Easily fix a trimmer that won't idle

Links to products I have in my tool bag.
Compression tester. amzn.to/2NMgeze
Spark Checker. amzn.to/3bnXjmA
Tygon Fuel Line. amzn.to/3aCGntm
Carburetor Adjustment tools. amzn.to/3k7cgxe
Primer Bulb. amzn.to/3dC0WYK
Fuel Filter. amzn.to/2ZC0T7i
Metering Diaphragm.
Thanks for watching. This Ryobi trimmer starts and runs but it really only idles on full choke. Of course the carburetor is the problem but before we tear into it lets try adjusting. It was easily fixed and we didn't have to open the carb.

[@keithandrews1630]

The clearest explanation of changing the pull cord, that I have seen, thank you .😊

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

Excellent demo vid - thanks for posting it! We have the Ryobi SS26 version, which looks identical to yours, except for the "SS" sticker. I think we've had it for 10 years or so. Two years ago it started having trouble - stalling out at idle and lugging down at full throttle. I ordered a new carb kit, which came with a "pac man" tool. With a tank full of freshly-mixed fuel, I decided to try adjusting the top-end and idle before attempting to replace the entire carb. Got it started and warmed up, then went after the top-end setting. That worked like magic. Next was the idle adjustment, which also was easy as pie and solved the idling issue like a boss. Now, the trimmer runs like new and I still have a brand new replacement carb if I ever need it. Glad I didn't have to scrap the trimmer, because I also have roto tiller and pole saw attachments for it - didn't want to have to shell out the bucks for a new power head for those. Stay safe out there.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you

[@johnvandenheuvel6952]

So, counter-clockwise = more fuel. Less is more. Glad I saw this.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

You are correct.

[@bdpc-dk2xb]

You deserve more subs. I've learned more about small engine repair for your videos than any other youtuber

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you Kenneth Cypret for the comment I appreciate it

[@jdalend]

He just got another

[@dank980]

thank you for making this! helped me fix my old string trimmer that hasn't worked properly for years!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Glad it helped!

[@mattiejonesmusic117]

Thanks for this video. Ordered some tools and fix my Qualcast trimmer following this, very easy to follow

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you Mattie Jones Music for the comment I appreciate it

[@fencer39]

Just bought 2 used machines. Watched 1 of your previous vids about carbs so got me a new 1 . both machines now run but both need a little choke to keep running. After watching this guess i'll be having a fiddle with the low speed needle. Thanks

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you are correct. thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@MrToni99]

Thank you for the tips.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem and thanks for the comment I appreciate it.

[@Mr.TD024]

Very useful. Exactly what's wrong with mine. Many Thanks.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem

[@bigblockss454ndn]

Thank you for the great video! Helped me out 100%! Menards sells a carburetor adjustment kit for $10. Having the right tool for the job is just well worth the investment.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Glad it helped!i agree with you thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@auston815]

nice truck buddy

[@dirtyreg22]

i bought a brand new carb for 10 bucks offf of ebay

[@jonathanbenoit8828]

Not my favorite weed eater, but it's the only one I like, and it is easy to work on some times you have to change the carb

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Good point. Thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@oldguy8177able]

good vid helped me

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you for the comment I appreciate it

[@josephstone7429]

I have the exact same weed eater and the same exact problem , thank you

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem and thank you

[@FlannelGuy_1978]

Depends -- I replaced the carburetor and fuel lines and Fuel Filter on my Ryobi CS26 Trimmer. I decided to replace it because It's works well, I've had it for 9 years and I have a few different attachments for it, that I really didn't want to lose access to.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

That makes sense

[@jimireland7299]

Replaced the carb on my SS30 for$30 and 20 minutes time. Replaced the fuel lines at the same time, the original lines had turned brittle at the carb inlets. fuel filter was also gummed up - I’m guessing it’s due to ethanol in the gasoline. Am using seafoam to treat my oil/fuel mix now. Long winters are hard on machines that should be run regularly. Considering whipping snow next winter.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice work. yes ethanol is the biggest problem when it comes to small engines.

