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Redmax trimmer, dies every time I flip it from upside down to rightside up

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37K views 27 replies 18 participants last post by  Crazy 4 grass  
#1 ·
If that makes any sence... I use the trimmer to edge frequently, and my RedMax trimmer, that's fairly new, will just randomally decide to die, like it's just being shut off, every time I twist it from being upside down (edging) back to right side up for trimming. It will do it every time, at every job one day, and then the next day it never even stutters.

When it dies out, it's fast, like flipping the switch, and it won't just restart. I have to put the choke on (even when it's hot and has been running 5 to 10 minutes) and pull a couple times, then turn the choke off, pull again and off I go like there was no problem, until I have to flip it again...

What the hell is going on? I know mine is not the only one that's doing this, a friend has a RedMax, but a smaller model, and his does the same thing. What's the fix?? This is a BCZ3001. The other one (not mine) is a TR2301.
I'm thinking it may be a fuel line/filter floating, but it just shuts off so fast when I flip it. Any ideas??
 
#2 ·
Jason Rose said:
When it dies out, it's fast, like flipping the switch, and it won't just restart. I have to put the choke on (even when it's hot and has been running 5 to 10 minutes) and pull a couple times, then turn the choke off, pull again and off I go like there was no problem, until I have to flip it again...
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I don't know how many times a day your going through this but wouldn't it be easier to get your edger out and save your trimmers clutch/drum/drive-shaft/gear-head and overall lifespan from improper use? You even said yourself that the trimmer runs perfect when its doing what it was designed to do.
 
#3 ·
No, getting out the edger is NOT the answer as many of these areas can't be edged with an edger.

a 2 cycle engine should not care what direction it's being held. The orientation of the engine also has no effect on the clutch/drum/driveshaft, whatever.

I did not intend for this thread to go "use an edger to edge" BS.
 
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#4 ·
I had a 2601 blower do the same. It went out of tune after a few months use, began running lean and then it would only run well and warm up fast while inverted or sideways, then die when held upright or moved quickly. The dealer removed the plug blocking access to the carb adjustment screw, a small ball in side of the carb, and set it to run richer. This is the only redmax unit of five that had this problem. To test yours, prime it as you are turning it to level position or set the choke at half closed and if it corrects it and allows it to run, it's likely you need to set it richer.
 
#5 ·
#6 ·
I'm thinking 44DCNF may be right about it running too lean. I had a heck of a time even keeping it running when it was newer/breaking it in. It dosn't lean out/stall out much anymore, but getting it running when it's cold is a couple minute process standing there feathering the choke on and off and then I have to run a while with the choke lever half on.

I'm guessing that when It's being used on it's side/upside down the carb all but empties of fuel (what tiny bit stays in a small 2 stroke carb) and when it's flipped back over there's no fuel there to go into the combustion chamber.

Just my guesses...
 
#9 ·
ricky86 said:
That symptom is usually a rich running condition. Fuel puddles in the intake tract and is dumped into the cylinder when unit is turned. And it doesnn't take much either. Make small adjustment when engine is hot.
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He is 100% correct on the puddling issue. It is a characteristic of the 2-stroke engine. Some are more prone than others and it has more to do with engine design.

The low mixture screw is on top, where to throttle is and covered by a cap. I doubt it will help that much.

My 2401 does the same, but the worst has to be my 4-stroke shindaiwa. If left on idle when cold, it puddles really bad, enough to foul the plug when squeezing the trigger. Also dies when held upside down.

It's hardly a drawback worth mentioning, you'll get used to it and tick the throttle accordingly.
 
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#10 ·
Your fuel pickup tube, with the fuel filter on it, could be stuck in the corner of the fuel tank. When you turn the machine upside down, the tube stays put, high and dry out of the fuel mix. The trimmer then runs out of gas. When you turn it over, you then have to choke the machine to get it to start again.
Fish out the fuel suction line and make sure it is free to move around in the tank.
 
#11 ·
Well, I have no clue. Like I said, it's a hit and miss problem, one day it will die almost every time I flip it over and the next day it runs perfectly fine. If the fuel line was stuck in the corner I'd think it would only run upside down/sideways for a certian length of time, then die, not just die every time I flip it back rightside up.

I pulled the carb off, can't find a screw, a screw under a cap, anything. There appears to be no adjustment to this carb. It's the wierest carburator I've seen, it's like a double barrel, must be a redmax thing, never seen anything like it before.

