OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Hand Held Blowers/Vacuums Petrol Blowers & Vac's Why Can't People Be Straight-up

A neighbor of mine gave me a petrol leaf blower a few months ago, saying he didn't need it anymore because his father had given him another one. Works perfectly, just don't need it. Anyway today my grandson asked about it and wanted to know if he could have it. No problems I will fire it up for him.Of course it wouldn't attempt to start, so start pulling it to bits,one of the screws holding the carby on is stripped, primer is not priming, filter in the tank is blocked solid,pull carby apart, filter in carby blocked solid. I fitted a new bottom half of the carby, primer section, put it back together and got it running ok. As I said to my grandson, it is rare for somebody to give you something that is working fine, you can almost guarantee there is a problem with it, "but it was working fine" to this I often reply, "yes I know it was working fine, once, they always run fine when they leave the shop when they are new"

Sounds like he saw you as an easy disposal solution.

I found a discarded cheap model Home lite leaf blower which goes but is pretty gutless and has this irritating vibration from the plastic engine cover.
My late 80s Ryobi lawn hornet with leaf blower attachment is far more effective and leaves almost no trace of dirt on the driveway and paths.

Mowerfreak I don't mind if somebody gives you something and they say, "not sure if it works", but why say "it is working fine, just don't need it" when it becomes obvious once you start looking that somebody has been inside trying to get it running

They were all working fine before they stopped...........
That's why we are here......
speedy

Why you think I would give estimates without see the equipment. I got though Coleman generator that was brought for repairs they want me to give them a firm repair cost. I couldn't be I had find what was wrong first. Luckily in this case it was just bad fuel and a very badly gummed up carb but it can be worse at times like with the broken deck belt. Ended needing an idler pulley, new spindle shaft, Spindle pulley, and new blades (old ones bent and worn out).

Our 'lawnies' [mowing/turf maintenance contractors] here constantly get prospective clients wanting them to quote over the phone, 'site unseen' as we say here. The answer these critters get is a firm 'No Way'.

This is exactly right.
Norm, I've had the same thing happen to me with lawn mowers, they were suppose to be working great, upon closer examination the carby is totally blocked, muffler rusted beyond comprehension, starting cord rough to pull. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a free lunch or it's very rare. Give it back to your neighbour and ask them to show you how it works fine before you'll take it.