13 Causes of a Dead or Failing Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower, and How to Fix Them

The leaf blower is one of those tools that goes unused until it breaks. For more than just raking leaves, it’s a handy item to have around.

Lack of adequate air, fuel, or spark can cause the engine of a Troy-Bilt leaf blower to stall.

The fuel tank vent may be clogged, the gasoline may be contaminated, the air filter may be clogged, the spark arrestor may be clogged, the spark plug may be clogged, the carburetor may be clogged, or the air filter may be clogged.

Read on to learn about some more potential causes of a leaf blower’s demise. Always refer to the owner’s manual before doing any maintenance on your Troy-Bilt blower.

It’s best to wait until the engine has cooled down before attempting any repairs, and then remove the spark plug wire.

Possible Causes of Your Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower’s Failure to Start

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with an Incorrectly Set Choke

Rich fuel mixtures are needed to get a cold engine running in your Troy-Bilt leaf blower. It will require more fuel and less air as a result of this. To do this, just pull the choke lever to its closed position, which limits airflow.

The blower will continue to operate if the choke is turned to the off/open position after the engine has warmed up.

Your Troy-Bilt won’t stay running if it isn’t getting enough air if the choke isn’t fully open.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with a Clogged Air Filter

A filthy air filter is another potential source of airflow restriction in a leaf blower. To prevent engine damage from dirt and debris entering the air intake, an air filter is necessary.

To combat the extremely unclean and dusty circumstances that are created when using a leaf blower, I advise changing the filter annually. The air filter should be taken out and cleaned on a regular basis in between replacements.

You should clean it and replace it more often than the average homeowner if you use it in a dusty environment.

The filter can become so clogged with dirt that it prevents adequate airflow if it isn’t cleaned and replaced regularly.

If there isn’t enough air moving through the system, your Troy-Bilt leaf blower will slow down or stop altogether.

To clean a primary foam air filter, just use the steps below. Instructions for cleaning the filter on your Troy-Bilt can be found in the machine’s manual.

Cleanse a Troy-Bilt foam primary filter:

• Take out the air filter foam and throw it away.
  
• Get rid of any lingering grime in the housing and the cover by wiping them down. Avoid having any grime enter the air intake.
  
• Water and a little bit of mild dish soap should be sufficient to clean the foam filter.
  
• To get rid of all soap residue, run water until it runs clear. Rinse the filter in a sink or other container of water and lay it flat to dry.
  
• When the filter is dry, you can coat it with SAE 30 motor oil and then squeeze out any excess. A lot of oil dripping out of it is not what you want. Foam filters used as the primary filter are the only ones to get oil. Do not apply oil to your filter if it is a pre-filter and you also use a paper air filter. The paper filter will be ruined if you do that.
  
• Arrange the foam air filter in its place.
  
• The air filter cover must be reattached.

Outdated or Incorrect Fuel Blend in a Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower

Using old fuel or the incorrect fuel might cause a leaf blower to die after prolonged operation. Fuel should be used within 30 days of purchase to avoid fuel limits caused by old gas.

Fuel deteriorates over time, leaving behind varnish and sticky particles that clog the fuel filter and reduce or halt the blower’s efficiency.

Adding a gasoline additive, such as Sea Foam Motor Treatment or STA-BIL, can extend the fuel’s lifespan.

The fuel needs for 2-cycle and 4-cycle engines found in Troy-Bilt leaf blowers are distinct.

• Premium air-cooled 2-cycle engine oil and gasoline are the recommended fuel mixture for use in Troy-Bilt 2-cycle leaf blowers. The ratio of natural gas to oil in this mixture is 40 to 1.
  
• Straight gas is required for use in 4-cycle Troy-Bilt leaf blowers. Never put oil into a gas engine or vice versa. The SAE 30 engine oil can be refilled through its own dedicated fill point.

Read more: This is the Type of Gas and Oil Mix Troy-Bilt Leaf Blowers Use.

Get unleaded gas with an octane rating of 89 or higher and no more than 10% ethanol. As ethanol harms the little engine in your Troy-Bilt, you should only use fuel with a very low ethanol percentage or none at all.

A Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with a Clogged Fuel Filter

The function of the fuel filter is similar to that of the air filter in that it prevents debris from entering the fuel system. Within the fuel tank, connected to the fuel line, is the fuel filter, a little cylinder-shaped component.

If it isn’t checked and updated on a regular basis, it can get clogged up. Insufficient fuel flow can reduce engine performance or even cause it to shut down.

The typical homeowner should change out their gasoline filter once each year to prevent their vehicle from stalling out owing to a clogged filter. Those who frequently use their Troy-Bilts should pay closer attention to the condition of their filters and change them as needed.

Substitute a Troy-Bilt leaf blower fuel filter:

• To prevent dirt and debris from entering the tank, wipe the area around the gasoline cap.
  Take off the lid.
• Remember where the filter was previously installed so that you may replace it in the same spot.
• The gasoline tank’s fuel filter must be removed. It can be retrieved with relative ease using a clean, bent wire.
• Take the filter out of the gasoline line once you’ve taken it out of the tank. Hold onto the fuel line and make sure it doesn’t fall back into the tank. If you’re concerned about the fuel line slipping out of your grasp and returning to the fuel tank, needle nose pliers can be a useful tool.
• Make sure the male end of the new gasoline filter is properly linked to the fuel line.
• It should be returned to the petrol tank.
• Replace the fuel cap.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with Blocked Fuel Line

It’s possible that the gasoline lines’ ability to transport fuel freely could be clogged by sticky deposits left behind by old fuel. If this happens, you should replace the gasoline line with a brand-new one from Troy-Bilt.

