Echo ES250 Troubleshoot

If your ES250 vacuum/blower won't start watch this video before you start taking it apart.

[@paulmichaels9049]

Unbelievable! After a new spark plug, air filter, and a carb rebuild, an 8 minute video solves my problem. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to make it.

[@zooboyz1429]

same boat, damn kill switch over looking the easy stuff thanks for the upload!

[@deandennis3213]

Kevin, You just saved me over $150. My ECHO ES-250 would not start. I installed a new spark plug, it still would not start. I then checked and found out the unit was not getting spark. I took it apart to make sure the power cable was okay and found nothing wrong. I was in the process of getting on Ebay to ordering a new leaf blower and decided to do a quick check on KZbin before I ordered. Just so happened the first KZbin I listened to was your's. I followed your instructions and the unit started on the 2nd pull. THANKS for your help. Dean..

[@kevinfloyd4907]

No trouble. Ill send you my PayPal link so you can send me that $150... 😉

[@dadof5arrows]

Wow, the wonder of KZbin strikes again! I had one of these blowers for about 8 years, had the mysterious "no-start" after using vac mode, tried everything, took it apart, finally gave up and bought another. When this new one did the same thing after a few years, I found your video and your fix worked perfectly! Thank you for taking the time to post this.

[@MichaelTFarm]

Whoa! On a whim, I searched KZbin and found your video. My blower was seizing and I couldn't pull my cord. Took it apart and then found that safety switch lying on the ground and didn't know what it was. Put it aside and, of course, couldn't get the blower to start. Thank you, sir. I will try to put it back in tomorrow and hopefully all is better.

[@boofwah]

Mine randomly shut down when idling, and this isn’t the first time I’d heard of this problem either. I’d been pre-warned about it when I bought it at my local Home Depot by the gentleman working that area in how he had helped another customer make this same adjustment to get theirs to up and running again. Thank you for making this video!

[@mfenaughty]

Thank you! I bought my ES-250 at ReStore for $125 and wanted to start it for the first time today. I poured in some Echo premixed 50:1 fuel, took the vacuum attachment off, screwed on that safety cover, read the starting instructions, and it wouldn't start! Found your video here. Saw the plastic protrusion on the back of the safety grill, made sure it engaged with the little orange safety switch, and it started right up! Thank you again! I'm going to do 2, no 3, things: 1. Add the 3 washers as you suggest and replace the torn O ring. 2. Add instructions to the starting instructions to be sure the safety switch is engaged by the 'safety cover' 3. Using a Sharpie, add a note to the orange plastic housing that the safety switch must be engaged properly when the vacuum attachment is not on the machine. Thank you! I didn't waste $125 on a busted machine.

[@Wadewoytek8]

Life saver! Thank you! I used the vacuum yesterday and it would start today when I switched it over to the blower. The screw wasn’t in all the way to engage the blower!!!

[@mustangguy481]

Yep, was committed to just buying a new one, I’ve had it 8yrs, figured it was just shot. I changed the spark plug, gas filter, air filter….nothing worked. Decided to go through some more troubleshooting videos and viola, your video pops up. I feel like I owe you money! Thank you so much. Great video

[@thomasbole4417]

I'll add my voice to all the others....this vid allowed me to avoid the hassle of tearing the carb down to clean it out, get at and replace the fuel filter, etc. After using some fuel additive designed to de-varnish the carb, and replacing the spark plug, it still wouldn't start....then watched this vid, installed the washers as instructed, and problem solved. Too bad I'd already bought another blower, but I guess having two isn't a bad thing....now my wife and I can work together on leaf duties! Thx!

[@StockDude]

Kevin If I could give you 100 likes I would! My ES255 just quit right in the middle of blowing. I couldn't figure out why. I checked the spark, no spark. Then I saw your video, and what had happened was...get this...the black knob for the gate guard came lose and the safety switch kicked in killing the engine ! I was about ready to tear it apart and put a new coil in until I saw your video ! Major thanks!

[@paullashmet1012]

Four minutes into your video and my machine works now. Awesome. Never would have figured that out so fast. Thanks for posting.

[@brentbjornson9894]

I appreciate this very straight-forward video created for a very specific fix by someone who knows how to work with their hands and mind. Thank you Kevin - kudos for helping others with your great video.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

Thanks...it was so frustrating for me and when I figured it out it was so simple I just had to share it

[@MontyLair]

I can’t thank you enough, Kevin! Thanks for taking the time to do this as you saved me hours! I just purchased this and I was using it as a vacuum and the switch wasn’t working! Thanks again 😃

[@erikkitt2835]

Was half way through replacing the ignition coil because I had no spark with a new plug. Found this post & saved myself alot of time, money & trouble! Thank you!!!

