So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?

On Sat, 7 Nov 2020 05:53:15 -0800 (PST), trader_4
wrote:

So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?


I know next to nothing about engines. If it was a heart, it
could be one of the arteries' walls had "come loose" and was acting
like a valve. IOW, with the gas flowing fast a rusted/rotten section
folds down and blocks the fuel.
Next I'd look at what regulates how much blood (fuel) gets
there. In the case of an engine, the carburetor(leaky float) or
injector. It could be the lungs (blocked/soaked/wet) air filter too.
You didn't describe how it works.
Sorry, that's the best I've got.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012

On Sat, 07 Nov 2020 13:24:07 -0300, Shadow wrote:

On Sat, 7 Nov 2020 05:53:15 -0800 (PST), trader_4
wrote:

So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?


I know next to nothing about engines. If it was a heart, it
could be one of the arteries' walls had "come loose" and was acting
like a valve. IOW, with the gas flowing fast a rusted/rotten section
folds down and blocks the fuel.
Next I'd look at what regulates how much blood (fuel) gets
there. In the case of an engine, the carburetor(leaky float) or
injector. It could be the lungs (blocked/soaked/wet) air filter too.
You didn't describe how it works.
Sorry, that's the best I've got.
[]'s
Just ran across that same problem with a 15 year old Stihl. It was the
fuel line where it goes into the tank. It has an "accordian" section
and it was cracked it the root of the bellows. Was a bit hard starting
- ran for about 3 minutes then leaned out and died.

https://www.amazon.com/Leaf-Blower-V...YHKZMSTNHAC02T

It wasn't cheap but a lot less than a new blower.

On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:32:04 PM UTC-5, Bob F wrote:
On 11/7/2020 5:53 AM, trader_4 wrote:
So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?



The fuel pickup could be a flex line so the pickup moves down to the
fuel. If such a line cracked it might behave so. It certainly sounds
like such a problem.

Yes, that's one of my suspicions too. But I looked for air bubbles in
the fuel lines when this was happening and there were none. And yesterday
before diagnosing, I decided to try starting it again. It started right
up. Some smoke was coming out of the exhaust for about two mins, I
presume that was because it had been flooded from the failed starting
attempts a few days ago. After that it ran just about perfect for
an hour. A couple times it seemed to just start to hesitate a bit,
but quickly recovered. I guess I'll just keep using it, try to get
through the next 6 weeks of leaf blowing, that I hate so much. Blew
them away yesterday, today hard to tell, so many more have dropped.

I wonder if a fouled piston ring could cause the symptoms? That was
the problem the last two times. But then it just would not start.
Wonder if it's possible that when it heats up, sometimes the piston
ring gets stuck, it loses compression? IDK

On 11/12/2020 5:19 AM, trader_4 wrote:
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:32:04 PM UTC-5, Bob F wrote:
On 11/7/2020 5:53 AM, trader_4 wrote:
So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?



The fuel pickup could be a flex line so the pickup moves down to the
fuel. If such a line cracked it might behave so. It certainly sounds
like such a problem.

Yes, that's one of my suspicions too. But I looked for air bubbles in
the fuel lines when this was happening and there were none. And yesterday
before diagnosing, I decided to try starting it again. It started right
up. Some smoke was coming out of the exhaust for about two mins, I
presume that was because it had been flooded from the failed starting
attempts a few days ago. After that it ran just about perfect for
an hour. A couple times it seemed to just start to hesitate a bit,
but quickly recovered. I guess I'll just keep using it, try to get
through the next 6 weeks of leaf blowing, that I hate so much. Blew
them away yesterday, today hard to tell, so many more have dropped.

I wonder if a fouled piston ring could cause the symptoms? That was
the problem the last two times. But then it just would not start.
Wonder if it's possible that when it heats up, sometimes the piston
ring gets stuck, it loses compression? IDK


There are problems with fouled muffler exhaust screens also, although I
wouldn't expect that to come and go.

trader_4 used his or her keyboard to write :
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:32:04 PM UTC-5, Bob F wrote:
On 11/7/2020 5:53 AM, trader_4 wrote:
So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?



The fuel pickup could be a flex line so the pickup moves down to the
fuel. If such a line cracked it might behave so. It certainly sounds
like such a problem.

Yes, that's one of my suspicions too. But I looked for air bubbles in
the fuel lines when this was happening and there were none. And yesterday
before diagnosing, I decided to try starting it again. It started right
up. Some smoke was coming out of the exhaust for about two mins, I
presume that was because it had been flooded from the failed starting
attempts a few days ago. After that it ran just about perfect for
an hour. A couple times it seemed to just start to hesitate a bit,
but quickly recovered. I guess I'll just keep using it, try to get
through the next 6 weeks of leaf blowing, that I hate so much. Blew
them away yesterday, today hard to tell, so many more have dropped.

