Leaf blower, no sparky

[skylar]

So I have a Craftsman leaf blower that I have had for 3 years now. Yesterday when I went to fire it up, it didn't. It's getting gas, new spark plug, but no spark. I haven't touched one of these small small two strokes since I was a junior in high school. Where should I start to look for the problemo?

Thanks, Skylar.

[beavers33]

Check the contacts of the on/off switch, may be full of corrosion. (Just a thought off hand)

[barneymn]

Turn it to "ON"...LOL! check the spark plug cap(twist it) I had my spark plug cap go bad or got bumped. maybe try another plug to make sure..

[skylar]

LOL, tried that already, twice. I will buy a different plug tomorrow.

[rp7x]

take the recoil off if it has rust around the outside of the flywheel mite be the problem

[magie03]

buy a STIHL. $149.95

[ubee]

It might be spark but I have worked on several that just dont quite have enough compression to fire. My first thought was run without oil or not enough oil by women, lol, after seeing several I think the unit gets too hot and fries the rings,poor design.I poured a few drops of oil in cyl and got a few to run. I think they are made to throw away after the season. A real pleasure to work on,lots of plastic,screws that look like wood screws,no gaskets just glue. STIHL BACKPACK FOR SERIOUS BOONDOCKING!!!

[yamadooed]

Check to see if the spark arrester is plugged up...

[skylar]

magie03, so if I buy said Stihl, how will that get me spark on my Craftsman?

[marty__kms]

Skylar,

It's like when you should buy a 4 stroke (especially a Yamaha) when you have a 2 stroke question, it is all relative.

[handiman]

Oh come on Skylar. We saw what you did with your sled. Taking all the parts off the Stihl and putting them on the Craftsman should be a piece of cake!

[skylar]

handiman, LMAO!

[hotwire]

Uhg this sounds familiar, Oh yes, I remember now, I went through the same thing 2 weeks ago. I was educated that these units have a life span of around 300 hours.
Soooooo
I went and bought a STIHL $179.00 Good stuff.

[krupps_resort]

SKYLAR-Did you take it water skipping?? Need to hang it from the end loader??

[skylar]

Sandy/Richard, LOL, no, no water skipping!

[scottiking]

LOL

http://www.johndee.com/discuss/messages/9/115668.jpg

Scottiking OUT

[scottiking]

Skyler- cant beleive ya got 3 years out of that P.O.S! Im lucky to not buy a new one every year!
Scottiking OUT

[scott_l]

I used to be a diehard Craftsman guy (hand tools, power tools everything). But it's going to be a long time before I purchase another one. My personal experience the last couple items (each over $250.00) have not been all that great. Don't know maybe mine where made on a Friday after 2:00!

Skylar you ever get it running! Sorry to be the 3rd or 5th to high jack your topic.

[doospunk]

Skylar - Not to call ya out or anything, but don't ya think this charade you pulled at the swamp where you sunk the sled had something to do with the problem???????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmjbdXS-aGY

[doospunk]

whoops - Wrong yard tool!! That was your weed whacker, but I'm sure this didn't help your leaf blower either......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjUB41UsZGU

[rp7x]

sweet

[xcr440]

Hahahaha! That leaf blower almost won!

[booondocker]

There is not much to these things:

A) Watch for deteriorated plastic fuel line from tank to carb...plastic falls apart and won't hold siphon.

B) Solid state ignition either works or doesn't.
Bb) Go to northern.com and buy a $7 ignition module and replace the existing one, (Sears will charge you more than the cost of machine replacement for theirs)

C) Re-route the spark plug wire to be sure it didn't break the wire inside the wire...use wire and not carbon interior wire.

D) Shoot spark plug hole with starting fluid to be sure the spark isn't okay...maybe you didn't check it so well, or you are just inept??

E) Throw it away and buy a 4 stroke unit that doesn't have all these issues and is NOT a throw away each year...mine has brush head and works very well going on 5 years. But don't try and weedwack under water with it....use your snowmobile for that job!

[zx6r1996]

Now why would you turn this into a two-stroke vs four-stroke issue? As long as it is not a diesel weed wacker, it still needs spark...

[booondocker]

Cause.<font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font> was stated that the life expectancy of the weed smacker was about one year and not all weed smackers are created equally and I was splain&#39;n it in terms that all snowmobuilders should understand!

[rp7x]

he thinks his weed wacker is a 4 stroke

[sabercat]

doospunk LMAO!<font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font><font color="ff0000">•</font>