Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Clean brushcutter petrol tank, methylated spirits, exhaust ports

Question
QUESTION: Would it be ok to clean the brushcutter petrol tank with methylated spirits? Terry

ANSWER: I would try to clean with petrol cleaning products is the tank is plastic.  Manufactures use different types of plastic and some spirts can damage the plastic.

How dirty is the fuel tank?
Eric

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filter   QUESTION: Thank You, the tank doesn`t look too bad. This MCCULLOCH proscaper 11-HD brushcutter is hard to start and when it starts it goes for a short while and stops. Sounds like it`s not getting the petrol fed to the carby continously. I have a new kit in it-new petrol-new plug-cleaned air filter-cleaned the fuel cap. I put a new fuel pickup filter in it not so long ago but i suppose they can get dirty quickly? Is it possible to clean the little fuel pickup filter? (photo attached)Terry

Answer
You can use areosol carb cleaner spray to spray through the fuel nipple and then blow out with compressed air from and air compressor.  Honestly, I rarely see these little filter get too dirty but once in a while we do replace them.

When you say "new kit", are you referring to a new carburetor kit with the fuel pump and metering diaphragms and gaskets?

How old is the trimmer?  Have you checked the compression?  Low compression will cause hard starting and the compression will usually drop even more when the engine gets hot and the metal expands.  You need a minimum of 90 PSI to even consider if the unit will run...ideally you should have at least 125 PSI for a decent running engine.

Have you checked the muffler spark arrestor and engine exhaust ports to make sure they are clean?  Sometimes so much carbon builds up in older trimmers that they will not run very well.

Eric