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Weedeater Driving Me nuts!!! Need advice

H

hadley

Member
Have a poulan weedeater model pp335 that was great for a couple years. Does not have that much run time on it as I have everything set up so I only have to use it a few times a year. Used to finish up with it in the fall and just stick up overhead in garage and get out in spring add fresh fuel and go. Got overzealous one year and drained tank and fired up and let run in fall till carb dry and that is where problems started. Got it out last Spring and now it will run great for anywhere from 2-10 minutes then starts losing power and dies. Will not start again for a couple hours. Have pulled carb and cleaned (was basically spotless), checked muffler screen it is good, checked fuel lines and primer bulb and they are still full of fuel when it dies which should mean that it is not running out of gas from bad lines. Last time it died I grabbed old lady and screwdriver and had her hold and look for spark as I pulled it over and she said she could not see any. This had me thinking bad coil. Been on 2 websites that list parts diagrams and neither shows a coil. Ignition module is all that is listed. Anybody have any idea if that could be the culprit causing it to die when it gets hot before I go spending anymore time or money on this gem. One more thing, I bought it new and have been the only one to run/fuel it so I know for a fact it was never straight gassed.
 
I am not that smart with these things. But I think you might be right about one thing. When you ran it out of gas you may have over heated something. If there is gas in the line it will keep the line and maybe something else from getting to hot. Should not happen but might have. If you are 100% sure it has no spark when hot then it will be fire related. Make sure you go in a dark shed to try for spark. Change plug as they sometimes crack and when they get hot and they no longer contact. Had a gas line with a flap inside that would plug line only when hot.
 
A bad coil dies when it gets hot and quits,when it cools down it will provide spark again,time and time again I've seen this,try a new coil,or if you can,when the weed eater dies,pour cold water over the coil and restart..that will for sure tell you it is coil
 
I haven't worked on small engines since the 70's, early 80's. Even then the coil, points, and condenser were being replaced with a "module", which looked like a coil, but also contained a magnetic triggering mechanism, making points and condenser obsolete.
 
I usually have the fewest problems when I drain the fuel during the off season.

After it dies, does it start well for a few seconds if you put some gas, carb cleaner, etc. in the carb? If yes, then the spark is good and fuel delivery is the problem.

Does it run lean before it dies? Does it run best with a full tank of fuel? If yes, it could be a split or cracked fuel line in the fuel tank. Very common, inexpensive to fix, but allow around an hour of your time to replace it. You said you already checked the fuel lines, so this is a long shot. Some times I couldn't see any splits until I disassembled it.

Good luck, let us know how you get it fixed.
 
BTDT,.Lose the weed eater and get a old fashioned scythe.
With the little bit you seem to need cutting, with the scythe you'll be done cutting before you get that useless contraption they call "weed eaters" started.
Added advantage of a scythe.
no noise .
no gas to buy
no stink.
no parts to buy.
no maintenance other than sharpening a couple times when in use.
Best of all,...you get some exercise :wink:
 
I ran to parts store at lunch today and got a new plug which I am going to try after work tonight if it is not storming. Harvey2- yes I did know that and I know that weedeater is actually a brand name but when you look up the parts diagrams it lists this model poulan under weedeaters. Bob- I have a feeling it is the module, which I am assuming acts as the coil and condensor on this newer crap. Bison- Believe me if the old lady wouldn't mind me flinging one of those with the kids running around I would have one. My boss when I worked for a contractor used to have a couple of them and they were actually kind of fun to play with. (for about 5 minutes, then it becomes more like work!!!)
 
(quoted from post at 10:00:57 05/20/14) BTDT,.Lose the weed eater and get a old fashioned scythe.
With the little bit you seem to need cutting, with the scythe you'll be done cutting before you get that useless contraption they call "weed eaters" started.
Added advantage of a scythe.
no noise .
no gas to buy
no stink.
no parts to buy.
no maintenance other than sharpening a couple times when in use.
Best of all,...you get some exercise :wink:
Click to expand...

I like using a scythe but there must be some special technique that I am not aware of to swing it in between the grass and whatever the grass is against, as in foundation, tree, mailbox post. that is only a 1/8 inch opening. How do you do that?
 
Have a toro trimmer that is over 12 years old. Even went through a tornado and survived. I hardly ever drain the fuel. Most years it is left after the final trimming. Usually add fuel mixture and choke. About the 4th pull it starts right up. Some of the fuel is a couple years old. One of the least maintained engines on the place, and seems to be the most reliable.
 
For the really close areas: Roundup, mulch, landscaping stone, a ring of hostas (spelling) or other plants, a string trimmer, hand clippers, and hand pulling have all worked for me.

I wasted too much time resharpening the blade when I tried to trim too closely with a scythe. When trimming under electric fences I carry a hand trimmer and a sharpening stone.
 
(quoted from post at 08:23:46 05/20/14) A bad coil dies when it gets hot and quits,when it cools down it will provide spark again,time and time again I've seen this,try a new coil,or if you can,when the weed eater dies,pour cold water over the coil and restart..that will for sure tell you it is coil
Click to expand...




that might explain the coil that came with the trencher we bought. they must have banged on it with a hammer until it was cool enough to start again. :]
 
I had a Husqvarna for 20 years and never had a problem till this year.I spent most of a day taking the carb apart,cleaning everything and installing a new plug.Still didn't run right,so into the junk it went.A new stihl is only 129 bucks,not worth the agrivation.
 
My old Stihl started doing that a year or two ago and it was the coil that was causing it. It was breaking down and wouldn't work when it was warm.
 
As stupid as this sounds i had a old weed eater that
wouldnt run for just a min or so finally give up
trying to repair it took it to shop. it had a mud
dobber wasp made a home in the muffler. cleaned it
out run like a champ
 
I know yours may not be fuel related, but as an idea I've seen
the vent on a cap get crudded up and then it won't pull fuel.
After it sets a while air gets back in the tank and then it will run
for another 5-10 minutes then stop again
 
(quoted from post at 10:30:35 05/20/14)
(quoted from post at 10:00:57 05/20/14) BTDT,.Lose the weed eater and get a old fashioned scythe.
With the little bit you seem to need cutting, with the scythe you'll be done cutting before you get that useless contraption they call "weed eaters" started.
Added advantage of a scythe.
no noise .
no gas to buy
no stink.
no parts to buy.
no maintenance other than sharpening a couple times when in use.
Best of all,...you get some exercise :wink:
Click to expand...

I like using a scythe but there must be some special technique that I am not aware of to swing it in between the grass and whatever the grass is against, as in foundation, tree, mailbox post. [b:70fb718891]that is only a 1/8 inch opening. [/b:70fb718891]How do you do that?
Click to expand...
ou're not THAT fussy i hope?
For the rest practice makes perfect, i have no problem trimming along foundations and posts or trees,..just keep the back of the blade against the object.
 
Best kind of "weed eater" comes with 4 legs, horns,
and says Nnaaaa! Don't have to buy Gas or Parts for
it; but you DO have to keep it AWAY from trees,
garden, & flower beds. LOL!


:>)
 
Okay, running it out of fuel was not the cause. Nothing overheated. If you've checked you fuel lines, (they either turn to mush like a gummy worm or stiffen and crack), and if the air cleaner and exhaust are clear and if the tank and primer bulb aren't cracked and if the plug is good them the ignition seems the place to look. Check for frayed wires on you kill switch, loose mounting bolts for the module, a bad kill switch, bad plug, bad plug wire, etc. A clean carb can still have the pump side diaphragm stiffen up and stop working. A carb can also have crap in the passages that will do and on again/off again type fuel blockage.
 
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