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Echo 280 problems

#1

jekjr

jekjr

Bought a 280 last summer. It ran great for a while but then got to a point that it just bogged and would not rev up. I took it back to the dealer. They replaced the carburetor two different times. They worked on it numerous times. It would run great for a short time then go back to doing the same thing. Finally the dealer gave me a brand new one. Yesterday the one he gave me started doing the exact same thing.

Do any of you know of anybody else having this problem with a 280?


#2

Ric

Ric

jekjr said:
Bought a 280 last summer. It ran great for a while but then got to a point that it just bogged and would not rev up. I took it back to the dealer. They replaced the carburetor two different times. They worked on it numerous times. It would run great for a short time then go back to doing the same thing. Finally the dealer gave me a brand new one. Yesterday the one he gave me started doing the exact same thing.

Do any of you know of anybody else having this problem with a 280?
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I'm running the same 28.1cc engine on the Bed re-definer and It's never caused me any problems.


#3

M

mechanic mark

Are you using Echo 2 cycle oil & fresh high test gas?


#4

Ric

Ric

mechanic mark said:
Are you using Echo 2 cycle oil & fresh high test gas?
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I don't think Echo 2 cycle oil has anything to do with. I've always used the Stihl oil in mine. You did too use the high test gas though, they always run better.


#5

jekjr

jekjr

Ric said:
I don't think Echo 2 cycle oil has anything to do with. I've always used the Stihl oil in mine. You did too use the high test gas though, they always run better.
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We do use Echo oil. Mix 5 gallons at the time. We run two Stihl hedge trimmers, an Echo 225 trimmer, an echo chain saw, a two cycle generator, a Stihl string trimmer, a Shindiawa Back pack blower, an Echo Back pack blower, an Echo hand held blower.... All out of the same gas can. This is the only machine we have had this kind of problems with. In fact we have really had a minimal amount of fuel problems with any of our equipment.


#6

Ric

Ric

jekjr said:
We do use Echo oil. Mix 5 gallons at the time. We run two Stihl hedge trimmers, an Echo 225 trimmer, an echo chain saw, a two cycle generator, a Stihl string trimmer, a Shindiawa Back pack blower, an Echo Back pack blower, an Echo hand held blower.... All out of the same gas can. This is the only machine we have had this kind of problems with. In fact we have really had a minimal amount of fuel problems with any of our equipment.
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That's really odd, I'm running that same engine... I say same but the definer is like three maybe four years old and maybe echo made some changes but it's never give me any problems and I leave gas in it all the time. If your running all that equipment and it on the same gas then I'd say the gas or mixture isn't the problem. I'll try and find the manual for mine and see what carb I have. Maybe LMF would have some insight on that he is really into echo stuff, I'd drop him a PM and see what he has on the machine.


#7

Ric

Ric

jekjr said:
We do use Echo oil. Mix 5 gallons at the time. We run two Stihl hedge trimmers, an Echo 225 trimmer, an echo chain saw, a two cycle generator, a Stihl string trimmer, a Shindiawa Back pack blower, an Echo Back pack blower, an Echo hand held blower.... All out of the same gas can. This is the only machine we have had this kind of problems with. In fact we have really had a minimal amount of fuel problems with any of our equipment.
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What carb are they using? The one that's on mine is the walbro.


#8

jekjr

jekjr

Ric said:
What carb are they using? The one that's on mine is the walbro.
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I am not sure which one is on it. The shop told me while ago that they are going to put a new one on it. They put two in the other one and never got it straightened out. Supposedly Echo has the old one and hopefully they will have an answer on it soon. We love the 280. It is very strong it is a PAS. We use it to run an edger also.


#9

exotion

exotion

Clean exhaust port. :)


#10

jekjr

jekjr

According to Echo techs where ever they sent the first one it is running fine. They said I either had a small drop of water in it or a small piece of trash. The dealer let me have mine back this afternoon and said it will rum at 3/4 throttle......... Hopefully I can use it to pull an edger tomorrow.

Of course the dealer salesman got a can of that gas they sell that is incredibly expensive and told me I needed to be running that.

Funny thing is I am running all of those other pieces of equipment out of the same gas can and none of them is having a problem. Just the PAS 280 Echo trimmer.


#11

7394

7394

Read somewhere that Echo switched engine makers from Kioritz to Yamabilko some time back, just throwing it out there FWIW.


#12

jekjr

jekjr

7394 said:
Read somewhere that Echo switched engine makers from Kioritz to Yamabilko some time back, just throwing it out there FWIW.
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Thanks!


#13

jekjr

jekjr

Here we are on August and I still do mot have my Echo 280 problem resolved. Honestly do not know what to do. Really do not want to buy another unit any time soon. Bought two new ones in July.


#14

jekjr

jekjr

Went back to the dealer this past week. No ideas yet from Echo but he gave me a new 266 to run till they figure something out. It still amazes me we have had problems with 2 different 280 trimmers but the 225 and the 266 have performed flawlessly. Another thing that amazes me is nobody else seems to be having a problem.


