DIY repair
Small engine won’t start? Start here
Before you buy any part, run through this list. Most no-starts are cured by the first three steps, and each one costs less than a coffee.
- 01
Fresh fuel
Gas older than 30 days loses the light fractions that make an engine start. Drain the tank and refill with fresh fuel, mixed at the right ratio for 2-strokes.
- 02
Primer bulb
Press the bulb. It should fill with fuel and spring back. If it stays flat or cracks, replace it.
- 03
Fuel lines
Flex the lines inside the tank. Hard or cracked lines suck air, not fuel. A four-size fuel line kit fixes most handhelds.
- 04
Air filter
Hold the filter up to the light. If you cannot see through it, clean or replace it.
- 05
Spark plug
Pull the plug. A wet black plug means flooding, a white one means lean running. Replace it if the electrode is worn.
- 06
Spark arrestor screen
On trimmers and blowers, a carboned-up screen in the muffler chokes the exhaust. Clean it with a wire brush.
- 07
Carburetor
If fuel reaches the carb but the engine still will not run, the diaphragm or jets are varnished. A new carburetor is usually faster than a rebuild.
