Petrol Strimmer Problems - Please help!

[ewallsuk]

I have my hands on a friends petrol strimmer but I can’t get it to start.

It is a 4 stroke Honda GX35 engine.

It starts occasionally and will run for about 5 seconds before stopping which makes me think it is a fuel supply issue.

- The on switch is ON,

- The plug is OK and gets a spark,

- I have drained the tank and carb and put fresh petrol that I bought yesterday in it but that hasn’t helped so it doesn’t seem to be a problem with stale fuel,

- I have tried the choke in every imaginable position.

I don’t know what else to try. Does anyone have any suggestions? How can I check and correct a fuel supply problem on a little motor.

[Nicos]

Oh gosh it's always when you borrow stuff isn't it????

Can't help you...but here's something to look through if you've not got one to hand....

http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/...ls/GX25-35.pdf

( I think it's the right one????)

Good luck!

[Aberdeenplotter]

Have you spoken to your friend? He/she may be able to tell you about the machine's vagaries. If no enlightenment there, try dismantling the air cleaner assembly and remove the air filter. Sometimes these become clogged or totally soaked with fuel and the effect is like having the choke fully closed. If it runs without the air filter, either wash out the existing one with clean fuel or replace it with a new one. I personally would also treat the machine to a new spark plug even if there is a spark. Failing that, it's a long way from Brighton to Kintore(10miles from me) but the guy who repairs my machines is a wizz

[Aberdeenplotter]

Just as an aside. With the air filter removed, you should be able to see the butterfly of the choke mechanism. Make sure it is closed before you try to start the machine. When the machine offers to start as you pull the recoil mechanism, fully open the choke and then pull again. If you continue to pull without opening the choke, you will flood the carburettor and make it almost impossible to start.

[Graham K]

1. Switch OFF the ignition switch.

2. Pull the starter 2 or 3 times (gets the petrol moving).

3. Switch ON the ignition switch and using FULL choke, try to start the engine.

If it starts rev the engine for no more than TEN (10) seconds and while revving the engine open the choke. The engine should pick up and run smoother, don't let the engine die on you until it has warmed up, don't use the choke again, this can take as long as five (5) or more minutes.

If the engine fails to start repeat the above, but no more than 2 or 3 times or you risk flooding the engine. Flooding = obvious smell of petrol, petrol leaking from the engine or air filter. If you flood switch OFF the ignition, open the choke, tie or "hold" the throttle open fully, put it down, walk away and have a beer or a coffee. Come back in 15 minutes and try again.

If it still doesn't start, find a different mate with a strimmer!

Graham.

[Chef_uk]

My strimmer has to have the petrol and oil mixed first before adding. Might not be the problem here though.

[taff]

thats usually for two strokes.

[SarzWix]

If it's been sat for a while, the fuel line may have deteriorated. Ours had and it had a perforation in it, 'symptoms' exactly the same as yours. Reasonable simple repair for someone who knows what they're doing, or a lawnmower repair place, if that's what it is.

[ewallsuk]

1. Switch OFF the ignition switch.

2. Pull the starter 2 or 3 times (gets the petrol moving).

3. Switch ON the ignition switch and using FULL choke, try to start the engine.

If it starts rev the engine for no more than TEN (10) seconds and while revving the engine open the choke. The engine should pick up and run smoother, don't let the engine die on you until it has warmed up, don't use the choke again, this can take as long as five (5) or more minutes.

If the engine fails to start repeat the above, but no more than 2 or 3 times or you risk flooding the engine. Flooding = obvious smell of petrol, petrol leaking from the engine or air filter. If you flood switch OFF the ignition, open the choke, tie or "hold" the throttle open fully, put it down, walk away and have a beer or a coffee. Come back in 15 minutes and try again.

If it still doesn't start, find a different mate with a strimmer!

Graham.

I have tried this. The engine starts easily and runs nicely (although I need to open the choke a little almost immediately). The problem is it only runs for up to about 5 seconds then dies. It also dies immediately if I even look at the throttle. It almost surely is a problem with the fuel or the carb but as it is not my machine I don't want to start dismantling it or spending my cash on it.

On you second point I may have found another mate with a 2 stroke strimmer. By the time I've solved this issue I could have dug all the weeds by hand me-thinks! :-)

Any more advice is still appreciated.

[SarzWix]

Yep, sounds exactly like ours was. I'd put money on it being the fuel line. If you don't want to spend time and/or money on it, the other mate's strimmer is probably the answer

[snakeshack]

give it back to your mate telling him there's a problem,wait for him to fix it ,then borrow it again.....simples

[Snadger]

give it back to your mate telling him there's a problem,wait for him to fix it ,then borrow it again.....simples

....................or borrow a scythe!

One thought...............has it got a fuel switch on the bottom of the tank? Also the trigger should usually be 'locked' when starting? You could also try warming the plug in the oven for a while and starting with a hot plug?

[Chef_uk]

thats usually for two strokes.

Ah of course

[bearded bloke]

Was it running when you borrowed it ?

[chris]

Poor attempt at a joke BB, but a strimmer doesn't have legs? :|

Can you take the fuel line off (is it accessible without dismantling everything?) If so, give it a quick wash and if it looks ok, can you blow through it blocking the other end to see if it has a hole in it like Sarz says?