Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - John Deere String Trimmer

Every now and than I get lucky, My string trimmer for some unknown reason decided it didn`t want to run anymore, only at a very low speed. I figure maybe something got in the fuel line or hi speed jet, so I took the carburator apart and found a peice of foreign substance in the needle and seat area, confident I put it back together and fired it up ! Same thing, no power, took it apart again and cleaned all the fuel passages, needle and seat, put it back together, STILL won`t go fast. Put in a new spark plug, should have did this first, but it didn`t help ! I could barely keep it going, I had a pair of leather gloves on and for some reason I looked at the EXHAUST, HMMM, don`t ask why, but I put my finger on part of the Exhaust opening and hit the gas, some thing blew out and it ran a little better, soooo I took the exhaust apart, and the little screen that covers the opening was plugged, I cleaned it and that baby runs like a top again.........Just thought I`d pass it along to maybe help someone else. :wall:

Glad you got it! A clogged screen (spark arrestor) is a common problem on 2 stroke engines.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I spent the entire morning on my Homelite trimmer (I think made by John Deere?). I did the drill - cleaned the carb, new gas, blah blah blah. I gave up and cleaned up to go shopping with my wife. While she was getting ready to go I decided to check out the forum to see if anyone else had the same problem. Cleaning the exhaust screen took 10 minutes and the trimmer runs like new again.

Doityourself.com to the rescue again. Best site on the net.

Go Illini!