On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:56:50 -0400, Bill who putters
wrote:

In article ,
Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote:

On Sat, 9 Oct 2010 11:08:24 +0000, jnb
wrote:


'cos it won't ;-(

I bought a new hedge trimmer a couple of weeks ago, since when it has of
course tipped it down. Now it's dry enough to use the thing I can of
course not get it started.

When I bought it the salesman gave it a guick once over and checked it
worked which it does, or at least did. Today I try to start it and I
have the engine switch in the on position, the choke closed, fuel primed
and it does nothing. Pulling the plug out I can see a spark and smell
fuel so what might I be missing.

This is a hayter ht230s if that makes a difference.

Any suggestions?

You're supposed to start a cold engine with the choke *open*. And
make sure to use fresh fuel.

Inline fuel filter or carb filter could be defective or clogged.

I doubt those filters exist on hedgetrimmer engines, typically there's
a removable fine mesh nylon screen at the fuel tank opening to catch
larger particles... string trimmers, leaf blowers, and push lawnmowers
don't have fuel line filters either, neither chain saws... many
plastic fuel cans have a nylon mesh screen inside the spout, with some
metal cans the spout screen is brass. These small 2 cycle engines are
very sensitive to old fuel, the oil mix already dilutes the fuel.
Anyway the unit was just purchased brand new, way too soon for a fuel
line and/or carborator clog. Even dealerships may be using up old
fuel and then to let a few weeks pass without using the machine the
old fuel just becomes older, this can make the unit difficult to
start... I don't mix more 2 cycle fuel than I can use in a month or
less, I have a 2 liter can for my 2 cycle, and I buy my gas in small
quantities, not more than a 2 gallon can, at the end of the season my
last purchase may be only 1 gallon. I'd rather make a couple extra
trips to the gas pump each gardening season than hassle with hard
starting engines. The additives in gas dissipate rapidly... there are
gas stabilizers one can add but it's easier and less costly to just
buy gas more often. At the end of the season I pour what little gas
is left in my 2 gallon can into my automobile, I dont save gasolene
nor do I like keeping it around longer than neccesary and in larger
quantity than necessary.