Cheapo JCB 2-stroke strimmer won't run

[NiceCupOfTea]

Yes, yes, I know, buy cheap buy twice! I should have listened to my wife and bought an electric one

Worked OK earlier this season but having real problems with it now. Today it started OK and worked for a while, then just cut out. I can get it to fire but it won't run for more than a few seconds, especially when I tip it up. It's fairly full of fuel. I noticed that if I pump the fuel prime bulb when it's about to die it perks up again, so I'm guessing it's fuelling. Do I need to take the carb apart and clean it out?

[P924]

Did you leave it stored with fuel in it?

[Wacky Racer]

Sounds like fuel starvation. Two stroke oil/petrol mixture is notorious for "gumming up", if the machine has not been used for several weeks.

I would change the petrol mixture completely, unblock any blocked neoprene fuel pipes, strip the carb and clean the jets.....Also replace the spark plug AND make sure any air filter (if fitted) is not blocked with grass/dirt etc.

[TheEnd]

The most common problem i see with little 2 stroke engines is the plugs fouling from too much oil.
I'd always try that first, and if not, go for the stripdown

[Nuisance_Value]

Do you have to pre-mix the two stroke oil with the petrol or does it have a separate oil reservoir?
If pre-mixing it may be that you're not putting enough oil in and so it'll be running hotter without much lubrication and damaging the pistons and/or rings. Or it may have too much oil in the mix and fouling the spark plugs..
First thing I would do is strip it down and clean out all the fuel lines, plugs, filters etc. Old fuel/oil mix will not be helping.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks chaps.

Yes, did store with fuel in. It uses premix.

How do I clean out the pipes? They look clear...

[Wacky Racer]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps.

Yes, did store with fuel in. It uses premix.

How do I clean out the pipes? They look clear...

You should be able to pull them off the fuel tank and carb fairly easily,(They may need a bit of help with a BLUNT knife) and leave the pipe soaking in a dish of very hot water with a bit of washing up liquid mixed in for five minutes, then rinse and dry carefully.

Although if you say the pipe looks clear I suspect the problem might lie with the carburettor jets being blocked up with congealed petrol mixture.

Good luck...

[Wings]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks chaps.

Yes, did store with fuel in. It uses premix.

How do I clean out the pipes? They look clear...

Leave the pipes alone, just drain the fuel from the tank. Believe it or not, fuel does go off, and that is the problem with your strimmer not starting.

You could take the spark plug out, and just give the same a clean, checking the gap, which should be 25 thou. Then prepare a new mix of 2 stroke, 1-25 mix, and using fresh fuel.

For future reference you might like to download the following link;

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/milling/mess...

[Eggle]

Alot of these machines rely on a sealed fuel system. IIR, if air can get in to the tank, it won't like it. I had this with a strimmer when the fuel cap broke. When I "made" the seal again, it was fine. Check the O rings in the caps.