Fixing A Craftsman Trimmer That Won't Start Because The Fuel Lines Are Broken

Links to products I have in my tool bag.
Compression tester. amzn.to/2NMgeze
Spark Plug Checker. amzn.to/3jEcZH3
Tygon Fuel Line. amzn.to/3aCGntm
Carburetor Adjustment tools. amzn.to/3k7cgxe
Primer Bulb. amzn.to/3bwLLxj
Fuel Filter. amzn.to/3dCKasx
Chemical squirt bottle. amzn.to/3eWcGVs
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Thanks for watching. This trimmer belongs to a friend of mine and they asked me to try and fix it. Unfortunately , they left fuel in it, so the entire fuel system will have to be looked at.

[@robertpellman11]

You do a great job. Video is easy to follow with very precise direction. Thank you so much for being a professional.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes sir

[@TecumsehRulesbcserk]

Glad to see you gave this trimmer another chance

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

lol,.. I hate to tell you what happens to this trimmer, but he ends up giving it to me, and switches to battery.

[@Rein_Ciarfella]

I don’t mind that particular orientation of components at all. I do prefer machines that allow the first throttle activation to reduce to idle speed. Very convenient for safely warming an engine up. About the carb cleaning, I always use a sewing needle to remove the inlet screen to be able to clean it and the passage before resorting to removing the inlet needle, only because sometimes reinstalling the needle, spring, lever, axle pin and screw can be difficult, although as I do it more and more I’m becoming better at it. Small carb adjustments, a little at a time, always work better I’ve found.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Rein Ciarfella

[@DonaldMang]

KZbin has not let me comment for the longest time! You are in the top 5 guys I go to!! Keep up the great work!!!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you very much and it's always nice to see you in the comments

[@garyalensr]

I cannot explain to you how much you have taught me!!!! I was given a trimmer like this one only it's the Ryobi Tim Allen 31cc and it's not the incredi pull, it has the choke I like it because it's a beast at 31cc, It would start but die win in seconds. I took it apart and put it back together like 8 or 9 times with no progress. Finally after watching this video I said to myself, self.. I'm gonna try this one more time if I can't get it I'm taking it to the range for target practice. Well I took the carb off and cleaned it so good it looked brand new. I then started assembling it and after the needle was put in I stared it it for about 5 minutes and finally saw the issue, the arm that's attached to the needle was too low. So I adjusted it up a little bit put it back together and Bam fixed right up and stayed running!!!! I did adjust the H-L now the thing runs awesome. It's definitely not my favorite sutup either but it was free lol. Sorry for the long comment 😅😂😂. I basically just wanna thank you for EVERY VIDEO YOU MAKE TO SHOW US HOW TO FIX OUR EQUIPMENT!!!!! YOU ARE AWESOME. HAVE A FANTASTIC LABOR DAY

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Gary Allen I really appreciate that fact that you didn't give up on it.

[@norge696]

"well I took the carb off and cleaned it so good it looked brand new. I then started assembling it and after the needle was put in I stared it it for about 5 minutes and finally saw the issue, the arm that's attached to the needle was too low." How did you manage to see the needle with the carb on the machine? so confused.

[@garyalensr]

@@norge696 I started putting the carb back together and noticed that the arm that attached to the needle was not at the proper height.

[@RussellBooth1977]

Yes,the Ryobi line trimmers which I serviced for Ryobi up until 20 years ago under warranty was upside down like that. Don't be surprised to find out that it is the same engine !

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you got that right, thank you Russell Booth.

[@electroddxful]

I was giving one of these to keep and I end up fixing it but what a headache to do those fuel lines and adjusting the carburetor. Great repair my friend 👍🙏👍🙏

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I know right, it's almost not worth it.

[@electroddxful]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Yeah for sure. I got it for a back up. Next time it goes it will go in the trash 👍👍👍

[@ooXxDrUmMeRxXoo]

Pretty unique trimmer. Nice work!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks 👍

[@christophermarshall5765]

Almost time for me to put my trimmer to use. All I need is 91 unleaded. I have 2 stroke oil here, & container to mix the fuel. My trimmer is empty, but there is old fuel in the mixing bottle, which I'll discard first.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very nice.

[@davie66fly]

Excellent video! I learned a carb cleaning tip that I never knew...running carb cleaner thru the screen. Thx!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you davie66fly

[@Mike-su8si]

I done that a few months back on a straight shaft featherlite and it works good like new And redone a old poulan pro chainsaw all it needed was new gas line put on the carburetor was good

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Mike

[@lewiemcneely9143]

IF I got one I'd try to fix it but I'm not hunting one and I just brought back $80+ worth of non-ethanol gas. Somebody had to. GOOD fix and Blessings!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Lewie McNeely

[@rickthelian2215]

I don’t mind these types of Weed Wakers, I have a few of these, I’ll need to check them, I do like them like the old Ryobi’s.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice thank you Rick Thelian.

[@deebee3901]

Love your work mate! Keep em coming!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks, will do!

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Good job.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks!

