Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - Ryobi 700r - runs for a few seconds, stops

Hi everyone..

I manage a friends rental for him while he lives out of town.. and this Ryobi lives at the rental, so I havent played with it much. Tenant told me it 'didnt run' so Ive brought it home. Very familiar / comfortable with car engines, but havent played with 2 stroke stuff before.

After a few tries, and figuring out the choke on this, with no throttle, I can make it run for 2-10 seconds on 'partial (b)' or 'run (c)', quite smokey etc.. (normal for 2 stroke?) but if I try and give it throttle, it dies suddenly.

If I hold the throttle wide open and then pull the starter, it'll run for a few seconds, then dies suddenly.

If both cases, if I try and vary the throttle at all, it dies.

Ive pulled the plug, gave the electrodes a wipe down and a quick sand to remove a light black deposit on both and made no difference.

Suggestions on what to look at next on these?

thanks,

Brett

Check the fuel filter, fuel cap for venting, but it's probably in the diaphragm in the carburetor = needs a kit put in it.

You might try Sea Foam in the gas (from auto parts store), but it sounds like it may be beyond an additive.

Hi, thanks for the quick reply..

I did notice a buildup of vacuum in the fuel tank when I cracked the cap now and then.. I tried running it with the cap off in case that was it.. After some googling about, it looks like the filters in the tank itself.. I didnt see one externally when I was lookin before.. I'll go have a look at that.

thanks,

brett

If you fish around in the tank you'll find a fuel filter attached to a short fuel line.