[@macanna7898]

Kevin, It's people like you that make watchin KZbin so well worth it! Thanks man it worked for me too

[@Grantcocc0]

Brand new ES250 so I was curious why this vacuum/blower suddenly became stubborn to start. This video put me on the right track. Now I know about the safety switch associated with the blower component thanks to Kevin.

[@robertwagner1444]

Oh man, it worked. My blower was due a tune-up anyway, but that didn't work. Cleaned up some of the carburetor and adjusted that little screw slightly. After I saw your video, I went to check that screw. It was way loose, no wonder the safety switch disengaged. Great job on video. A big thanks.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

Happy to help

[@stevelatour8756]

Holy moly, THANK YOU!!!! I was going NUTS trying to figure out why my blower wouldnt start. Spent 3 hours yesterday troubleshooting and gave up. Searched KZbin again today and your video popped up and immediately I knew that had to be my issue, and it was. KUDOS!

[@awephan]

Thanks so much for saving me $250! After three days of fooling around and failing with various solutions I was just about to buy a new Echo es 250 when I found your video! Two minute fix! It;s amazing Echo hasn't made more of this, I'd never heard of it! Thanks again!!

[@buttead2636]

seriously dude, I’ve been working on this stupid thing for an hour. it was working just fine. i took it up to the bed of my truck to put more gas in it. When i tried to turn the damn thing back on it wouldn’t start wouldn’t start. i swapped the spark plug, checked the fuel mixture. EVERYTHING. and this is literally all it was… cool. thanks for the video.

[@DiamondEye912]

Was ready to go out and buy a new leaf blower. Thanks for saving me a couple hundred bucks!

[@brandonfowler6013]

DUDE!!!!! I had almost given up on my blower until I found your video!!! I didn’t know that switch was there. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

[@perfmechfield3986]

Excellent job, I had already ordered a new coil, watched you video afterwards, went out ,opened the cover, he ld the button with spark plug out and grounded, boom 💥 spark! Thanks again, very well done!!!!

[@timothybuggy4006]

2 thumbs up! Safety switch not engaged due to impeller protector cover not fully screwed on. Super helpful video.

[@daniels1823]

Thanks for this video, I just bought one off of marketplace and couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t start. Perfect fix! Thank you!

[@brianherron396]

After messing with this for a month. I came across this video. Immediately I thought no way. As soon as I touched the guard. I could hear a faint click....Thank you much.

[@lindsay.newman]

thank you so much for posting this, I had gotten as far as asking my brother for help and we established there was no spark. And yes I had just changed it from a vac to blower.

[@merritthansen5279]

THANK YOU!! I really wish they had included this switch in the Owner's manual troubleshooting chart. Well now my blower got a free tune-up.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

Seriously....based on the responses I have gotten here its pretty clear that this is a common issue...I was shocked that not only was it not in the manual but it looks like I might have been the first person to post a video on it.

[@markleeds7218]

Kevin, thank you very much. Fought for a month, ready to tell the boss (wife) I needed a new one. It worked saved me some grief.

[@dtkane1964]

Thanks a bunch, you just saved me a trip to the repair shop for something simple

[@wf4919]

Thank you very much.....Was troubleshooting my ES250 after it suddenly stopped (after I was holding it two handed with one hand on the guard). This video saved me some serious time. It was just a loose bolt (that secures the guard and engages the safety switch). My neighbor has a husqvarna which had a magneto go out. I was going down that troubleshooting path because I couldn't get a spark from a good spark plug. Thought I would check KZbin for my specific model (blower and vacuum) and viola!!! KZbin to the rescue again!

[@firewindwater1929]

I don't understand how backing the knob OUT (pulling away from the safety switch) makes it work. But I will try it. Ty! I did check mine and the last time I used the leaf blower i used it for vacuuming. When I disconnected the tube I evidently didn't screw the cover completely tight or maybe not at all because after watching this video I checked and it was completely undone. Screwed it closed tightly and it fired right up. THANKYOU!

[@Grindog]

After pulling the cord until both arms were ready to fall off, bingo, your solution solved my problem. Thanks for saving me a trip to the small engine repair shop.

[@braxx_1100]

Was going to take mine in for repair tomorrow! Thought it was flooded, then changed plug and had no spark. Appreciated the video bro. Literally 2 revolutions on the nob and one pull start.

[@GH-bl8ij]

Kevin, Hilarious! Thanks for actually reading the instruction manual. Yep...Like everybody else I went through the "other" obvious steps. Who knew there was a safety switch. You solved my problem. Thanks a million.

[@danielkociszewski1385]

Was just about to give up and saw this video and thought why would anything in there solve the problem?...started right up...lmao...thank you...