I ran it today, and it didn't give me any real problems, other than dieing on me once. Tired again in the shop when I was looking for adjustments and it runs great. I'm just going to have to chalk it up to "it's tempermental" and leave it at that I guess. This thread I have a couple votes for 'It's running rich' and a couple votes for 'it's running lean'. I think my vote is I won't be buying another RedMax machine, because this problem seems to be widespread. My Husqvarnas never have a problem, unfortunately they are history and RedMax is taking their place. Thankfully I have enough trimmers to last me a few more years before I have to buy another.
 
#13 ·
carriedrewdog said:
Try setting the idle up to just before the clutch engages.
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It's already up, actually it was too fast, I slowed it down a little, the clutch wouldn't even stop spinning at idle. It wasn't fast, but the head never would stop turning.

I don't think everyone is understanding what's happening. When I flip it over I can be holding the throttle at 1/2 or better and it still dies out. I'm not idling it, flipping it, and then jambing on the gas. Feathering the throttle, hitting the primer, even revving it to WOT dosn't stop it from just dieing like it was shut off when it's flipped back over. And then it does it every time in one lawn and then never has a problem in the next. :dizzy:
 
R
#14 ·
It's a stratified engine. Nothing wrong with that. Just a way to get through emissions. The 2 barrel is part of the design. All jets are fixed. That doesn't mean it can't run rich or leak internally. I see the symptom very often on chain saws also. Just to be sure, if the kill switch is on the handle, disconnect the wires AT the engine. Just to make sure it's a fuel issue. Then I would try a new carb or another carb off another unit. Unfortunately, a new carb is over $100.00. Ridiculous.
 
K
#15 ·
I tried using my 2301 yesterday and the son of a ***** would NOT run over about half throttle. I waited about 5 minutes for it to warm up but it just never did. It would rev up to about half throttle then bog down.

I sure like my Echo 251 more and more every day...
 
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#16 ·
Jason Rose said:
I don't think everyone is understanding what's happening. When I flip it over I can be holding the throttle at 1/2 or better and it still dies out.
Click to expand...
I see, didn't think it was that problematic. One more thing about the redmax trimmers : some components on them have been cheapened, particularly the fuel tank.

Normally the tank is rubber mounted and externally vented. The reason being high frequency vibration causing the fuel to degas thus forming air bubbles.

Now look at the redmax tank. It's bolted directly to the engine. I'm assuming what happens is that the tiny bubbles that would normally just pass through, get stuck somewhere (the fuel line loops) when the engine is upside down forming a large bubble. Once you return right side up, that big bubble gets flushed in the carb leaning it out completely.

Do a test next time: Once the trimmer dies, push the purge bulb (it's not a primer but purge) and watch for bubbles in the return line. Once rid of air the trimmer should restart first pull, where's without would take several pulls with the choke on. Good luck :waving:.
 
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#17 ·
I have that symptom Jason on the Echo units and most of time I give it more gas using the high jet adj. I just can't see how any of these trimmers can run thru cold and hot conditions-w/o an adjustment- after they wear out a little. Echo has a breather to let air into the tank and I guess Redmax would have the same be sure that is working. In this case I doubt rebuilding the carb would help but I would do that before new carb.
 
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#18 ·
Mowingman said:
Your fuel pickup tube, with the fuel filter on it, could be stuck in the corner of the fuel tank. When you turn the machine upside down, the tube stays put, high and dry out of the fuel mix. The trimmer then runs out of gas. When you turn it over, you then have to choke the machine to get it to start again.
Fish out the fuel suction line and make sure it is free to move around in the tank.
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That's my answer, I was gonna ask how much fuel was in it, you could be lifting the pick-up tube out of the fuel.
 
K
#19 ·
KS_Grasscutter said:
I tried using my 2301 yesterday and the son of a ***** would NOT run over about half throttle. I waited about 5 minutes for it to warm up but it just never did. It would rev up to about half throttle then bog down.

I sure like my Echo 251 more and more every day...
Click to expand...
Fixed my problem a couple days ago. Yanked the spark arrestor screen out of it and it came back to life. Runs better now than when it was new lol.
 
