Flooding my bp blower

[Island Lawn]

Now that it has warmed up and I have opportunity to really try out my new stuff, I cant crank my bp! It seems to flood around 3 pulls!

ONE time, I cranked it (after flooding it first, of course)
I took the plug out and pulled the rope, spraying the flooded gas/oil out of the chamber. I then dried off the plug & put it back in place. It worked that time. I remember thinking that wasnt such a big deal since I would soon learn how not to flood it.

Since then, I have had a few times to use it again. It floods right away. It nver sparks. I dont know that it wasnt flooded before I pulled the rope the first time!
I go through the same processes of clearing the chamber. Only now it seems to be dry on the first pulls, but after a couple or three, the gas/oil really starts flowing and never really dries up.

This just happened again. I had my mobile and called my dealer for advice.
He said let it sit 20 min w/ the plug out and try again.
I picked up that ladys yard real good for over 20 min!
Gave my bp a couple of gentle pulls - nothing
Pulled the plug out again.
Its flooded!!!!

I got out my homelite hand held w/ primer bulb and it cranked on the 3rd pull - as ALWAYS

Finished cleaning up.
Came home to whine to yall

Anybody got any comments?

[Eric ELM]

What brand and model is it? Let us know exactly what you do when you try to start it. Do you use the primer bulb? If so how many pumps.

[Hunter Landscape]

what kind of bp blower is it? i had a similar situation with my stihl br400.

my bp starts every time now without flooding if and only if i follow the following starting procedure:

pull cord while choked until it fires. (usually 2-3 pulls)

cut choke off. pull until it cranks (usually 2-3 pulls)

if i don't follow this regimine, then i am doing the same thing as you. pulling the plug, pulling the cord, etc , etc.

that can be a pain in the butt!


let me know if this helps ya.

[Runner]

Hunter's process is definitely the right way to do it. If it is still tending to flood out, many times you can squeeze the throttle trigger all the way, KEEP IT SQUEEZED, and pull start it. I know this seems like the oppostite of what you are trying to accomplish, but it works.

[Eric ELM]

This is how we start our EB6200 Red Max when cold and the first start of the day. Prime it 3 to 5 times, put the choke on, put the throttle at about 1/4 and pull the rope. It usually takes 2 pulls when cold and it is running. Take the choke off and your all set.

When is has set about 20 minutes, put the choke on and pull the rope and it's running usually in 1 or 2 pulls. When it is warm, you just pull the rope once, no choking and it is running.

[awm]

try echo or stihl 50-1 and high test and follow given instructions.I use 4 different makes and they all perfom same with that mix.

[bob]

I've also heard that Stihl's are prone to flooding. I don't even prime my Shindaiwa or Redmax. I just choke them. As soon as they start, I turn the choke off.

[awm]

guess ill keep the ryobi after all .Just no trouble w proper mix.

[Jason Pallas]

Sounds to me like you've got a stuck needle valve or stuck float in the carb that allows gas to drain into the intake. Check both of these - it could be something as small as a piece of grass/dirt stuck in the valve seat.

[plow kid]

To the best of my knoledge,
Most 2 cycle equipment ave diaphrams in the carb, not float bowls, that way they can be used in any position without flooding

[Island Lawn]

Its a Stihl 320
No primer bulb on this model
I use 50:1 Stihl oil w/reg unleaded - 87 octane


Hunter, You got it right. This is what I do
(it worked once for me and the dealer can do it every time!)
What are you doing with the throttle while starting?

Runner, You may be on to something! I will try it this morning.

Thanks everyone! Ill let you know how the big blow goes this morning!
(Im not working on Sun., but will spend some prayer time w/ my equip!)

[NateinAtl]

I hate to hear that you have this problem. I have had this problem with my Stihl 400 ever since I got it. It can be the biggest pain in the butt. When you take out the plug, do you just pull it once to clean out the gas? Thanks.

[HOMER]

I know this sounds a little strange but MAKE SURE you have it turned on before you pull the cord! My BR400 WILL flood if I think the switch is on and it isnt. When it does flood out, which is usually when somebody else tries to crank it, I just pull the cord 10-15 times with the choke off an it cranks. I also run 89 octane gas, I beleive that is the recommended gas for Stihl products, it keeps it from pinging. My procedure is to turn it on, turn the choke switch to the on poition, pull it twice usually until you hear it turn over and then turn the choke off.........one more pull with the choke on will flood it! Pull it once or twice and let it rip, I never give it any gas either, keep your hand off the trigger. Works 99% of the time.

[Jason Pallas]

Plow Kid - even though there's no float (you're right there's a diaphram instead), there's still a needle valve that regulates gas flow. The diaphram takes the place of the float - but you still need a regulating method to keep the gas from flooding the carb. Check this needle valve, I'm sure it's the source of the problem. Good luck.

[Nathan]

No offense to anyone, buy there isn't anything wrong with the blower. As anyone who has owned a stihl will attest, they are very difficult to start unless warm. There is a method(do a search on starting stihls)but I won't go into it. We used only stihl's for quite a while due to price and fair power, but they just are way too finicky. If you really want to make your life easy, sell it and buy another brand. I have had much easier times with almost all other brands.

[awm]

just try 91 octane or above.starting 2cycle
should be the easy pt of the day.It will take a days use to see the diff.give it 2 easy tugs and then crank.
good luck

[Island Lawn]

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped me on this!
All's well now!
It is definately all in the technique!

Nathan,
Thanks for the search advice. I serched for "starting stihls", but didn't find it. So I searched "flooding" and found very good info on what to do after it is flooded.

It is unbelievable how tricky this is when I'm used to having the luxery of primer bulbs on my 2-cycles.

Thanks again!

[AVRECON]

If you are running the br400 what hunter has told you is right also you may want to widen the gap on your plug for a little more fire. The br400 is a great machine but it can be a (well u know) to start if you don't get it right on the first pulls of the cord.