Gas trimmer: what to do if the mower doesn't start

Since the gasoline trimmer, common today, belongs to the category of efficient and sophisticated devices, it is imperative that you study the attached instructions before using this unit. Many users neglect the manufacturer’s recommendations. But sooner or later, there is a need to figure out why the trimmer does not start. In this situation, experts recommend performing a device diagnosis.

Responsible nodes

In the warm season, many summer residents and owners of private houses seek to independently understand why the trimmer does not start. The causes of the malfunction of such an aggregate can be very different. To eliminate it, you need to understand what nodes this equipment consists of.

Manual starters are used to start gas trimmers. Using these nodes, the crankshaft moves. Ignition of the first portion of fuel entails starting the engine, after which the trimmer is ready for operation. Coordinated operation of the unit is possible only if all the responsible nodes and mechanisms are functioning properly.

Often there are situations when the device simply does not start. In such a situation, a quality diagnosis is simply not enough. Specialists described a special sequence of actions, thanks to which you can understand why a hot and even cold mower is not started. Diagnosing the trimmer consists of several important steps:

• First of all, you need to make sure that there is fuel in the tank, and also check its quality.
• Determine the color of the installed spark plug.
• Be sure to check the air filter.
• For high-quality cleaning of gasoline and oil meets the fuel filter. The mixture should flow into the carburetor as evenly as possible.
• Make sure the breather is in good condition.
• If all of the above options did not help to fix the situation, then it remains to check the muffler.

All of the above multifunctional nodes can be a source of difficult start trimmer. More complex failures can be associated with a multifunctional carburetor, which also needs periodic cleaning. If the user is not confident in their abilities, then it is better to entrust all repair work to professionals who will quickly find and eliminate the root cause of the equipment malfunction.

Checking the involved fuel mixture

To understand why a previously working trimmer does not start, it is necessary at the very first stage to evaluate the oil and gasoline used. The unit can function properly only thanks to high-quality fuel. The brand of gasoline must meet the needs of the engine. If the device will run on low-quality fuel, then this is fraught with frequent malfunctions of the trimmer. If this problem is not resolved in a timely manner, a failure of the cylinder-piston system may result. The elimination of such a breakdown often exceeds the cost of the unit itself.

An improperly prepared fuel mixture must not be poured into the brushcutter. In the instruction manual of the device, manufacturers must specify the exact proportions in which high-quality gasoline and mineral oil should be combined.It is not recommended to prepare the mixture in large volumes, as long-term storage inevitably results in the loss of certain properties. If the mower does not start, then the old fuel must be carefully drained to be able to use the freshly prepared fuel mixture.

Spark plug performance

If there is a need to understand why the trimmer does not start, then you should check the condition of the contacts of the installed candle. In this case, you can understand why the engine of the brushcutter does not start. For a high-quality diagnosis of the spark plug, it is necessary to adhere to the following scheme:

• If during the dismantling it was found that the candle is wet, then in a small combustion chamber there is a certain part of the fuel, which you do not need to rush to get rid of. To fix the problem, it is necessary to dry and thoroughly clean the contacts. After the done manipulations, you should carefully connect the candle. It is necessary to turn on the ignition and pull the starter handle without unnecessary efforts. If the device is working properly, then a constant and bright spark will appear. Otherwise, you have to replace the candle.

• The condition of the electrodes involved when they have a characteristic dark brown carbon deposits can be considered ideal. If the candle has a white or even black soot, as well as wet, then it must be replaced immediately.
• The trimmer may not respond to start-up because there is too much clearance between the contacts of the plug. To set the optimal clearance, it is necessary to use special multi-gauge probes.

If, after all the manipulations done, the engine of the brushcutter did not start, then the cause of the malfunction should be sought in the carburetor or heat pipe. Otherwise, you have to check the health of the involved high-voltage wire.

Reliability of the mounted filters

It is these devices that often become an obstacle, due to which the classic trimmer does not start. The filter provided by the manufacturers is responsible for the quality cleaning of the air entering the carburetor. Clogging of the cleaning unit is fraught with the fact that oxygen enters the internal compartment of the unit in a smaller amount or its flow is completely stopped. You can determine the malfunction of the air filter in a fairly simple and affordable way:

• Remove the device and carefully inspect it.
• If clogging was not detected with the naked eye, then try to start a brushcutter without a filter. Replace this part only if the trimmer has wound up successfully.
• A compressed air stream can be used to clean the air filter. But if the cleaning device has been used for a long time, then it is more advisable to replace it.

