OT - Small Engine Help

[SkiFletch]

You guys were pretty helpful before with me and my generator, so I figured I'd ask here for a buddy of mine. He has a Ryobi 2-stroke powerhead for mixing and matching trimmer/blower/tiller, etc he brought to me to help him fix. It starts just fine. Choke, prime, pull (maybe 2 pulls) and it fires right up at full-choke and throttles up and spins nicely. Once it's pulled off choke though it dies almost instantly. It'll run flat-out at full choke indefinitely, but even after it's really heated, if you pull it off choke, it stalls. Even if you pull it off choke at like half throttle, it stalls. In fact it stalls faster with more throttle. At no point is there significant blue smoke (either choked, or right before it dies).

Where should I start spelunking? Carburetor? Plug? Fuel filter? The plug doesn't "look" fouled. It's not the shiniest and I've got half a mind to have him replace it just because it's a good idea with these barely-filtered 2-strokes. I was also thinking maybe the fuel filter's gummed up. Not enough gas would kill it awful quick with the extra air once the choke is removed. Of course the carb comes to mind too.

Thoughts?

Btw, the fuel mix is correct and I mixed up a fresh batch just in case.

 

[redrider911]

Most likely a dirty carb.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well I got bored so I ripped the carb apart... Clean as a whistle. Blew it out and cleaned it for giggles, but it's not clogged that's for sure. I've never dealt with a carb this small and it looks like it has a diaphragm on it. Sme further inquiry with dr google indicates you can set the stroke on the diaphragm with two adjustment screws. One for low speed, one for high. Opening up the low side adjustment a quarter turn got it to be nice and happy. Runs smooth now that the carb is adjusted right

 

[colortrilogy]

Mine needed a new fuel line. Found this out after cleaning the carburetor and adjusting ohv, etc...

 

[Brandon.Helvie]

I've got a similar unit, a ryobi trimmer. Had the same exact problem with it, it died all the time as soon as I moved the choke. Eventually it stopped running at all. Took it to Home Depot to have it repaired. They said it was the carb as well and cleaned it. Got it to the parking lot, started it up, same problem and died. After two years and maybe using it 10 times I just trashed it and bought a Steele. Good luck!

 

[SkiFletch]

Working great now with the carb adjustment. It might be running a little rich now, but at least it doesn't stall