Trash Picked Echo Weed Wacker - Carb Needed?

[hotajax 226]

So my lazy neighbor tossed a pretty good Echo SRM-225 in the trash because the fuel lines leaked.  I took it home, and found it to be in good shape and it actually started.  So I goes onto EBay bot one of those repower kits that have all the bells and whistles to make your equipment run better.  They even tossed in a new carb free inside the box of parts.  Cost of parts?  $11.00

 

Put the new fuel line in along with the carb.  Doesn't leak now.  Here's the problem.  Fires up easily, and idles smooth.  But when you warm up the machine, and adjust the carb it all sounds real nice on the top end, for now.  However, turn off the machine, wait til it cools, and you have to readjust the carb AGAIN on the top end.  It does idle real sweet, just won't rev up smoothly.  I have gone through this silliness 5 or 6 times now with the aftermarket imported carb, i and I don't see any reason why the next 63 adjustments will be any different.

 

Do you gents think it would be worth the $40 to buy a NEW OEM carb and toss the Chinese made junk carb?  Thanks. 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2024 by hotajax
general tweaking

[wallfish 17,487]

11 minutes ago, hotajax said:

So my lazy neighbor tossed a pretty good Echo 225 in the trash because the fuel lines leaked.  I took it home, and found it to be in good shape and it actually started.  So I goes onto EBay bot one of those repower kits that have all the bells and whistles to make your equipment run better.  They even tossed in a new carb free inside the box of parts.  Cost of parts?  $11.00

 

Put the new fuel line in along with the carb.  Here's the problem.  When you warm up the machine, and adjust the carb it all sounds real nice on the top end.  However, turn off the machine, wait til it cools, and you have to readjust the carb AGAIN on the top end.  It does idle real sweet, just won't rev up smoothly.  I have gone through this malarkey 5 or 6 times now, and I don't see any reason why the next 63 adjustments will be any different. 

 

Do you fellers think it would be worth the $40 to buy a NEW OEM carb and toss the Chinese made junk carb?  Thanks. 

 

 

The crank case seals leaking will cause erratic operation like that. No carb or  carb adjustment can solve it if that's what's happening. The vacuum pulses from the case is what makes the diaphragm pump fuel, so leaks from the seals will cause the diaphragm to pump at different pressures and rates because of those leaks. You might be able to quickly verify this if you disassemble enough just to get access to the seals. A few drops of old school brake fluid, DOT3 stuff not synthetic, causes the rubber of the seals to expand. Carb cleaner spray does work too but doesn't seem to last as long. Best to let it sit with the fluid on overnight but you could also check it immediately because the fluid will temporarily seal them for a short time to run it and notice the difference in how it runs. If it runs better without adjustments, maybe new seals are available

A crappy diaphragm in the carb can also do this but you have a new one.

[lynnmor 7,559]

Always, ALWAYS make every effort to clean or repair the original carburetor.  Often a carburetor can be cleaned and salvaged with a minimum of parts.  Those cheap things, from you know where, often are trouble.   Google "Echo 225 carburetor rebuild kit" and you will find numerous kits.

[hotajax 226]

19 hours ago, lynnmor said:

Always, ALWAYS make every effort to clean or repair the original carburetor.  Often a carburetor can be cleaned and salvaged with a minimum of parts.  Those cheap things, from you know where, often are trouble.   Google "Echo 225 carburetor rebuild kit" and you will find numerous kits.

Lynnmor:  Good idea.  Is there an Echo brand repair kit or is it potluck on a Chinese kit?

 

19 hours ago, lynnmor said:

 

i

[lynnmor 7,559]

2 hours ago, hotajax said:

Lynnmor:  Good idea.  Is there an Echo brand repair kit or is it potluck on a Chinese kit?

 

i

I think you can buy both, Google it.  Often a carburetor can be cleaned and adjusted without replacing any parts, but if you do need parts use some judgement as to whether cheap parts will work, for example simple gaskets.

[hotajax 226]

I see guys on other forums complaining that they messed up their rebuilds.  I don't think I would touch the needle valve and float.  Those parts are metal, and won't deteriorate like a rubber diaphragm or the thin rubber gaskets.