I just finished mowing my lawn today and realized the satisfying feeling ever is cutting through grass about 12 inches tall with a weedwacker I don’t know why but I love the feeling of cutting tall grass with a weedwacker (it’s a Stihl fs-36)
It is one of the most common problems we see on lower quality machines either 2 or 4 stroke because of their low plastic material quality. You can reshape the air plastic part easily with hot air or hot water.thanks - good video.
I had one of those troy build trimmers that was a pain always, tried to fix and never figured it out. Bought a 2 cycle after that and have been happy ever since! I guess that one of your solutions was maybe my problem. Where were you 8 years ago?😁
I have one similar to this one for about 10 years. Still works great. Starts on second pull every time. Some good, some not so good I guess. Mine is a 4 cycle TroyBilt as well with the starting system like this one. I love it.
I really enjoyed this video, over the past few years you've been shying away from the low end handheld equipment (which is the reason I started watching many years ago) and getting more and more into mostly mowers and some high end 2 cycle stuff. I miss these kinds of fixes
LOL!!!... you don't get it, I work on what I can find and get my hands on. Also, mowers don't sell in late fall and winter so I have to fix them and get them out of my warehouse because space is limited and expensive. thanks for watching all these years. Hope that explanation helps out.
Very good video. Certainly these very small engines need perfection with all components to run right. I had a chainsaw that would not run. I went through everything, replacing or restoring all components and still it would not run. I went to adjust the needle and seat and found it to be unresponsive to adjustment, so I replaced both parts and the engine ran. A needle and seat in these small engines is so tiny you cannot even see wear that may cause a problem.
Hey man great video! I just found your channel and am really enjoying your content and how you explain you repair methodology. Do you think the newer Toro 4-stroke mowers are decently reliable or would you recommend a Honda?
thanks and your question is a tough one. I like most Toro but I'm biased to Honda stuff... If it was me and you're instant on buying "new" then I would buy a Toro, but if your budget isn't that high then I would buy a used Honda every time.
Yes i have i had a craftsman 2stroke red cover basic from lowes. 25cc i think. After 6 months of use the cheap plastic that sealed that crank case went bad. Unlike the similar troy built. The craftsman did not have a metal cover over the crankcase but was intergrated into the electric optional start system. The nuts that was installed and sunk into the Plastics pulled out and I tried to glue them back in but still didn't work wouldn't keep any crankcase pressure would only run cold and then nothing they just don't make things the way they used to
My dads GX35 (35cc) powered Honda line trimmer has been going for 21 years without a carburettor adjustment & it's one of those emission carburettors so I am unsure if it has any provision for adjustment. It can be a little bit Smoky but it still has 85 PSI of compression which is good since the camshaft has an inbuilt decompression mechanism for the exhaust valve. I have replaced the carburettor diaphragm once & I had to dismantle the engine to clean up the valves 4 years ago because a chunk of carbon got built up on the inlet valve which was causing compression loss which was causing it not to start. I think that it's because my dad stores it hanging upside down & the oil gets past the piston rings that carbon buildup occurs as well. The build quality of the Honda is better than the one in the video has as well because Honda don't use a plastic flap for the choke valve !
Yes, I've had a situation on a 4 stroke blower where a faulty spark plug led me to buying 2 aftermarket carbs that just made the whole diagnosis a whole lot worse.
what are your recommendations for starting a small engine repair business? what skills would you need and where would you look for tools that need fixing? any advice would be appriecated!!
on the repair side, you'll need to be have a lot of patience, something of an analytical way of thinking and some organizational skills. But on the business side, you'll have to know how to keep books, deal with customers, and even more patience because bureaucracy is a real thing
How do you adjust the carb on this friend? I have the same type troybilt with the same motor and carb. Bogs when I quickly pull the trigger but if I slowly give it throttle then I will get up to speed.
i have an old stihl fs 46 that the head spins when idling and i have adjusted all of the screws and found that the problem was actually the throttle cable end beside the set screws that was sticking a little bit. i sprayed some wd40 on it and still no improvement. what should i do? the trimmer is probably anywhere around 20-25 years old and still runs just fine just that problem.
Any suggestions what would causes a trimmer to run fine for about ten minutes then act like it can’t get fuel? It has a new carburetor, spark plug, fuel filter, fuel line. It will struggle to start back up. It’s almost as if it’s overheating and has to cool off. Spark arrestor screen is clean I checked that as well.
