Well I have this weed wacker a friend got for me (not working at the time) and I'm working on repairing it. I found that the sparkplug in the wacker was to larger and the gap was reduced to 0 when then piston crushes it when it turns over. I got a new sparkplug that better fit the engineand cleaned the engine and carb. I pulled the rip cord and got nothing. I pulled again a lot faster and got two turnovers after I had finished. I tried a few more times and was able to get the engine running. I gently switched off the choke and the engine roared to life for about 4 seconds and then lost it. Try as I might I can't get this thing to start again. The fact that it has started even for a short time suggests that everything is in working order. Does anybody know what could be causing this? Thanks

-- Evan Sangaline (Navarchy@yahoo.com), September 08, 2001

Answers

It sounds like your timing. Take a small slotted screwdriver and turn both needle valves on the carburator all the way in.(not to tight) Then back each one of them back out 1 1/2 turns. Try starting the engine. If it starts you can now adjust the low set screw until the engine is running smothely. Next throttle the engine up and you can now adjust the high set screw until the engine runs smoothly. Let the engine come back to an idle and readjust your low set screw once again. Next check your check you high idle by giving it more throttle and make any necessary adjustments again. This should get you real close.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), September 08, 2001.

Id suggest its starving for fuel at high rpm. Maybe a partial clogged fuel line,, or jet or needle valve .

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 08, 2001.

I would try fresh gas first.That is the easiest thing to try. Moisture in fuel somtimes acts pretty strange. Be sure the fuel is MIXED according to factory specs. 40:1 is safe for most anything if you have no directions.

-- Darren in Idaho (darrencindy2000@yahoo.com), September 10, 2001.