustration and troubleshooting. Grateful from Australia
Nice video. I had so much fewer problems once I switched to Small Engine Fuel in a can. If we have to be forced to buy ethanol fuel for our vehicles, it’s nice there is an alternative for small engines. Keep up the good work! 👍🏻
Thanks didn't know that was in those. Makes sense. Im a mech an something l love about the career is no end to the new things you learn. One trick to cure wobbling screwdriver is file tip a bit flat allows for better/deeper engagement l find l don't 'turn out' of the screw either. Thanks for the knowledge
Oh, the power of suggestion!! When you started spraying that cleaner with the camera in close up, I swear I got a strong wiff of the stuff! Pure suggestion - how powerful it is. Nice video, thanks.
I have had non stop carb issues with my Poulan which I use infrequently. I now drain the tank when I am finished and run the motor till it stops. This helps.
You take pride in your work, I can see it gives you anxiety to let something go out of your shop that isn't fully fixed, even if the customer was unaware of the problem to start with. If I was the customer I wouldn't want you to feel guilty about upselling if it really needs it (as was the case here).
I've got an Echo SRM 225, so I found this video very helpful. I repaired an Echo SRM 225 for a friend that had the piece between the engine and the carburetor cracked apart. I now can't remember what Echo calls this piece, intake insulator, I think. But it was the cause of a "won't start" situation he had with this machine.
I appreciate you talking about the business part of your job. I found a broke lawn mower in the trash a couple years ago and thought it would be fun trying to fix it. I started picking up trashed equipment fixing and selling. Now I even do repairs for customers but I have a hard time knowing when and how much to charge. Also, like with your echo i find other problems that I couldn't foresee until I fix the first issue. Many times I end up putting too much labor into something and then have to charge additionally to my previous estimate. I never worked in a shop so I don't know how much they would charge to earn a profit without ripping my customer off. I usually just decide how much would I want to be charged if someone did the work for me? Is there some kind of manual that could help me with how much to charge for my repairs? Thanks man, I enjoy watching you fix things, the right way.
call your local Small Engine shop. Ask them for an estimate of the exact work that you're doing, as if you were going to bring something in to get fixed. and then use their estimate as a reference point.
I remember my days at the ole Homelite shop in Sunny Buckhannon WV working on OPE. The things you would see come in at early spring would make you giggle. Best part is when they bring it in for a mud dobber's nest in the exhaust hole LOL that is just priceless.
Better yet.....when they bring something in and you can't fault it and after talking to them it turns out to be an operator error......l know as a person you can't be expected to know everything but sometimes l wonder if you can't work this out then how do you have to brain power to manipulate a motor vehicle through traffic to get here?
GOOD CALL, To many Idiots go straight to the carb adjustment screws! Then it's a real pain to set right. I have seen all sorts with wee 2 stroke engines. Too lean cos the air box is bust, air leaks in the fuel lines/primer bubble, air leaks in the gaskets, leaking crankshaft oil seals and the same old thing, they start but just don't run right. The screen in the exhaust is so often overlooked.
good video, maybe while you are spraying the gunk off with brake cleaner, take the time to use a toothbrush and clean the stuck on gunk. makes the job more impressive if it's returned cleaned!
I save a couple of my old Sonic electric toothbrush brushes (they screw out and get replaced every 3 months) and put the old one back on for just this kind of cleaning and man, it is fast and easy that way and has so many other uses, too. Then when done, unscrew it and put the good brush back on and brush my teeth.
Outstanding, you are a trustworthy person. Here are a few things about your video making it an extreme pleasure watching: 1. Your camera is in landscape mode. All videos should always be in landscape, our TV, movie theaters, and computer monitors are landscape. Vertical video cuts off the left and right of the video, yes there is a reason vertical is called portrait. 2. You mounted your camera. A moving camera is extremely annoying and spatially disconcerting. Also, it is difficult trying to focus. 3. Lack of music except at the very end. We come to hear and lean not fight music, many viewers have hearing difficulties thus music is distracting. Sir, truly I tip my hat to you, thank you!
I solved this problem by getting a battery powered trimmer. But I'm gonna try this on my gas trimmer. It runs but won't rev up. Dies when you throttle it up. Thanks for the info!
My nana has the smallest ryobi trimmer and it works really well she also has an electric lawn mower it is really nice will cut thick long grass like nothing really leaves a great mow job. Believe it’s an ezgo we don’t have neighbors but best thing is u can mow at anytime and not feel bad even has head lights . Cheers
@@caseG80 Good to know! I don't have a lot of edging that I have to do so I'm hoping that the trimmer will stay charged enough each mowing to get through it without having to stop to switch batteries.
Hey man I really did enjoy this video thanks for taking the time to teach me something. I'm looking forward to your maintenance. Keep up the good work 💪
All my lawn equipment gets the modified exhaust treatment from day one. And been an echo fan for 30 years now and still have my first grey model trimmer still runs but I use my updated ones now. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.
I cant understand why anyone would take stuff to a shop when they think it only needs a primer bulb. Youd think they could pop one in themselves. Thumbs up video.
If it bust during the time you are running the unit or you have used the unit in the last couple of weeks you right a customer could replace it themselves with the total confidence that it will work like it should or did! I COMPLETELY agree with the customers trying i love selling primer bulds. BUT IF you haven't ran it in months and you try to use the unit and before you could get it to crank it bust ill c u at the shop!!!!!!!
I have an older Echo curved shaft. It was a roadside find. Put a new carb on it. Got a new trimmer head and used grass deflector off e bay. This is my go to trimmer, I heave 5 string trimmers, this is my favorite. I fix these and do sales, every one wants an Echo. No gots, the only one I’ve ever seen on a curb find.
Thank you I was about to give up trying to get my chainsaw to accelerate. I didn't even think that a coil could cause so much trouble I ordered one and another muffler the arrestor is good I will let you know you made my day I have been thinking about making that saw a boat anchor until now thank you
This video really helped me. Too many things I can't fix on small engines. The things I don't know could fill a small volume. An exhaust screen. Never heard of it until now.
Dang, I didn't think I had any microphones around me several days ago when I mentioned the weed-eater bogging down to my mom. Guess I was talking too loud.
Invidious Ignoramus you think that’s bad, I’ve never even talked about it but recently my side by side has been shutting off when I hit the gas after first starting up. Getting to the point I need to just burn my phone and go back to telegraph.
I too 100% love my screwdriver kit..I have..that is exactly like yours...they also have the torx bit driver also...that looks exactly like the screwdriver one..except the end is red...
My Stihl FS55 has been without a primer bulb for 6 years now. A tiny little bit of ether sprayed onto the air filter and it starts first pull any day of the year. Thanks for the great video. Liked and Subscribed. Keep up the good work.
I'm sure this will resurrect my last trimmer I set aside in the shed, it was acting the same way. I had a brand new trimmer motor around that I bought for the chainsaw attachment so I started using that one. Now I have a pretty good idea where to start when I get around to working on the old one. Thank you so much!