Try opening the fuel cap and see if that helps. It could be air-locking the tank. You'll hear the little psshhhh of air if it is when you open it, and if it starts right back up that's probably the issue. Assuming it happened before you change all that stuff, it could also be a failing ignition coil.
sure, the fuel cap might not be venting air. Since I didn't know which trimmer you have, it may have a "Tank Vent" that's separate from the cap. Try this, once it stops running, open the fuel cap, press the purge bulb a couple of times, replace the cap and then see If it starts back up
Personally I think these small 4 stroke engines work fine on brush cutters, edgers, and cultivators because of their higher torque ratings, but 2 stroke engines are better in string trimmers and pole saws because they’re able to reach much higher RPM speeds and as a result they perform those tasks faster and more efficiently. 2 strokes are also lighter and have less moving parts which means they aren’t as likely to break down. I guess it just comes down to the person you are when choosing between a 2 stroke and four stroke engine
What is your experience with aftermarket parts (mainly carbs)? Just picked up a stihl fs66 yesterday and I've been working on it for a bit- ordered a new gas tank and carb kit. How long do parts like that usually last?
my experience is that aftermarket carbs are great to get a project back up and running. I do not expect them to last as long as an OEM one. They "can" last but only if they are well maintained especially during storage
Just wondering if you know any of the problems with the echo 2810 ,mine will go for short while and then seems to loose power or die altogether,any advice appreciated
@@HomeGaragechannel yes but it seems that the plastic that moves the starter doesn't grab the starter it slips so I think that the plastic needs to be changed and it's new what do think. This trimmer is new and it have cost my dad fixing it every we have changed the carb the gas the plug and the off switch now the pull rope
@@HomeGaragechannel same man, I just got a new srm 225 cause I switched from a gt 225, the gt 225 wasn't that bad, just less torque and kinda uncomfortable but it was an ok trimmer
Pretty interesting. Troy-Bilt seems to have quite an issue with some very poorly engineered parts. I own a Troy-Bilt 4-cycle backpack blower that's about 20 years old now, it's been great, zero problems. Because of that experience I bought a Troy-Bilt trimmer about 5 years ago. Initially, as in first couple uses, it was great. It would start when cold just fine. The issue was when you wanted to restart it after it was warm and it quickly got worse a couple weeks in. Oh, and this was after the first one I had the engine basically ate itself on first use. Yes, it was filled with oil properly. I returned that one to Lowe's and the one that replaced that had the recoil starter fail after two uses so I returned that one to get a third. Restarting quickly became such an issue that it caused the pull starter recoil to fail because it was engineered as if a moron had done so so I was back to that issue as well. I fixed the failure it would have when the recoil starter was used (I think it was designed so poorly to try to push people into buying the electric starter they sell for them) but it still hated to start when warm, as in it just would refuse when warm (as if vapor locked) and despite my extensive engine history and knowledge I couldn't resolve with satisfaction, I made it better but not how it should be. They suggested I get it to an authorized service partner which was 50 miles away. I refused since I bet that their tech probably knows less than I (I have always fixed my own engines large and small) and it'd be a pointless venture after I'd already dealt with two previously with issues. Seriously, I build engines and have been in volved with racing all my life from working on and racing mini-bikes when I was a kid on up through the years with big bikes, snowmobiles and cars, I'm now in my 60s. So I pressed them for a lemon refund saying that was the only course and they obliged since I'd already been through two previous units. That was a TB6044XP model. Maybe they've fixed the issues that plagued that.
thank you for sharing your experience and unfortunately no they haven't made any fixes.. In fact, I'm sure they're working to convert all their equipment to battery electric to try and save labor and cost to maximize profits.
You did good and the choke has to work.One thing I was wanting to tell you and whoever, the sellers say that a battery mower is so much quieter than a gas job. The only part quieter is the drive. The blades are running wide open and make as much noise as a gas mower running wide open. The difference on ours on economy and full is maybe a eighth less. Not much at all. Those still make a lot of noise anyway. Still running in the 60/70% range. Still happy with it BUT we unhook the charger from it after it charges to 100%. Happy weekend!
@@HomeGaragechannel Thought you'd like to hear a fact that nobody else will own up too. IF you're going to mow an 100 miles an hour those blades are going to have to HUMM! No humming and no grass cut either. The Stihl is that way BUT a hand mower is quieter but not totally. The economy mode on it is about 1/3 slower but it shifts back and forth when the grass gets heavier. That'll give you some more to think about. I still run in 1/2 speed mode but I ran the gas job in 3rd gear too. I just need the job done but not wear it out this week. Blessings!
