Edger: Hard To Start

The carburetor is designed to inject the proper mixture of fuel and air to the engine, so that combustion can occur, and your engine can run. A dirty/clogged carburetor will result in a lack of fuel or air (or both) getting to the engine. Without the proper mixture, the engine will not run, or will at least be difficult to start. An improper mixture can also be a result of a poorly adjusted carburetor. These settings can be readjusted so the engine doesn’t run lean (too much air) or rich (too much fuel).

Your edger has an air filter that prevents debris from entering the engine. However, after continued use, the air filter can become dirty and clogged, which will prevent air from passing through it and into the engine. This can affect the mix of fuel and air that enters the engine, which can make your edger hard to start. Usually, you should be able to remove the foam element of the air filter and unclog it by washing it with soap and water. After you’ve washed it, be sure to let it dry thoroughly and then apply a couple of drops of clean engine oil to the foam element, being sure to squeeze out the excess oil before re-installing.

The fuel filter has a similar task as the air filter, in that it prevents dirt and debris from entering your edger’s engine. However, rather than filter the air, the fuel filter is in the fuel tank and prevents dirt and debris that reside in your edger’s fuel from entering the fuel lines, and ultimately making their way into the engine. The fuel filter can occasionally become clogged, particularly if you’ve left old fuel in the tank over the winter. In this case, not enough fuel will enter the carburetor, making your edger difficult to start. Like the air filter, the fuel filter can usually be cleaned to remedy this issue. However, if it is damaged beyond repair, you may need to replace it. Therefore, it is important to drain your edger of fuel before storing it for long periods of time.

Your edger’s carburetor contains a gasket that creates a seal, preventing excess air from entering it. If this gasket is malfunctioning, it will not maintain a seal, and too much air will enter the carburetor. This can occur as a result of wear on the gasket itself. Too much air in the engine will cause it to run lean, and this can make the edger difficult to start. Even if you do get it started, chances are it won’t run for very long with a leaking gasket. Luckily, gaskets are fairly cheap and easy to repair, if you’ve noticed that yours will no longer create a seal.

A dirty, worn, or fouled spark plug can cause your edger to become difficult to start. The spark plug receives an electrical current from the ignition coil and converts it to a spark, that is then ignited in the engine. This occurs not only when the engine starts up, but also throughout the operation of your edger. Over time, the spark plug in your edger can experience carbon build ups that will prevent it from igniting the fuel mixture in the cylinder. The spark plug must also be gapped to manufacturer specifications to work properly. If your spark plug is incorrectly gapped, your edger will be difficult to start. If your edger will not start, and the spark plug looks clean, it is a good idea to test the ignition coil. You can do this with a spark tester, and if the ignition coil turns out to be functioning properly, it is a good indicator that the spark plug needs to be replaced.

The primer bulb on any small engine (including a lawn edger) is designed to draw fuel into the carburetor, so it can be injected into the engine in the right quantity. The primer bulb is usually made of plastic, and as a result it can become cracked. When a crack in the bulb occurs, it will not be able to create the vacuum required to pull fuel into the carburetor. If the carb doesn’t get enough fuel, the engine will not have the correct fuel/air mix, and your edger will become harder to start. A cracked or malfunctioning primer bulb will most likely need to be replaced before your edger will start up easily again.

The trigger coil or ignition coil provides electricity to the spark plug, which is then used to ignite a fuel and air mixture in the engine. This is what powers your edger. If the coil is faulty, it will not provide electricity to the spark plug, making your edger difficult to start. The coil may not be completely dead, and may allow you to start and briefly run your edger, but it will be quite difficult to start each time. If you notice that the spark plug isn’t giving off a spark, you may have a faulty plug rather than the coil. Therefore, it is important to test the ignition coil and determine where the problem is. A faulty ignition or trigger coil will need to be replaced before your edger will start properly.

A carb kit won’t cause this symptom but can be an easy way to fix a damaged carburetor. A clean and properly adjusted carburetor is essential for your edger to run properly. Over time, your carburetor can become damaged, particularly if you’ve left fuel in the engine for a long period of time. A carb kit can replace some of the smaller damaged parts in the carburetor, and get it running again. This should allow the edger to start up normally, and without much difficulty.

Fuel lines carry fuel from the tank to the carburetor. The carburetor then injects the correct mixture of fuel and air to the engine for combustion. If you’ve left fuel in your machine, including the fuel lines, for a long period of time, such as over the winter, the fuel lines can become clogged. Additionally, dirt and debris can enter the fuel lines through a damaged fuel filter. To check for this, you can disconnect the fuel lines and either visually inspect them, or attempt to blow through one end. If a clog is detected, it is important to check the condition of the fuel filter, as it is designed to prevent debris from entering the lines. When the lines are clogged, they will not allow enough fuel to reach the carburetor, and eventually your engine will run lean, meaning it will have too much air relative to the amount of fuel. Similarly, if the fuel lines are cracked and leaking, it can also result in a lack of fuel in the carburetor. If the lines are clogged, you may be able to clean them. This may make your edger less difficult to start. However, cracked fuel lines will likely need to be replaced, particularly because leaking fuel can become a safety hazard.