I’ve found that the commercial lawn guys mix their gas so rich (like 3-4 times what’s needed) their machines can’t do anything BUT clog up. I bought a used Echo blower that had been pouring oil out of the muffler for months or years and would barely start. 10 minutes with a torch and a wire wheel, and a $12 carb, and it was like new. Love my Echos.
Good video. I subscribed. I've been a small engine mech for a long time, except for the past ten years when arthritis started kicking in on my right shoulder. You did exactly what I would have done. 1/2 hr work and a little dust off and she's back out to the owner.
@Syd G honestly it depends on how the customer acts. If they're nice and chill, not trying to rush me, I would definitely check the air filter and blow out debris and such. If they're in a hurry I'll do what they ask me to do, get it running -if it runs at all, and call them to come in for pick-up or to talk about further repairs lile carb cleaning and rebuild, fuel line and filter replacement, starter rope etc depending on what it needs. And Never -Ever run a bill up on a customer when they don't ask for extra work to be done.
I've worked on a lot of small engines and have never seen a screen that dirty. I was thinking it needed a carb adjustment, but learned something today. Thanks.
I've NEVER seen a screen in the exhaust muffler on a smoke belching purposely rich running 2 stroke engine .. what the hell was someone thinking who designed that crap? .. get that screen out of there, NOW!!!
Thanks for posting! Do you think that a blocked screen would also cause a echo backpack blower to get finicky when wound up? Starts in about ten pulls and idle/ high speed does not stay up. Seems to choke and down throttle. And I have to work the throttle to stay going. Thanks for the opinion.
Also the carb slider cylinder is noted for braking. if you feel a bumb in the throttle, thats your issue. you can run it wide open but runs terrible because the mix is wrong. new carb kit from Amazon $20
Pretty good info , nice job , I know if you use cheap premix oil you take a chance of it fouling up your exhaust ports and the spark arrestor screen ! I recently took my shindiawa T-235 an cleaned the exhaust port an the entire exhaust aka muffler , it runs great now , it was bogging down an getting funky on the no revving department but that is usually what happens with a lot of use on one ! Don't forget to check the carb an disassemble it cleaning it with non chlorinated card spray using the small red jet spray nozzle that attaches to the spray nozzle on the can ! Clean that internal fuel screen as well , because tiny minute particles build up on the screen an reduce performance! Use the proper sparkplug always , usually an ngk brand , look up manufacturer recommended spark plugs and don't go cheap on some other brand of plug ! Always allow time for the engine to warm up before you go to revving on it , as the Piston expands BEFORE the thicker cylinder wall will ,! Prevent scoring up your Piston and cylinder wall causing premature wear , let that engine warm up for at least a minute , you will make your weedater last longer by doing this !
Yes, absolutely replace the fuel lines now. Another thing that keeps customers coming back is we always super cleaned the entire piece of equipment whatever came in for service. Degrease the engine and clean the mower decks and a quick hose down. Customers love that part of service.
Well? Did you leave that Screen out or did you clean it. Cleaned out the ones on my 2 steal saws till I finely just left them out. They are flame ares-tors and removal could cause a fire. But use mine in a safe area.
This helped me as well.... Stihl trimmer that I got from my F-in-L would idle, but not rev up. After watching this, I popped the screen off, which was almost completely plugged with black residue, and it ran just fine at full throttle. Now to replace the primer bulb as well.Thanks!
Mine has done that since brand new for 8 seasons now. I have to manually turn it backwards off a compression stroke to start. It’s really bad when the engine is hot and you shut it off and then try to restart it. Two dealers could not fix it. Both said valve adjustment but that didn’t fix it. Tried new coils and that didn’t work either. It did the same thing every time until I got rid of it. Still runs like a new motor just a bugger to start
I had a similar problem with a Stihl trimmer where it wouldn't rev up. I took it in for repair and was told there was water in the fuel. I use the same fuel for my other small engines without problems. I think I may have been taken for a ride with the $190.00 repair bill I received. I now know what to look for if I run into this problem again. Thanks for a great tip.
@@kebo57 nope . small torch- just few seconds till it glows and see sparks of burnt carbon fly off/ perfect clean.. like new... can add holes with drill bit /fk the commy bastards/ be louder and need re adjusted- but way more 1/3 horsepower
I like how he uses the grit in the screw threads 4:48-5:38 & 10:56-11:07 to lock the screws in-place. Saves on returns to his shop for missing screws. Some mechanics wash and dry dirty screws before reinstalling them. I guess they are pressing their luck...!
A wise investment. I own a srm225 and after new fuel lines, primer bulb and a little tuning it's starts instantly idles smoothly and is unstoppable all throughout the throttle. Very good machines.
@@SomeGuyInSandy that's great. They will run forever with proper fuel and care.I have 3 stihl trimmers for the out of control stuff and brush but always find myself grabbing the echo most of the time. My back also likes it the best because it's so light. If you were wondering. I had a small lawn and landscape thing going for a bit. That's why I now have 4 trimmers and a bunch of other professional stuff.
Great video! I have an echo weedeater and couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t idle up when I increased the throttle. Now I know why and fixed it in 3 minutes. Saved me a lot of time and money. I almost was fed up with it to the point of taking it to the dealer to get it figured out.
I didn’t know those come with a spark arrester. I can’t tell you how many times I saw my old man shatter a two stoke weed eater on concrete for this exact problem without ever changing the spark plug, air filter, or using fuel stabilizer for storage. Then he just went walyworld and bought the cheapest thing they had, again. Fits the definition of insanity pretty well if you ask me.
blake dymond I can relate to your old man ;) Sometimes when I'm hired to mow a lawn I don't have the time to mess with it and it gets frustrating. I've gotten better tho, now that i know what's up
probably the same what was wrong with a scooter i was given, started and idled great, wouldnt rev up or go abot say 5mph, no-one told me it was probably a blocked exhaust (2stroke scooter)
I quit buying 2 strokes for lawn equipment.(Johnson / Evinrude the outboard engine people needed to make power lawn equipment so there could have been quality stuff that was meant to be repaired but I digress).The quality is just terrible on non commercial quality brands 50 hour life cycles just don't cut it. it does not matter if it is an Echo, Poulan, Sthil, Craftsman, Husqvarna, weed eater or any other 2-stroke you see at a department/home improvement store I have a half acre that has a full lawn and established pine trees along with fruit trees and I get about a year out of these things and they become problematic. Here in California our fuel contains ethanol and it just destroys these things, I have even dumped all the fuel out and let them idle until they stalled from a lack of fuel hoping this would solve some of their issues (it didn't help at all, we don't have a off season its Southern California so you use this stuff pretty much year round but I figured it was worth a shot anyways I even use Sta-bil in the fuel to help keep it fresh longer). I am not your average consumer as I am a ASE certified mechanic (not an expert in two strokes although but an engine is an engine for the most part) and I am a hardcore DIYer never hiring out to repair anything. From my experience as a general rule If the primer bulb is bad so are the fuel lines, if the fuel lines are bad so is the spark plug (you can clean and regap it, and if the plug is fouled up the carb is probably do for a rebuild / clean out. Then there is that spark arrestor in the exhaust that is near impossible to clean cooked carbon off of supposing you can get it off in one piece to clean it...Once you replace or repair all this stuff you're out about 80 bucks that it would just cost for a new one not to mention all the 3-4 hours of labor and the risk of breaking one of these little plastic bits that were never designed to be taken off after they were assembled. Just pure garbage. Smashing it like Jimi Hendrix would smash a guitar is quiet satisfying and your old man was probably smarter then you give him credit for. No body wants to do a choir just so they can do a choir especially if they worked all week.
