New (old) 2 stroke strimmer

[julianf]

I've just acquired (reserved) this off my local free stuff group.

I have zero skill with 2 strokes. I'm told this was put away with fuel in it 5 years ago (was running fine when last used)

What's the chances of me, with my minimal skill, getting any life from it?

I guess it will be a case of new fuel, find it doesn't start, and then attempting to spray some stuff or other at bits of the carb? As I say 2strokes are all a bit black magic to me.

If buy an electric but my partner wants one now and again for her allotment (no electricity there) and this one is free.

I assume it's some b&q special? Photos below -

 

[reb78]

Try it. I bet it will start. I hardly ever remember to drain/run dry my two stroke stuff and i think I have done two carb rebuilds in 25+ years. I personally don't find petrol left in them causes great issues.

 

[brightspark]

fill it up and squirt a bit of wd 40 down the plug hole 1st they generaly start or fire first time i did it with a briggs and stratton engine that had not run in 20 years and started second pull

 

[reb78]

I meant to add - I would drain the old and put new fuel in as you said you would.

 

[T5 TDI]

Don't forget to use 20:1 ratio petrol/oil mix (or whatever it requires) as the fuel!

 

[RonA]

If you do get it running one of these are mixing bottles are very useful https://www.toolstation.com/al-ko-2...VvGDmCh2qzA_lEAQYASABEgIg3PD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds RonA

 

[julianf]

Don't forget to use 20:1 ratio petrol/oil mix (or whatever it requires) as the fuel!

There's an episode of big bang theory when you have the bunch of physicists sitting in a broken car, all knowing the ICE theory, but having no idea beyond that.

That's kind of me with 2 strokes. I could explain the mechanics to someone, but would have zero idea how to actually deal with a blocked carb jet!

On a relevant note, unless it's marked on the device itself I was going to go with 50:1. Is that the standard "pin the tail on the donkey" if no other data is available?

Thank you.

 

[T5 TDI]

50:1 is not much oil but some may run on that. I believe 40:1 is considered ok for a strimmer if you can't find manufacture's recommendation. If you can find a make on the machine you might find the ratio online.

 

[8ob]

Oil ratio wants to be about right, too much oil will make it run lean.

Bob

 

[gt6s]

Carb MIGHT BE gummed up due to old dried out two stroke oil. Try it first with new petrioil (not spelling mistake but term for petrol oil mix). Failing that check spark and strip clean / carb. Might be OK

 

[slim_boy_fat]

It's free, the Collective'll help you get it going. [and gain you Brownie points with the GF ]

 

[Beanwood]

and if it's anything like a Stihl, a generic new carb from Eb@y can be had for about £15......

 

[tom2207]

I dont like 50:1 , it gives you very little margin for error , 25: 1 and fully synthetic on old stuff and 35:1 on anything else , Id rather smoke than rings , but I dont own anything injected either ,,, I normally put a splash of fuel mix down the bore and fresh in the tank , and most things start , make sure you know what way the on off switch works too of course , easy to forget to turn them on in the first place ,,,

 

[angellonewolf]

40 to 1 mix remove plug tea spoon fuel mix in bore screw back in plug choke on try start might need a few pulls less than 10 it should cough move to half choke it shoud run for a couple seconds if it does

carb off ebay abought a 10er should get it running

 

[Nomad]

If it doesn't cough with fresh petroil down the bore, remove the plug and check for a spark by resting the plug on the head - I have a modern strimmer here and the kill switch is very easy to knock without noticing (no spark = it won't run)

 

[Pete.]

Common for the clunk pipe to split in the tank on strimmers. It'll drive you mad pulling just enough fuel in to keep you interested in yanking the cord but won't actually start

 

[julianf]

Common for the clunk pipe to split in the tank on strimmers. It'll drive you mad pulling just enough fuel in to keep you interested in yanking the cord but won't actually start

Borrowed my friends last month. I'm now very wise to that trick... : /

 

[AVI_8]

Firstly make sure that the fuel lines are ok, in my experience they’re supplied with sh1t quality lines and after a few years they might need replaced.
Any air in the lines means replacement.
With regards to mixture ratio, 35/1 IMHO works with any 2 stroke engine to get it running, my chainsaw specifies 25/1 but it runs badly with so much oil, 35/1 it runs sweet, my strimmer specifies 50/1 but runs great with 35/1 so I mix a batch and run both with it.

 

[angellonewolf]

if you throw fuel mix in the bore the carb or fuel lines dont make a differance it will either start or not then do more from there

if starts change fuel lines and clean carb (after 5 years i dought the carb will be much use)buy a new carb

if it dont start change spark plug first then disconect the on off switch then cheak the gap between the coil


a way to cheak compression is put strimmer on floor dont hold the strimmer down and slow pull the started cord if you can pull the cord and the strimmer stays on the floor its most lightly there is little compression

if it lifts its most lightly ok but with easy start models this dont work on

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

As others have said check the fuel lines...air in the lines caused by cracks messes up the fuel air mix and will drive you nuts.

Otherwise just give it a go...I dismantle the carb and just spray with carb cleaner if needed. I think sometimes the carbs are dirt cheap anyway. Gaskets can perish between the carb and the engine body too I've found.