Echo string trimmer help needed

[ebinmaine 67,540]

Trina and I were gifted an Echo string trimmer by @Handy Don a bit ago. 

Excellent machine and much appreciated. 

 

We fired it up today and it's drizzling gas somewhere. 

 

We aren't exactly 2 stroke engine mechanics. 

Is there a vent that's clogged or something?

 

Any thoughts? 

 

 

 

 

@Digger 66

[wallfish 17,000]

The fuel lines are probably hard and brittle. Change the fuel lines and that primer bulb if it's getting hard. Even time will make those hard, not just ethanol.

[JoeM 7,874]

3 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Even time will make those hard, not just ethanol

look real close at the tank bushing too. 

[WHNJ701 4,165]

I had the same echo one.  The tank split at the seam, might want to check that.

Best thing I ever did was junk all those gas weed Wackers.  Switched over to battery was the best move, no gas, no noise, no screwing around with it when they don't want to start, just pull the trigger and go.  My kobalt is now 6 years old, still runs for an hour with the original battery.  I got 5 acres, handles it no problem.  It gets used weekly during the season.  I would never buy gas one again 

Edited May 30, 2022 by WHNJ701

[SylvanLakeWH 25,580]

 

Switched to Dewalt’s 20v system last year for mower, string trimmer, blower, hedge trimmer and chain saw. Works great! 3 lawns each week, no issues. All batteries compatible with my power tools…

 

 

But on topic - As mentioned above, those tiny fuel lines are notorious for hardened leaks… I recall a pic of @ebinmaine uhm… “pressurizing” a tank… I’d use that method to see if you can find leaks… should be able to hear and or see them… but please, we’ll make an exception and excuse you from more pics… 

[midpack 866]

Looks like it's wet at the tank seal. You can get the lines and seal in a kit with a fuel filter IIRC

[wh500special 2,184]

I’d concur that it’s most likely the fuel lines or the rubber fitting.  These are normal maintenance items on these pieces of equipment. Not expensive and easy to do.  
 

hard to beat an Echo for longevity. 
 

steve

[ebinmaine 67,540]

7 hours ago, wh500special said:

hard to beat an Echo for longevity

Having 2 chainsaws and now this trimmer I agree. 

 

 

9 hours ago, WHNJ701 said:

Switched over to battery

 

9 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Switched to Dewalt’s 20v system

We have an electric one. It works fine for light duty work. 

It isn't a high powered piece and just lacks the gumption of any gas trimmer I've ever seen. 

 

 

I ordered an OE Echo gas line/bulb kit.  

[midpack 866]

Quote

 

We have an electric one. It works fine for light duty work. 

It isn't a high powered piece and just lacks the gumption of any gas trimmer I've ever seen. 

 

I have an Echo PAS-266 power head. I can run a rubber "Paddle Wheel" attachment and it doesn't even work hard!

The paddle wheel works amazingly well on the sand/salt from the road in the spring. I live 3 doors down from a school and believe it when I say my road gets treated at the slightest chance of snow or ice!

[ri702bill 8,327]

Eric:

All the above, but with 2 notes. It looks to be an older model - one made before ethanol gas perhaps. I was given an older Echo gas Hedge Trimmer with the same issue. I had to go look at a 4x8 trailer for sale at a small engine repair shop and asked the owner about it. He showed me two 55-gallon barrels filed with junk Zama carburetors. Seems that there is a cross drilled passage on them and is sealed with a disc and some type of red sealant. Ethanol gas breaks down the sealant, the disc becomes loose and results in a permanent fuel leak. The replacement carburetors with the ethanol compatible sealant, available on the Jungle site, can be had as a complete kit - carb, bushing, fuel lines and the "clunk" - the filter. - note #2.

Do check the seam on the tank.

[ebinmaine 67,540]

50 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Eric:

All the above, but with 2 notes. It looks to be an older model - one made before ethanol gas perhaps. I was given an older Echo gas Hedge Trimmer with the same issue. I had to go look at a 4x8 trailer for sale at a small engine repair shop and asked the owner about it. He showed me two 55-gallon barrels filed with junk Zama carburetors. Seems that there is a cross drilled passage on them and is sealed with a disc and some type of red sealant. Ethanol gas breaks down the sealant, the disc becomes loose and results in a permanent fuel leak. The replacement carburetors with the ethanol compatible sealant, available on the Jungle site, can be had as a complete kit - carb, bushing, fuel lines and the "clunk" - the filter. - note #2.