Momma used to buy the cheapest push mower that wal-mart sold every year (apprx. $100) Always a pain in the arse with that POS every time I stopped by to cut her grass... it was guaranteed not to run the next year, and the process would start over. I finally convinced her to let me go buy her a mower, and picked up a decent lawn-boy self propelled (apprx $200), and it has been working fine for years. Moral of the story is don't buy the cheapest crap tool on the market. The extra $100 is well worth it, and you can't put a price on ruined weekends where a 45 minute grass cutting job turned into an all day crap-mart brand lawn mower repair job.
barking.dog.productions1776 I agree. You don’t have to buy the fanciest most expensive model for sale, but when you spend $100 a year on cheap crap, why not buy a pro grade stihl that will last a home owner decades if taken care of?
I just popped the screen on my stihl leaf blower with a Phillips screwdriver! Notorious for them to clogg up. I just insert screwdriver that fits n tap with a hammer till it breaks through screen! Basically a spark arrestor. Not allowed to run on state game lands can cause fire? Lol. Just easy the way i do it. Lol
Just inherited an Echo string trimmer and an Echo long reach hedge trimmer from my neighbor. Both were basket cases. They both were setting upside down outside under the eves of his house for 2 years or more. I really need a long reach hedge trimmer so I am trying to get it to run...The engine was covered in sand because the rain has been running off the roof on to the ground beside it. I figured I could get one of the engines to run...Both were locked up...Disassembled the string trimmer and found it was locked up because of rust between ignition coil and flywheel...Got them both turning over and they both have compression!. Got spark on the string trimmer. None on the hedge trimmer. Cleaned up carberator on the string trimmer and it cranked 3rd pull...!!!, Found out the string head was broken when I went to put string on it...Fortunately I had a trimmer head that looks similar that came off another trimmer... Put that on and stringed it up. Now I have a string trimmer... I found I could interchange the trimmer head with the hedge trimming head and use the motor for both purposes....Still working on the hedge trimmer motor...Got to order a coil...I'll let you know how that turns out...What really amazes me is after 2 years in the rain no water got into either machine...Stihl is good..
Yeah l know but surely if the customer specifies "just change the primer cap" then thats all you do, and if he comes back then we start to talk about why its not running well......what do you think
@@laciLaszloM Well, that would be the way a dirtbag conducts business. More than likely the customer may also think, “what a crap mechanic, he could have called me and told me there was another problem with my machine and I would have gladly asked him to repair that also.”
@@InDisskyS131 well thats what lm practically saying......whether its over the phone or in person.....you do what the customer asks and if not working still, then workout what to do next......thanks for replying
Great video. I once had a fellow employee complain about no WOT and clutch slipping on Shindaiwa string trimmer. Once I replaced the clutch and moved the guard back down so that it would trim the line again.... Problem Solved! Bless’ns to ya, Tedd
This has been a super interesting video, thanx for uploading it man. I've had a petrol strimmer in my shed for more than a decade doing nothing because it won't start at all. You've inspired me to have a go at stripping it down a little to check for some of these easy fixes. Though I have the impression that the little fuel tank has an internal filter which is blocked. I really need it now as I haven't taken care of the heavier growth at the bottom of my garden, and with heavy rain we are getting in the UK this summer it's already growing like crazy!!!
MrSnookerballs optimist, he should just warm the carbie and apply a generous amount of carb cleaner to all jets and orifices and any filter screens before tossing out the old carb, often the carb is not bad if kept cool....
Excellent video, sir. I especially appreciated the close up shots so that I could really follow your instructions. You are a natural born teacher. Your knowledge and skills are first rate. Thank you again for sharing your work.
I like watching your videos, sir. Very informative. I once was a mower mechanic too, until I couldn't see the little things anymore. But I still love it.
Thanks for the video, I've fought my craftsman for 3 years now and that was the problem, I think I've been over mixing my gas. The screen was my problem. Thank you for saving me from drop kicking my trimmer across the yard!!
I would like to have $5 for every one of those screens I have taken out & blow torched clean in 35 years, the thing is it happens so slow you don't even notice but one sure clue is it will blow gas out the carb a little & usually your air filter Wii be a little wet . Thirty five + years working on small engine's that $5 would add up wouldn't it ! :-) " get out & get your hands dirty "
I've got my Dad's Stihl saw, those are the exact symptoms it shows. Last time I tried it, it started right away, wouldn't rev. Then it it died and wouldn't start again. If it has that screen, it must be nearly plugged solid.
I work at a STIHL shop and we see this regularly. Probably one of our most common issues we see in the spring/summer time. A lot of the commercial guys tear them out day one. (The spark arrestor or screen). Mixing your gas properly will still cause this issue over time. It's actually considered a maintenance thing.
When I pull stuff out of storage. I spray down hoses an primers with starting fluid, wait a few then pour some WD40 in tank. Prime let sit. Repeat. 3-4 times. Then empty pour in mix an good all season.
to us simple folks it's 5% power robbed by Californian legislation. I usually remove them...don't need them, as I don't live in a fire-prone area where they're necessary. I also replace my carbs with fully adjustable ones for RC airplane engines, because if I leave the california compliant part on the engines always lean burn and die within a season. Same with the oil mix, theycall for 50:1 I give them 30:1. If a two stroke isn't smoking blue under load it's gonna die soon!
@@TestECull yep, my dads polan wild thing and weedeater died in less than a year from too lean a mix. Can't remember if it was 40:1 or 50:1 but since then everything is 32:1
@@matthewhoffman9242 All in the name of a cleaner burning tool...way I see it, if emissions matter, use a Honda 4-cycle. Otherwise, let the two-stroke smoke, itt'l live a good long life that way!
Hi I'm joseph from NZ 🇳🇿 I've got a Hitachi curved shaft trimmer It did the same thing as well it didn't went to full throttle on the trigger. Thank you so much sir.
Put on new carb, primer bulb, fuel filter, spark plug, and new fuel lines. NOTHING. Took it to the shop, they to,d me it was a piece of garbage, and handed it back to me. I watched this video, the exhaust screen was totally plugged, I cleaned it, my trimmer runs better than new. THANK YOU so much, saved me $200.
