petrol strimer..

atrixblue.-MFR-.

not sure if in correct place to post as not anything to do with motoring i though here would be correct.

i had a petrol strimmer given to me by FIL, he said he had trouble trying to find a spark plug to fit this model MCculloch mt270x so his mate tried to helicoil the cylinder head bolt fitting for a plug explained my FIL but his m8 returned it saying he couldnt helicoil it when he had it at his work place so father in law gave it to me as was taking up space in garage.

i bought the correct spark plug to fit it yesterday from a chainsaw,lawnmower,strimmer specialist local to myself, i tried it and was way too big, the specialist tried to match a plug to the threads in the cyclinder head of the machine but the size down didnt fit too small and next size up was a bit too big, he advised that it had been helicoiled to fit a certain plug type but without the plug we both are in the dark (there was no plug with it when FIL gave it to me and FIL had lost it) specialist put it on the work bench got a few other repairers round it for the best way round it they all came to the same conclusion that a new cylinder head was needed to put it right so the correct spark plug fitted again.

the specialist has charged me an initial £28.00 for stripping the motor down, but advised because my model is of an american import, getting the correct part could be costly. i said he has a limit of £80 for parts and to contact me if it ix going to exceed that limit.
he also said that if he failed to get the part he would by it off me to have as a spare just incase another model like mine passed his doors and would discount me on any model of my choice in his shop.

as i gave him a limit whats to say he can chage me this but the part and labour costs less, do i ask to see proof reciepts etc that it does tally upto the limit amount. i would like to have it running as this model is £220+vat (special order from a McCulloch dealer ship)

do you guys think i should stick to my initial limit of £80 or call them back ask how farr they have got and drop the limit and take him up on his offer of discount if he agrees.

fwor

If you're only down £28 so far, in your position I would ask them to give you a quote - not an estimate - to source and fit the part. I suspect that the cost for a cylinder head will be substantial, so unless the strimmer is in excellent nick it's probably not worth doing.

The helicoil route is unlikely to work out at all well if you don't have an original plug to work from - for example, how would you know what depth into the cylinder the centre electrode is meant to be?

fiddiwebb

Is this it?

http://www.espares.co.uk/part/trimmers/mcculloch/mt270x/p/1082/1105/0/448408/1032767/spark-plug-(rcj7y).html

fwor

fiddiwebb wrote: »

Is this it?

He won't know. Assuming the specialist is telling the truth, the head has been helicoiled to a non-standard size, so finding and fitting a plug that will fit the thread that's now on it would be pure guesswork. If it fits the thread, how would the OP know what length would be right?

mikey72

fwor wrote: »

He won't know. Assuming the specialist is telling the truth, the head has been helicoiled to a non-standard size, so finding and fitting a plug that will fit the thread that's now on it would be pure guesswork. If it fits the thread, how would the OP know what length would be right?

The original should be Champion RDJ8J, same as the link above near enough, which I can't find a spec for, but the NGK version is

BMR6F 14mm thread compact resistor type 6 = quite hot, 7.8mm thread taper seat.

So if you can find what fits in the helicoil, you should be able to find a similar type of plug.
Or re-helicoil it.

navig8r

Get a Time-sert insert fitted,costs about £25 and is mostly a perminant job.
http://www.timesert.com/
g8r

James123_2

I'd buy a replacement strimmer. This make starts at under a hundred quid for a petrol strimmer.

Nilrem

James123 wrote: »

I'd buy a replacement strimmer. This make starts at under a hundred quid for a petrol strimmer.

That would be my inclination as well, iirc last year we picked up a Ryobi "expand-it" petrol engine with hedge trimmer and strimmer units for about £130* which was pretty cheap new and works like a dream.

It sounds like the well meaning original attempt to get it working is going to cost a small fortune to get it working compared to it's likely value (and there may be more problems down the line from the previous "fixes").




*And then bought a pack with a second engine, brush cutter, mini mower and rotovator for about £140 a couple of months later as we needed a rotovator and that was £60 on it's own (from memory they were phasing out the manual start units for battery start ones).

timbim_2

Or get a Stihl for not much more, and you get a tool that goes on working practically forever. When things do go, it's usually the pull cord, but if it is more major, they're designed to be repaired and not replaced.

nedmundo

I got a Castelgarden 2 stroke strimmer for £80 5 years ago and it has never let me down.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

thanks for you replies guys
update called him today to see how far he'd got as i said he stripped the head off the helicoil that was fitted was way too big and was hitting the piston so the piston has goudges in the middle but not deep so he gunna smooth them no replacement needed thank god he's got a head for me beit second hand but he's gunna check it for cracks etc and spark plug hole is intact and good condition. so farr he only spent £20.00 (second hand head) he said by tomorrow it should be running and his labour cost will be factored into the price and wont come neer the £80 limit, he's still up for me to part ex it with a more UK spec strimmer and use my one as parts, but if it aint gunna come near my £80 limit and its running i see no need to replace it. it was a free be. i could save for a bit and then part ex it to get a decent one.