[@jdalend]

Excellent

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you so much 😀

[@oldguy8177able]

other thing to check is fuel filter,and air filter,i reckon do these first because its quite cheap to buy,i had 2 weedeaters and a leaf blower where replacing fuel filter fixed idle issue

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that is a very good point. thanks oldguy8177able for the comment

[@princeinflorida214]

Also keep running without gumming up the carburetor and eating up the fuel lines by using only E0 gasoline. I can actually perceive the additional 10% or so power running with 100% gasoline with no alcohol. I get mine at Wawa, Fuel Island #1, blue handle. This is also called ethanol free and Marine gasoline. Yeah it's a little higher price than premium but so much worth the difference.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

You are absolutely correct about that

[@WV591]

yes indeed. a TU film as always. you listen to these critters carefully and they will tell you what's wrong most times. i have the same type Ryobi with electric start that's kicked my A** and taken all the fun out of troubleshooting.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you WV591 for the comment I appreciate your time.

[@joelpritchard451]

Yes all was good to fix it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you Joel Pritchard

[@martint766]

Good job. I always learn something from you. Question, do you use hearing protection? Thanks

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem and thank you Martin T for your time.

[@Grahams-Grass]

Got one of these replacemed the carb with a brand new one ... I get it started adjust the carb so it's ticking over nicely to rev s full throttle without bogging .... I leave it come back the next day it's a pig to start.... I seem to have to go though the same process of adjusting the carb again..... any ideas, to what's going on??

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Yes I believe it's the engine. It usually does this to me when the engine is worn out and when I tune it to run well but the next day it's way off for a cold start. I would adjust it to at least start okay and run okay. That's the best you can hope for.

[@jackworsham2897]

I used to buy Ryobi brand but always had carburetor problems. You can't purchase parts for the carbs on those, so you have to buy a new carburetor. I've found Echo to be the best trimmer for your money. They are more powerful and you seldom have trouble with the string breaking off with tough edging and such.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you for sharing your experience I appreciate it

[@set3777]

Ryobi used to use ZAMA or Walbro Caburetors - and the repair kits for those ZAMA and Walbro cabureters are readily avaialble on ebay and not expensive. Newer Ryobi now make use "Made in China" caburetters which so cheap to replace that nobody makes repair kits for them. My 30CC Ryobi and my 25.4CC Homelite both use the ZAMA C1U-H60 cabureters which have repair kits. (Nobody buys new cabureters from Ryobi)

[@stickmarsh1]

best one yet,I bought a carb and lines and all that other stuff fuel cap and heads and evreything for a 14 year old Ryobi like this one...I should of just bought a new one and not Ryobi even though it did work well during its time,ain't dead yet,I still messing with it...That diaphragm is the is key,can't seem to find that part alone,good grief.!!!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you for the comment I appreciate it. Search for diaphragm on Amazon and look for one that looks like yours and make sure the metal stud in the middle is the right length.

[@yetivanmarshall1473]

What was the adjustment with the phillips head screw with the spring underneath it for? Ty

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

That is the idle speed adjustment screw.

[@999thenewman]

Hey, sometimes it just won't rev, man. Tfs buddy.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thank you for your time. I appreciate it

[@TheAdventuresofPrinceDiamond]

Is there a name for the carb adjustment tool you used? Also, i have a RY30570 which seems identical to this one. The manual says there is a fuel filter in the gas cap. I don't understand what that means. My fuel line goes into the fuel tank through a rubber grommet and doesn't go near the cap. Right now i have no filter on the end of the fuel line. This seems wrong.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes it's the pac man carb adjustment tool. problem is that it's $6. But If you buy the whole set of 10 or 12 tools of various shapes, it's only a few dollars more, the link is in my description for the video. I might to look at your manual because there is an "air vent" in the gas cap but not a filter. If you have no fuel filter on your gas line to the carb, the inlet screen will clog and stop the carb from working.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I found where it says the filter part, It's talking about a non serviceable "air" filter for the check valve, not a fuel filter. the filter ,is usually a cluster of copper pieces. you can see it if you remove the check valve from the underside of the cap.

[@mikemorgan4412]

Buy a new trimmer. I have a ryobi 25 cc trimmer straight shaft. I need to replace the trimmer head but I found I have a problem. Ryobi made some of these with right hand threads and no one sells those parts because of that. Most of them are left hand. The trimmer is only a couple of years old and I hate to junk it. I tried a reel easy head and took it back to Home Depot. That’s how I eventually found out about the problem. Do you have any idea if I can fix this? Thanks

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

the shakespear trimmer head i bought from lowes has a bunch of bolts that are left and righ hand thread. I made a video either on this channel or the sister channel documenting its installation.