I learned a thing. I quit having issues when I started using non-ethanol and synthetic 2 stroke oil. I never knew there was a screen in there. Can you imagine how many of these went out in the garbage because they did this? THUMBS UP!
millions. 4 stroke gens too. ethanol is a disaster.
@@wim0104 so true, i mistakenly put 85 ethanol on my 68 Slant Six Dart. it ran but as soon as i was at half tank i put regular gas till I reached my destination 150 miles away. now it has non ethanol and running fine.
wim0104 disaster.
my dad brings them home from the dump. most just need new plugs. Amazing people just throw them away. We have so many weedeaters and lawnmowers were dumped
I can, in my area I salvage the garbage trimmers, clean the carb then donate and sell. All because dirty gas, totally believeable.
As a professional you really didn't have a choice but to look into that. People like you are what brings business back. Good job.
except the cheapo customer probly wont want to pay for it.
Having a ‘pro’ do a repair and costing half of what the machine is worth doesn’t make sense. I’ll do what I can to repair it myself doing whatever research I need. After being screwed with a mower repair from the engine surging and having the issue come back after a month of use.. never again. $300 mower with a $150 ‘repair’...
So true! I wouldn't just Let it go either, it's what customers would expect. That's the foundation of a small buisness, CUSTOMER CARE.
@@Treyk901 you can't always blame the professional for that though. Sometimes the manufactures pricing structure makes repairing a unit simply not cost effective. Keep in mind most of the time, labor pricing is subject to local market value. So why would a repair shop cut their pricing if they don't have to? It simply the law of supply and demand.
I mean don't get me wrong, your approach is great if it works for you, but most folks don't have the time or interest in fixing something themselves.
But the repair to replace pricing ratio is what it is in most cases due to the manufacturing pricing structure. Repairing a carburetor on $150 piece of equipment is the same as on a $650 piece of equipment so why would the labor be less on a cheaper unit?
@@seanperdue232 yep just because they bault a 150$ power equipment not my problem labor is the same amount of time no matter what!! Go buy another they are trow aways at that price for real ! Don't expect a 20$ fix for your cheep Junk !!
Torque specs for small screws is 1/2 turn before it strips
That the correct torque requirements.
Or two turns after it gets looser
I've always used 0.500 rev before it strips. I'm very technically oriented.
It is the same torque as they use on the passenger jets at the factory. Tighten it up until it strips the back off half a turn. 🤭
Iv heard a "General rule" for tightening Any screw or bolt is = 500 ft lbs Plus a 1/4 Turn,
ESPECIALLY On weedeaters
Tight as you can get it. Then 2 full turns!
Thumbs up for being a stand-up repair guy. Nice to know there's still guys like you doing right by your customers.
Thank you so much! My trimmer had the exact issue, started easily and good idle but won’t rev or make power. I was ready to toss it and came across your video. I removed the 99% blocked screen and sandblasted it clean. The trimmer runs perfectly now!
The world is a better place because of people like you who share advice and help others.
I love it when a plan comes together!
brake cleaner is also great at finding cuts
.. It is indeed.
so is petrol, WD40, acetone, and hand cleaner.. ;)
Haha well said my friend, that’s great 😁
Yes for sure you will know where all your nicks and cuts are!
Carb cleaner is even worse becuase it is more acidic, if you get a good amount of it on your hands you will start to get white splotches on your hands,
You are a very good at what you do,we need more honest repair and service mechanic men like you in the field THANKS 👍
Your knowledge on 2 stroke motors is obvious... kudos to you my friend for a great video and problem resolution. I get so frustrated with 2 strokes I can’t even put it to words. Keep up the good work brother!
I’m halfway convinced youtube was listening to me try and start my weed eater and suggested this video
Wow same here
Always listening
Spyware
Me too!! Lol
Haha, same here folks, started bogging down when I fired it up this spring, now I know what to look at!
That was nice of you to fix that man’s weed eater so his wife can use it.
lol
Lmao
Comments like this are what gets people through a quarantine. Thank you for doing the Lord’s work. Lol
My neighbor said he lends his other neighbor his mower and HE mows his lawn for him.
my heavily endowed ex (F cup) wanted her garden tilled so i brought of a rototiller and beer and i watched her bounce for like 3 hrs (it was a moment in my life i wont forget).
This gentleman takes professional PRIDE in his work, oddly it’s a dying tradition in this country. Awesome job Sir, I appreciate your sharing this video.
Dying via designed obsolescence & out-moding. Big tech hates the trades class...
It's also a dying tradition because we have become a throw away society. If something breaks we throw it away and get a new one. Often because it cost the same or close to the same to fix it as it does to "just get a new one".
I have 5 paperweights that need that.Thank you.I bought new fuel line and filter kits,but never thought of the dang screen.
I think I have at least one or two..........
I have worked on many a small engine since I was a teenager, and have people tell me they have the same problem revving up their small engine. I'd say over 90% of the time, it's due to exhaust blockage. People should realize, these engines need service at least once a year, even if it's just a plain old going over tune up, and check for un-wanted wear and blockage. Nice video, and well laid out.
I think you just 'solved' my problem with my leaf blower and shrub trimmer! And I need a new bulb too!
He fixed.,he fixed.,he fixed..
The Echo.,Echo.,Echo...😁👍
Well done sir great video once the screen is out i always check the exaust port for build up a lot of times carbon builds up there i have found that many times . Pull the cord up till the piston is blocking the port past the rings carefully chip the carbon build up away with out gouging the piston
You did what's right the first time and that's all a customer can ask for. I applaud your integrity!
Problem with that precision screwdriver is that the bits can get stuck in a fastener and well fall out in to the abyss when you go to pull off. Also the end cap loves to jump off and drop the rest or the bits into the abyss. They love to hang out with the 10mm.
I have three or four nut- driver type screwdrivers with the most-frequently-used, replaceable hex-bits semi-permanently stuck into the tool with a little bit of sticky putty. I generally prefer that nut drivers, and magnetic bit holders for use with cordless screwdrivers, should have both a magnet and a little C-clip built into the socket, so that the bit stays in place and might even snap-in so snuggly that I have to grab the bit with pliers in order to pull it out and change it. It can be difficult to find nut drivers that have both the best possible strongest magnet built in as well has the Locking C-clip for the screw bit, but the sticky putty is a good compromise for use with those screwdriver bits and nut driver handles that would be most frequently used. Alternatively, you can you some electrical tape to hold the bit in place, but that stuff always starts melting and slipping off and leaving tape adhesive on the screw driver shaft and the screw bit itself.
I've got the same exact screwdriver plus a torx version and I I've never had any of those problems. I also use mine for smaller projects.
😆😆😆 "the 10mm" and the 13mm. You could have 10 each and still couldn't find one when you need it. My socket rack always has some empty spots.
Mark Bingham the 10 mm is so elusive.
@@kermitbearden7142 stop lying! its the 12mm that elopes with the 10mm!
I am a cabinet maker that doesn't know a lot about small gas engines, till now! Thanks!
any two cycle engine , this can happen to, I used to take care of a fleet of blowers and my own equipment had to clean out the exhaust every 10 to 20 hrs. thanks for reminding the masses about this.