#15

Lawnboy18

Lawnboy18

That is really strange. Maybe the screen arrestor or the secret carb needle (I know the 225 has one)?


#16

exotion

exotion

Lawnboy18 said:
That is really strange. Maybe the screen arrestor or the secret carb needle (I know the 225 has one)?
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It has to lie in exhaust port, screen, or compression


#17

primerbulb120

primerbulb120

I am suspecting that the carb on your trimmer needs adjusting, but of course it can't be adjusted. I am about to buy this adjustable replacement carb for my Echo PE-2201 and will post back with results when I get it. If it works for me, it's probably worth trying on your unit.


#18

jekjr

jekjr

primerbulb120 said:
I am suspecting that the carb on your trimmer needs adjusting, but of course it can't be adjusted. I am about to buy this adjustable replacement carb for my Echo PE-2201 and will post back with results when I get it. If it works for me, it's probably worth trying on your unit.
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Mine is under warranty. They replaced the carb on the first unit twice. Not sure what they are going to do with the second unit. I am running one of the dealer's 266 units for now. I agree that is sounds like it needs a carb adjustment but no adjustment.


#19

jekjr

jekjr

jekjr said:
Mine is under warranty. They replaced the carb on the first unit twice. Not sure what they are going to do with the second unit. I am running one of the dealer's 266 units for now. I agree that is sounds like it needs a carb adjustment but no adjustment.
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We got a 280 back a couple of weeks ago. This time it has run flawlessly. Our Echo dealer has bent over backwards to keep us running through this. Personally I believe Echo is awesome to deal with.


#20

Ric

Ric

7394 said:
Read somewhere that Echo switched engine makers from Kioritz to Yamabilko some time back, just throwing it out there FWIW.
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I find that strange, seeing that Yamabiko owns Kioritz.


#21

cpurvis

cpurvis

The ailment described are the symptoms of a restricted exhaust. The most common offender in this regard is the spark arrestor screen. My Echo trimmer has done it twice.

The first time, I cleaned the screen. The second time, it got the heave-ho.


#22

jekjr

jekjr

cpurvis said:
The ailment described are the symptoms of a restricted exhaust. The most common offender in this regard is the spark arrestor screen. My Echo trimmer has done it twice. The first time, I cleaned the screen. The second time, it got the heave-ho.
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Sounds great to me. We run a 225, and a 266 trimmer with the same gas and have not had problems with either. We had the same problem with two different 280 trimmers. We have 2 Stihls and also various other pieces of 2 cycle equipment as well with little to no problems.


#23

exotion

exotion

Dirty exhaust port


#24

jekjr

jekjr

Took it back today. It started doing the same thing again. If it is a dirty exhaust port or exhaust restriction shop can't find it.


#25

jekjr

jekjr

exotion said:
Dirty exhaust port
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If it were a dirty exhaust port a new carburetor would not make it run better. Once again the shop is going to put a new carburetor on it. We are still not having problems with the 266 nor the 225. In fact I bought a new PAS 266 unit today. We had gotten down today where we only had two trimmers that would run.

One of my Stihl trimmers has problems with bolts in the head. The other has carb problems now too they think but are not sure on it as well. It went to the shop because the shut off switch would not work.


#26

exotion

exotion

Not to sound accusing, but are people gentle with them? Do they bounce around in the trailer? Get dropped?


#27

jekjr

jekjr

exotion said:
Not to sound accusing, but are people gentle with them? Do they bounce around in the trailer? Get dropped?
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I am not sure what happened to the one with the broke bolts. Could have been 100 different things. As for the Echo 280 I have no clue why it won't stay running either.

Everything we own gets the hide run off of it so to speak.


#28

exotion

exotion

Just wondering if something inside got loose from impact


#29

jekjr

jekjr

exotion said:
Just wondering if something inside got loose from impact
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We do TRY to put equipment in the racks in the trailer when we move instead of just piling it in the pick up. We do at times haul trimmers and even blowers and stuff long distances from the truck on a mower so that is a possibility.


#30

B

bertsmobile1

exotion said:
Just wondering if something inside got loose from impact
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Only thing that is likely to come loose would be the stop switch.
Every thing else is captive and can not move unless the bolts fall out.


#31

jekjr

jekjr

bertsmobile1 said:
Only thing that is likely to come loose would be the stop switch. Every thing else is captive and can not move unless the bolts fall out.
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The thread evolved to a Stihl FS 70 R trimmer with bolts in the muffler broke off in the head. I too tend to believe that impact of some sort probably caused the bolts to be sheared off.


#32

L

Lawnranger

jekjr said:
The thread evolved to a Stihl FS 70 R trimmer with bolts in the muffler broke off in the head. I too tend to believe that impact of some sort probably caused the bolts to be sheared off.
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The bolts could have loosened a bit and vibration can cause them to break. Happens on chainsaws from time to time.


