Seeking help form Echo blower users

[lawnkid]

i had a question for the guys who use Echo PB-602's, 603's and 650's. Everey day my blower takes like 10 pulls to start. My uncle's Maruyama's take like 2 pulls. Does this happen to you guys? Thinking of taking my blower back foran exchange. wht do you think?

[AL Inc]

Lawnkid- I actually brought my PB 650 back for an exchange about 3 weeks ago. I only bought the Echo in Nov. 2001. I liked it at first, but we started having problems with the recoil, then the throttle cable, then my dealer couldn't get parts for it for a week or more. I'm pretty friendly with him, so he took it back and was able to sell it to a homeowner. I took a brand new Redmax and so far it's great. I've always been an Echo man but no more. My advice: go with the Redmax! Good luck, Mike

[landscaper3]

We have 3 Echo PB60s and 1 is a pain to start, what I found is take the gas cap off for a couple of seconds to let the pressure out then put cap back on prime it 3 times and start! It works for that one!

[TLS]

Lawnkid,

Not to be smart, but are you pressing the primer bulb 2-3 times and choking it?

You have to do this. How old is your blower? How's the plug? Hows the muffler?

My PB-650 gets easier to start every day. Mostly on the 1st pull if its cold, 2nd if its hot.

My older Lesco/Echo backpack was quicker to warm up (didn't need to) than the 650, but that was a pre-emission engine.

Sure wish they kept the adjustable carb, but with emissions, that is a NO-NO.

[Blk94fiveOh]

My PB 650 takes 2-3 pulls and it takes a minute or so to warm up. My old pb-46 usually starts on the first or second pull.

[wattsup]

I have a pb650 and it never has a problem starting. I do not know what your problem is, but I would demand a solution. I know when you bought the blower it was sold as commercial and not homeowner. Your dealer must provide the same quality service you must provide to stay in business. Make them fix it or do business elsewhere.

[Bob Minney]

Please-only say nice things about PB650-I ordered mine yesterday to replace my red pos. I'm thinking a final adjustment will be done with a 12# maul axe.
I tell you what-blowers have been the biggest maint. problem for me. This will be my 4th one in 10 seasons and I have never found one that has been anywhere near as dependable as my other equipment. It gets real old fighting to keep them working as they should.

[nu83]

Bought the PB650 in March and its been great. It starts on the 1st or second pull every time.

[Greenstar Services]

Our Echos will start after 2 pulls if we prime 5-6 times and give it half chock. Once it comes alive then the choke comes off. Try that and see what happens.

[TJLC]

My Echo 603: Cold- choke on, prime 3 times, pull once, take choke off and pull once or twice. Warm-pull once or twice. So far, so good. 2 stroke equipment can be stubborn sometimes, though.

[ProMo]

mechanic told me my echo blower couldnt be fixed after exhaust broke off 6 months later still running i stuck two pieces of stiff wire through holes in top of cyl and hooked exhaust bolts on to the wire 5 yrs old and starts 1st pull wonder what mech thinks about my echo string trimmmer with stihl hedge trimmer motor

[kerr lawn]

lawn kid- throw that pos of echo junk away and go get a shindaiwa eb-630. i have 3 of them now and love them all. the oldest one is a year old and it looks beat up but it still starts 1st or 2nd pull.
bryan

[lawnkid]

which is the choke? the switch facing up or down? i always put it in the middle and then down. Is this wrong? The dealer never really told me.

[kerr lawn]

choke is all the way up and then push it down for idle.
i pull it a couple of times in choke, then get it warm and then put it down in idle and pull one more time. This is for shindaiwa, but this has always worked for me.
bryan

[lawnkid]

now what I did was totally stupid. i bought one of those 6 gallon mix bottles and now I dont have any six gallon gas containers so I tried to elaborate as best as I could. Now the damn thting is smoking. I need to buy a one gallon gasc ontainer and those seperate little on gallon bottles. Now i just wasted like $5 of gass on oil.

[TLS]

Here is my fool proof way to start my PB-650 when its cold.

1) Press primer bulb so it squirts 3-4 full squirts (this may require 5-6 pushes however)

2) Pull choke lever to the "UP" position.

3) Slide throttle just past the ON/OFF detent (not quite 1/4 throttle)

4) Brace other hand on blower and pull starter rope briskly.

5) Quickly "feather" the choke to keep running (usually about 1/2 choke)

6) Blow your brains out!!! :cool:

As for your 2 cycle oil mix.....Are you using a 100:1 mix? AMSOIL? They usually call for a 6 gal mix. I just use this with 5 gals and consider it about 80:1. Runs fine for me.

Take that owners manual with you to bed and read it before going to bed! You'll learn a lot.

Good Luck!

[Likestomow]

Here’s how I start my Redmax:

put the choke on and pull twice - take the choke off and pull once to start.

When it’s hot, just one pull and it’s going. I don’t have any equipment I have to prime.

[lawnkid]

We're good now, I just put the wrong brand of oil in. I used a cheap brand so i drained it and put some Echo in there. Then I let it run for about a couple minutes and it worked like new.

Landscraper,
Hey thanks for the fuel cap pointer. I pumped three times with the cap off, and it started in no time in like one pull.

Thanks guys for all the posts, this problem was all my fault thanks anyways.

[C4chris70]

I have a Echo PB603. I don't have any trouble starting it, however it does take a few seconds to warm up. The only complaint I have is that even with proper care this unit seems to be falling apart. The power is great, but I think I will be going with Red Max in the future.

[Runner]

That's kind of weird. All my Echos (2 blowers included) always start on the second pull, full choke when cold.

[hubb]

Hey Lawnkid,
Your mix problem is easily fixed with a little math. All you have to do is figure out the ratio of ounces of oil to ounces of gas. Example; 50:1 ratio = 128ounces divided by 50 which is 2.56
So you add 2.56 ounces per gallon of gas since there is 128 ounces in a gallon. I usually round up though and add 2.6 or 2.7
It doesn't have to be exact but pretty close. And as you found out always use quality oil. Echo or Amsoil. Hope this helps.

[ProMo]

ivr been using ace hardware oil for years

[strickdad]

i think i know what the problem is..

[RLS]

We have been running Echo string trimmers and blowers since we started our business 5 1/2 years ago and we have had nothing but the best performance from them. We have 3 string trimmers and 2 blowers and they are very dependable. 2 of the weed eaters are 3 years old and they run like new. We will be buying 2 of the newest big string trimmers in the spring and are giving one of the old ones to my parents and one to my brother. They will get plenty of use out of them for just using around their house.
Have a good one all!!!!!
PK :)