[@jo9732]

I got rid of mine after seventeen years of fighting it. Got a used electric trimmer instead and will never look back.

[@carolcoonrod3932]

I have the same problem along with the choke lever that keeps moving down lately. It wont stay still. What could be causing this and what's the fix. Any help is appreciated.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

is it just the lever moving separately from the choke flap? that's usually because it's worn out at the shaft, Now if it is the choke that's moving with lever, then there's a problem with the carb, not real way of fixing without getting creative so I would replace the carb.

[@freefromit2]

In my case the fuel line going into the tank broke off inside the tank. I went to check the fuel filter and found it had fell off and the line was sucking air through a split. simple fish tank line repaired it. so before you do anything $$$ else, check that.

[@RussellBooth1977]

$50 is worth spending on one of a Ryobi line trimmer which costs $200-250 AUD to buy brand new. They come out of the factory untested which explains why I had to tune a lot of them as an apprentice for a Ryobi service agent !

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks for the comment Russell Booth I appreciate it.

[@CrimeVid]

I’d always try to fix a tool before I’d junk it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you crimevid for the comment i appreciate it

[@royalsutton9141]

pro trick: watch movies at Flixzone. Been using them for watching lots of of movies during the lockdown.

[@jedidiahwesley8522]

@Royal Sutton Yup, have been watching on Flixzone} for years myself :D

[@my2centz196]

I just installed a new carb on my weedeater because the diaphragm was shot. It did exactly what yours did so I adjusted to low as I have done every other year I installed a new carb. Now it starts, and runs but lopes. This particular carb doesn't have a high adjustment screw and no matter how I adjust the low it doesn't help the issue. I'm figuring maybe I have a defective carb but I'm not sure. When it idles this is when the problem is the worst. It sounds as though it's going to die then revs up really high and back and forth. When I test it running full throttle it does this also but not as noticeable but enough to be a problem.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

tell me about your weedeater, what's the model number? That way I can see what yours looks like.

[@my2centz196]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE it's a Featherlite fl25. It's been a good one for many years besides the cheap China made diaphragms. I used to just replace them but figured I'd just get another carb but it's giving me a bit of trouble

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

the interesting part, is that , the aftermarket carb you bough, only had the one adjustment screw which is just weird. Most all the aftermarket carbs I see, online for the FL25, have both screws. Either way, your engine might worn to a point, where 1 adjustment screw isn't going to cut it. Have you done a compression test on it?

[@my2centz196]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE no I haven't done a compression test but I can give it a shot this afternoon. The original carb didn't have one either. I do know the fl25c carb does have both high and low but I had a hard time finding just the fl25. In all reality I first purchased an fl25c carb by mistake and with a few modifications I can probably make it work or even rob the diaphragm from the new one and use on the old. I was thinking the new carb probably wasn't adjusted probably but maybe it is my weedeater. I suppose I can try a few things and hope for the best. Its been a good little weedeater but it is quite old. The first carb lasted about 10yrs then I started rebuilding it because of the diaphragm and the cheap China ones I could find where really thin. Even though I run it out of fuel I'm lucky to get 2yrs out of them. It gave me issue last fall. I didn't think I'd need if again so I didn't stress it but unfortunately I did so I went and tried to buy a new one and nobody had anything other then a greenworks. It does work but I like my gas powered much better. Easier to refill then wait an hour to charge lol. Anyway thanks for your help and time. I'll try a few things and if that doesn't work I'll try and find another. I just hope it lasts nearly 20yrs like this one lol.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I see, well you might look into a new carb, because this trimmer seems to be good for your needs.

[@BkLiveWire]

I have the same trimmer and for the life of me I just cannot get the thing to idle it throttles up OK but it just won’t idle. Even bought a new carb and it still won’t idle. I adjusted all the screws so I don’t know what’s going on. I’m using that TruFuel 50:1 mix so it’s definitely not a fuel problem.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Gotcha. Please borrow an engine compression tester with the short spark plug attachment and get a reading. I have a feeling the compression is a bit low so idle is a bit tough. Other choice is to just turn in the idle screw so it running faster than normal.