Yeah this is why I don’t like 4-stroke trimmers or blowers, they’re a big pain when it comes to maintenance. Even the expensive Stihl 4-mix machines I don’t like because there’s always a problem after so long, like doing those valve jobs, I can do those on the bigger engines but never had good luck on the smaller machines. Have always had better luck with a 2-stroke trimmer or blower.
I just finished mowing my lawn today and realized the satisfying feeling ever is cutting through grass about 12 inches tall with a weedwacker I don’t know why but I love the feeling of cutting tall grass with a weedwacker (it’s a Stihl fs-36)
wow nice work! And yes that satisfaction is real and better then most things legal
That's one of my hobbies but I have a total trimmer
@@HomeGaragechannelso many things in Canada are legal that should not be
i have a fs55
Never seen this issue!I'm impressed you figured this out.
thanks and I'm just happy that I found the issue
That was a smart catch. Would have never thought of that. 👍
thanks it was a real head scratcher for sure
It is one of the most common problems we see on lower quality machines either 2 or 4 stroke because of their low plastic material quality. You can reshape the air plastic part easily with hot air or hot water.thanks - good video.
thank you for the tip!
I had one of those troy build trimmers that was a pain always, tried to fix and never figured it out. Bought a 2 cycle after that and have been happy ever since! I guess that one of your solutions was maybe my problem. Where were you 8 years ago?😁
LOL!!!.. 8 years ago, I was still working my contract job.. and dreaming about doing this for a living. Then in 2016, I did just that.
I have one similar to this one for about 10 years. Still works great. Starts on second pull every time. Some good, some not so good I guess. Mine is a 4 cycle TroyBilt as well with the starting system like this one. I love it.
nice, if I had to get a 4 cycle trimmer this version would be my choice
I really enjoyed this video, over the past few years you've been shying away from the low end handheld equipment (which is the reason I started watching many years ago) and getting more and more into mostly mowers and some high end 2 cycle stuff. I miss these kinds of fixes
LOL!!!... you don't get it, I work on what I can find and get my hands on. Also, mowers don't sell in late fall and winter so I have to fix them and get them out of my warehouse because space is limited and expensive. thanks for watching all these years. Hope that explanation helps out.
Very good video. Certainly these very small engines need perfection with all components to run right.
I had a chainsaw that would not run.
I went through everything, replacing or restoring all components and still it would not run.
I went to adjust the needle and seat and found it to be unresponsive to adjustment, so I replaced both parts and the engine ran.
A needle and seat in these small engines is so tiny you cannot even see wear that may cause a problem.
you make a very good point
Hey man great video! I just found your channel and am really enjoying your content and how you explain you repair methodology. Do you think the newer Toro 4-stroke mowers are decently reliable or would you recommend a Honda?
thanks and your question is a tough one. I like most Toro but I'm biased to Honda stuff... If it was me and you're instant on buying "new" then I would buy a Toro, but if your budget isn't that high then I would buy a used Honda every time.
I have a Troy-Bilt leaf blower with the same symptoms, so I'll take a look at the filter cover and check the valve clearances. Fingers-crossed.
hope you can figure it out
Yes i have i had a craftsman 2stroke red cover basic from lowes. 25cc i think. After 6 months of use the cheap plastic that sealed that crank case went bad. Unlike the similar troy built. The craftsman did not have a metal cover over the crankcase but was intergrated into the electric optional start system. The nuts that was installed and sunk into the Plastics pulled out and I tried to glue them back in but still didn't work wouldn't keep any crankcase pressure would only run cold and then nothing they just don't make things the way they used to
wow that was a bad experience
My dads GX35 (35cc) powered Honda line trimmer has been going for 21 years without a carburettor adjustment & it's one of those emission carburettors so I am unsure if it has any provision for adjustment.
It can be a little bit Smoky but it still has 85 PSI of compression which is good since the camshaft has an inbuilt decompression mechanism for the exhaust valve.
I have replaced the carburettor diaphragm once & I had to dismantle the engine to clean up the valves 4 years ago because a chunk of carbon got built up on the inlet valve which was causing compression loss which was causing it not to start.
I think that it's because my dad stores it hanging upside down & the oil gets past the piston rings that carbon buildup occurs as well.
