Strimmer Issue

Cotta

Afternoon All,

I have a Stihl strimmer that has been very reliable overt he past number of years. Last week however I noticed that on a wide area of grass the strimmer never quite got going to 100% capacity. As a result the grass was difficult to cut and the strimmer ended up burning the plug.

I left the strimmer in with a local repair service and they replaced the fuel filter and plug. I just tested the strimmer and it's again running poorly.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

wellused

I suppose that as it has been into the repair shop that they checked the air filter or could it be something as simple as the fuel mixture is incorrect apart from those basic things I can't help as it could be something more serious such as cylinder wear.

peter_the_piper

Agree it sounds like the air filter, which could account for the burned out plug. Do you service itt each year? Do you empty the fuel out before shoving in the garage over winter?

Cotta

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Agree it sounds like the air filter, which could account for the burned out plug. Do you service itt each year? Do you empty the fuel out before shoving in the garage over winter?

It wasn't serviced this year and I just left it in the garage with whatever fuel was left in it. I was under the impression that it was not good to store equipment without some fuel in the tank.

peter_the_piper

Problem with petrol is that it evapourates and when left with 2stroke in it it becomes to thick for the very fine holes in the carb. I even empty the 4 stroke honda having fallen for the same problem a few years ago.

Cotta

So come end of season ensure that the petrol tanks of the lawnmower, strimmer and hedge cutter are empty?

peter_the_piper

Yep, and use up any neat petrol left in your car. Use fresh next year. Give the tools a darn good clean and oil up as necessary before you tuck them away for the winter.

Cotta

Good points, I was always taught that over the winter months, a small quantity of fuel should be left in the tank.

I also need to find out how to clean down a ride-on lawnmower as I've only just purchased my first one.

peter_the_piper

Karcher, thats how the guys do it here.

Cotta

My Dad collected it for me - apparently the carburettor needed to be tuned. It's an old strimmer - perhaps 20 + years old. Is this a difficult task to carry out?

peter_the_piper

No, but it does need someone who knows what they are doing as its mostly done by ear. Thats a good age for a strimmer, but then you'd expect a Stihl to give good service. These days you only seem to get what you pay for.