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#20 ·
I have seen trimmers not run upside down from puddling or when the exhaust port is coked up. In these cases they usually will run for a short while. I have also seen problems in the spring when daytime temps have risen but your fuel company has not yet changed over to summer fuel. If your problem is not electrical and your a/f ratio is not to lean I would guess you are vapor locking (winter fuel /high temps). You might pull the return line and plug so you can vent directly to atmosphere or try messing with your a/f mix by running amsoil at 80 to 1 which will richen up mixture some as oil displaces fuel in your a/f ratio, You might also try indexing your spark plug.
 
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#21 · (Edited)
Jason, the first picture is where the adjustment screw is on my 2601 blower, on the pull rope side of the engine. It originally had the plug, like the one you see in the middle of the second picture. My blower was still under warranty so the dealer removed the plug, and made the first adjustment. As it cooled of in the fall I had to readjust it slightly. The second pic is from a BCZ2600S trimmer showing the side of the carb facing the clutch/shaft end of engine. The small plug seen through the middle hole of the air cleaner cover just above the primer bulb is where I suspect the adjustment screw to be on that engine. You might try to verify that with your equipment dealer before drilling it out. An 1/8 turn of the screw makes a big difference in how the blower runs and it seems I need to adjust it with the seasons. It takes a small jewelers screwdriver to reach the screw. IIRC it is about 3/8 of a turn that will take you from too rich to too lean, maybe less. I have only had performance problems with the blower, and it is the newest of five RedMax units I own. The four units of prior model years run fine and have not needed adjustment.

I went through a couple months of trying different spark plug gaps, fuel mix ratios, different gas suppliers, and removed the spark arrestor screen (which stay absolutely clean on all my equipment, due to use of Amsoil) with no improvement. Removal of the screen seemed to help at the time I removed it but the next day it was back to not warming up, not throttling up, and only running well when upside down, but dyeing when returned to normal position. I have since replaced the screen and it continues to run fine once adjusted for the time of year being used.

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#22 ·
new member here.
i own a redmax 2350s trimmer.
It runs...ok....however after I have tuned many 2 stroke engines with the high speed adj, I KNOW this redmax needs adj. Its sputtering at high rpm.

Its not obvious to me where the adj screws are, but I am thinking possibly under these brass caps?

or ?

thanks in advance.

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J
#23 ·
Jason Rose said:
No, getting out the edger is NOT the answer as many of these areas can't be edged with an edger. a 2 cycle engine should not care what direction it's being held. The orientation of the engine also has no effect on the clutch/drum/driveshaft, whatever. I did not intend for this thread to go "use an edger to edge" BS.
Click to expand...
My Husqvarna hedge trimmer was doing the shut off when turned at any angle and one of the responses here said to fish out the weighted fuel line from the tank...I did that and the gas line was deteriorated and not connected. I bought a section of plastic fuel line and starting from the carburetor I went through the rubber grommet in the back of the gas tank and out the filler cap. I cut the new gas line leaving about two inches sticking out and reattached the weighted fuel filter little assembly. I then put that all back in the tank, reinserted the filler cap plastic keeper and that fixed the stalling problem when the trimmer isn't horizontal. Take your time doing this because I had to remove the air filter and carburator plastic housing to get clean and get at the fuel nipple on the side of the carb.
 
H
#24 ·
Good info but this thread was started 14 years ago......
 
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#27 ·
The search function here stinks. The default option is "most relevant" which results are many times not even near the most relevant. There is an option for all to change it to "most recent" when searching. I think for some of these we should cut the new members a break since the first several threads they see after searching will be older threads.
And if they are not familiar with posting on forums they most likely are not looking at the dates of threads or posts in them.
 
#28 ·
J. Baker said:
But when they do, they don't usually go looking for old threads, they just make new ones. Assuming you found this thread via a Google search? A fine way to find information, but not the best way to participate in a forum. Just trying to help you be productive. (y)
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I disagree. I think people are far more likely to search for information by reading old threads that come up in a Google search, than by opening an account and posting a new thread.

I personally have read hundreds of old threads on lawnsite before I ever became a member here or posted anything. To this day I read many old threads on many different discussion forums, most of which I do not have accounts on.

I don't think there's anything wrong with bumping an old thread either, if the discussion is still relevant and the poster has a legitimate addition to the discussion.

It's drudging up old threads with nonsense one time posts ( either real people or bots) that I have more of a problem with.
 
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