The build quality of the Honda is better than the one in the video has as well because Honda don't use a plastic flap for the choke valve !
agree, my honda trimmer is fantastic if not a bit heavy
yep, gas cap not venting, also seen the intake loose off the carb before causing problem
thank you for sharing that
I never came across something like this. Great job and video 👍🙏👍🙏
that's good to hear and thank you
Yes, I've had a situation on a 4 stroke blower where a faulty spark plug led me to buying 2 aftermarket carbs that just made the whole diagnosis a whole lot worse.
wow, that was a tough situation to be in
what are your recommendations for starting a small engine repair business? what skills would you need and where would you look for tools that need fixing? any advice would be appriecated!!
on the repair side, you'll need to be have a lot of patience, something of an analytical way of thinking and some organizational skills. But on the business side, you'll have to know how to keep books, deal with customers, and even more patience because bureaucracy is a real thing
What a great find. That could have been a real head scratcher. Great video
thanks and I'm just happy I was able to find the issue
How do you adjust the carb on this friend? I have the same type troybilt with the same motor and carb. Bogs when I quickly pull the trigger but if I slowly give it throttle then I will get up to speed.
sure, in the middle of the lever for the barrel, there is a brass part, In the middle of it, there's a tiny flathead that can be turned.
i have an old stihl fs 46 that the head spins when idling and i have adjusted all of the screws and found that the problem was actually the throttle cable end beside the set screws that was sticking a little bit. i sprayed some wd40 on it and still no improvement. what should i do? the trimmer is probably anywhere around 20-25 years old and still runs just fine just that problem.
Since you're asking I'd leave it as it personally. By the comment I'm guessing you want ot fix it. If so, replace the throttle cable.
Any suggestions what would causes a trimmer to run fine for about ten minutes then act like it can’t get fuel? It has a new carburetor, spark plug, fuel filter, fuel line. It will struggle to start back up. It’s almost as if it’s overheating and has to cool off. Spark arrestor screen is clean I checked that as well.
Try opening the fuel cap and see if that helps. It could be air-locking the tank. You'll hear the little psshhhh of air if it is when you open it, and if it starts right back up that's probably the issue. Assuming it happened before you change all that stuff, it could also be a failing ignition coil.
sure, the fuel cap might not be venting air. Since I didn't know which trimmer you have, it may have a "Tank Vent" that's separate from the cap. Try this, once it stops running, open the fuel cap, press the purge bulb a couple of times, replace the cap and then see If it starts back up
If that was a makita will you regain the enthusiasm or lose it?
I would have been even more enthusiastic. I have the 4 stroke Makita blower and I really like it.
Personally I think these small 4 stroke engines work fine on brush cutters, edgers, and cultivators because of their higher torque ratings, but 2 stroke engines are better in string trimmers and pole saws because they’re able to reach much higher RPM speeds and as a result they perform those tasks faster and more efficiently. 2 strokes are also lighter and have less moving parts which means they aren’t as likely to break down. I guess it just comes down to the person you are when choosing between a 2 stroke and four stroke engine
you make a great point. I don't mind them at all, except their weight.
I had to get a 4 cycle weed eater back in the day it was a little testing of getting it to fire up but after a little bit of time it got fired up
yes starting these can be a real pain sometimes
@@HomeGaragechannel that is so true plus they are not light weight
Start fixing Honda civics 🙌🙌🙌🙌
I do!
What is your experience with aftermarket parts (mainly carbs)? Just picked up a stihl fs66 yesterday and I've been working on it for a bit- ordered a new gas tank and carb kit. How long do parts like that usually last?
my experience is that aftermarket carbs are great to get a project back up and running. I do not expect them to last as long as an OEM one. They "can" last but only if they are well maintained especially during storage
@@HomeGaragechannel Thanks for the help 👍
Do those carbs have any other adjustments on them?
yes, down the bore of the throttle lever, in the brass portion is a tiny flathead that you can adjust
I've always owned 2-stroke string trimmers.
nothing wrong with that
Just wondering if you know any of the problems with the echo 2810 ,mine will go for short while and then seems to loose power or die altogether,any advice appreciated
only two, I would consider replacing the spark plug and the the fuel tank vent.
I have a total trimmer and has pull rope problem when I pull the rope sometimes it like slips and doesn't spin the starter
have you considered serving the recoil assembly?
@@HomeGaragechannel yes but it seems that the plastic that moves the starter doesn't grab the starter it slips so I think that the plastic needs to be changed and it's new what do think. This trimmer is new and it have cost my dad fixing it every we have changed the carb the gas the plug and the off switch now the pull
rope
@@HomeGaragechannel that problem started from the day the carb was replaced
looks like you got a plan
sounds like a real mystery
What is your opinion on 4 cycle trimmers?
2 cycles are way better. They don't have near as many problems. Cause they don't have valves in all that.
it depends on the brand but I only like honda 4 cycles. All are heavy so a harness is recommended on long jobs.
