Hedge cutter kaput?

[simonm]

I've got a stihl long reach hedge cutter that I've had since I first started up, after tons of use it's finally died today. 

I did notice it's sounded a bit rattly over the last few weeks however while on full chat there was a bit of a ping then it cut out. When you pull the starter there seems zero compression at all, I've fiddled with it and the only thing I noticed was a few small shards of metal above the piston & cylinder. I've looked allover for where it's come off and can't find it anywhere. Any ideas what went wrong? Worth fixing? 

[Sawchip]

2 hours ago, simonm said:

I've got a stihl long reach hedge cutter that I've had since I first started up, after tons of use it's finally died today. 

I did notice it's sounded a bit rattly over the last few weeks however while on full chat there was a bit of a ping then it cut out. When you pull the starter there seems zero compression at all, I've fiddled with it and the only thing I noticed was a few small shards of metal above the piston & cylinder. I've looked allover for where it's come off and can't find it anywhere. Any ideas what went wrong? Worth fixing? 

Stihl 4 mix engines have a auto decompression system on the cam. You need to look at the valve end of the motor as you may find issues with the valve collet/collets or the drive off the cam. The bottom end should be further looked over to double check on any broken parts . You have a major clean up /check over to do anyhow before you put it back together if it turns out to ..actually..! be worth it.  

Edited September 3, 2019 by Sawchip

[lurkalot]

Take the camshaft out, they are prone to falling apart.  The metal parts of the decompressor break up and come way from the plastic cam.  Worth checking as I've seen it many times.