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I have heard that you remove the spark arrestor your Stihl weedeater will start easier. Any downside with doing this?

danarn17 said:

I have heard that you remove the spark arrestor your Stihl weedeater will start easier. Any downside with doing this?

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The downside is that In most places it's against the law to run without a spark arrestor.
Your stihl uses a screen type spark arrestor, it's a mesh screen that prevents large particles from leaving the exhaust system. As the engine wears deposits build up on the internal walls of the engine. When those deposits break free they exit through the exhaust system and present a potential fire hazard. As far as starting easier, that's very unlikely especially if you take the time to clean the screen once in a while.

I agree, it isn't likely that will help unless you can see that it is plugged up with carbon.
Good oil mixed properly and some sort of ethanol satbilizer and make sure the carb and intake air filter are clean is your best bet for easy starts. Does your model recommend higher octane than 87 ?

BKBrown said:

I agree, it isn't likely that will help unless you can see that it is plugged up with carbon.
Good oil mixed properly and some sort of ethanol stabilizer and make sure the carb and intake air filter are clean is your best bet for easy starts. Does your model recommend higher octane than 87 ?

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Stihl recommends 89 or higher octane in all there equipment.

I use premium ethanol free gas with stihl premium oil. It's just a devil to start with the spark arrestor in. Will crank of first pull without spark arrestor. Go figure!

danarn17 said:

I use premium ethanol free gas with stihl premium oil. It's just a devil to start with the spark arrestor in. Will crank of first pull without spark arrestor. Go figure!

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Is it a pita to start all the time or just cold? Have you done the obvious like changing the plug, air filter and element and adjusting the carburetor, how old is the unit and what Stihl do you have?

Humm...just removing that screen,that's not clogged with carbon,and it starts better.....just doesn't make sense.

Less than one year old. It just always starts on first pull with the arrestor out.

This thread has me thinking that I'll going to pull the muffler/spark arrestors on my trimmer and chain saw and soak them overnight in some solvent and then blow them out with the air gun.

Just the other day my Husky chainsaw got running worse and worse and I kept adjusting the carb and nothing was getting better.Pulled the carb,cleaned it,adjusted,nothing.Then it hit me.....pulled the deflector off the muffler...ta da!!!!It was completely stopped up.A little carb cleaner,a little wire brush,back together,start,adjust the carb.....and it was back!!!That screen is sooooooo small.Runs just like new again.jc:thumbsup:

It helps with the home owners line of trimmers.They tend to get stopped up and even when they aren't,they're noticably easier to start.I learned this the hard way.I thought the cheaper stihl trimmers were junk for a long time until I learned this.The one they use at work has lasted five years without the spark arrestor.It's the same model I had two of(home use) that lasted a year each.The local dealer wanted nearly as much as they were worth to fix them so I never went back and got them(two consecutive years).
Now that I know what was causing the symptoms,I bought another one today.

I don't know anything about starting, etc. But in the unlikely event a fire would start Stihl will say something to the nature of "You performed unauthorized modifications and you are responsible."
The odds of a problem are very unlikely but it is up to you.

Better way is to pull the screen, propane torch it to a dull red, let it cool and blow it out

Sometimes all you need to do is take it apart and clean it for the engine to run better.

FLaker said:

Better way is to pull the screen, propane torch it to a dull red, let it cool and blow it out

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Yup, even a butane lighter works. I just hold with needle-nosed pliers and the deposits turn to ash and brush right off.

Do any of you RECENT posters realize this thread is 5 years old ..???

I just clean it with carb. cleaner and drill a half dozen 1/16'' or so, holes all the way through it, utilizing the whole screen.
This makes it last longer between cleaning, and easier to clean as well.
This still allows some backpressure than taking it completely out.

Just burn the screens with a propane torch, then tap them and the ash will just fall off.
Then clean or replace the air filter....