If the gasoline line is in relatively excellent shape, you can try loosening the clog with carburetor cleaner and then blowing it out with compressed air.

If you uncover dry and cracked sections of your fuel lines during an inspection, you should have them replaced before they start leaking or sucking air into the line from a puncture.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with Blocked Fuel Tank Vent

Allowing air to escape from the fuel tank is essential. A vacuum will occur inside the tank if there is no way for air to enter. It prevents gasoline from escaping the tank.

If there is no clog in the fuel line or fuel filter and you still aren’t receiving enough gasoline to the carburetor, the problem may be the vent.

If your Troy-Bilt blower has suddenly stopped working, you can check to see if the fuel tank vent is clogged by setting it down on a flat surface. When you remove or loosen the gasoline cap, air can enter the tank, which can power the fan.

Check the fuel cap’s tightness and ensure the blower starts and runs smoothly. See if the problem persists and the leaf blower turns off after a short while of use.

If the blower quits and you have to unscrew or remove the fuel cap to get it going again, you may have a blocked fuel vent.

Most Troy-Bilt leaf blowers have a vent in the cap of the gas tank. If your gasoline cap is clogged, you should get a new Troy-Bilt one.

A Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with a Filthy Carburetor

To get your leaf blower going and keep it going, you need to make sure the carburetor is set to the right settings.

Sometimes the blower stops working because the passages get blocked or because some of the tiny parts cease working properly.

The carburetor often stops working because of stale fuel. The carburetor could be cleaned or reassembled to restore its functionality. If this does not fix the problem, you will need to purchase a new Troy-Bilt carburetor.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with Blocked Cooling System

The blower can be turned off in the event that the engine overheats. The Troy-Bilt engine needs fresh air to circulate around it to help keep it cool.

Get rid of the grass cuttings, dirt, and debris that may be blocking the air intakes and cooling fins. First, turn off the engine and remove the spark plug.

In order to clean the outside of the cylinder and the engine cover, you must first remove the cover. Disassemble the engine and clean the cylinder fins before replacing the cover. Maintaining a clean blower ensures that cold air can flow freely around the engine.

You should clean the Troy-Bilt backpack leaf blower’s grill, which is located between the blower housing and the backpack. Clean out the air intake and exhaust grill with a handheld blower.

The Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower’s Carburetor Requires Fine-Tuning

With the factory-set carburetor settings from Troy-Bilt, you can rest assured that your blower is getting the optimal fuel-to-air ratio. To gain optimal performance from the engine, the carburetor settings may need to be modified due to factors such as the quality of the gasoline and the increased altitude.

Your Troy-Bilt leaf blower has three screws for adjusting the carburetor. If your blower isn’t staying at a consistent idle speed, you might need to change the idle speed screw.

When it comes to fine-tuning the carburetor on a Troy-Bilt, you have fewer options than with other brands. Certified Troy-Bilt mechanics carry a unique tool for adjusting the high-speed and low-speed screws on several models.

Bring your leaf blower to a local Troy-Bilt dealer if you’re having trouble with the carburetor. If the carburetor is over-tweaked, the leaf blower could be damaged.

The Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower Is Not Starting Due to a Faulty Spark Plug

If the leaf blower’s spark plug is unclean or broken, it won’t provide a reliable spark. There’s a chance the saw won’t have any power if you use it because the spark is inconsistent.

Check the spark plug for damage at the tip. The spark plug needs to be replaced if it is particularly black in color, has shattered porcelain, or has a burnt electrode.

If the spark plug is only somewhat filthy, you can attempt cleaning it with a wire brush before throwing it away and replacing it. Just getting rid of it and replacing it is much simpler. It’s a cheap maintenance part that’s crucial to your Troy-functionality. Bilt’s

Check that the spark plug wire is properly attached and that the spark plug gap is correct. If either of these occurs, the leaf blower will turn off.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with Blocked Spark Arrestor

The leaf blower has a small metal screen that prevents scalding exhaust from flying out and injuring someone or sparking a fire.

A buildup of carbon on this muffler screen will have a negative impact on the performance of your vehicle’s engine.

Pull the wire out of the spark plug. Stop running the engine and let it cool down. Locate the spark arrestor screen on your Troy-Bilt blower and carefully pull it off. Use a metal brush to scrub it clean.

If you find that the screen is too dirty to clean, or if it is broken or has a hole in it, you should get a new spark arrestor screen.

Ensure that you operate your blower at full power on a regular basis to reduce the rate at which carbon accumulates on the spark arrestor. Idling or running your blower at low speeds for extended periods of time will add to carbon accumulation.

Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower with a Defective Ignition Coil

When you’ve made sure the spark plug is fine, it’s time to make sure the ignition coil is working properly.

To get your fan going and keep it going, you need an electrical current, which the module supplies to the spark plug.

The coil’s windings can come apart and cause a short when it becomes too hot. Your Troy-Bilt leaf blower will lose power, operate slowly, or cease entirely if the spark isn’t consistent.

If the ignition module is faulty, the spark plug will not receive an adequate voltage.

Issues with Compression on a Troy-Bilt Leaf Blower

If you feel a drop in compression while pulling the starter recoil rope, you may need to rewind the rope a bit. A Troy-Bilt leaf blower could die if its compression is too low.

This may be due to a number of factors, including damaged pistons, worn piston rings, or a leaking crankshaft.

The best place to have your leaf blower checked out and serviced is at a small engine repair shop or a Troy-Bilt authorized service center.