Stihl strimmer difficult to start

[chester]

Got the strimmer out to tidy yard up and was tricky to start and when it did fire up it would idle but as soon as you try to open the throttle it would stop.Any suggestions on what I should try or do I just take it to local lawn mower guy?

 

[feilding]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

 

[Exfarmer]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

You are joking. I use mix which is several years old in my 2 strokes as very rarely use them, never had issues

 

[br jones]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

rot

 

[ollie989898]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

Not all manufacturers support the use of alkyl fuels as the air: fuel ratio can be wrong.

I don't leave fuel mixed up, ever. I mix up and use what I have. Fresh petrol and good quality oil always kept separate prior to use.

 

[feilding]

You are joking. I use mix which is several years old in my 2 strokes as very rarely use them, never had issues

I repair a few mowers, chainsaws,strimmers. Etc.
Most of the problems of nonstarting engines is down to old fuel, change fuel either new petrol or Aspen and they start straight away, no adjustments. Hearing it from other workshops as well. Modern petrol has a very short shelf life. Had 2 lawnmowers in this week failed to start, fuel a month old. New petrol and started first pull, before nearly pulled my guts out trying to start them

 

[Mur Huwcun]

I repair a few mowers, chainsaws,strimmers. Etc.
Most of the problems of nonstarting engines is down to old fuel, change fuel either new petrol or Aspen and they start straight away, no adjustments. Hearing it from other workshops as well. Modern petrol has a very short shelf life. Had 2 lawnmowers in this week failed to start, fuel a month old. New petrol and started first pull, before nearly pulled my guts out trying to start them

Same here, last few years they seem to get worst and worse. Only thing that starts with whatever is in the tank is the old ride on mower, I even empty other things into it now

 

[ollie989898]

I repair a few mowers, chainsaws,strimmers. Etc.
Most of the problems of nonstarting engines is down to old fuel, change fuel either new petrol or Aspen and they start straight away, no adjustments. Hearing it from other workshops as well. Modern petrol has a very short shelf life. Had 2 lawnmowers in this week failed to start, fuel a month old. New petrol and started first pull, before nearly pulled my guts out trying to start them

A month old??

Stored how? I get a few litres and put them in a plastic can to use over the summer. Never had an issue? By the autumn it is generally all gone and I go and get fresh in the spring. Only difference is I always buy Shell Vpower petrol from the nearest garage, probably better stuff?

 

[Kidds]

Got the strimmer out to tidy yard up and was tricky to start and when it did fire up it would idle but as soon as you try to open the throttle it would stop.Any suggestions on what I should try or do I just take it to local lawn mower guy?

Very similar tale to mine yesterday. First time out in 12 months or so, tank empty so new fuel (new as in two months old at least and oil mixed into it when bought). Did as you describe but persevered and got it going, it went on to run perfect for rest of the morning.
I think the trick is to give 6 presses on the bulb, choke on, pull til it fires, choke off, pull til it fires up and ticks over then ever so gently introduce the idea of revving it up a bit.

 

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[nick...]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

I use aspen too and empty out fuel of whatever 2stroke I’m using and run till it stops.had my strummer out last week,first time for over a year and after adding aspen it started first pull.use it in chain saw and hedge cutter too with no issues.I gave up with petrol and oil due to issues mentioned above
Nick…

 

[H200GT]

A month old??

Stored how? I get a few litres and put them in a plastic can to use over the summer. Never had an issue? By the autumn it is generally all gone and I go and get fresh in the spring. Only difference is I always buy Shell Vpower petrol from the nearest garage, probably better stuff?

I never get an issue either. Not a big user of 2 stroke, a 5l can can last all winter. Chainsaw can be left for months without starting, few pulls and its away. Brush cutter again never any bother.

Never had any issues with diesel in the old tractors either, is it just luck or good housekeeping?

 

[Tomr10]

Mines the same right pain I think from lack of use. Also dosent like running flat out. Takes longer to start that strim the lawn

 

[bobk]

After it's fired , put it on half choke until it's running or smoking , dreadful machines .

 

[7610 super q]

Chuff me sideways with a cucumber. Paying nearly £6 gallon for the stuff and it only keeps for a few weeks ? Really ? Are you serious ?
Getting a bit like diesel, where it only keeps a few months, gets some horrible bug, f**ks up your engine....
If only fuel companies had some sort of assurance scheme....

 

[betweenthelines]

How old is the fuel mix. If over 3 wks old dump it. I've stopped using petrol mix. And use Aspen 2 stroke mix in all small 2 stroke engines. Unbelievable difference in starting and power.

How "old" do you think the petrol you buy is?

From the refinery to the petrol station to you in under 3 weeks?

 

[Alchad]

My Stihl chainsaw became almost impossible to start whatever age of fuel, bought a cheap replacement Chinese carb (although bought from UK), think it was less than £30. Fired up straight away with no tuning, might be worth investigating a replacement carb?

 

[ollie989898]

My 2 stroke leaf blower is an absolute peach. Pull the cord and he starts within 2 pulls. Revs up like fury, you can tell when a 2 stroke is just right as it sounds just right when running flat out.

The only thing I do is always buy Shell V power petrol and run on Comma fully synthetic 2 stroke oil.

I've been told to put fuel stabiliser in my fuel before storing it for any length of time, would this make any difference?

 

[JeepJeep]

Whatever Petrol from wherever I'm passing or & buying Diesel from. 20 Litres in a can. Briggs Fuel Fit.

Mix 2 Stroke as I need it on whatever Oil. Not a problem. Mower never fails... El Cheapo Saw goes first pull.

 

[pycoed]

It's a Stihl, what do you expect? Every Stihl device I've ever dealt with has always ended up a pig to start. Latest & most annoying manifestation is that my missus , totally against my advice as usual, bought herself a Stihl leaf blower about three years back. Of course it now won't start, so I had to fit a new carb (£12 Ebay) which was cheaper than the gasket/diaphragm kit. Meanwhile my donkeys years old Poulan blower modified as a rat smoker with an oil injected exhaust, did the job before the carb arrived.