Do check the seam on the tank.

@Handy Don

Do you know if this unit ever had ethanol gas?

[ri702bill 8,327]

I have 2 newer Echo 2-stroke products - a dual string trimmer and a leaf blower / vacuum. Had an issue with each - the trimmer was DOA NEW - bad coil. The dealer I bought it from agreed the coil was bad, swapped out the entire unit with another new one. Seems that Echo has a lifetime free replacement policy on 2 parts - the coil and the flexible shaft. I was using the blower as a vacuum, sucked up a small branch and sheared the key on the flywheel. No big deal, until I found out that the key is PART of the flywheel. One new flywheel and plastic fan, on MY nickel, it was fixed.

[ri702bill 8,327]

15 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Do you know if this unit ever had ethanol gas?

You could get adventurous and pull the carb apart to see if the disc is loose... attached is a good read file on Zama carbs... mentions the leaking welch plug issue.

Bill

Zama TechGuide_2007.pdf

Edited May 31, 2022 by ri702bill

[ebinmaine 67,540]

1 minute ago, ri702bill said:

You could get adventurous and pull the carb apart to see if the disc is loose...

Bill

Get adventurous he says.

Yeah I suppose probably that's the only real way to do it right.... 

[peter lena 8,631]

@ebinmaine  when fitting or changing rubber seals or grommets to dissimilar  mounting points , (   plastic / metal  ) use a dielectric grease or a super lube type lubricant , its made for that purpose , ensures the seating and sealing of both base seal and slide in type of  flow point . makes gas line connections a simple easy connection . pete  

[Handy Don 12,232]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

@Handy Don

Do you know if this unit ever had ethanol gas?

Likely yes, as ethanol free is quite hard to come by near me, though as you saw it was barely used.

When I got it I put in a few ounces of 50:1 mix with ethanol gas just to see if it would run. It did so it went to you!

My similar vintage, slightly smaller Echo has been fed whatever was being pumped at my usual station for years with no issues noted.

[wh500special 2,184]

The Echo curved shaft trimmer dad uses every week was bought brand new in 1993 at the dealer where he also bought his Wheel Horse.  It's always had ethanol laced fuel in it since new and still starts on the first few pulls 28 years later.  In fact, when Casey's used to sell 89 octane 10% ethanol fuel cheaper than the non-ethanol 87 octane we actively sought out ethanol.  So as far back as 1993 these trimmers are apparently ethanol-ready.

 

In that time the fuel lines have been replaced a time or two and the shaft cable has been pulled out and greased a couple of times but that's been it.  It hangs in the barn over winter with whatever gas was left in it when it was put away and usually starts right up.

 

We do live charmed lives here though.

 

Steve

[Digger 66 3,478]

On 5/31/2022 at 7:26 AM, ebinmaine said:

 

Yeah I suppose probably that's the only real way to do it right.... 

 

If there's nothing broken like the tank etc .

It probably could use a carb rebuild kit . 

I never did an Echo but if it's a Walbro or Zama carb , parts and videos are plentiful.

Fuel lines should be replaced with ( IMO ) Tygon lines of the correct size .

If you go through it stem to stern now , it will probably outlive us .

My cheap Ryobi SS30 is still kickin after almost 27 years of service . 

PS

It's getting hard to find big bore 2 smokers without spending a life savings .

Need any help , feel free to PM me . 

[Jrain 276]

I have a echo weed trimmer  its ok bought it about 6 years ago , but yes every other season I have to change all the fuel lines and primmer bulb , echo makes a kit that gives you all the fuel lines ,filter .vent and grommet , the primmer bulb comes in 3 sizes so make sure you get the correct one ,they do sell a 3 pack with all the primmer bulb sizes , also if you have a spark arrester (fine mesh screen at the end of the muffler ) they get clogged up and screw with the engine ,hard starts ,idle and performance , cut the screen  out so the exhaust gases flow .