It is worth noting that trimmers do not start due to clogged air filters in the rarest cases. Most often, this device affects the stability of the engine. A more real reason lies in the clogging of the fuel filter. This assembly is located in the unit tank. If the trimmer has been used for more than two years, then it is imperative to check the filter, which may interfere with the supply of fuel to the carburetor.

If the user is sure that the main problem lies in the fuel cleaning element, then the following steps must be performed:

• Carefully dismantle the filter.
• Try to start the brushcutter.

If the device wound up quickly enough, then the problem lies precisely in the fuel filter.

Longer storage of fuel in the involved tool tank, as well as accidental ingress of small debris and dust into the trimmer tank, can significantly reduce the life of this unit. But if the filter is working and the brushcutter still does not start, then you need to check the fuel hose.Often there are situations when the hose together with the filter is disconnected from the main pipe, which necessarily leads to the inability to start the engine.

Sludge accumulation in the muffler

Before resorting to more serious repair actions, it is necessary to make sure that the exhaust channel is working. This section does not apply to previously not used trimmers, since they have practically no output. If the brushcutter has been used for many years and during this time the unit has not been subjected to serious diagnostic measures, then it is imperative to check the clogging of the muffler.

The accumulation of soot prevents the exhaust gases from going outside, which is why it is simply impossible to start the engine. Of course, on one day the exhaust channel cannot become clogged, which is why certain signs must precede such a situation. The exit of black smoke from the muffler is a kind of soot that gradually accumulates on the walls of the exhaust system. A significant increase in the sound of the installed motor can occur, which is associated with overcoming the enormous resistance of exhaust gases to exhaust them. When idling, the device spontaneously stalls. In critical situations, engine performance is significantly impaired.

If serious contamination is present on the spark retardant, the reason for the inability to start the trimmer engine may be precisely in the exhaust channel. The mesh should be cleaned as carefully as possible, since it is black soot that is a carcinogen that is very dangerous for humans, which can cause respiratory tract damage. For cleaning, use specialized tools that will cope with soot.

More serious causes of malfunction

If after a thorough inspection of the base trimmer nodes the cause of the malfunction of the device was not found, then you need to carefully inspect the engine and carburetor. In this case, one can immediately identify three key problems that are most often encountered:

• Natural wear of the carburetor gasket installed. The only logical way out of this situation is to replace the defective part.

• Accumulation of garbage and soot in jets or channels. For cleaning, you can use only factory flushing or a normal stream of compressed air from the compressor. It is forbidden to use wire and sewing needles, as one incorrect movement can seriously damage the bore.
• Loss of previous tightness. For a thorough check of this indicator, you should use a classic household blood pressure monitor, having previously installed a suitable pressure gauge. It is necessary to follow the indicators: if any fluctuations were not recorded, then everything is fine, but when the pressure gradually drops, then some part in the carburetor is out of order.

If the used carburetor is working, then the gas trimmer will not start because the piston group has failed. If during the inspection characteristic chips, distortions or scratches were found, then the part must be replaced. Experts recommend replacing the piston rings. If there is a slight backlash when rocking the mounted connecting rod, then the rings are subject to replacement, but this procedure is best entrusted to professionals.

Preventative measures

In order for the acquired trimmer to always be in good condition, it is necessary to use and store this unit as correctly as possible. Manufacturers recommend carefully observing several basic rules:

• Pour only high-quality fuel into the tank.
• Regularly and timely conduct technical inspection and adjustment of the main mechanical elements of the device.
• Try to avoid severe overload of the trimmer during operation.
• After each use, check the brushcutter for carbon deposits and specific oxides on the surface of the ignition system mechanisms.

In order for the trimmer to always be in working condition, it is necessary to prepare it for storage in the cold season as much as possible. The first step is to disassemble the unit in stages, then complete the cleaning and neatly rinse the components. Carefully inspect the multifunctional units for any damage. If necessary, eliminate the deformation of parts.

To store the brushcutters, fill the gearbox with enough oil. It is mandatory to clean the air filter, you can also disassemble and flush the engine of the device. All mechanisms are thoroughly dried, and the moving mechanisms are lubricated with a quality agent. To process the piston system, the spark plug must first be removed. The piston is carefully moved to the extreme position in order to be able to fill a small amount of oil into the spark plug hole and make the crankshaft smoothly scroll.

If the trimmer will be stored outside the house until the next season, then the engine must be wrapped with oiled rags. This approach will avoid the development of corrosion on the surface of critical components of the unit.