Also better two stroke oils are available to minimise this problem, often at a more economical ratio , my two stroke engines are all running 25:1 oil mix and don’t smoke or suffer ....
This might sound strange but before working on any weedeaters I get in my shop. I always remove the covers and seal up intake port then hit them with de-greaser and give them a light pressure clean. Any small parts such as screws also get cleaned in a parts cleaning solution. Saves getting dirt into critical items while reassembling and makes them more presentable when you complete the job. I do live in a hot dry climate though so dewatering the units is rarely a problem.
Also give metal components a quick rinse in methylated spirits to help disperse any residual water.
I know that a vast majority of people do not have the tools or patience to do these repairs, I have the tools but need to buy a tub of patience. Lol. Thanks for sharing.
Stacy Cornett that’s what marijuana is for. Instant patience 😆
@@fringestream990 , I can't and won't touch that stuff. But I'm sure once I retire, I'll have all the patience I need. Lol. Plus a little liquid lubrication helps: ie Miller lite or Michelob.
What other 2 cycle motors do you see this on? I've never removed the muffler from a weedeater, so never knew that was there. What about chain saws?
I'm an Echo dealer. I've seen mud wasps get in things an fill them with mud trying to make a nest. Hard to see unless you are looking in the right place.
Same thing happened to me...I thought I'd never figure out why my normally very reliable trimmer would not start.Mud daubers had built a nest in the muffler; I cleaned it out and it fired right up. Who would have thought THAT would happen?
@@david9783 You learn all kinds of weird things in this business!
We get frequent carb problems here in asia caused by wasps plugging up gas tank vent tubes or carb vent tubes. I even had a red ant nest block up the air filter in my FZ09
@@theravedaddy Now brother,THAT is something to rave about!!!
Seen that also. One reason to leave the clean screen on otherwise they end up doing it in exhaust port. Many years ago I had a mouse nest in my dirt bike exhaust, buggers clogged it up bad enough it would not start.
Shout out to you sir...your video helped fix a go kart for my daughter this weekend after much frustration and troubleshooting. Grateful from Australia
Nice video. I had so much fewer problems once I switched to Small Engine Fuel in a can. If we have to be forced to buy ethanol fuel for our vehicles, it’s nice there is an alternative for small engines. Keep up the good work! 👍🏻
Thanks didn't know that was in those. Makes sense. Im a mech an something l love about the career is no end to the new things you learn. One trick to cure wobbling screwdriver is file tip a bit flat allows for better/deeper engagement l find l don't 'turn out' of the screw either.
Thanks for the knowledge
Using the correct size Philips bit, or any bit is key in the first place. I like your tip flattening suggestion as well.
Oh, the power of suggestion!! When you started spraying that cleaner with the camera in close up, I swear I got a strong wiff of the stuff! Pure suggestion - how powerful it is. Nice video, thanks.
I have had non stop carb issues with my Poulan which I use infrequently. I now drain the tank when I am finished and run the motor till it stops. This helps.
I think you just solved my issue. I haven’t used my edger in 4 years.
Thanks. Clear descriptions of thought process to solving the won't rev problem.
I'm going to try this tonight when I get home. My ryiobi started that same crap last year towards the end of the grass cutting season!
You take pride in your work, I can see it gives you anxiety to let something go out of your shop that isn't fully fixed, even if the customer was unaware of the problem to start with. If I was the customer I wouldn't want you to feel guilty about upselling if it really needs it (as was the case here).
I've got an Echo SRM 225, so I found this video very helpful. I repaired an Echo SRM 225 for a friend that had the piece between the engine and the carburetor cracked apart. I now can't remember what Echo calls this piece, intake insulator, I think. But it was the cause of a "won't start" situation he had with this machine.
I appreciate you talking about the business part of your job. I found a broke lawn mower in the trash a couple years ago and thought it would be fun trying to fix it. I started picking up trashed equipment fixing and selling. Now I even do repairs for customers but I have a hard time knowing when and how much to charge. Also, like with your echo i find other problems that I couldn't foresee until I fix the first issue. Many times I end up putting too much labor into something and then have to charge additionally to my previous estimate. I never worked in a shop so I don't know how much they would charge to earn a profit without ripping my customer off. I usually just decide how much would I want to be charged if someone did the work for me? Is there some kind of manual that could help me with how much to charge for my repairs? Thanks man, I enjoy watching you fix things, the right way.
call your local Small Engine shop. Ask them for an estimate of the exact work that you're doing, as if you were going to bring something in to get fixed. and then use their estimate as a reference point.
I remember my days at the ole Homelite shop in Sunny Buckhannon WV working on OPE. The things you would see come in at early spring would make you giggle. Best part is when they bring it in for a mud dobber's nest in the exhaust hole LOL that is just priceless.
Better yet.....when they bring something in and you can't fault it and after talking to them it turns out to be an operator error......l know as a person you can't be expected to know everything but sometimes l wonder if you can't work this out then how do you have to brain power to manipulate a motor vehicle through traffic to get here?
GOOD CALL, To many Idiots go straight to the carb adjustment screws! Then it's a real pain to set right. I have seen all sorts with wee 2 stroke engines. Too lean cos the air box is bust, air leaks in the fuel lines/primer bubble, air leaks in the gaskets, leaking crankshaft oil seals and the same old thing, they start but just don't run right. The screen in the exhaust is so often overlooked.
good video, maybe while you are spraying the gunk off with brake cleaner, take the time to use a toothbrush and clean the stuck on gunk. makes the job more impressive if it's returned cleaned!
I save all my old toothbrushes, they come in handy for so many jobs. I always have a few with my pipe soldering tools to put flux on with.
I save a couple of my old Sonic electric toothbrush brushes (they screw out and get replaced every 3 months) and put the old one back on for just this kind of cleaning and man, it is fast and easy that way and has so many other uses, too. Then when done, unscrew it and put the good brush back on and brush my teeth.
Soak the whole thing in a 55 gallon barrel of brake cleaner. Clean as a whistle. A bit expensive but, oh well. :)
@@guesswho2378 cool trick gerard, but for less than 5 bux, you can get a cheap electric toothbrush and dedicate it to garage use only.
Good tip
Do you have a toothbrush I could borrow
Outstanding, you are a trustworthy person. Here are a few things about your video making it an extreme pleasure watching:
1. Your camera is in landscape mode. All videos should always be in landscape, our TV, movie theaters, and computer monitors are landscape. Vertical video cuts off the left and right of the video, yes there is a reason vertical is called portrait.
2. You mounted your camera. A moving camera is extremely annoying and spatially disconcerting. Also, it is difficult trying to focus.
3. Lack of music except at the very end. We come to hear and lean not fight music, many viewers have hearing difficulties thus music is distracting.
Sir, truly I tip my hat to you, thank you!
Thank you sir for posting this, my echo trimmer is behaving the same way. Will check to see if that screen is blocked.
