Blower: Won't Start

The carburetor is a major part of your leaf blower’s ignition system, as it provides the correct mixture of fuel and air to the engine. If the carburetor is running properly, this should allow the engine to start up normally. However, if the carburetor is clogged, the proper fuel mixture will not reach the engine, and therefore you won’t be able to start the blower. Sometimes your carburetor can be cleaned, or a new carb kit can be purchased to replace worn carburetor parts. However, if there is significant damage or it will not become unclogged, you may need to replace it entirely.

The fuel filter in your leaf blower prevents debris from entering the fuel lines and travelling up into the carburetor and ultimately the engine. However, over the life of your blower, the fuel filter can become clogged. This can result in a lack of fuel reaching the engine. Without fuel your engine can’t run, and therefore your blower will not start. Often it is possible to clean your fuel filter, and this will usually solve the problem. However, if your fuel filter is damaged, you may need to replace it.

A defective spark plug is the most likely cause of the blower being unable to start. The spark plug takes the electrical current from the ignition module and provides a spark that ignites the fuel that starts the engine. Over time, spark plugs can wear out and die. If you have a dead or malfunctioning spark plug, the fuel can’t ignite and the engine won’t start. You can use a multimeter to determine if your spark plug is still working, before moving on to test the ignition module or other parts that could be causing this symptom.

The cylinder and piston create compression in the engine. This compression is required for the spark to ignite the fuel. Over the course of your blower’s life, the piston and cylinder can wear, and they will be unable to produce compression. This will result in the engine’s inability to start. Unlike some of the other parts that may cause this symptom, if you have a damaged cylinder and/or piston, it is a major issue that will need to be addressed immediately before you can run your blower. However, these parts tend to wear and become damaged less than some of the smaller parts like the fuel filter or the carburetor.

Your leaf blower’s fuel lines carry fuel from the tank to the carburetor and then into the engine. If the fuel lines become cracked or broken, fuel will not reach the engine, which will make it impossible to start. Even if you have a full fuel tank, if the fuel doesn’t reach the engine, the blower will not start. To fix this issue, you will need to replace the broken fuel lines. However, before you do so, you might want to check that the fuel lines have not simply become disconnected or the fuel filter isn’t clogged. A clogged fuel filter will result in the same symptom.

The ignition module, also known as the ignition coil, creates a magnetic field with the flywheel, which induces electricity. This allows the ignition coil to send voltage to the spark plug. The spark plug will then create the spark that ignites the fuel in the combustion process. If the ignition coil is faulty or damaged, it will not carry the electric current to the spark plug, which prevents the engine from starting normally. If you’ve already tested your spark plug to determine that it is not causing this symptom, you can test your ignition coil by disconnecting the spark plug from the cylinder, and attempting to run the engine. If you do not see a spark from the spark plug after a couple of tries, it is a good indication that the ignition coil is at fault. Be sure to read your safety manual when conducting this test and before completing the repair.