I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

DerbyDad03 wrote:
I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

The carb needs to be cleaned. There is probably something plugging a jet.

On May 17, 12:05*pm, "Bob F" wrote:
DerbyDad03 wrote:
I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

The carb needs to be cleaned. There is probably something plugging a jet.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for that.

Last night I drained the tank, poured in a few ounces of Mechanic In A
Bottle and pumped it into the fuel system per the instructions.

It's supposed to sit over night, so maybe I'll get lucky and it'll
clean itself - I don't have high expectations, but we'll see what
happens.

If it doesn't help, I'll start pulling things apart.

Thanks again.

On May 17, 11:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Many years ago, I had a car that started acting like that. It turned
out that the carb was loose, allowing air to leak in and dilute the
vapors, hence only running with a closed choke. Check to see if the
carb is loose or a vacuum tube is disconnected or broken.

Paul

That's pretty close to what I was going to write. I've seen engines,
typically Briggs or Tecumseh, the gasket between the carb and the
engine is missing, or badly leaking. New gasket, and some Permatex
#2b, non hardening, and the engine runs much better.

The other time I saw that was on a farm tractor, the farmer had taken
off the oil bath air filter, and it would only run part choke.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"Pavel314" wrote in message
...

Many years ago, I had a car that started acting like that. It turned
out that the carb was loose, allowing air to leak in and dilute the
vapors, hence only running with a closed choke. Check to see if the
carb is loose or a vacuum tube is disconnected or broken.

Paul

On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.

On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:
On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:





I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl. But it
is probably a clogged jet. If they are not very old you can often get
away with reusing the gaskets. I would not expect your "mechanic in a
bottle" to fix it but I suppose it's possible. Imho most of those
things are snake oil, if gas won't disolve the problem, other stuff
usually won't either. I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb
and blow out the passages and jets with some carb cleaner using that
little red piece of pipe that comes with the carb cleaner.
Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the size
of the main jet and I have had to clean it out with a small piece of
wire.

On May 18, 8:10*am, jamesgangnc wrote:
On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:





On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl. *But it
is probably a clogged jet. *If they are not very old you can often get
away with reusing the gaskets. *I would not expect your "mechanic in a
bottle" to fix it but I suppose it's possible. *Imho most of those
things are snake oil, if gas won't disolve the problem, other stuff
usually won't either. *I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb
and blow out the passages and jets with some carb cleaner using that
little red piece of pipe that comes with the carb cleaner.
Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the size
of the main jet and I have had to clean it out with a small piece of
wire.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the detailed response.

"The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl"

I pull the carb off last night and you are right, there is no bowl.

"I would not expect your "mechanic in a bottle" to fix it..."

It didn't. There was a slight improvement - I can actually start it
with the choke open now but it only runs for a second or two unless I
close the choke right away.

"I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb and blow out the
passages and jets"

To disasemble it, do I remove the small plate at the bottom - where
one would usually find the bowl?

After that, I'll be able to blow out the jets, right?

Should I have a new gasket available?

"Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the
size of the main jet"

Identifying the main jet will be pretty obvious, right?

Thanks again.

On May 18, 10:20*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On May 18, 8:10*am, jamesgangnc wrote:





On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:

On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

On May 18, 12:40*pm, jamesgangnc wrote:
On May 18, 10:20*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:





On May 18, 8:10*am, jamesgangnc wrote:

On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:

On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl. *But it
is probably a clogged jet. *If they are not very old you can often get
away with reusing the gaskets. *I would not expect your "mechanic in a
bottle" to fix it but I suppose it's possible. *Imho most of those
things are snake oil, if gas won't disolve the problem, other stuff
usually won't either. *I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb
and blow out the passages and jets with some carb cleaner using that
little red piece of pipe that comes with the carb cleaner.
Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the size
of the main jet and I have had to clean it out with a small piece of
wire.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the detailed response.

"The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl"

I pull the carb off last night and you are right, there is no bowl.

"I would not expect your "mechanic in a bottle" to fix it..."

It didn't. There was a slight improvement - I can actually start it
with the choke open now but it only runs for a second or two unless I
close the choke right away.

"I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb and blow out the
passages and jets"

To disasemble it, do I remove the small plate at the bottom - where
one would usually find the bowl?

After that, I'll be able to blow out the jets, right?

Should I have a new gasket available?

"Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the
size of the main jet"

Identifying the main jet will be pretty obvious, right?

Thanks again.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I suspect the plate you are talking about covers the small diaphram
pump. *These small carbs do not have the traditional float bowl
because they need to operate in a variety of positions. *They are
called membrane carbs. *You might be able to blow out the jets by
removing that plate. *Under it you will find a diaphram and some
flapper valves as well. *Crud anywhere in there could be a problem.
I'm guessing you are trying to avoid removing the carb? *I have been
successful at removing these carbs and taking them apart without
damaging the gaskets so I can reuse them. *You need to be careful
though and sometimes you just can't. *The carb to the head gasket is
simple and you can cut another one of those from gasket material if
you have to. *They are really pretty simple but ingenious devices.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

"I'm guessing you are trying to avoid removing the carb? "

No, I actually removed the carb last night to see if I could remove
the bowl and clean the innards.

When I didn't see the bowl as expected, I just sprayed some carb
cleaner into the "back end" (the hole that was up against the head)
and put it back on.