I solved this problem by getting a battery powered trimmer. But I'm gonna try this on my gas trimmer. It runs but won't rev up. Dies when you throttle it up. Thanks for the info!
What brand trimmer did u get? Voltage?
It's just an 18 volt Ryobi. I have other 18v Ryobi tools so I figured I'd try that. Haven't used it yet though.
My gas trimmer is a Troybilt.
My nana has the smallest ryobi trimmer and it works really well she also has an electric lawn mower it is really nice will cut thick long grass like nothing really leaves a great mow job. Believe it’s an ezgo we don’t have neighbors but best thing is u can mow at anytime and not feel bad even has head lights . Cheers
@@caseG80 Good to know! I don't have a lot of edging that I have to do so I'm hoping that the trimmer will stay charged enough each mowing to get through it without having to stop to switch batteries.
Hey man I really did enjoy this video thanks for taking the time to teach me something. I'm looking forward to your maintenance. Keep up the good work 💪
All my lawn equipment gets the modified exhaust treatment from day one. And been an echo fan for 30 years now and still have my first grey model trimmer still runs but I use my updated ones now. Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.
Preach it brother!!
I cant understand why anyone would take stuff to a shop when they think it only needs a primer bulb. Youd think they could pop one in themselves. Thumbs up video.
If it bust during the time you are running the unit or you have used the unit in the last couple of weeks you right a customer could replace it themselves with the total confidence that it will work like it should or did! I COMPLETELY agree with the customers trying i love selling primer bulds. BUT IF you haven't ran it in months and you try to use the unit and before you could get it to crank it bust ill c u at the shop!!!!!!!
Maybe their TIME is more valuable.
You won’t believe how many people bring primer bulb and pull string replacements to my shop. It’s surprisingly staggering.
@@LOUROLDDAN, its simply because most people are not educated on fixing things any more.
@@NitroGuyJH make that money sir
I have an older Echo curved shaft. It was a roadside find. Put a new carb on it. Got a new trimmer head and used grass deflector off e bay. This is my go to trimmer, I heave 5 string trimmers, this is my favorite. I fix these and do sales, every one wants an Echo. No gots, the only one I’ve ever seen on a curb find.
I love watching a expert at work
Thank you I was about to give up trying to get my chainsaw to accelerate. I didn't even think that a coil could cause so much trouble I ordered one and another muffler the arrestor is good I will let you know you made my day I have been thinking about making that saw a boat anchor until now thank you
EXCELLENT Well documented NON VERTICAL VIDEO! Kudos to you Sir.
This video really helped me. Too many things I can't fix on small engines. The things I don't know could fill a small volume. An exhaust screen. Never heard of it until now.
Dang, I didn't think I had any microphones around me several days ago when I mentioned the weed-eater bogging down to my mom. Guess I was talking too loud.
Invidious Ignoramus you think that’s bad, I’ve never even talked about it but recently my side by side has been shutting off when I hit the gas after first starting up. Getting to the point I need to just burn my phone and go back to telegraph.
We are listening!
I Did, TWO Down,I spaced.
well done. nothing like an honest repair man.
I too 100% love my screwdriver kit..I have..that is exactly like yours...they also have the torx bit driver also...that looks exactly like the screwdriver one..except the end is red...
Kennynva - I have both also. Great for smaller components in coffee and espresso machines.
My Stihl FS55 has been without a primer bulb for 6 years now. A tiny little bit of ether sprayed onto the air filter and it starts first pull any day of the year. Thanks for the great video. Liked and Subscribed. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing this video on to replace the fuel primer bulb and troubleshooting the exhaust screen clogged... 😊
I'm sure this will resurrect my last trimmer I set aside in the shed, it was acting the same way. I had a brand new trimmer motor around that I bought for the chainsaw attachment so I started using that one. Now I have a pretty good idea where to start when I get around to working on the old one. Thank you so much!
my huskey is doing the same thing! 11 years old! thought it was the screen, thanks!
I’ve found that the commercial lawn guys mix their gas so rich (like 3-4 times what’s needed) their machines can’t do anything BUT clog up. I bought a used Echo blower that had been pouring oil out of the muffler for months or years and would barely start. 10 minutes with a torch and a wire wheel, and a $12 carb, and it was like new. Love my Echos.
Sho Yu Weeni “A bit,” maybe. 3-4 times? All that does is carbon everything up.
I think you just saved me from another Rumple Stilskin style driveway tantrum. Thanks!
Good video.
I subscribed.
I've been a small engine mech for a long time, except for the past ten years when arthritis started kicking in on my right shoulder. You did exactly what I would have done.
1/2 hr work and a little dust off and she's back out to the owner.
@Syd G honestly it depends on how the customer acts.
If they're nice and chill, not trying to rush me, I would definitely check the air filter and blow out debris and such.
If they're in a hurry I'll do what they ask me to do, get it running -if it runs at all, and call them to come in for pick-up or to talk about further repairs lile carb cleaning and rebuild, fuel line and filter replacement, starter rope etc depending on what it needs.
And Never -Ever run a bill up on a customer when they don't ask for extra work to be done.
Tought i heard someone say they were going to CLEAN the area still waiting for that to happen
Great call on the on plugged exhaust heard it right from the start
It even idles better. Great video. I,m subbed Thanks
I've worked on a lot of small engines and have never seen a screen that dirty. I was thinking it needed a carb adjustment, but learned something today. Thanks.
I've NEVER seen a screen in the exhaust muffler on a smoke belching purposely rich running 2 stroke engine .. what the hell was someone thinking who designed that crap? .. get that screen out of there, NOW!!!
@@KrustyKlown Yeah, pretty dumb.
I'll take a wild guess and say the guy who came up with it,
was named "Peter Principal".
Thanks for posting! Do you think that a blocked screen would also cause a echo backpack blower to get finicky when wound up? Starts in about ten pulls and idle/ high speed does not stay up. Seems to choke and down throttle. And I have to work the throttle to stay going.
Thanks for the opinion.
Jim Pikul yes if it is quite but it sounds like it needs a carb clean if it takes 10 pulls try cleaning the main jet first before you clean the screen
zachattack1479 thanks for the help!
@@jimpikul8551 anytime
Also the carb slider cylinder is noted for braking. if you feel a bumb in the throttle, thats your issue. you can run it wide open but runs terrible because the mix is wrong. new carb kit from Amazon $20
Clean around screws after brake fluid spray.
An old tooth brush works great for this
PORTLAND DOEBOY I did. U musta skipped over that part
@@THEMOWERMEDIC1 Rewatch your video. There is still a bunch of gunk around the screws as you remove them. I didn't skip anything. Lol
PORTLAND DOEBOY hahaha...that was bothering me too!
Some Mechs don't have the pride in the work they do.