I prefer 2 cycle myself
@@HomeGaragechannel same man, I just got a new srm 225 cause I switched from a gt 225, the gt 225 wasn't that bad, just less torque and kinda uncomfortable but it was an ok trimmer
agreed!
Pretty interesting. Troy-Bilt seems to have quite an issue with some very poorly engineered parts. I own a Troy-Bilt 4-cycle backpack blower that's about 20 years old now, it's been great, zero problems. Because of that experience I bought a Troy-Bilt trimmer about 5 years ago. Initially, as in first couple uses, it was great. It would start when cold just fine. The issue was when you wanted to restart it after it was warm and it quickly got worse a couple weeks in. Oh, and this was after the first one I had the engine basically ate itself on first use. Yes, it was filled with oil properly. I returned that one to Lowe's and the one that replaced that had the recoil starter fail after two uses so I returned that one to get a third. Restarting quickly became such an issue that it caused the pull starter recoil to fail because it was engineered as if a moron had done so so I was back to that issue as well. I fixed the failure it would have when the recoil starter was used (I think it was designed so poorly to try to push people into buying the electric starter they sell for them) but it still hated to start when warm, as in it just would refuse when warm (as if vapor locked) and despite my extensive engine history and knowledge I couldn't resolve with satisfaction, I made it better but not how it should be. They suggested I get it to an authorized service partner which was 50 miles away. I refused since I bet that their tech probably knows less than I (I have always fixed my own engines large and small) and it'd be a pointless venture after I'd already dealt with two previously with issues. Seriously, I build engines and have been in volved with racing all my life from working on and racing mini-bikes when I was a kid on up through the years with big bikes, snowmobiles and cars, I'm now in my 60s. So I pressed them for a lemon refund saying that was the only course and they obliged since I'd already been through two previous units. That was a TB6044XP model. Maybe they've fixed the issues that plagued that.
thank you for sharing your experience and unfortunately no they haven't made any fixes.. In fact, I'm sure they're working to convert all their equipment to battery electric to try and save labor and cost to maximize profits.
is there an electric start on it?
this one has the electric start option. Use a drill with a special bit, or their brand of hand starters.
Nice catch thanks for the tip
thank you, It was quite the mystery
Great vid my friend keep it up
I will and thank you
You did good and the choke has to work.One thing I was wanting to tell you and whoever, the sellers say that a battery mower is so much quieter than a gas job. The only part quieter is the drive. The blades are running wide open and make as much noise as a gas mower running wide open. The difference on ours on economy and full is maybe a eighth less. Not much at all. Those still make a lot of noise anyway. Still running in the 60/70% range. Still happy with it BUT we unhook the charger from it after it charges to 100%. Happy weekend!
thank you for sharing that bit of information!
@@HomeGaragechannel Thought you'd like to hear a fact that nobody else will own up too. IF you're going to mow an 100 miles an hour those blades are going to have to HUMM! No humming and no grass cut either. The Stihl is that way BUT a hand mower is quieter but not totally. The economy mode on it is about 1/3 slower but it shifts back and forth when the grass gets heavier. That'll give you some more to think about. I still run in 1/2 speed mode but I ran the gas job in 3rd gear too. I just need the job done but not wear it out this week. Blessings!
Well done 😊
thank you!
Nice work
Thanks
🎉🎉🎉 finalmente un decespugliatore...😅😊
concordato
THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO
no problem and thank you for your time
Excellent for amateurs like me
thank you!
Great video
Thanks for sharing
New subscriber here
I really appreciate that
Yeah this is why I don’t like 4-stroke trimmers or blowers, they’re a big pain when it comes to maintenance. Even the expensive Stihl 4-mix machines I don’t like because there’s always a problem after so long, like doing those valve jobs, I can do those on the bigger engines but never had good luck on the smaller machines. Have always had better luck with a 2-stroke trimmer or blower.
agreed, although the 4 mix is a maintenance nightmare all on it's own. And yes, regular 2 stroke is the best!
I prefer two cycle weed whackers because they are lighter and i prefer echo over other brands.
agreed, my personal one is a weedetaer feather lite
no wonder MTD eliminated the electric start port on their trimmers. nobody uses it.
that's a good possibly
I'm buying a curved needle nose pliers instead of modifying the fuel tank
good idea
What a thin slab of plastic. That is ridiculous.
I know right!
even when maintain these tremors are junk
yes this require a lot of work
I've not had much to do with 4 stroke trimmers, & not seen that one before.
you're not missing much
Good job fix troy bilt and echo cool😊
thanks!