tearing my hair out. >Gasoline Weed Trimmer Fails To Start<

I have a simple, small gas weed whacker. One I bought from Home Depot. It ran good last year.

I added:

ethanol absorber
fuel cleaner
stabil
oil

with each tank of gas.

It ran good until about Oct, and sat in the shed all winter. Now, it won't start.

I put either in the cylinder, and it still doesn't start.

With ether, I normally get anything to at least start.

Is there any simple thing I can do to it? Or is it a throw-away?

 

Do you have spark?? I would stay away from the either, it tends to dry things out in a 2 cycle engine. Also you may want to check for compession, remove spark plug and see if it is fouled. Also you wight want to look into the cylinder with flash light to see if cylinder is scored. Also check the spark arrestor in muffler. What brand is this and what is model number. Sounds like way to much additive to me. JMO

 

Really folks, read your posts before you post them, there are many, many posts on the forums, the people reading the requests select the ones they help by what info is presented. To say you have a weed whacker from HD that ran last year and doesn't run this year, is putting the burden of not only what the problem is but what is the equipment. Based on your limited info, I would say it is a TroyBilt 4-cycle. Check the compression less the 100 it's shot. Have a good one. Geo

 

rbig

Retitled your question. "tearing my hair out." Says nothing descriptive about the problem...

Failure to start, regardless of brand, says almost all.

Most likely I haven't covered all of the possibilities. The resident small engine service and repair professionals in the forum may be able to offer additional suggestions, advice & help.

Check back on your question several times over the next few days for additional replies.

Most likely problems.
Bad spark plug. Check by placing plug with wire attached to engine and pull stater cord. Spark should be seen jumping across electrodes. No spark, replace plug. Cheap first attempt to fix.

Another possible cause is a gummed up carb, regardless of fuel additives added. Fuel in diaphragm carb evaporated. Internal jets gummed up. Diaphragm dried out or dried up. Total carb cleaning and rebuilding very likely required.

My Two ¢¢¢¢.

Regards & Good Luck. Sharp Advice.
25 year Vocational Small Engine Tech. Web Site Host & Admin, Forums Monitor and Multiple Topics Moderator.

 

I firmly believe that weed whackers were created as an experiment to test the patience and resolve of men while attempting to work in their backyards. I bought one two years ago and spent good money on getting a good one. The first year, I'm sure I scared the heck out of all my neighbours by having fits of rage trying to get the thing going and swearing at the top of my lungs. Strangely, as the thing ages it's getting easier to start.

Sadly, I don't have much to offer in terms of why the poor thing won't start.

 

Mny thanks, guys. I'll replace the spark plug. That should get 'er going....

Like a ninny I didn't think of the single thing that should do it....

 

Two cycle engines are picky when attempting to start from cold. Often times one or two cord pulls with choke on gets enough fuel into cylinder. (Combustion Chamber beneath the piston) Constant cord pulling with choke fully on can flood combustion chamber causing a no start condition.

Try this. Choke on. Two cord pulls. Chock off or partially opened. Try starting. Once you determine which method works with chock not fully closed, that may be all that is required. In some instances some engines will start up with throttle closed, partially opened or fully opened.

Dam little noisy and pesky two cycles can cause frustrations!!!... However, finding which method works best with the engine you have resolves difficult and or hard starting problems...

My Additional Two ¢¢¢¢.

Regards & Good Luck. Sharp Advice.
25 year Vocational Small Engine Tech. Web Site Host & Admin, Forums Monitor and Multiple Topics Moderator.

 

Almost all the small two stroke engine problems from one year to the next is caused by carburetor issues. It is an easy, inexpensive fix. A carb rebuilding kit is only about $10. There are also a few videos on youtube on how to do it.

I highly doubt the motor is shot.