Have done that on many pieces that I’ve owned over the years great video on that repair…👍👍👍
My stihl gas leaf blower did this , I found a dirt Dobber made his home in The exhaust !! Lol
Pretty good info , nice job , I know if you use cheap premix oil you take a chance of it fouling up your exhaust ports and the spark arrestor screen ! I recently took my shindiawa T-235 an cleaned the exhaust port an the entire exhaust aka muffler , it runs great now , it was bogging down an getting funky on the no revving department but that is usually what happens with a lot of use on one ! Don't forget to check the carb an disassemble it cleaning it with non chlorinated card spray using the small red jet spray nozzle that attaches to the spray nozzle on the can ! Clean that internal fuel screen as well , because tiny minute particles build up on the screen an reduce performance! Use the proper sparkplug always , usually an ngk brand , look up manufacturer recommended spark plugs and don't go cheap on some other brand of plug ! Always allow time for the engine to warm up before you go to revving on it , as the Piston expands BEFORE the thicker cylinder wall will ,! Prevent scoring up your Piston and cylinder wall causing premature wear , let that engine warm up for at least a minute , you will make your weedater last longer by doing this !
"I got the... shaft - of the trimmer... softly clamped in my vise." 🤣 Sorry, my inner 14 year old just fell apart with that line. Well done!
ThePOWERtoRULE u put ur weiner in a vice?
@@THEMOWERMEDIC1 No sir but you never know what people are into!
Hey IRWIN Reps.. Vise-Dick
Yea it's only a two stroke. Ha ha ha
Yes, absolutely replace the fuel lines now.
Another thing that keeps customers coming back is we always super cleaned the entire piece of equipment whatever came in for service. Degrease the engine and clean the mower decks and a quick hose down. Customers love that part of service.
Well? Did you leave that Screen out or did you clean it. Cleaned out the ones on my 2 steal saws till I finely just left them out. They are flame ares-tors and removal could cause a fire. But use mine in a safe area.
This helped me as well.... Stihl trimmer that I got from my F-in-L would idle, but not rev up. After watching this, I popped the screen off, which was almost completely plugged with black residue, and it ran just fine at full throttle. Now to replace the primer bulb as well.Thanks!
More than welcome. Thanks for watching!
I have a Kohler Courage 22 horse twin it has that first turn hard start will not start I've tried adjusting valves what else is there
Mine has done that since brand new for 8 seasons now. I have to manually turn it backwards off a compression stroke to start. It’s really bad when the engine is hot and you shut it off and then try to restart it. Two dealers could not fix it. Both said valve adjustment but that didn’t fix it. Tried new coils and that didn’t work either. It did the same thing every time until I got rid of it. Still runs like a new motor just a bugger to start
I had a similar problem with a Stihl trimmer where it wouldn't rev up. I took it in for repair and was told there was water in the fuel. I use the same fuel for my other small engines without problems. I think I may have been taken for a ride with the $190.00 repair bill I received. I now know what to look for if I run into this problem again. Thanks for a great tip.
How did you clean the screen? That wasn’t shown and is key, IMO. Thx!
I think the correct way to clean the screen is to just replace it with a new one, they can't cost all that much.
Propane torch will burn the carbon off...
@@kebo57 nope . small torch- just few seconds till it glows and see sparks of burnt carbon fly off/ perfect clean.. like new... can add holes with drill bit /fk the commy bastards/ be louder and need re adjusted- but way more 1/3 horsepower
throw it away
Take torch to it. Propane. Burn it and it will ash out. Gently clean with a wire brush. Done
I like how he uses the grit in the screw threads 4:48-5:38 & 10:56-11:07 to lock the screws in-place. Saves on returns to his shop for missing screws.
Some mechanics wash and dry dirty screws before reinstalling them. I guess they are pressing their luck...!
just made me realise that I have bought at least 2 new trimmers because of that very reason
Love my old echo trimmer! I rescued it at a garage sale for 7$ and after some initial maintenance, it's been going strong for nearly ten years now.
A wise investment. I own a srm225 and after new fuel lines, primer bulb and a little tuning it's starts instantly idles smoothly and is unstoppable all throughout the throttle. Very good machines.
@@shawndubay4050 - Make it almost 11 years. I just used it tonight!
@@SomeGuyInSandy that's great. They will run forever with proper fuel and care.I have 3 stihl trimmers for the out of control stuff and brush but always find myself grabbing the echo most of the time. My back also likes it the best because it's so light. If you were wondering. I had a small lawn and landscape thing going for a bit. That's why I now have 4 trimmers and a bunch of other professional stuff.
I cleaned the screen using a propane torch to burn the carbon. What do you do
Did the same thing for my Stihl.
I toss mine in the garbage
@@Mr_Clean Me too
Great video! I have an echo weedeater and couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t idle up when I increased the throttle. Now I know why and fixed it in 3 minutes. Saved me a lot of time and money. I almost was fed up with it to the point of taking it to the dealer to get it figured out.
I didn’t know those come with a spark arrester. I can’t tell you how many times I saw my old man shatter a two stoke weed eater on concrete for this exact problem without ever changing the spark plug, air filter, or using fuel stabilizer for storage. Then he just went walyworld and bought the cheapest thing they had, again. Fits the definition of insanity pretty well if you ask me.
blake dymond
I can relate to your old man ;)
Sometimes when I'm hired to mow a lawn I don't have the time to mess with it and it gets frustrating.
I've gotten better tho, now that i know what's up
probably the same what was wrong with a scooter i was given, started and idled great, wouldnt rev up or go abot say 5mph, no-one told me it was probably a blocked exhaust (2stroke scooter)
I quit buying 2 strokes for lawn equipment.(Johnson / Evinrude the outboard engine people needed to make power lawn equipment so there could have been quality stuff that was meant to be repaired but I digress).The quality is just terrible on non commercial quality brands 50 hour life cycles just don't cut it. it does not matter if it is an Echo, Poulan, Sthil, Craftsman, Husqvarna, weed eater or any other 2-stroke you see at a department/home improvement store
I have a half acre that has a full lawn and established pine trees along with fruit trees and I get about a year out of these things and they become problematic.
Here in California our fuel contains ethanol and it just destroys these things, I have even dumped all the fuel out and let them idle until they stalled from a lack of fuel hoping this would solve some of their issues (it didn't help at all, we don't have a off season its Southern California so you use this stuff pretty much year round but I figured it was worth a shot anyways I even use Sta-bil in the fuel to help keep it fresh longer).
I am not your average consumer as I am a ASE certified mechanic (not an expert in two strokes although but an engine is an engine for the most part) and I am a hardcore DIYer never hiring out to repair anything. From my experience as a general rule If the primer bulb is bad so are the fuel lines, if the fuel lines are bad so is the spark plug (you can clean and regap it, and if the plug is fouled up the carb is probably do for a rebuild / clean out. Then there is that spark arrestor in the exhaust that is near impossible to clean cooked carbon off of supposing you can get it off in one piece to clean it...Once you replace or repair all this stuff you're out about 80 bucks that it would just cost for a new one not to mention all the 3-4 hours of labor and the risk of breaking one of these little plastic bits that were never designed to be taken off after they were assembled. Just pure garbage.