[@Thatdudewithatie]

Same Matt! Runs only on full or half throttle. Adjusted screws and brand new carb. Your saying it's an engine problem bro?

[@jerrysoutherland662]

More than likely the engine has a are leak,around the carburetor mounting gasket,or the head gasket.

[@jerrysoutherland662]

Should be air leak

[@oldguy8177able]

my stihl weedeater idle bad would die,what it was plastic piece that cover air filter there is a section were the air comes in that was very dirty i just cleaned now idle good,i took it to stihl shop they did'nt fix it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Nice fix. Thanks for the comment

[@bobbyk6585]

Except that both my trimmers have carbs equipped with no adjustment screws where you adjusted the Ryobi. Now what?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

what model of trimmer do you have? some have hidden adjustment screws and some have none.

[@Patrick4959]

invest than seeing it go in the junkyard

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I agree with you

[@Patrick4959]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE never can be too wrong on the good motors and course i,d rather see it being put to good use than letting it rot in the dump

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

@@Patrick4959 me too

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

To me it doesn't matter if it's a high end machine or not. Once you're getting the performance and results from your tools, by all means use whichever brand tools you want to use.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Very nicely put

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE basically they all do the job that they were designed to do.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

@@ramadinsookhoo6141 yes sir

[@pedrapioan4201]

I have the same strimmer, mine will start, however stop's running after a while... The problem seems to be with the position of the engine on the shaft / handle or whatever its called, by trial and error I can rotate the engine to the correct position on the handle for it will start and run, but because of running vibration the engine moves again and she will stop. A neighbour with more money than sense junked his because he had the exact same problem.... I cannot seem to find where or how to tighten anything to prevent the motor from turning i.e. staying in the correct position. I have goggled and goggled this problem, and came up with zero info, surely my neighbour and I , cannot be the only people on the planet with this problem lol :)) Its as difficult to explain this problem as to fix it !? I have everything crossed that you can help? :))

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I'll take a look tomorrow

[@js_1995x]

Why do you have 2 channels?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

One channel was supposed to be the diagnostic and the other was supposed to be the fix. A lot of people wanted it to be all in one video and not 2 on 2 different channels. So instead of closing their one I just kept doing the same thing. It's a lot of work.

[@joematus410]

Hell ya..i.would buy a new carburetor..and save money

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Me too. Thanks for the comment

[@hunter1953]

If 50 dollars will give it a new life and keep it out of the landfill they i would fix it

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Excellent answer. I would do the same. Thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@jimamerica7419]

Yes, for how long is the fix good for? No offense, there are many trimmers on the market that are higher quality that of course you pay for it. However, the longevity is outstanding. I really never had to adjust or replace the carbs on any of my 2 stroke equipment.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

@@jimamerica7419 thank you for the comment. The fix is a bandage. It's an indication that the carb is becoming less efficient so either a new carb or carb kit will be needed in the future. Usually this type of problem is due to neglect. The wrong type of fuel and prolonged gas exposure during storage.

[@hunter1953]

@@jimamerica7419 Older equipment was built to last and the generation that purchased them knew how to take care of them. It seems now that no matter how well something is made if it dosent start in a few pulls it winds up on the curb but luckily some guys bring them back to life .

[@jimamerica7419]

@@hunter1953 and inside house garage. Correct, that was my second comment is maintained. A good premium gas and a good quality 2 cycle oil mixed correctly is all I do to my equipment and everything works great. However, I have seen newer equipment with plastic camshafts and engines now made in China. That is to me throw away.

[@andrewriley7714]

Not for a cheap one

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@sajiktm]

It is the problem for 2 stroke engine, but why dont they made 4 stroke engine which is much better, or engines without carburetor ie .. lie electronic fuel injection , In america its all business , all they want is make cheap stuff and steal your money.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Yes 4 strokes aren't very popular and fuel injection is expensive compared to 2 stroke. Batter is the way we're going now. Thanks for the comment

[@RandyApril57]

no I wouldn't

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks for the comment I appreciate it

[@patrick1564]

By equipment made in Nordic countries. Forget china, man. I stopped buying Chinese equipment when I was like 16 years old

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

good advice