[@jlh1501]

Thanks. Your video was the only one I watched out of 10or 12 that addressed that issue. I would not have thought of it because I’ve never used mine for suction. Solved my problem. Thanks again.

[@kimh6040]

Thank you ! My Echo ES250 would not start and thinking it was the carburetor . Now thanks to your video I realize I did not have the cage nut tight. Thank You for posting this video !

[@EDGARHomeAutomation]

Kevin, I only got to buying a new spark plug but for the life of me could not figure this out. Well done! Thank you so much!

[@dbruck555]

This was awesome!! I tried a few of the other things first, nothing worked, refined my video search and came across this. THANK YOU SO MUCH for taking the time to post this. HUGE HELP!

[@davidjgala1]

This solved my problem after troubleshooting a few other repairs. Because of this, this video made my otherwise mediocre day great. Thank you ☺️

[@gregjulian1044]

Dude, awesome! I use the blower more than the vacuum and the safety cage screw ove the impeller had loosened up enough to disengage the safety switch. Thank you, man!!!

[@todderle6476]

I've used plenty of briefcase blowers and would have never expected to hear of a safety switch like that on it. Mine doesn't have even 2 hours on it yet but it was advertised as the vacuum, and the basket was a little wonky from the day I bought it. That washer idea will probably come in handy in a few years. Nice video.

[@davidbrady7509]

Absolutely brilliant Kevin !!! Intermittent spark can have you looking in all the wrong directions...coil/flywheel key...and and and . Hearing hoof beats I was looking for horses...but you pointed me to a Zebra 😉 Your pointing out of a not well publicized problem on that model saved a huge hassle !!!! Cheer On ! Dave

[@randycolaianni4937]

Thank you very very much Kevin. My blower would not start and I never used the vacuum attachment, but somehow the vacuum cover screw was a little loose. I tightened it and the blower now starts. So glad I saw your fantastic video.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

It catches on my shirt sometimes and the engine puts out a lot a vibration...easy for it to come loose

[@artmyers7962]

Thanks for the video, I could not figure what it was until I saw your video! Works great now!

[@jamesalmeida4364]

Thanks Kevin. This worked the first time itself! Saved me the hassle of unnecessarily tinkering with the other steps!

[@GWSServicesGutterCleaning]

Brilliant, my screw had vibrated lose, Thanks for sharing the tip.

[@squarebob62]

Exactly my problem!!! I had to learn this lesson again. Thanks for the video reminder. Salute!!!

[@rayaguilar4871]

Great job! Totally forgot about the vacuum switch. The wife wanted me to trash the new blower because of all the pulling. Started almost immediately. Thanks!,

[@jseal39560]

Excellent video. I bought one of these, used it twice as a blower, and the first time I went to use it as a vacuum it never started. The manual repeatedly said to make sure the vacuum tube was inserted right to disengage that safety switch, which I did, but it never started. Switched back to blower mode and it never started again. I am almost certain it had to do with that switch but could not get it to start for anything. Brought it back and exchanged it for another one today . Hoping for better luck with this one. I'll better know what to look for if this one has problems thanks to your video.

[@user-si8vp6zy5x]

Nice video man. I fell victim to this prob before but figured it out accidentally by poking around on the 1st time. Just broke it out this morning after 2 years of non use and no start. I started taking things off till I found this video. I completely forgot about this the 1st time lol. Thanks!!

[@michaeleckstein6839]

Thanks Kevin! I only had the blower for one use and on the second it would not start. Your video was excellent. I went out to start the blower and it worked. Thanks again!

[@indypolis8527]

A year later... Mine wouldn’t start. Used it as a blower prior season and switched it over. YUP! The screw was not all the tight. Solved. My model had a wedge in the guard that tightens as the scree tightens. Thanks.

[@geantemery5463]

Thank you so much, i could not figure out why it would start one day & then not the next - this little hint fixed the problem!

[@davidhenderson3971]

Kevin man, its now going, amazing, thank you

[@sonoftiki]

I was having the same problem just went out there and the cover was not tight. Just tighten it and it works great. Kevin thanks for posting this video!!

[@michaelnielson25]

thanks for saving a day of frustration. the switch on mine broke off.

[@geraldinewebster4354]

Great information, wish I’d known this when I purchased mine about 2 or 3 years ago. Kept overlooking that info in manual And ended up sending it to Atlanta to be checked out because no help at store where I bought couldn’t find what was wrong with it and losing 3 weeks of work to be done in yard. NOW I NEED A VIDEO BETTER THAN WHAT IS IN KZbin FOR HOW TO TAKE OFF AND PUT BACK ON THE BLOW TUBE. PLEASE. Don’t have enough strength to hold the blower and press the plastic locking device.

