Whenever I prime this machine I see a small squirt of fuel come out where the metal cover of the primer bulb meets the plastic part. There is no gasket there. Does anyone here know what causes this? The fuel lines are correctly attached.
It looks to be intact. I actually swapped the cover for another one and the same thing occurs. It must be a pressure problem inside the carb I think. I HATE TRIMMERS!!
Update: I think it is pressure in the fuel tank. I see a hole in the cap and there is some kind of valve inside the cap. I blew into the return hose and fuel squirted out of the other hose. I am not sure if the venting is working properly.
Lets see if I can get this straight in my head here. Are you blowing in to the return line in to the fuel tank or in to the carb? Also which carb you have make and model? This because I don't know the Pope configuration but it does sound like it has is either Walbro or Zama carb.
I don't you a venting problem as that usually either causes fuel starvation during operation. Leaks from the fuel tank at the vent. The vent is design to only let air in the fuel tank and not out. Basically it is an one way duck bill valve .
Hi, No Norm. I was blowing into the return line. It is going now but still squirts out a little fuel. The carb is a Walbro "look alike" from Banggood. I have used them before without probems.
Ah a rotary clone with built in primer. It could base either the Walbro WY series or the Zama RB series. That may be a problem depending how true they were to the original design. It does sound like you are having a problem fitting of the primer bulb to primer problem, I have seeing a lot of Chinese clones showing here too on many of the engines here. I just got through with a Haulong HQ-2 replacement as the carburetor was only a few dollars less than the whole carburetor.
Hi AVB, You could be right there. I know the quality is probably not good but I can't resist the price. Same old story that puts quality manufacturers out of business. I have tried another bulb and cover but got the same thing. I think I'll give up on trimmers. They're very fussy and some models take a lot of time to dismantle. They also cost nearly the same to buy at the recycle centre as a lawn mower. I only took them on because I am having trouble getting lawn mowers to play with.
Then you're on the right path as learning on throw-a-ways is least costly as can take your time. At first it will take a lot of time but as your experience level improves you will learn to diagnose the problem area fairly quickly. Although 2 cycle have few moving there is a lot more that go wrong and look like the same problem.
When I first started working 2 cycles I was able to get a full size pick-up truck load of string trimmers and chainsaws from a shop that just throwing them in a pile. At first it would take most a day to figure that problems. Later I was able to get test equipment on a as needed basis until now where It only takes me about hour to fully disassemble, repair, reassembly these hand held machines. Some thing you find it cheaper to buy a complete assembly and other you find it is just waste of your time but this where your experience will pay off by when to call it junk and sent to the recycle center.
You think these take a lot you needed try modern ATV's where you got take half a part just to get to the carburetor and Heaven forbid getting in a Chinese built clone. I have working one since December. Not easy when you don't have a repair manual or the experience repairing these engines.
As for part prices I am kinda lucky that my distributor is a distributor for Walbro and Zama so I can side step the equipment OEMs prices. You got really watch E-bay carburetors and the clones as I have already been burned several times so I quit buying them through Ebay.
Hi sparker I have a pile of trimmers here, I don't bother looking at them, you can spend so many hours fiddling with them and then at the end of the day people don't want to pay for them. I will look at one for friends but I won't spend much time on them, might as well watch tv and I hate tv
They are not that bad but you need to have low end cutoff. Things like the curve shaft models, discount stores models, and similar low models. I do now no longer accept string trimmers that retail under 100 usd as it is just cheaper to replace. Same policy on rotary push mowers except the cutoff is 150 usd. And one thing I avoid is those TTI 4 cycle handhelds as they usually are self destructing due oiling issues. Like you there guys around here that would not them for anything but they were are nearly half my business until a year or two ago when I started learning ATVs repairs and boy what a headache.
Once you get an initial checkout procedure work out you can know if things are worth fixing or just call it in under 15 minutes. I got one Stihl HS56 that just check out that is going in for warranty work. I know what is the mostly problem but since it is under warranty I let the Stihl service handle it. It leaning out as switch form level cutting to either up or down cutter position; only took 10 min to find the problem which appear to be a crankshaft bearing and seal as I found considerable side play.
Right now I waiting on cutter bars for 2 Stihl HS45. They are fine just that cutters are worn out. Since the 18" and 24" assemblies are the same price the customer is having me upgrade them. Around 200 usd a piece in repairs; not bad for getting these back online for the commercial customer. Last week I put a new carburetor, fuel cap, and fuel line on a Husqvarna 327P4 pole saw for around just a little over 100 usd.
Yes AVB any of the top of the line straight shaft cutters can be worth repairing but I end up with all the bent shaft stuff and they eventually end up in the scrap bin down at the tip. I might pull a switch of them occasionally but mostly they are a waste of space
Yes. That's where I get mine. Recycle centre. I have to take what's there as the good stuff, like Honda's and stihl, are already gone by the time I get there. A low end cut-off is a good idea. There are always heaps of ryobi's and homelites, Talons and the like. I guess that's a good indication of how good they are though they are more common too, I guess.
You're right Norm. I can spend days trying to fix a trimmer. It's only because I like the hobby as a retirement pastime that I do it. People won't pay for the effort and skill used.