Smashing it like Jimi Hendrix would smash a guitar is quiet satisfying and your old man was probably smarter then you give him credit for.
No body wants to do a choir just so they can do a choir especially if they worked all week.
Momma used to buy the cheapest push mower that wal-mart sold every year (apprx. $100) Always a pain in the arse with that POS every time I stopped by to cut her grass... it was guaranteed not to run the next year, and the process would start over. I finally convinced her to let me go buy her a mower, and picked up a decent lawn-boy self propelled (apprx $200), and it has been working fine for years. Moral of the story is don't buy the cheapest crap tool on the market. The extra $100 is well worth it, and you can't put a price on ruined weekends where a 45 minute grass cutting job turned into an all day crap-mart brand lawn mower repair job.
barking.dog.productions1776 I agree. You don’t have to buy the fanciest most expensive model for sale, but when you spend $100 a year on cheap crap, why not buy a pro grade stihl that will last a home owner decades if taken care of?
Mine is doing the exact same thing. And I just took it out of storage as well. Going out right now to see if that’s what the problem is. Thanks.
I have an old echo 302
chain saw it has the same problem, i think the Exhaust screen is plugged I will let you know or what do you think
I just popped the screen on my stihl leaf blower with a Phillips screwdriver! Notorious for them to clogg up. I just insert screwdriver that fits n tap with a hammer till it breaks through screen! Basically a spark arrestor. Not allowed to run on state game lands can cause fire? Lol. Just easy the way i do it. Lol
Just inherited an Echo string trimmer and an Echo long reach hedge trimmer from my neighbor. Both were basket cases. They both were setting upside down outside under the eves of his house for 2 years or more. I really need a long reach hedge trimmer so I am trying to get it to run...The engine was covered in sand because the rain has been running off the roof on to the ground beside it. I figured I could get one of the engines to run...Both were locked up...Disassembled the string trimmer and found it was locked up because of rust between ignition coil and flywheel...Got them both turning over and they both have compression!. Got spark on the string trimmer. None on the hedge trimmer. Cleaned up carberator on the string trimmer and it cranked 3rd pull...!!!, Found out the string head was broken when I went to put string on it...Fortunately I had a trimmer head that looks similar that came off another trimmer... Put that on and stringed it up. Now I have a string trimmer... I found I could interchange the trimmer head with the hedge trimming head and use the motor for both purposes....Still working on the hedge trimmer motor...Got to order a coil...I'll let you know how that turns out...What really amazes me is after 2 years in the rain no water got into either machine...Stihl is good..
Yes, if you don't test it and the customer can't get it to run right, he'll be back.
Yeah l know but surely if the customer specifies "just change the primer cap" then thats all you do, and if he comes back then we start to talk about why its not running well......what do you think
@@laciLaszloM Well, that would be the way a dirtbag conducts business. More than likely the customer may also think, “what a crap mechanic, he could have called me and told me there was another problem with my machine and I would have gladly asked him to repair that also.”
@@InDisskyS131 well thats what lm practically saying......whether its over the phone or in person.....you do what the customer asks and if not working still, then workout what to do next......thanks for replying
M.A.G.A
Great video. I once had a fellow employee complain about no WOT and clutch slipping on Shindaiwa string trimmer. Once I replaced the clutch and moved the guard back down so that it would trim the line again....
Problem Solved!
Bless’ns to ya, Tedd
This has been a super interesting video, thanx for uploading it man. I've had a petrol strimmer in my shed for more than a decade doing nothing because it won't start at all. You've inspired me to have a go at stripping it down a little to check for some of these easy fixes. Though I have the impression that the little fuel tank has an internal filter which is blocked. I really need it now as I haven't taken care of the heavier growth at the bottom of my garden, and with heavy rain we are getting in the UK this summer it's already growing like crazy!!!
If it's not run for 10 years then a new carb will be required as fuel deteriorates and will block the needle jets and will never get them clean.
MrSnookerballs optimist, he should just warm the carbie and apply a generous amount of carb cleaner to all jets and orifices and any filter screens before tossing out the old carb, often the carb is not bad if kept cool....
Excellent video, sir. I especially appreciated the close up shots so that I could really follow your instructions. You are a natural born teacher. Your knowledge and skills are first rate. Thank you again for sharing your work.
Glad it was helpful!
Loads of help, you got me going again, thanks!
M.A.G.A
I like watching your videos, sir. Very informative. I once was a mower mechanic too, until I couldn't see the little things anymore. But I still love it.
I take the screen off wen brand new because it will clog up eventually
I too take the screens off when new because race car power and sound 😅
Thanks for the video, I've fought my craftsman for 3 years now and that was the problem, I think I've been over mixing my gas. The screen was my problem. Thank you for saving me from drop kicking my trimmer across the yard!!
I would like to have $5 for every one of those screens I have taken out & blow torched clean in 35 years, the thing is it happens so slow you don't even notice but one sure clue is it will blow gas out the carb a little & usually your air filter Wii be a little wet . Thirty five + years working on small engine's that $5 would add up wouldn't it ! :-) " get out & get your hands dirty "
I just removed mine, to hell with those screens. I don't have a problem now.
I've got my Dad's Stihl saw, those are the exact symptoms it shows. Last time I tried it, it started right away, wouldn't rev. Then it it died and wouldn't start again. If it has that screen, it must be nearly plugged solid.
Are they in a 5 horse Mercury?
I work at a STIHL shop and we see this regularly. Probably one of our most common issues we see in the spring/summer time.
A lot of the commercial guys tear them out day one. (The spark arrestor or screen). Mixing your gas properly will still cause this issue over time. It's actually considered a maintenance thing.
When I pull stuff out of storage. I spray down hoses an primers with starting fluid, wait a few then pour some WD40 in tank. Prime let sit. Repeat. 3-4 times. Then empty pour in mix an good all season.
That is a spark arrestor. To us simple folks it's called a screen.
to us simple folks it's 5% power robbed by Californian legislation. I usually remove them...don't need them, as I don't live in a fire-prone area where they're necessary.
I also replace my carbs with fully adjustable ones for RC airplane engines, because if I leave the california compliant part on the engines always lean burn and die within a season. Same with the oil mix, theycall for 50:1 I give them 30:1.
If a two stroke isn't smoking blue under load it's gonna die soon!
@@TestECull yep, my dads polan wild thing and weedeater died in less than a year from too lean a mix. Can't remember if it was 40:1 or 50:1 but since then everything is 32:1
@@matthewhoffman9242 All in the name of a cleaner burning tool...way I see it, if emissions matter, use a Honda 4-cycle. Otherwise, let the two-stroke smoke, itt'l live a good long life that way!
@@TestECull yep, also the smoke helps keep the mosquitoes off...
Hi I'm joseph from NZ 🇳🇿 I've got a Hitachi curved shaft trimmer
It did the same thing as well it didn't went to full throttle on the trigger. Thank you so much sir.
I'm watching this video and smelling the sweetness of 2 cycle exhaust, right here in my office.