fs36 stimmer won't start?

[sandspider]

Hi all

 

Was given the above strimmer. It's not been used for a few years, but did work back in the day. It was stored dry. Filled it with fresh fuel, pumped the primer until fuel appeared in the bubble, but it won't start. Air filter looks.OK. fuel lines are sound. Spark plug was damp with petrol after I pulled it over, and plug looks OK. It coughs a little every so often and resists pulling over, but shows no signs of sustained running. The person who gave it to me said it.might need a bit of adjustment, but I can't see the high and low screws. Do I need to take all the plastics off?

 

What's the next thing to try (idiot's guide please!) to get it running?

 

Also, is this strimmer big enough to run a mulching blade? If yes, what blade will fit it?

 

Thank you.

[tree-fancier123]

if you have flooded it - constant pulling with choke then take plug out and dry it and pull a few times no choke with plug removed. Then Holts Easy Start aerosol sprayed into air intake (remove filter cover) Easy Start usually starts most garden machinery that has been left a while

I have fitted one of the cheap import carbs to a Stihll hedgecutter, works fine a complete replacement carb on ebay for £7

e.g may fit yours New Carb Carburteor For STIHL FS38 FS45 FS46 FS46C FS55 FS55R C1QS153 Trimmer | eBay

i can't find a listing specifically for FS36 only FS38, so if you want to try a carb, check out part numbers before ordering a non genuine replacement

Edited December 31, 2016 by tree-fancier123

[spudulike]

According to this -

 

http://www.motoculture-jean.fr/upload/pdf/FS36_FS40_FS44.pdf

 

you have a traditional high and low screw in the carb!

 

Is the compression OK? have you checked the piston by removing the muffler and peering through the exhaust port?

[Stubby]

Fly wheel key sheared putting it out of time ?

[sandspider]

Thanks both.

 

Dont think I've flooded it, just a light coating of.moisture on the plug.

I don't have easy start to hand, but do have carb cleaner. Is that worth a try? Before I go looking for new carbs etc.

compression seems OK- there's resistance when I pull the cord. Don't have a compression gauge or anything, so can't tell any more than that! Piston looks.OK on top through spark.plug hole, and moves freely and easily. Not managed to get muffler off. Will have a look at that diagram and see if I can figure out what goes where. I can see two star drive screws.in the carb, but I assume these hold the carb into the strimmer, not for adjustment purposes?

[sandspider]

Fly wheel key sheared putting it out of time ?

 

Not sure how I'd check! But I don't think it's anything that.major, it did run... Cheers.

[Stubby]

Not sure how I'd check! But I don't think it's anything that.major, it did run... Cheers.

 

Ok . Just thought if it pops and bangs but wont run might be timing . You have to pull the flywheel off and check the woodrugh key is in place .

[GardenKit]

To be honest its very unlikely to be the flywheel key on one of these models, and you really don't want to checking it just for the sake of it.

 

But, because its been stood, its very likely to be the carb diaphragm. The metering diaphragm will be hard, and the pump diaphragm inlet and outlet valves will likely be stuck.

 

And no, this machine has a flexi drive shaft and must not be used with a steel blade.

[sandspider]

Ok . Just thought if it pops and bangs but wont run might be timing . You have to pull the flywheel off and check the woodrugh key is in place .

Pops and bangs was an exaggeration, I suppose it kicked slightly twice in 20 pulls! It's not even close to running.

To be honest its very unlikely to be the flywheel key on one of these models, and you really don't want to checking it just for the sake of it.

 

But, because its been stood, its very likely to be the carb diaphragm. The metering diaphragm will be hard, and the pump diaphragm inlet and outlet valves will likely be stuck.

 

And no, this machine has a flexi drive shaft and must not be used with a steel blade.

Got ya. Will the diaphragms soften up now there's fuel in the system again? Or will new diaphragms / carb be needed?

Shame about it not taking a blade, but useful.to know. Thank you.

[GardenKit]

 

Got ya. Will the diaphragms soften up now there's fuel in the system again? Or will new diaphragms / carb be needed?

 

Once the diaphragms have gone out of shape, which they certainly will have done, they will not function correctly ever again.

 

Sure, you might get it working after a fashion, but it will not be right.

 

I never reassemble a cleaned carb without new diaphragms, after all they are pretty cheap.

 

These ebay carbs at £7 (really?) might be OK, I have never tried them. But when even Zama can't make a good carb these days how on earth can a knock off copy with inferior materials be any good?

 

Walbro carbs all the way for me, and where I can replace a Zama with an equivalent Walbro I always do.