Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - Mcculloch hedge trimmer won’t start

Hi All,

I have a Mcculloch Tivilo 60 hedge trimmer, which won’t start.

I hadn’t used it since last year. It never started that well from new, but this year when I went to use it wouldn’t start at all!

I checked the spark, which was fine. I stripped the carburetor and cleaned it; all diaphragms looked OK.

After rebuilding it I attempted to start it and on about the fifth or sixth attempt it started. On full rev it ran fine on idle it cut out straight away. I managed to start it again and kept it running on full rev for about ten minutes. I stopped it and could not start it again and have not been able to start it since.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jason

I think I would change the plug and also clean the spark arrester screen in the muffler. The screen in the muffler can draw down on power and starting abilities of these smaller motors. Spark plugs can also fool you sometimes and be root cause of the problem while having what looks like a nice spark.

Good luck
Larry

Hi Larry,

Thanks for your advice. I'll give it a try.

Jason

I'm guessing it's not getting gas. Check the vent hole in the gas cap, if there is a screen in the gas tank take it out and clean it. If all else fails take it apart and clean it again. If it has the diaphram type fuel pump in the carb replace it. Even though things look good lt doesn't mean they are. Probably what happened originally was that there was old gas in the carb and it turned to varnish if this is the case then soak it in carb cleaner and shoot compressed air through all the passages.