It didn't change the symptoms at all.

"The carb to the head gasket is simple..."

I don't recall even seeing a gasket. There was a thin metal plate
between the carb and the head that I had to realign to get the bolts
through, but I don't recall a gasket. Maybe I just wasn't thinking
about it and missed it.

Anyway, I'll take it off again, remove the bottom plate and clean that
area also.

"You might be able to blow out the jets by removing that plate."

And if I can't? How else would I clean the jets?

Thanks again.

On May 18, 7:10*am, jamesgangnc wrote:
On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:





On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The carbs on those small 2 strokes almost never have a bowl. *But it
is probably a clogged jet. *If they are not very old you can often get
away with reusing the gaskets. *I would not expect your "mechanic in a
bottle" to fix it but I suppose it's possible. *Imho most of those
things are snake oil, if gas won't disolve the problem, other stuff
usually won't either. *I suspect you'll need to disasemble the carb
and blow out the passages and jets with some carb cleaner using that
little red piece of pipe that comes with the carb cleaner.
Occasionaly I run into ones where dried gas/junk has reduced the size
of the main jet and I have had to clean it out with a small piece of
wire.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

My Sthil and Echos do, and leaving gas in any carb overwinter will
ruin all of them.

On May 18, 11:26*am, ransley wrote:
On May 18, 7:10*am, jamesgangnc wrote:





On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:

On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:
On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:





I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You must not have read my OP very carefully.

The problem started way before storing the unit for the winter. As I
said, after a few hours of use last fall, it would no longer start.

I did pour out the gas and pull the cord a few times, but since it
wouldn't start, there was no way to know if the carb ran itself dry or
not.

In fact, as per my OP, it actually starts now - which is an
improvement over last fall - but it won't run without the choke full
on.

I'm sure it's a carb problem in any event.

On May 18, 9:12*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On May 18, 6:55*am, ransley wrote:





On May 17, 10:45*am, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you run he carb dry in the fall, and push the primer after it died
and restarted it to be sure the fuel bowl has no gas, I bet not, and
your carb is varnished up and needs a clean-rebuild.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

You must not have read my OP very carefully.

The problem started way before storing the unit for the winter. As I
said, after a few hours of use last fall, it would no longer start.

I did pour out the gas and pull the cord a few times, but since it
wouldn't start, there was no way to know if the carb ran itself dry or
not.

In fact, as per my OP, it actually starts now - which is an
improvement over last fall - but it won't run without the choke full
on.

I'm sure it's a carb problem in any event.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Crudded up carb issues usualy develop over time, so just because it
ran before doesnt mean it was fine.

On May 17, 11:45�am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
I need some advice from the small engine gurus in this group.

The History:

My Ryobi 340BV blower ran fine all during the fall. Towards the end of
the season, I had started it multiple times over the course of a
couple of hours, so it was fully warmed up.

I shut it down for a few minutes and it wouldn't start back up. It
turned over, but wouldn't start, no matter where I set the 3 position
choke.

I tried to start it a few times over the next few days, making sure it
was cold and following the cold start procedure. No luck, it wouldn't
start.

It was the end of the season, so I dumped the gas and stuck it in the
shed, where it's sat for the last 4+ months.

The Current Problem:

Yesterday I pulled it out, changed the spark plug, sprayed the
carburetor with cleaner and put in fresh 32:1 gas/oil.

I pumped it up, closed the choke and it started on 3 pulls.

The problem now is that it only runs with the choke fully closed. As
soon as I move the choke lever to Partial or fully Open, it gives up a
deep throaty sound for half a second as it stalls. It's almost like a
kill switch. There's no surging or rough running, it just shuts down.

I let it warm up until it started to labor a bit and then tried to
slowly open the choke. As soon as the choke started to open, it
stalled.

I can start it over and over again with the choke closed, but I
obviously can't run it that way.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Your basic problem is the mixture of fuel to air ratio. There are many
things that cause this condition. To fix the problem you must do all
of the following:

Make sure all screws are tight that hold the carb, crank, and any
other screw that may allow air into the cylinder.

Make sure the gas tank vent is working properly.

Replace the fuel lines and make sure the fuel filter is attached. They
become brittle, they are cheap. Hint: when replacing the fuel lines,
cut at an angle. This will allow it to pass thru the holes much
easier. Buy the correct size.

Replace the plug. I know you said it was new, but trust me on this.
Plugs can become useless if too much gas gets on them, therefore not
allowing the full electric charge to produce the spark required. Also,
even new plugs can be bad.

After doing ALL the above, you can try to start it. If you have the
same problem, you must dis-assemble the carb and blow out all the
passages. There are only a few parts. Take pictures at each step if
you don't feel confident. Reassemble. Take plug out and check for
spark to make sure you didn't "gas foul" the one you just put in.

That should do it.

Hank

On Wed, 19 May 2010 08:55:39 -0700, Hustlin' Hank wrote:
you must dis-assemble the carb and blow out all the passages.
There are only a few parts. Take pictures at each step if you don't feel
confident.

Yes, pictures are useful... on the small carbs I've seen, some of the
parts can fit in more than one location/orientation, so it can be useful
to take pictures (or, if you don't like getting your camera dirty, do
what I do and scribble down notes and diagrams on a scrap of paper. And
try not to lose the paper

cheers

Jules