[@gmachine8478]

I have the red version of this and 2 ryobi 740rs, and I have no problem with this design I actually prefer it because filling it with fuel is pretty easy and isint like other ones where you have to tip them over. Plus I got both ryobis for free.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very nice!

[@watermanone7567]

If it runs good, does not matter to me where the plug and tank are located. Thanks that was a good video changing all the fuel lines.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Great point!

[@lucasbergfors9446]

Good news about the Husqvarna 252RX throttle and killswitch rebuild the results were awesome the throttle works like it does and the killswitch works when you pull the throttle lever backwards i have cleaned it before the throttle rebuild it looks almost brand new as does the Jonsered RS44 when i cleaned it too the 252 will turn 23 years old next week's saturday i'm so happy that the rebuild became a huge success the time to finish the work took 4 hours and total cost was 125€ which was worth the effort and time 😁

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice work.

[@lucasbergfors9446]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE thanks a ton 🙂

[@joebroke76]

Great video!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Joseph Brokenbourgh.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Nice tygon fuel line through it now. The engine looks like the Ryan sourced one in my late 1980s Ryobi from 1988/89 that were hugely popular here in Sydney. They were early adopters of the split boom that allowed you to fit various ends to it, which is all the rage now! I have a leaf blower attachment that is very effective but noisy. It's the one I told you about with the Irish manufactured Tillotson carburettor still going strong. It had 120psi compression when I last got it tested a decade ago and it ran fine recently even though I'm afraid it sits a lot! PS: I've never seen a four line head before. I take that to be manual feed which makes sense as they will last a bit longer between reloading.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

me too, I've seen 3 but not 4.

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE three must make a nice noise. The quad one here sounded like a high revving four cylinder engine.

[@starhopper457]

Excellent. Exactly the trimmer I have with the same problem. I see its a Walbro carb. Who made the trimmer? Finding parts using the Sears number is near impossible. MTD? Model number by any chance?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

not sure, but going to a "big online" parts store and entering the model number should do the trick.

[@butler386]

AAWWk I have a model a little older than this one and have been putting off repairing the carb and lines. Oh well it doesn't work now so no harm no foul if all I end up with is parts. I will try and see what happens. My machine is not worth paying someone else to repair it. thanks for the videos.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem and thank you D Butler.

[@martinnorbeck4657]

Always I check fuel metering lever setting. buy gauges for zama, walbro. You never know if it is off a bunch without it.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

that's true

[@TheLawnmowerLady]

Not a fan either. I remember bloody knuckles on the last one I had with that tank filter that fit through the fuel line opening.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes the filter is a knuckle buster for sure.

[@OzMowersAustralia]

Same here, not a huge fan of this one either.

[@inkster2586]

That trimmer head looks like a pivot trim style bolted onto the outer shell of a bump feed similar to my homelite. It might be possible to convert the head to a speed feed 450 with commercial trimmer line; the engine is certainly powerful enough to handle the load!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I think you're right.

[@billyaddison5857]

Thank you

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

You're welcome

[@Vipex_134]

Very interesting. Are Bolens designed trimmers that popular? I want to ask for a video if possible, that is a tutorial on how to switch a stihl ms180 stock carb to a walbro adjustable one. Again if it's not possible at the moment, thats fine

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

if I can get the saw, I would definitely try

[@Vipex_134]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Thank you very much

[@rickthelian2215]

Belen’s are the same, what they are called in Australia....😀🇦🇺

[@goldrush8770]

I just got my granddad’s 40 year old chainsaw running again and the fact that there was old gas in it from the lead gas era and I didn’t want to get new carburetor because it was from the time when the fuel adjustment screws were flathead and the rest of it only had flathead screws

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

wow, that's pretty amazing about the gas.

[@WillsSmallEngines]

Second, I've worked on a bunch of these in the past having mixed results

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes they're either great, or just meh.

[@WillsSmallEngines]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yeah

[@gwrider2146]

My father has one of these with polesaw and metal blade attachments, but is very erratic in its ability to start, keep running, and/or rev up smoothly. When in its "acting up" phase it idles high, too? No smoking. Perhaps a lean out issue? Been thru carb with no real permanent change. Oddly enough when it's running good it really runs good. Ideas?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I do believe the carb is the problem and replacing it would be the best fix.

[@gwrider2146]

Do you think an engine pressure & vacuum check would be worthwhile? If it has a leak, then it probably always had one as this issue seems to have always been prevalent & just won't go away and stay away🤷‍♂️. Will see if it'll be worth while to spend $ on a carb as well. Thanks!

[@luanpossentimelnekj7984]

great video friend keep it up. I have a question I have a stihl bg50 blower and a very good machine but I am disappointed with it because if it doesn't work for a few days I have to adjust the carburetor and that only happens when it is stopped for a while. remembering that the repairs are ok and the carburetor is clean.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem, I'd replace the carb, with a cheap one, but don't throw the old one away just yet, because you're going to see, if it does the same ,with a new carb.

[@luanpossentimelnekj7984]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGEok thanks a lot friend for the reply. I will do this.