#33

L

Lawnranger

Back to your PAS-280. I have worked on countless 280 engines and just to let everyone know, the carburetor is, and I repeat, is adjustable. Echo has a four page procedure for adjusting the low and high speed needle jets. There are several special tools needed and of course the long procedure. If not followed exactly you will not get satisfactory results. Hopefully the dealer working on your engine follows the procedure exactly. Primary and secondary compression must also be verified. I have seen more out-of-adjustment carburetors right out of the factory lately and have been doing some warranty adjustments.

Just curious, does your serial number start with T445, T446 or T447?


#34

jekjr

jekjr

Lawnranger said:
Back to your PAS-280. I have worked on countless 280 engines and just to let everyone know, the carburetor is, and I repeat, is adjustable. Echo has a four page procedure for adjusting the low and high speed needle jets. There are several special tools needed and of course the long procedure. If not followed exactly you will not get satisfactory results. Hopefully the dealer working on your engine follows the procedure exactly. Primary and secondary compression must also be verified. I have seen more out-of-adjustment carburetors right out of the factory lately and have been doing some warranty adjustments. Just curious, does your serial number start with T445, T446 or T447?
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I Hope to get it out of the shop this week "again" and will post the serial #.


#35

exotion

exotion

Lawnranger said:
Back to your PAS-280. I have worked on countless 280 engines and just to let everyone know, the carburetor is, and I repeat, is adjustable. Echo has a four page procedure for adjusting the low and high speed needle jets. There are several special tools needed and of course the long procedure. If not followed exactly you will not get satisfactory results. Hopefully the dealer working on your engine follows the procedure exactly. Primary and secondary compression must also be verified. I have seen more out-of-adjustment carburetors right out of the factory lately and have been doing some warranty adjustments.

Just curious, does your serial number start with T445, T446 or T447?
Click to expand...

A note to everyone if you do this at home yourself you will void warranty


#36

jekjr

jekjr

Lawnranger said:
Back to your PAS-280. I have worked on countless 280 engines and just to let everyone know, the carburetor is, and I repeat, is adjustable. Echo has a four page procedure for adjusting the low and high speed needle jets. There are several special tools needed and of course the long procedure. If not followed exactly you will not get satisfactory results. Hopefully the dealer working on your engine follows the procedure exactly. Primary and secondary compression must also be verified. I have seen more out-of-adjustment carburetors right out of the factory lately and have been doing some warranty adjustments. Just curious, does your serial number start with T445, T446 or T447?
Click to expand...

It is T446.


#37

L

Lawnranger

jekjr said:
It is T446.
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Your serial number falls within the range of 280's that have a service bulletin written for the very problem you are experiencing. With all humility, ask your dealer if they logged in to the business portal and found the service bulletin and then followed the procedure EXACTLY the way it is written. Send me a PM if you want the service bulletin number.

To exotion: part of the procedure is cleaning the exhaust port/screen so if the dealer followed the procedure EXACTLY then that is a non-issue.

The problem is that some technicians will not take the time, especially on a new or newer machine, to remove a few screws/nuts/bolts to 100% verify everything. Echo did a great job providing a diagnostic procedure for engines that run poorly and if followed you will find the cause.

Here is a very important part of the procedure: For PAS-280 models you must have trimmer attachment 99944200540 installed for proper engine loading. If the dealer uses the wrong attachment they will not get satisfactory results. Just saying. String length is also a major factor. And the list goes on.

Get a detailed report of the work performed on your 280 and ask questions if it isn't written on the work order. Make sure you have the foam pre-filter on the outboard side of the main air filter. If the dealer simply replaced the carburetor without adjusting according to the procedure then that could be the source of the problem.


#38

jekjr

jekjr

Lawnranger said:
Your serial number falls within the range of 280's that have a service bulletin written for the very problem you are experiencing. With all humility, ask your dealer if they logged in to the business portal and found the service bulletin and then followed the procedure EXACTLY the way it is written. Send me a PM if you want the service bulletin number.

To exotion: part of the procedure is cleaning the exhaust port/screen so if the dealer followed the procedure EXACTLY then that is a non-issue.

The problem is that some technicians will not take the time, especially on a new or newer machine, to remove a few screws/nuts/bolts to 100% verify everything. Echo did a great job providing a diagnostic procedure for engines that run poorly and if followed you will find the cause.

Here is a very important part of the procedure: For PAS-280 models you must have trimmer attachment 99944200540 installed for proper engine loading. If the dealer uses the wrong attachment they will not get satisfactory results. Just saying. String length is also a major factor. And the list goes on.

Get a detailed report of the work performed on your 280 and ask questions if it isn't written on the work order. Make sure you have the foam pre-filter on the outboard side of the main air filter. If the dealer simply replaced the carburetor without adjusting according to the procedure then that could be the source of the problem.
Click to expand...

Sorry I have not gotten back quicker but my dealer finally got my 280 straightened out. It now runs great and has for a while now.


#39

upupandaway

upupandaway

jekjr said:
"it just bogged... "
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While mine was not a 280- it was a 2301 with the barrel carb, I tried replacing the whole carb adjusting mix screw wide open and it still did this. I then switched to a zama C1Q, and never looked back.

Just saying.


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