Questionhere is the post I first asked. see way below for follow up so you have an idea of what is going on.
Subject BackPack Leaf blower
Question Hi, I have a Craftsman 30cc BackPack Leaf Blower,It's about 2 yrs. old. I use it all the time so I know there is no issue of varnish or any thing like that. The thing just up and died on me. I was using it blowing massive amounts of leaves, and needed to move my car, so I shut it off, move the car, tried to start it up and NOTHING. All of this happened in less the 5 minutes time.
I pulled the plug gap was a little close, so I re-gapped it, new fuel with the proper amount of oil mix. This is the first time I used the proper amount of Oil mix in the gas. Normally, I put about 8oz. to a gal. This time it was 3.2oz to a gal with a different type of oil.
Any Idea what killed my leaf blower? How can I fix it? This is my favorite tool, and I need it fixed asap. Thanks.
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Answer Did you check the spark arrestor in the muffler to see if it is clogged? Did you replace the spark plug? Have you checked the engine compression with a compression gauge?
What is the model number? Sears xxx.xxxxxx?
Let me know.
Eric
As far as the spark arrestor, I assume that is the screen thing in the exhaust port? Yes it was not clogged. I replaced the plug last night, and it finally started, but running really bad. Could not start it on first pull like I used to or in Full Choke position. Partial Choke and repeated pulls to get it started. I pulled the air filter and it was full of oil. Cleaned it out, dryed it and placecd it back in. still ran pretty bad at idle. full throttle, it seemed to run fine, but a rattle/slap of some kind. Model # is 316.794990
Thank you for your time.
Answer First thing you should understand about residential type lawn power tools. Most manufactures rate their consumer rated equipment at 50-100 hrs. That means pure, and simple, they are made to run for 50-100 hours of home owner usage, and that's what you should expect. Sure, doesn't sound like much does it? Heck you work at least 40hrs a week yourself. You'd be worn out in almost 6 days and thrown away. Now don't get me wrong, that's not written in stone, I have seen cheapo Weedeater brands run all summer long being used commercially, but it's not the norm. Figure a home owner mowing his lawn once a week for 5 months using it after to clean the driveway, and walk after, and taking 30 minutes. That's 10 hrs usage a year, meaning you can expect to get maybe 5+ years out of it. Now you said you use it ALL the time. You ate up that 50-100hrs already. If your hearing a rattle or slap internally, it's days are over I'd say. Sounds to me it very well could be a connecting rod, wrist pin, or connecting rod bearing. None worth fixing, put the money towards a commercial unit if you use, and need it that much. But keep in mind before the trash men come, I can't hear it here at my desk. So either give it a compression test, or have it checked out to make sure it's trashed. Also in the future, keep that oil mix at the manufactures recommendations, they give them for a reason, your burning almost 3 times the amount of oil in the fuel as you should be, you will make much more carbon deposits, and clog spark arrests much more often.........Tom
Sorry to be the messenger of bad news, but please don't kill the messenger, as with any good umpire. I call them as I see them.....Good Luck. And TY for the nice ratings, always appreciated...Tom