I wonder if a fouled piston ring could cause the symptoms? That was
the problem the last two times. But then it just would not start.
Wonder if it's possible that when it heats up, sometimes the piston
ring gets stuck, it loses compression? IDK

Another SWAG IIUC could be the ignition coil is cracked and opening
when the temperature expands it enough.

On 2020-11-12, Bob F wrote:
There are problems with fouled muffler exhaust screens also, although I
wouldn't expect that to come and go.

The problem is liberals. Eradicate them and and most problems will vanish.
Economic destruction unleashed by the incoming regime will only hasten
the coming of that happy day when the freight trains will be carrying
Leftists to their final destination.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Roger Blake (Posts from Google Groups killfiled due to excess spam.)

The US Census, what info must you give? -- http://censusfacts.info
Don't talk to cops! -- http://www.DontTalkToCops.com
Badges don't grant extra rights -- http://www.CopBlock.org
The facts about Climate Change -- http://www.RealClimateScience.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On 11/12/2020 4:47 PM, Roger Blake wrote:
On 2020-11-12, Bob F wrote:
There are problems with fouled muffler exhaust screens also, although I
wouldn't expect that to come and go.

The problem is liberals. Eradicate them and and most problems will vanish.
Economic destruction unleashed by the incoming regime will only hasten
the coming of that happy day when the freight trains will be carrying
Leftists to their final destination.


More trumptard murder talk. You are a great example of what trumptards
are, and did a great job of helping convince America to fire the
*******. Liberals all over the country thank you for the great help.

On Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 11:24:48 AM UTC-5, FromTheRafters wrote:
trader_4 used his or her keyboard to write :
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:32:04 PM UTC-5, Bob F wrote:
On 11/7/2020 5:53 AM, trader_4 wrote:
So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling..

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again.
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating.
Any guesses?



The fuel pickup could be a flex line so the pickup moves down to the
fuel. If such a line cracked it might behave so. It certainly sounds
like such a problem.

Yes, that's one of my suspicions too. But I looked for air bubbles in
the fuel lines when this was happening and there were none. And yesterday
before diagnosing, I decided to try starting it again. It started right
up. Some smoke was coming out of the exhaust for about two mins, I
presume that was because it had been flooded from the failed starting
attempts a few days ago. After that it ran just about perfect for
an hour. A couple times it seemed to just start to hesitate a bit,
but quickly recovered. I guess I'll just keep using it, try to get
through the next 6 weeks of leaf blowing, that I hate so much. Blew
them away yesterday, today hard to tell, so many more have dropped.

I wonder if a fouled piston ring could cause the symptoms? That was
the problem the last two times. But then it just would not start.
Wonder if it's possible that when it heats up, sometimes the piston
ring gets stuck, it loses compression? IDK
Another SWAG IIUC could be the ignition coil is cracked and opening
when the temperature expands it enough.

That's a possibility too. Here is the latest. I used it again for about 20 mins the other day. It started right up, ran almost perfectly, an occasional little hiccup, but full power. Then it just started struggling, barely able to run at half power.

Today I started working on it. First thing I discovered, the intake fuel line had broken off right at the filter. So of course you think it's possible the fuel line might have floated around, but when it was having trouble I looked at the fuel lines and no air bubbles. So it wasn't that, but it has been sucking up gas without a filter and the trouble started when I refilled it with the last of the mixed gas that was in the gallon tank. So, figured maybe some debris got in the carb. Took the carb apart, it looks fine, no gunk, no debris, no corrosion. Blew it out with air.

I had also noticed that when running it looked like som fuel might have been coming out between the carb and intake. There is a special shaped o-ring like gasket there. Can't order a new one. So when I went to put it back together again, I put some RTV on that area. Put it back together, it started right up. Ran for 15 mins perfectly, then same thing, started bogging down, then quit.

I'm thinking this could be that freaking piston ring again. Twice it got fouled and stuck, so it lost compression. I'm thinking that when it gets hot enough, maybe it starts to stick? That's next on my list. Unfortunately that requires more disassembly than the carb

On Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 4:09:05 PM UTC-5, trader_4 wrote:
On Thursday, November 12, 2020 at 11:24:48 AM UTC-5, FromTheRafters wrote:
trader_4 used his or her keyboard to write :
On Saturday, November 7, 2020 at 7:32:04 PM UTC-5, Bob F wrote:
On 11/7/2020 5:53 AM, trader_4 wrote:
So, my leaf blower that has been a source of much trouble in the past
just started in again. Last two times it was that the piston ring had
carbonized and stuck. This time, IDK haven't started on it yet.
Fortunately it worked for what needed to be done, so I have a week or
so to fix it or get a new one.

