Strimmer starting problem
Hi all,
I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks |
On Wed, 11 May 2005 12:59:46 GMT, "Jon the fool"
wrote: Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks I don't know how long you've been trying it but one good piece of advice I had with a petrol mower was to run it out of petrol each time rather than using the switch to cut the spark, as it can become stale if left in the carberettor too long. Since doing that it has *never* failed to start by the second pull. Andy |
Try taking the spark plug out and putting about 2 teaspoons of petrol into
the hole then put the spark plug back in and try it again. I used to do this with a lawn mower engine which I had difficulty with and it used to do the trick. "Jon the fool" wrote in message ... Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks |
Thanks all, I managed to get it going at last, it only took me 2 hrs and 45
mins, I opened the idle adjuster screw a couple of turns and it fired up. Now all I have got to do is tackle the leak before I go up in flames :) "Tom" wrote in message k... Try taking the spark plug out and putting about 2 teaspoons of petrol into the hole then put the spark plug back in and try it again. I used to do this with a lawn mower engine which I had difficulty with and it used to do the trick. "Jon the fool" wrote in message ... Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks |
Andy Pandy wrote:
On Wed, 11 May 2005 12:59:46 GMT, "Jon the fool" wrote: Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. [...] I don't know how long you've been trying it but one good piece of advice I had with a petrol mower was to run it out of petrol each time rather than using the switch to cut the spark, as it can become stale if left in the carberettor too long. Since doing that it has *never* failed to start by the second pull. Didn't somebody here point out a while ago that petrol with additives only stays in good condition for six weeks or less? So we must always drain machines down for the winter, and start with a fresh can in the spring. (No, on reflection, I heard it on TV.) -- Mike. |
"Jon the fool" wrote in message ... Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks Clean the spark plug, check the gap, check and clean the air filter, change the fuel for clean stuff and it should be fine. Oh and I once spent 5 mins trying to start mine before noticing the thing was switched to "Off" :~) -- Charlie, gardening in Cornwall. http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs) |
On Wed, 11 May 2005 14:38:40 +0100, Andy Pandy
wrote: On Wed, 11 May 2005 12:59:46 GMT, "Jon the fool" wrote: Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks I don't know how long you've been trying it but one good piece of advice I had with a petrol mower was to run it out of petrol each time rather than using the switch to cut the spark, as it can become stale if left in the carberettor too long. Since doing that it has *never* failed to start by the second pull. Andy I agree my instruction manual states not to use petrol oil mix after it is six weeks old. Drain your tank and carb and get a fresh mix of oil/ petrol. |
"Jon the fool" wrote in message ... Thanks all, I managed to get it going at last, it only took me 2 hrs and 45 mins, I opened the idle adjuster screw a couple of turns and it fired up. As mentioned above, when you have finished with it drain out the fuel, then re-start it and run it until it's dry. If you are leaveing it over winter, change the oil if four stroke, clean the filter and whilst you have that off spray a little WD40 in the carb whilst pulling it over. Slatts |
Neil Cairns wrote:
On Wed, 11 May 2005 14:38:40 +0100, Andy Pandy wrote: On Wed, 11 May 2005 12:59:46 GMT, "Jon the fool" wrote: Hi all, I hope someone on here can help, I have a Stihl FS400 petrol strimmer and it will not start, it was working ok last year, went to start it today and wont work. I have checked the spark plug and it sparks ok, I did notice at the top of the fuel tank where the pipe enters it that it slightly leaks although this only happens if the tank is filled to the top or tipped sideways, could this be the cause, I dont know so any advice appreciated. Thanks I don't know how long you've been trying it but one good piece of advice I had with a petrol mower was to run it out of petrol each time rather than using the switch to cut the spark, as it can become stale if left in the carberettor too long. Since doing that it has *never* failed to start by the second pull. Andy I agree my instruction manual states not to use petrol oil mix after it is six weeks old. Drain your tank and carb and get a fresh mix of oil/ petrol. Well all my ancient B&S powered mowers start quite happily with last year's petrol. Two strokes I must admit are probably a bit more fussy· -- Chris Green |
Sla#s wrote:
As mentioned above, when you have finished with it drain out the fuel, then re-start it and run it until it's dry. If you are leaveing it over winter, change the oil if four stroke, clean the filter and whilst you have that off spray a little WD40 in the carb whilst pulling it over. WD40 is horrible stuff to do this sort of thing with, it leaves a sticky deposit which all sorts of dirt etc. sticks to. It's not a lubricant, it's a water dispeller. Used on ignition systems in my experience it works to get a wet engine started but if used too often so much filth ends up stuck to the ignition leads that they need replacing after a while. I'd go for plain engine oil or similar if you really want to put something "in the carb", but I don't think it's necessary. -- Chris Green |
wrote in message ... Sla#s wrote: SNIP WD40 is horrible stuff to do this sort of thing with, it leaves a sticky deposit which all sorts of dirt etc. sticks to. It's not a lubricant, it's a water dispeller. Used on ignition systems in my experience it works to get a wet engine started but if used too often so much filth ends up stuck to the ignition leads that they need replacing after a while. I'd go for plain engine oil or similar if you really want to put something "in the carb", but I don't think it's necessary. I know what you mean, there are proper engine preservation fluids but WD40 is what most folk have in the shed. And if they put the filter back on they won't have a problem. Slatts |
"Sla#s" wrote in message ... As mentioned above, when you have finished with it drain out the fuel, then re-start it and run it until it's dry. If you are leaveing it over winter, change the oil if four stroke, clean the filter and whilst you have that off spray a little WD40 in the carb whilst pulling it over. Slatts The strimmer uses an oil petrol mix 50.1, my mower (Honda, alway starts easily touch wood) uses oil and petrol seperately, should I drain the oil and petrol from the mower when storing for winter? Thanks. |
Jon the fool wrote:
"Sla#s" wrote in message ... As mentioned above, when you have finished with it drain out the fuel, then re-start it and run it until it's dry. If you are leaveing it over winter, change the oil if four stroke, clean the filter and whilst you have that off spray a little WD40 in the carb whilst pulling it over. Slatts The strimmer uses an oil petrol mix 50.1, my mower (Honda, alway starts easily touch wood) uses oil and petrol seperately, should I drain the oil and petrol from the mower when storing for winter? It's generally the best thing to drain the fuel -- especially from the carburettor -- but I don't think it hurts to leave the engine oil. Use fresh petrol in the spring, of course. -- Mike. |
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