Thread: 2 Stroke Blower Vac

Do you have the kill switch on? Do you have spark?

Hi I used to have a Sthill brush cutter and had the same dramas, pulled it apart several times, changed the fuel, spent 2 days fiddling with it. Just about to throw it across the shed and hit it with large hammer when I noticed the exhuast was blocked.

After a bit of digging and scraping discovered it was a wasp nest, they love the small hole for the exhaust. Once claeaned out fired up first time. Have a look just in case.

The small engine experts usually come out of their caves on questions like this.
Three things , air fuel and spark, if one is missing the machine will not work.
I sell lots of these, they are in a nutshell a McCulloch owned by Husqvarna, who also own Flymo and Talon.
The main problems with these is fuel, the High and low speed jets, being american they are tuned very lean at factory( they are emission control conscious) that doesn;t help the occasional user here, the fuel passages, especially in the low speed jet, gum up, preventing fuel from getting through. A suggestion put some carby cleaner through it, while its apart, they spray stuff works well.
take the primer bulb off, sometimes you can get an airlock in the lines, the valves under the primer do not allow fuel through to the fuel bowl.
an easy way to see if it will start is to pour about a teaspoon of fuel direct into the carby, it should at least cough and try to start if the ignition system is ok.
Depending on the model it could have either a walbro or Zama carb on it, kits are easy to get for them.

If its still under warranty take it to the service agent, if not.
good luck.

john

Originally Posted by adonuff

Hi I used to have a Sthill brush cutter and had the same dramas, pulled it apart several times, changed the fuel, spent 2 days fiddling with it. Just about to throw it across the shed and hit it with large hammer when I noticed the exhuast was blocked.

After a bit of digging and scraping discovered it was a wasp nest, they love the small hole for the exhaust. Once claeaned out fired up first time. Have a look just in case.

My old neighbour the small engine repair man used to love spring time. Unblock all the mufflers from mud wasp nests and charge! You should leave a bung in the exhaust when storing a motor tool. Same with my fire pump, the plug fell out last year and a wasp said "thanks".

Franz ... is the spark plug getting wet with fuel after you've tried to start it numerous times ??

Yes, check for a blocked exhaust (wasp!).

How long has it been sitting idle for ... with fuel in the tank ?

Fuel doesn't have any shelf life anymore.

No kill switch on this model.

How do I check if there's a spark? (without using myself as a guinea pig )

Cheers,

Franz

Originally Posted by Fluids

Franz ... is the spark plug getting wet with fuel after you've tried to start it numerous times ??

Yes, check for a blocked exhaust (wasp!).

How long has it been sitting idle for ... with fuel in the tank ?

Fuel doesn't have any shelf life anymore.

Kev,

I think there was some fuel on the plug.

Exhaust is fine and it ran about 3 weeks ago.

Cheers,

Franz

Originally Posted by JohnE

The small engine experts usually come out of their caves on questions like this.
Three things , air fuel and spark, if one is missing the machine will not work.
I sell lots of these, they are in a nutshell a McCulloch owned by Husqvarna, who also own Flymo and Talon.
The main problems with these is fuel, the High and low speed jets, being american they are tuned very lean at factory( they are emission control conscious) that doesn;t help the occasional user here, the fuel passages, especially in the low speed jet, gum up, preventing fuel from getting through. A suggestion put some carby cleaner through it, while its apart, they spray stuff works well.
take the primer bulb off, sometimes you can get an airlock in the lines, the valves under the primer do not allow fuel through to the fuel bowl.
an easy way to see if it will start is to pour about a teaspoon of fuel direct into the carby, it should at least cough and try to start if the ignition system is ok.
Depending on the model it could have either a walbro or Zama carb on it, kits are easy to get for them.

If its still under warranty take it to the service agent, if not.
good luck.

john

Thanks for the tips John.

I suspect it may be the carby and will try to clean it. When I press the primer bulb I get sonme fuel through but not a lot - I'm not sure how much I should be getting though.

So, carby cleaner is the next step.

Cheers,

Franz