[@derekwoodward958]

Thank you sooo much. Watched video and realized that my exterior cage was loose and therefore safety switch not engaged. All good now. 😀😀😀 another happy viewer.

[@RussMN]

This worked! Sweet!!! Thanks for saving me a bunch more time and money. The blower was in my car to take to a dealer to service.

[@earlpalmer6870]

Wow! Just saved me a trip to the shop. I didn't know the switch was there. THANKS!

[@carlcannedy2669]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Keep up the good works.

[@ronfournier7179]

Exactly what I needed to do... glad I looked at your video before starting to take it apart. Thanks.

[@kevinfloyd4907]

My pleasure, I wasted a whole afternoon before I figured it out. It took me less time to shot edit and post this video then it took me to figure out what was wrong in the first place

[@smallg327]

Thank you. Same issue: no start after switching from vac to blower. Safety switch indeed the issue. Washers did not help, duct tape seems to work. Strange because tab (to depress safety switch) on plastic guard looks good. This problem suggests maybe time for a general tune up / service by dealer (3 years of intermittent service).

[@troyjones6587]

Thanks for this video. It really helped with my ES-250.

[@kevinkaurin8383]

Mine would cut out while it was running. I could 'hit' it and it would continue to run, or I was able to get it started again. I never figured it out that by giving it a hit I was re-engaging that Safety Switch. - Thanks for the answer Kevin!!

[@mastersergeant8672]

Did what you said, and that was EXACTLY the problem. Fired up on the first pull. OoohRaah Semper Fi

[@nickc62k]

Thank you Kevin, this saved me a lot of work. I had already replaced the spark arrestor and this was the issue the whole time.

[@israeltoledo5755]

Thank you for this video. Saved me money and allot of work. Great video.

[@mattchurchill7088]

Thanks for the info!! I’ve been fighting w/ my blower for 2 weekends. This was the answer

[@donnahappel9590]

Thanks Kevin, you saved me allot of money, I was ready to give up on it.

[@Dadddy408]

I cant believe it freaken worked thanks a million !!!!

[@comandante1314]

Thank You So Much For sharing You Saved Me a lot of Time and Trouble

[@COOLLAY2]

Oh man thank you for that information I should’ known before I return it back to Home Depot twice

[@glennguensch9599]

Kevin, You Are The Man!!!! After going thru all the other steps, carb, gas lines, etc.. I was ready to set it on fire!! (kidding) Started with a half pull after that. Big Thanks!!

[@jt1731]

Thank you! Stupid damn safety switch. I was about to tear my hair out. I had air, fuel, spark, plenty of compression, and yet still couldn't get this piece of garbage to start. You can just pull the switch out all together and cap the wires.

[@zachrisen2679]

This saved me a lot of headache after already cleaning the carb

[@geraldsizemore7478]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the safety switch. You solved my problem!

[@Shorthullvids]

Dude. You saved me with this vid. Appreciate it!!!

[@AssumMumtaz]

Absolute lifesaver, thanks bro!

[@kevinokev1]

From one Kevin to another, a big "Thank you!!!"

[@chrisgallagher1570]

Worked like a Champ!

[@MsEnrique2010]

Thanks the vacuum attachment was the problem. Great video

[@illinijudo81]

If I could buy you a beer I would. Thank you!

[@arthurcarstens]

Ditto, watched your video, have the es 210 blower, that was my exact problem, thank you for the video and the help!!!!!!

[@mlrllama]

Solved my problem. Thank you sir!

[@eomerrohan2254]

Kevin, you solved the problem of my ES-250 suddenly not starting for the past few day - hidden on page 10 of th owners manual is your solution - Echo needs to include it in the manual's Troubleshooting section on page 25. THANKS..!!

[@erichughes1054]

Well ill be damned I'm really glad I saw this before I took mine apart. Excellent video

[@kevinfloyd4907]

Thanks and I’m happy I could help.

[@erock24]

Had the same problem and watched your video. Thanks👍👍

[@EdgewaterSCLife]

Dude! Thank you so much! That was the problem! The screw was holding the basket was not tight! Thanks again!

[@tomhouston9329]

Great Video. Thanks for the help.

[@MrMaximotor]

You saved me with this tip! Thanks!!

[@camera423]

Thank you Kevin, your video was very helpful for me.

[@RyGuyLikesFrenchFry]

Saved me some time. thank you!

[@jeepley1]

Just tried this on a curb side pickup and it started on first pull. Thanks

[@ralex828]

Thanks man! Started right up!!

[@davidvillalobos6632]

Nice cap, go 'stros. Thanks for the video

[@richardshaw1947]

I had the same issue and I found that the receiving threads for the screw had dirt in it and wouldn’t let the screw go all the way in so I cleaned the threads out with a tape

[@getsweeded02]

Nailed it, thank you legend!!!