Fixing a weedeater????

[ofishil]

Are there any small engine mechanics out there? I have a Echo-265 that I am extremely determined to fix myself. Its come down to a matter of pride. I dont want this one to beat me. I feel like i will lose my man card if I cant get this one. I have a mowing business with a few guys that work for me and usually I just take stuff in to get fixed because of time issues. Well they lost a Echo-265 off the trailer. Only two months old. So rather than buy another one I want to fix one that doesnt run.

First off i am no mechanic.

The broken one is also an Echo-265. It wont turn on. So far I have replaced plug, fuel, fuel filter, cleaned carb, cleaned the port, cleaned spark arresstor. I am stumped. It still wont turn on. However if i spray starting fluid or carb cleaner it will crank right up and run strong for a couple of seconds but will immediatly shut down when the spray burns off.

To me it sounds like its not getting fuel. On the gas tank theres three hoses. one is for air escape i think and the other two go into the carb. one has the fuel filter and the other has nothing (it lets fuel back into the tank from the carb.) when i push the bulb fuel runs up the line with the fuel filter and goes through the carb and then back out the other line that lets fuel back into the tank. So in my mind it says the fuel is going through the carb so it should be getting fuel.

Anybody have any suggestions?

[Speedgoat]

If it is like mine, then it is a simple fix. The little hoses are clogged. Try changing them out. Mine sits up for 5 months of the year and the gas evaporates leaving the oil, which turns to sludge and clogs things up.

[Texas Tracker]

Replace the diafram(sp) in the carb.

[Goldeneagle]

Air leak. Bulb pumps up but does not hold pressure.

[rubydog]

There are two things that make a gas engine run. Fuel and spark.. If you are getting good spark then you have a fuel problem. Like all the people before me have said the gas will evaporate and leave the oil to sludge things up. You may very well need to rebuild the carb.. This is the absolute most common non start problem they have. Good luck..

[ofishil]

Replace the diafram(sp) in the carb.

I really think i bought a carb kit when it first stopped working and put one in but that could have been on another piece of equipment. Either way I am going to go to the dealer and pick up carb kit.

[ofishil]

There are two things that make a gas engine run. Fuel and spark.. If you are getting good spark then you have a fuel problem. Like all the people before me have said the gas will evaporate and leave the oil to sludge things up. You may very well need to rebuild the carb.. This is the absolute most common non start problem they have. Good luck..

Like I said I am no mechanic. how does one check to see if it has good spark.

[Lafitte23]

The needle valve may be clogged or stuck. It sounds like your getting fire and air just no fuel. Maybe try and pull the fuel bowl/float and clean or replace the valve and seat. I've got that same weedeater but haven't had to break down the carburator yet. I always try to juice up my fuel with a little seafoam each time I mix a new batch.

[Lafitte23]

Like I said I am no mechanic. how does one check to see if it has good spark.

It fires when you spray starter fluid in it so it sounds like you are getting all the spark you need. You could pull the plug and ground it to the body and pull the cord and see if it sparks (be very careful about where the spark is directed ie away from fuel source).

[Airtech]

My deceased uncle's way of checking for dependable spark on a lawnmower might work. Remove spark plug and put it in your pocket. Have wife or girlfriend hold the disconnected spark plug wire tightly in one hand and touch the motor with the other hand. Make sure all switches are in the "ON" position. Pull briskly on the starter rope. If the results are one black eye and several contusions, then the spark is sufficient. Just your hat knocked off means the fire needs some work. Make sure she doesn't find that spark plug and add it into a private place of your body. My uncle always said he was going to write this down, but could never see well enough to do it since he had numerous mowers, weed eaters and such that always needed to be worked on.

[yazoomike]

I take it you are taking about an SRM-265?? Stay away from the starter fluid. It runs too hot and can damage the engine. Try taking the carb completly apart and cleaning. I would put a kit in at that time as they should only run $15-$20 bucks. A complete carb should be no more than $60 and would be the quickest and easiest way to fix and that unit is well worth $60 being a replacement would be around $320. If I can help drop me a line. I'm an Echo dealer. Mike

[Lafitte23]

I take it you are taking about an SRM-265?? Stay away from the starter fluid. It runs too hot and can damage the engine. Try taking the carb completly apart and cleaning. I would put a kit in at that time as they should only run $15-$20 bucks. A complete carb should be no more than $60 and would be the quickest and easiest way to fix and that unit is well worth $60 being a replacement would be around $320. If I can help drop me a line. I'm an Echo dealer. Mike

Mike,

Is this the price of a new carb or just a rebuild kit? I've got 3 echo engines that probably need a little attention. Do you sell rebuild kits? Also do you do any dealing with Briggs and Straton engines/ Sears mowers?

Thanks

Craig

[yazoomike]

Mike,

Is this the price of a new carb or just a rebuild kit? I've got 3 echo engines that probably need a little attention. Do you sell rebuild kits? Also do you do any dealing with Briggs and Straton engines/ Sears mowers?

Thanks

Craig

Yes to above. $60 should get you a complete carb for most of the Echo's in the 21cc-26cc range. Rebuild kits run around $15-$20. I can get Briggs, Sears, Tec, Kohler, etc. Most brands excluding John Deere and Honda.

[Dale Moser]

Have you tried throwing it across the shop?

[ofishil]

I take it you are taking about an SRM-265?? Stay away from the starter fluid. It runs too hot and can damage the engine. Try taking the carb completly apart and cleaning. I would put a kit in at that time as they should only run $15-$20 bucks. A complete carb should be no more than $60 and would be the quickest and easiest way to fix and that unit is well worth $60 being a replacement would be around $320. If I can help drop me a line. I'm an Echo dealer. Mike

Dealer here said carb kit around $12 and replacement carb around $53. I have taken this carb apart probably 5 times along with once by one of my guys and sprayed carb cleaner in every crack and hole in that thing. I dont know if thats how you clean a carb but thats what i did. Its not that complicated to take it apart and put it back together so its just been bugging me that I cant fix it. I would like to rebuild it (mostly to teach myself) but I guess I am going to just bite the bullet and buy a new carb.