OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Two Stroke Trimmers & Brushcutters Husqvarna 232R won't start

Hi all,
I got a husqy 232R trimmer given to me and it wont start. I thought it was the carby so i bought a kit for it and cleaned it, put a new fuel filter in aswell and a spark plug but still would not start. It has good spark too. When i try to start it doesn't even fire not a puff of smoke at all so i have no idea what else could be wrong with it. Perhaps its got a dodgy stop switch? The carb is a walbro K10-WAT.
Thanks

Jarrod, we'll have to go through this problem from first principles to get a reliable solution, but before we do, Walbro K10-WAT is a carburetor overhaul kit, not a carburetor. The kit fits Walbro's two most popular models: the WA, and the WT. Which you have will be clearly marked on the outside of the carburetor, together with a variant type. Please let us know the result. It may be a WT548, but let's find out for certain.

Now, the first things we need to know:
- what is the compression like? Does it have two clear, sharp compressions for each revolution of the engine?
- you have already tested the ignition, so we'll put that aside for now.
- you need to put a teaspoon of 2 stroke mix into the cylinder through the spark plug hole, reinstall the plug and attach the plug lead, then try to start the engine. If it starts and runs for a few seconds then stops, we will need to focus on fuel supply issues, but if it doesn't, we'll need to look elsewhere.

Hi,
I will find out what carb it is. I tried pouring a little bit of fuel but it didn't do anything I also tried engine start spray. I forgot to mention I removed the muffler to see if it was blocked and that was ok and the piston looked good too. It's got good compression.

Hi jarrod, I was just working on a stihl with similar problem and it turned out to be the spark arrestor , a little fine stainless steel mesh in the muffler that was so badly blocked it was near impossible to start so I took the muffler off and started the engine to find this by accident. I took the gause or mesh out and cleaned it thoroughly and reassembled with a good result . The mesh was hard to find because it blended in with the carbon .

Jarrod, as roebuck has just advised you, the spark arrestor is the next most likely cause, given the symptoms you have. You'll see immediately if it is blocked - just remove the fine wire screen and try again to start the brushcutter. Unless you work in dry areas or bush in summer, you needn't be in too big a rush to reinstall it.

Let us know what happens. If it still won't fire, repeat the priming test with the spark arrestor removed.

Please don't use engine start spray. It consists of ether, which is no friend to your engine.

Hi,
I didn't think to remove the mesh i only checked inside the muffler and that was alright i will try it tomorrow and let you know. I was at a mower shop awhile ago and he said the same about engine spray so i might just use it occasionally from now on.

Hi Jarrod,
Just a heads -up mate, please refrain from using it all together...Aero-Start and Start Ya Bast#$d, as grumpy says, contains ether...spraying that in to your engine, especially on the first start, means that the cylinder bore will be washed clean of the oil film, and rapid wear of the cylinder will be the result. It should not be used at all.
There must be a reason why the Husky is not starting...that's why we are here...to help you find out why.

I took the mesh off the muffler and tried it but it still wouldn't start so I took the spark plug out and smoke came out of the cylinder so I suppose that's a bit of progress. I think the carby is a wt 270.

Unless you are trying to buy another one, the carburetor model variant doesn't matter, we just need to know it is a WT.

Do you have facilities to remove the starter and spin the engine up with an electric drill?

I could do but would need a special drill bit?

I use a simple tool made from the end of a cheap socket spanner set extension bar, Peter. I cut off about an inch and a half from the male square end, and ground three flats on it so I can clamp it in the drill chuck. Then I can put any socket spanner on the square.

I will try that and let you know how it goes.

You'll probably need to unscrew the pawl set from the end of the crankshaft, and screw on a nut of the correct size and thread. When the engine starts, you probably won't be quick enough pulling the electric drill off the nut (I never am anyway), so the nut will unscrew and remain in the socket spanner while the engine continues to run.

Hi,
I ended up taking it to a small engine repair shop near where I live. They looked at it for free and found that someone before me had tried to repair it by putting gasket glue on the rings and a few other strange repairs so basically stuffing it. It was given to me so atleast i didn't pay for it. Thanks for all your help anyway.

Thanks for reporting back, Jarrod. I'll close this thread.