On May 4, 1:10*am, Elmo dcdraftwo...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
I'm new to two-stroke gas-powered equipment having owned the following
California-emissions models for only six months and I'd like to ask one
question of each:
1. Craftsman 18" two-stroke chain saw
2. Echo 20" two-stroke hedge trimmer
3. Yardman two-stroke vacuum/blower

Craftsman 18" chain saw:
Is it "normal" for a chain saw to take up to 30 or so pulls before the darn
thing starts and stays running?

Echo HC150 Hedge trimmer:
Is it "normal" for the sliding blades to bind every hour or so,
necessitating loosening of the bolts spaced every six inches or so?

Yardman vacuum/blower/mulcher:
Is it "normal" for the blower to basically be almost useless and for the
vacuum to get clogged constantly (on leaves & twigs mostly) such that,
after twenty minutes, you have to spend a half hour cleaning out the
passageways?

I ask because:
a) I'd expect a chain saw to start like the Honda pressure washer does ....
one pull and on it goes, not 30 pulls.

b) I'm not sure what's happening with the hedge trimmer; why are the nuts
tightening up in use? Is that what happens with hedge trimmers?

c) Basically, the vacuum/blower/mulcher is basically useless. I'm not sure
why anyone buys these. I had to go out and buy the Echo PB-500HC
(C=california) backpack blower just to get a decent blower but now I need a
decent vacuum and don't know what to get.

These are all lessons learned (that I wish I knew before I bought) ... do
you have similar experiences or did I just buy the wrong tools?

I had an echo trimmer, great machine, are you saying the bolts
tighten by themselves and you need to loosen them? Mine were locknuts
and never tightened, after years they loosened a bit. Do you oil the
bar before each use, but that shouldnt matter why dont you take it
back and contact Echo, that is the best tool made. You are supposed to
not have them tight so it can bind but loose, not real loose so the
bolts wobble and the blades flop, and the locknuts should be very hard
to turn and have alot of resistance, maybe the locknut is loose and
worn or defective, replacing the bolt and nut would be easy but
covered under warranty by a reputable dealer, what does the dealer
say. I spray oil the blades before each use to keep them from
wearing.

30 pulls to start something means you are doing something wrong or
maybe no fuel from an air leak, try tightening all bolts relating to
fuel delivery, Manifold, carburator, fuel lines etc, anything loose
might enter air. Next time remove the plug after a few tries if its
wet you are flooding it and need to reduce fuel, test the spark color
and strength by removing the plug, grounding it and it should be
strong and blue.

I only use a blower to blow so I could understand a certain type of
debris clogging it or things that are damp, maybe you are sucking up
damp dirt as its designed for dry leaves.