Forum Discussion

alank2's avatar
alank2
Explorer
May 06, 2019

Small engine question

Since you guys know tons of stuff I figured perhaps a question about my Echo blower would be something you guys would know. It is a 2 cycle engine and I can get it started, but it acts like it is starving for fuel. It will run slowly, but if you try to give it more throttle, it will stall out. The other thing that is odd is that the bulb you use to prime the carb will let you press it, but it doesn't come back out easily like it used to. Could it be a fuel filter that needs replacement? It seems like those are often the culprit...
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2019
    Use new fuel. Run them dry. Clean out your fuel system with cleaner, new fuel filter. I had a good Echo trimmer that I used a lot sometimes commercially. Eventually it had symptoms like you describe. It was the exhaust manifold that had accumulated carbon over the years. Once it was clean it ran like new.
  • alank2's avatar
    alank2
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2019
    I should have mentioned, replacing the fuel filter caused the bulb to work normally again as well...
  • BillyBob_Jim's avatar
    BillyBob_Jim
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2019
    alank2 wrote:
    The other thing that is odd is that the bulb you use to prime the carb will let you press it, but it doesn't come back out easily like it used to.


    Those bulbs crack where you can not see it, around the perimeter of the mounting flange. Any Echo dealer will have them and it takes 5 minutes to change. It's sucking air. The bulb should pump up full of fuel, not remain pushed in.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2019
    alank2 wrote:
    Sorry about the late follow up, but it was indeed the fuel filter. I bought an echo tune up kit that came with a fuel filter/air filter/spark plug. I replaced only the fuel filter and it started up and runs strong. Should I also change the air filter/spark plug or leave well enough alone until something else happens?


    It seems to me that well enough is well enough at this point. You could always take out the existing air cleaner and plug and inspect them; most faults with them should be pretty readily visible. But in as much as it's running well and apparently starting easily, there's no reason to suspect a bad plug or significantly dirty/damaged air filter.
  • alank2's avatar
    alank2
    Explorer
    Jun 30, 2019
    Sorry about the late follow up, but it was indeed the fuel filter. I bought an echo tune up kit that came with a fuel filter/air filter/spark plug. I replaced only the fuel filter and it started up and runs strong. Should I also change the air filter/spark plug or leave well enough alone until something else happens?
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    May 07, 2019
    Ah nice good observation. I would pull the plug real quick and clean the tip. Hopefully its fouled and would give hope to a beneficial repair.
  • wopachop's avatar
    wopachop
    Explorer
    May 07, 2019
    alank2 wrote:
    I can't say it runs better with choke.
    Have you mixed up fresh gas? Youre probably running 82 octane at this point. Best thing to do for little motors is buy 91 or whatever the highest you can find. Add some STARtron fuel stabalizer its very well respected in the off road community of small engines. Problem these days is all the ethanol in the gas. It gums up carbs quicker than ever.
  • ppine's avatar
    ppine
    Explorer II
    May 07, 2019
    How long have you had the blower. Over time 2 cycle engines carbon up. Often the deposits are in the exhaust manifold restricting air flow. If you solve the fuel issues and still have problems. Check for carbon in the exhaust.

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