Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas.

Jasnall · 05-18-2010, 12:36 PM

Brief history: It was my dads and used to run fine except for some problems getting fuel. I found the fuel lines were bad and the little filter end was just rolling around in the tank. So i replaced the line and the bulb fills up no problem.

Now it just wont start at all. I took it all apart last night; exhaust is clear, cleaned a lot of black grime off the cylinder head, took apart the carb and mostly visually inspected it everything looked fine diaphragm still moved, screens were clear, compression seems great.
I put fuel directly into the motor and still no start, not even a sputter and die. I pulled the spark plug out, grounded it, and cranked it. Looks like a nice spark appears but I don't know much about plugs. I've tried the 2 stroke mixture gas, I've put un-mixed 87 in the tank, no results.

I don't know what else to do and my arm is getting sore!

Oh also i don't know where the trims should be set. I've tightened them all the way to the right then went left 2 full turns on each and tried. I heard from somewhere that's a good place to start.

martyshel · 05-19-2010, 01:40 PM

Compression seems great or compressions is great? Have you put a guage on it?

Yoyizit · 05-19-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasnall

Looks like a nice spark appears

The spark testers use a 3/16" gap, I think. Having a spark jump under compression requires a higher voltage.

When this happens to me I leave the thing in direct sunlight for a half hour before attempting starting.

You could also try one of these extremely volatile starting fluids.

Jasnall · 05-19-2010, 01:48 PM

No i haven't used a gauge, just going by the difference in feel with the spark plug out and with it back in when pulling the starter. I guess i can get a gauge setup and test it.
I guess the main issue to look at is it doesn't fire even when i put gas directly into the cylinder.

downunder · 05-19-2010, 07:44 PM

If you run it without oil mixed in the gas, the rest of this will be moot.

If there's fuel, spark, and compression, I'm thinking a timing problem.

Jasnall · 05-19-2010, 07:55 PM

Timing! That was my next guess! However I don't know much about adjusting the timing. How do you even do it on these motors?

Jasnall · 05-19-2010, 10:03 PM

IT'S ALIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
I put a new spark plug in and about 50 cranks later and some trim fiddling it fired up. I guess I learned that all sparks are not created equal. Like Yoyizit said "Having a spark jump under compression requires a higher voltage." Makes sense to me now. Either way taking it all apart was a good time, and it run really strong now.

Thanks to everyone that posted!

profenx · 06-03-2010, 02:12 AM

2 full turns out. Mine didn't idle at 2 turns out. I went with 1.25 and it helped. Good job getting it started!

How did you clean your muffler?

05-18-2010, 12:36 PM	#1
Jasnall Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 9	Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas. Brief history: It was my dads and used to run fine except for some problems getting fuel. I found the fuel lines were bad and the little filter end was just rolling around in the tank. So i replaced the line and the bulb fills up no problem. Now it just wont start at all. I took it all apart last night; exhaust is clear, cleaned a lot of black grime off the cylinder head, took apart the carb and mostly visually inspected it everything looked fine diaphragm still moved, screens were clear, compression seems great. I put fuel directly into the motor and still no start, not even a sputter and die. I pulled the spark plug out, grounded it, and cranked it. Looks like a nice spark appears but I don't know much about plugs. I've tried the 2 stroke mixture gas, I've put un-mixed 87 in the tank, no results. I don't know what else to do and my arm is getting sore! Oh also i don't know where the trims should be set. I've tightened them all the way to the right then went left 2 full turns on each and tried. I heard from somewhere that's a good place to start. Last edited by Jasnall; 05-18-2010 at 02:44 PM.

05-19-2010, 01:40 PM	#2
martyshel Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 47	Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas. Compression seems great or compressions is great? Have you put a guage on it?

05-19-2010, 01:48 PM	#4
Jasnall Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 9	Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas. No i haven't used a gauge, just going by the difference in feel with the spark plug out and with it back in when pulling the starter. I guess i can get a gauge setup and test it. I guess the main issue to look at is it doesn't fire even when i put gas directly into the cylinder.

05-19-2010, 07:44 PM	#5
downunder Don't know it all, yet! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Metro Atlanta, GA Posts: 910	Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas. If you run it without oil mixed in the gas, the rest of this will be moot. If there's fuel, spark, and compression, I'm thinking a timing problem. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. If you wouldn't put your name on it, it ain't done right!

05-19-2010, 07:55 PM	#6
Jasnall Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 9	Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas. Timing! That was my next guess! However I don't know much about adjusting the timing. How do you even do it on these motors?

Homelite weedeater won't start. Out of ideas.