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

Hey bro what's up? Well my answer is a no brainer here bro. I'm definitely passing on this trimmer design bro.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Fair enough!

[@mikespain8655]

It is an old, obsolete trimmer. Many larger shops will only work on their own brand they sell new ie: Husqvarna, Stihl, Echo on 2-stroke equipment. Mainly because the profit margin sucks compared to zero turns, etc. I enjoy getting older equipment up and running again. It isn't always about profit. Another benefit is the customers often bring you other equipment to repair.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you got that right

[@haneyoakie14]

Good job. Some of those ideas they had were wack. All considered, I think it is like the music of Wagner, not nearly as bad as it sounds.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you haneyoakie14

[@shanemak47]

Most shops don't even fool with those throw away trimmers like that

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes you are correct.

[@shanemak47]

I'm not a shop so I fool with em from time to time

[@philliphall5198]

I just tell them if I get time I will look at it, take it or leave it 😮

[@badtothebone346]

I don't like that design. Changing out the fuel line seemed simple enough though I do prefer the echo brand. They are so much easier to work on than any other small engine out there. When you do change a carb do you find aftermarket carburetor quality is the same as oem?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

the quality is lower, for sure, but they still work well.

[@beterwithab]

what kind of tool do you use to pull the fuel lines inside the fuel tank and cut them?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

it's just some bent pliers I got from Harbor Freight.

[@dfields9511]

I don’t like it when those choke systems close automatically when throttle is pressed But good job there Ones like this I will pass on .

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes you are correct

[@anthonyhawkins3576]

Curious, it's plain that 40:1 mixture is required. What was the wrong fuel in this case?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

oh I was eluding to using ethanol enriched fuel.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE Enriched? Diluted might be a better term but I know where you're coming from.

[@catsbyondrepair]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE nothing wrong with ethanol fuel

[@luckywave3339]

@@catsbyondrepair alcohol does not belong in any fuel system that has a carburetor it is way too much of a headache eating lines rusting and corroding metals if you don't believe me you are on a computer/phone or very close to one do your own research

[@Patrick4959]

for me i would have no problem having one and of course i would do the repair myself for sure no worries etc.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

absolutely sure of that. thank you for your time Patrick Stapleton.

[@OzMowersAustralia]

We will only strip it for parts and throw the rest of it out to the bin for the recycler’s. There are some parts for this are becoming scare now as I found out.

[@Patrick4959]

@@OzMowersAustralia not the way i see it etc.

[@maradavila4400]

I did everything you did and my trimmer does not start? Any suggestions?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Sure, I'd replace the carb. That's what I do.

[@NerfCraft]

If I had a weed whacker like that, I would definitely use the crap out of it, so long as it's working. I don't mind dealing with the wonky design of the engine so long as it gets the job done. That being said, I would definitely upgrade it as soon as I get a convenient opportunity. If I had the money, given the choice between this and other trimmers on the market. I'd take my Echo SRM-225 over this Craftsman every time.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

me too those trimmers are very good in my mind.

[@goldrush8770]

The fact that the trimmer is 26 to 30 years old.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

very true.

[@davef.2811]

What is that head-rig that's on it??

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

not sure, but you need a lot of power to run it because of its design.

[@TheKrayusKorianis]

Not a fan of upside down engine/tank configurations. It just takes longer to fix anything, more parts to take off.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Krayus Korianis

[@venturinix]

Ne vorrei anch'io uno così..

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

grazie, sono molto belli da possedere.

[@craigjohnson3603]

I have found while in S.E. school yrs ago crapsman only supports parts for 5 years on alot of stuff. they make things non interchangeable with who mfgd. it a$7.00 carb kit goes for $25.00 with the added crapsman mods. They don't mfg. anything themselves just the lo bidder that year. No longer the craftsman of years past.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you are correct about that.

[@ronalddurr5122]

did all that but starter will not engage

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

time to get a new trimmer then

[@TheRustyRooster]

Hey hey I got to say I'm not a fan of that design, really boat like replacing recoil ropes on those

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you and me both.

[@wpowerwagon]

That kind of primer bulb is not rebuildable, it’s replacement only, I do this stuff for some friends and people, I love a challenge

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks but I've rebuilt a few of them. I have a video of me doing if you want to not believe it.

[@williamsnow1531]

It doesn’t really matter to me if the tank is on top to not. Learn to live with it I guess.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

me too.

[@alexstromberg7696]

If it has that kind of pull start it's going in the bin

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I hear that.

[@alexstromberg7696]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE sadly, if it works tho use it till it breaks

[@martinnorbeck4657]

The auto start function of some of these sucks. plastic wheels will pinch cord. Manual choke better.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you got that right.

[@brianking1138]

I don't care for this design either.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you Brian King.

[@Turningwrenches85]

Not a fan of it myself . Especially the design

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you, they are definitely not for everyone

[@tatersalad2067]

I despise working on these.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

me too.

[@stevebissoon]

First

[@andybub45]

Not the biggest fan of these trimmers. They seem to be more problematic than other models

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I'll agree to that