Fixing A Weedeater Trimmer That Won't Start

[@marshallcollins3376]

Bought a curved shaft version more than 20 years ago. $69. Always ethanol free fuel. Had to lube the starter spring once but no other repairs. Only gripe is the difficult string loading.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice purchase!

[@robertmailhos8159]

That is definitely a classic weed eater that you are working on

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you're absolutely right about that

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE 👍

[@watermanone7567]

Good video. I had a customer that wanted me to repair a Honda engine and when I asked him what was wrong with it, he said he took it completely apart and everything was in a box. I told him that he should find someone else to fix it, as I know that after dealing with him on other projects, many of the parts would be missing or broken. Thanks for the video.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I've done that before and I'm certainly not looking forward to another situation like that.

[@hickorystx]

Every so often, I find I have reached my limit on some repairs. I have handed some things over to others since they have the right tools/equipment and more knowledge. Fortunately, they explain what they did and how they did it so I can learn more.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I like that approach!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

We got two of these for free. I kitted the carbs and ran them till Toots got the Kobalt battery job. They did a super job and the son-in-law is strill running them. Good fix, Pal!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks, and I don't mind these mainly because of their weight

[@jesterr7133]

Sometimes you have to do something you haven't done before, make mistakes, and learn from them. I started off with three dead riding mowers and 2 dead push mowers that were given to me by a friend that ran a small engine repair business out of his back yard. I just started tearing into them, without having a clue of what I was doing. I made some mistakes, but six years later, I do customer work and I fix and flip. I have six machines ready for Spring next year. I mess with small engine stuff pretty much around the clock now. You have to start somewhere.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

your story is very admirable

[@brianandrews7099]

Those machine were underrated IMHO. They were definitely not fancy nor make you the envy of your neighborhood when you used them, but they they were simple, durable, easy to work on and service, and simple and cheap to get parts for. I still have mine from Walmart, almost 25 years old and still works; doing duty as a backup machine.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

wow! That's amazing that it's lasted that long

[@jesterr7133]

I grew up being a video game nerd, though I don't play often anymore. When I was younger, I could diagnose and repair pretty much anything on the older video game systems. I recently tried to repair a Playstation 2 for the first time. I got the diagnosis right, but the repair did not go as planned. I caused a new issue trying to fix the old one, and so now I have to take it into my local shop when I can afford to spend $100 on a video game system.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

it takes guts admitting your mistakes

[@MarkMeadows90]

Now I remember my dad did have a Weedeater brand string trimmer back in the early 2000s, but replaced it with a Snapper brand one and used it for several years before going with a battery powered trimmer in the mid 2010s. Yeah, he didn't like the Weedeater brand. Could never get the carb adjusted right. Kept giving him problems.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

yes sometimes they seem to be tough to tune

[@stevenchandler4218]

Thanks for another great video...

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

Thanks for watching!

[@Nukemann64]

i really like these old Featherlite's. I've been looking for the Featherlite SST model from the old one that has the square engine, and the straight shaft. I've been looking for a couple years, and no luck so far. I wanna build a straight shaft model of the Featherlite! I would NOT wanna take someone else's Mess they've worked on, unless I can see it first. You don't know what parts are missing, or what kind of rabbit hole you'll be going down by taking on that kind of a job. Awesome repair IHG!

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

so very true, other peoples projects just seem to be other peoples problems too.

[@Nukemann64]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE absolutely! Don't be handing me a hornet's nest of issues lol

[@liljoeii6091]

Yes I actually did that with a rototiller I got it back worser and when I mean worse the oil plug popped out shot motor oil all over me and I took it back to them and I made them put new oil in it for free and they said they never touched it cuz here it was supposed to do a carburetor for it never had a problem with this oil plug the oil plug was right below the carburetor it's the carburetor inside the tank rototiller from now on I fix my own stuff if I can't fix it's and give it away for free. And the ones I was taking it to it would take him a whole year to fixing it and when I would ask them they would get upset with me thank you for the video

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

no problem and I've never seen one do that before.

[@nickolasottman4370]

i love your vids

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thanks and I appreciate your time here

[@RussellBooth1977]

No I have never given up on fixing anything,I have always fixed things up myself !

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

nice!

[@shannontmbg]

I have the same one, but the 2 screws that hold the carb don't stay tight. I think the threads are worn on either the screw or the housing. Not surprising, it does not stay running. Replacement screws are expensive. Any suggestions?

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

hmm.. I've never had this problem. But If it was me, I'd remove the insulated where the threads are and see if you could repair them.

[@Patrick4959]

for me nope not really but a learning process in the task at hand from memory.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I like the way you put that, it's certainly an adventure for me too.

[@Patrick4959]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE yeah always good to put it in a lovely form i reckon.

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

Hey bro what's up? I've given up on a lot of projects because I don't know how to rebuild my equipment.

[@rjwgardensandmachinery]

Dont give up just keep watching videos and youll learn. Also take photos when you strip something down and it will help put it back together 🙂👍

[@ramadinsookhoo6141]

@@rjwgardensandmachinery thanks, much appreciated🙏

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I don't blame you

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

great advice

[@rjwgardensandmachinery]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE great video again dude i like the fact that not everything you fix is stihl or husky 🙂👍

[@christophermarshall5765]

Wes Harrison's outboard repair tool kit: A stick, 2 inches thick, with a 3 pound lump of steel fitted...........

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

interesting kit

[@christophermarshall5765]

@@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE often called a hammer.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

man I missed that one, thank you for clarifying

[@ExplofingCreeperYT]

i need a throttle for that kind weedeater

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

you're going to need the model number if you're wanting the right part.

[@KristopherMarie]

How to fix a broken weed eater… Step 1: get rid of it Step 2: get a Stihl All jokes aside… I think the ethanol in the fuel is what messes up those cheaper weed eaters.

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

agreed

[@tjclarke4604]

Weed Eater / Poulan is just junk, ugh. Great work on your part, but in my shop, these machines basically go right into the scrap pile.

[@martindesmarais7158]

I agree 4 the new models by Poulan but NOT for these old models as here cuz they was designed by Weedeater before Poulan bought them and conserved the design 4 a while ! Personally remade a lot of this one like him n really starts n runs great n 4 longtime again,,, Just my experience 😊

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

I know that, if I had a shop, you'd have to beg me to work on these

[@INSIDEHOUSEGARAGE]

thank you for sharing that