Here is what happened this time. I've been using it occasionally, more
recently I used it a week ago and it ran perfectly. At that time I
was filling it with mixed fuel from a 1 gal jug. Yesterday it started
up ran fine, until it was running out of gas, or at least I thought it
was. The gas was low, but after the rest of what happened, I thought
back and I think it may not have been as low as it normally is when
it starts to starve for gas. So I filled it up again, this time what
was left in the jug was the very end of that volume, it basically was
enough to just fill it. Started right up, ran for a couple of minutes,
then started having problems, unable to run at full speed, struggling.

So I immediately wondered if that last gas had something to do with it.
I mixed up a fresh tank, poured out what was in the blower and filled
it with the new mix. Started right up and ran perfectly fine again.
For about 15 mins that is. Then suddenly started crapping out again..
I did notice that if I tipped the front end down, it would pick up
and run better again. But that only lasted for a couple mins, then
it went out.

My first suspicion is that something could be wrong with
the fuel lines, like maybe broken off inside the tank? When I pump
the bulb I can see fuel flowing, which seems to discount that, you'd
think it would be sucking air. So, IDK, have to start investigating..
Any guesses?



The fuel pickup could be a flex line so the pickup moves down to the
fuel. If such a line cracked it might behave so. It certainly sounds
like such a problem.

Yes, that's one of my suspicions too. But I looked for air bubbles in
the fuel lines when this was happening and there were none. And yesterday
before diagnosing, I decided to try starting it again. It started right
up. Some smoke was coming out of the exhaust for about two mins, I
presume that was because it had been flooded from the failed starting
attempts a few days ago. After that it ran just about perfect for
an hour. A couple times it seemed to just start to hesitate a bit,
but quickly recovered. I guess I'll just keep using it, try to get
through the next 6 weeks of leaf blowing, that I hate so much. Blew
them away yesterday, today hard to tell, so many more have dropped.

I wonder if a fouled piston ring could cause the symptoms? That was
the problem the last two times. But then it just would not start.
Wonder if it's possible that when it heats up, sometimes the piston
ring gets stuck, it loses compression? IDK
Another SWAG IIUC could be the ignition coil is cracked and opening
when the temperature expands it enough.
That's a possibility too. Here is the latest. I used it again for about 20 mins the other day. It started right up, ran almost perfectly, an occasional little hiccup, but full power. Then it just started struggling, barely able to run at half power.

Today I started working on it. First thing I discovered, the intake fuel line had broken off right at the filter. So of course you think it's possible the fuel line might have floated around, but when it was having trouble I looked at the fuel lines and no air bubbles. So it wasn't that, but it has been sucking up gas without a filter and the trouble started when I refilled it with the last of the mixed gas that was in the gallon tank. So, figured maybe some debris got in the carb. Took the carb apart, it looks fine, no gunk, no debris, no corrosion. Blew it out with air.

I had also noticed that when running it looked like som fuel might have been coming out between the carb and intake. There is a special shaped o-ring like gasket there. Can't order a new one. So when I went to put it back together again, I put some RTV on that area. Put it back together, it started right up. Ran for 15 mins perfectly, then same thing, started bogging down, then quit.

I'm thinking this could be that freaking piston ring again. Twice it got fouled and stuck, so it lost compression. I'm thinking that when it gets hot enough, maybe it starts to stick? That's next on my list. Unfortunately that requires more disassembly than the carb


Just tried it again. Started right up, ran perfectly for 30 mins. Got what I needed done,
For now, I;ll just keep trying. Maybe it's that piston ring sticking sometime and maybe
it got better? I learned one thing from this that I should have learned last time. When
the mixed gas is down to just enough for one fill, I'm going to chuck it. Not only is it
the bottom of the can, but it's also the oldest. Water would tend to be on the bottom too.
It's a problem because unless you want to measure small amounts of gas and oil, you
have to mix a gallon at a time. That means it winds up sitting, often for 6 months or
more. On the other hand, for the first ten years of usage, the blower had no problems.
String trimmer doesn't seem to either.

So I used it again the other day, ran for about 30 mins this time, then started struggling again.
I just ordered a new carb. When I had it apart, I noticed that the diaphragm that serves as the
fuel pump appeared to be stretched. IDK how tight or loose it's supposed to be, but I think
new ones are tighter, like a drum. Wonder if that's what's wrong? A new carb was only $10,
so I'm giving it a shot. Even if it's not and I get it straightened out, having a spare is handy.
But if it is the diaphragm thing, I can't explain why it works for 30 mins, then craps out.
At least it works long enough to mostly get what I need done, so far.