Sparker I try and keep this "hobby" cost neutral, don't make much money but it also doesn't leave me out of pocket as most other hobbies do, and I get a lot of satisfaction just getting another abandoned motor running again
There is a guy around here who likes find mowers just to see if he can resurrect them and if he can't sell them, he leaves them outside for someone to take!
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
There is a guy around here who likes find mowers just to see if he can resurrect them and if he can't sell them, he leaves them outside for someone to take!
Boy there are locals around here that just wait on someone to spend their time and money for a free product.
Originally Posted by NormK
You can always sell a mower if it is running, should always get at least $10, even without a catcher, helps cover your costs
I had a restored self propelled mower here that I had for sell @ $75 that I had $65 in new parts in it when I was offered $15 saying he might go to $20 if I delivered it. I rather just part it out before I give it away at a lost. Matter of fact I got some equipment that I am taking in to the recycling center that I am removing the resalable parts from now that I had for sale. I am tired of being insulted on restored equipment because of those buying broken yard sale equipment thinking because I am running small shop from my home garage I am a dope head.
I running my own shop because I got tired working for crooked shops that lie to customers as to what was done. Beside I got caught in the corporate downsizing years ago. When I try finding other employment I was overqualified, didn't have certificates proving my training and knowledge that I paid someone to sign, or they want me to sign blindly a non compete contract that they would not let me have reviewed by my personal lawyer. Believe it or not I could not even get a job digging ditches. Basically I got black balled.
Now they are afraid of me as I am now their competition and I am pulling away their business. I can tell anytime when one of them calls checking me out. I nearly double my business in the last three years and that is without any advertising other than word of mouth referrals. I would rather grow slowly than get into over my head with too much work besides I got to weed out the deadbeats and develop my resources. The deadbeats only get one shot at me but I am no longer listening to their sob stories. Either they pay for the repairs or they leave equipment will becomes to sale to anyone willing to pay the repair bill. Policy here: Don't pay your bill , either I keep and sell your equipment or carry you though small claims court; either way you get barred from getting any further work done by me.
Now I do want to get a shop built this year that I can get equipment in so I can work out of the weather. If nothing else just a roof over a concrete floor.
AVB it is a tough struggle and I would hate to have to try and make a living from repairing this type of equipment because whatever way you go you are up against cheap imports with repair costs often exceeding the value of a product with just one hours labor. I see it all the time here with my favorite motor the 2 stroke Powertorque. In particular I see pull starters removed from perfectly good motors (this exposes the crank/conrod so that gets dirt etc in it because they then get left sitting around) because they get more for the pull starter than they can get for the complete mower. It is tough in America because wages are low compared to Australia but I guess it sort of balances out, wages here are higher (that is if you have a job, manufacturing jobs are now gone) but our cost of living is much higher, housing is now out of reach for young people unless they have a high paying job. We do have a generous social security system here but that is under pressure from our high immigration program where a big number go straight on benefits and then we have an ageing population with an ever deceasing younger workforce (many will never be able to find work) to be able to sustain this system. Luckily I won't be around to see this once great country come crashing down but I am sad for my future generations who have no choice in their time frame of being here. I believe the best time for Australia was after the war till probably 10/15 years ago.
Good to know that Australia isn't the only place that has a preponderance of cheapskate buyers that want other people's stuff for nothing but expect gold for their crap. I thought having legal advice is a basic right for everybody in a western country. They obviously knew the contract was on the nose. They should be reported.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Had a funny one six months ago regarding a Victa I had on Gumtree, mower completely stripped refurbished,painted new wheel bushes good wheels etc all with money back guarantee if not happy and warranty, all this for $80. Some clown then offers me $40 and when I suggested they try the local tip shop, the reply was a classic "how dare you tell me where I should shop" My reply was "whatever idiot" I also had another one around the same time when I advertised a FREE rabbit hutch. I got a rely asking if it was dog proof. My reply was "depends on how big the dog was" I got a tirade of abuse and about how she was an animal lover and how dare I suggest anything different and the final thing was "she would never buy anything from me ever again" My reply was "hang on idiot the hutch is for free, so have a good day". The Gumtree idiot factor always gives me a chuckle And sorry sparker we have gone a little off track.
Sparker, I know went off the subject but I also felt that we pretty cover the problem you was having but if you are still having let us know.
Now NormK you know should have thrown free rabbits too.
Sparker I got to fix my shop's roof as I sent one my customer through it yesterday when he found that the new carburetor I sold him last had no replacement parts as the equipment came from one those discount stores (Harbor Freight Tools). It had clogged with bad fuel and he instead letting me clean it, he tried removing the main jet/nozzle with an improper tool. You probably know that you must use a straight sided with a hollow ground flat tip.
Well fellows I need to back out of this thread as we are here having a early Spring and the work has started pilling in. That old groundhog lied again but I think he just wanted to get some more shuteye.
Just as a final update on the rabbit hutch if anybody cares, I took it to the tip and believe it or not I was still at the tip on my way out and it was right on closing time when a bloke rang and wanted to come and pick it up straight away. Had to inform him I had just dropped it at the tip and I couldn't go back because they were closing
