I have a 1992 model Weed Eater GBI 22V leaf blower and GTI 15T string trimmer.
These have been sitting for many years in a garage. This summer I pulled them out. The fuel lines were absolutely deteriorated, so I replaced them. I used some nylon tubing from work, not actual "fuel line." There is only one fuel line on each unit. There is no primer bulb. These are older units, remember....22 years old.
Now, it really isn't a big deal if I can't get these running. They were free. But, I have spent about 4 hours on these units so far, and it is very frustrating.
The units always required starting fluid to start, yet the fuel was getting through the fuel line just fine (as verified by removing fuel line from carburetor.) I also removed the little "vents" in the tips of the fuel tank caps just to make sure the tanks were not building too much pressure. So essentially, they have a 1/16" open orifice to the environment. Originally, that seemed to make a positive change in performance, but that didn't last long.
I disassembled the carburetors and cleaned out all of the orifices and the screens. I removed both of the covers, for the fuel pump and then the other side as well. The gaskets and the diaphragms appeared to be in OK condition. They were not brittle or anything like that.
For awhile it appeared that the leaf blower was the better of the two, as I was finally able to adjust the leaf blower and got it to start without starting fluid and it would run just fine once it was warmed up. However, after sitting for less than a week, I was absolutely unable to get it to start today! I used starting fluid. The unit would run for about 1-2 seconds on the starting fluid and then die out.
This is the same repeating problem with the string trimmer as well. It would run on starting fluid but that's it.
I started it today and it only ran for about 5 minutes before dying out, then I couldn't start it. It would run and stutter for about 2-3 seconds and then that was it.
These are the SAME issues that I have experienced, time and time, and time again with these units. Like I said, I have invested 4-5 hours......that is the truth. There are only two adjustment screws on these units. A high-speed screw and an idle-screw (that essentially holds the throttle valve at a minimum, the idle screw has nothing to do with mixture.)
I am at a loss here. I wasn't toying with these units because I cannot afford something better. I was toying with them because I would never have imagined that it would take this long to still have a failed two-stroke unit.
By the way, both units appear to have an acceptable spark. But that was something that crossed my mind. Perhaps the coils are weak?
But the odd thing is, there were one or two times where I was able to use these units for about 20 minutes, and they ran GREAT. Sometimes they would die off by themselves and then I couldn't restart them (almost seemed like they overheated and then you can't restart them - compression issue?) and other times I was able to run them until I was done.
I have disassembled, reassembled, and adjusted the fuel mixture countless times.
What the heck is going on here? This is absolutely ridiculous.
I'm not sure how I could have got them to a point where they would run great for a session, and then the next week I couldn't get them to do anything. It has been back-and-forth the entire time. They are NOT reliable, that's for sure!
These have been sitting for many years in a garage. This summer I pulled them out. The fuel lines were absolutely deteriorated, so I replaced them. I used some nylon tubing from work, not actual "fuel line." There is only one fuel line on each unit. There is no primer bulb. These are older units, remember....22 years old.
Now, it really isn't a big deal if I can't get these running. They were free. But, I have spent about 4 hours on these units so far, and it is very frustrating.
The units always required starting fluid to start, yet the fuel was getting through the fuel line just fine (as verified by removing fuel line from carburetor.) I also removed the little "vents" in the tips of the fuel tank caps just to make sure the tanks were not building too much pressure. So essentially, they have a 1/16" open orifice to the environment. Originally, that seemed to make a positive change in performance, but that didn't last long.
I disassembled the carburetors and cleaned out all of the orifices and the screens. I removed both of the covers, for the fuel pump and then the other side as well. The gaskets and the diaphragms appeared to be in OK condition. They were not brittle or anything like that.
For awhile it appeared that the leaf blower was the better of the two, as I was finally able to adjust the leaf blower and got it to start without starting fluid and it would run just fine once it was warmed up. However, after sitting for less than a week, I was absolutely unable to get it to start today! I used starting fluid. The unit would run for about 1-2 seconds on the starting fluid and then die out.
This is the same repeating problem with the string trimmer as well. It would run on starting fluid but that's it.
I started it today and it only ran for about 5 minutes before dying out, then I couldn't start it. It would run and stutter for about 2-3 seconds and then that was it.
These are the SAME issues that I have experienced, time and time, and time again with these units. Like I said, I have invested 4-5 hours......that is the truth. There are only two adjustment screws on these units. A high-speed screw and an idle-screw (that essentially holds the throttle valve at a minimum, the idle screw has nothing to do with mixture.)
I am at a loss here. I wasn't toying with these units because I cannot afford something better. I was toying with them because I would never have imagined that it would take this long to still have a failed two-stroke unit.
By the way, both units appear to have an acceptable spark. But that was something that crossed my mind. Perhaps the coils are weak?
But the odd thing is, there were one or two times where I was able to use these units for about 20 minutes, and they ran GREAT. Sometimes they would die off by themselves and then I couldn't restart them (almost seemed like they overheated and then you can't restart them - compression issue?) and other times I was able to run them until I was done.
I have disassembled, reassembled, and adjusted the fuel mixture countless times.
What the heck is going on here? This is absolutely ridiculous.
I'm not sure how I could have got them to a point where they would run great for a session, and then the next week I couldn't get them to do anything. It has been back-and-forth the entire time. They are NOT reliable, that's for sure!
