13 STIHL Edger Starter Issues: FIXED

A STIHL edger won’t turn over if the choke is set incorrectly, the fuel filter is clogged, the air filter is clogged, the fuel line is clogged, the carburetor is dirty, the fuel tank vent is clogged, the spark arrestor is clogged, the spark plug is defective, the starting recoil is broken, the fuel is old, or the fuel mixture is improper.

If the STIHL won’t start, it could be because the engine is flooded. Read on for some more potential causes of the edger not turning on.

Please observe all of the STIHL manual’s safety instructions. This entails taking precautions such as disconnecting the spark plug wire and waiting for the engine to cool down completely before making any repairs.Your STIHL Edger Won’t Start for These Reasons

1. Choke Knob is Misplaced

By turning the choke’s knob, you can limit the amount of air entering the engine. A cold engine cannot be started without this.

The edger won’t turn on if the choke isn’t set properly.

The answer is to close the choke while starting a cold engine. The choke must be open if the engine has been running for some time.

When starting a cold engine, keep the choke closed until the engine is up to temperature, and then open it. If you don’t tweak the engine, it’s going to die.

2. The Air Filter Is Blocked

The air filter prevents debris from entering the engine. Even a little bit of dirt or debris can ruin an engine over time.

It is possible for the air filter to become blocked with dirt if it is not frequently cleaned or replaced. The edger won’t turn on because not enough air can get through the filter.

To prevent this from happening again, inspect the filter once a month. To clean the filter, take it apart as described below. Always get a new filter if the old one is damaged or excessively unclean.

You should never operate your STIHL edger with a clogged air filter or no air filter at all.

The answer is to take off the cover of the air filter and either clean it or replace it. If the air filter is so dirty that it prevents the edger from starting, a new filter should be installed.

How to Cleanse a STIHL Edger Air Filter:

• To prevent debris from entering the carburetor, the choke must be set to the closed position.
  
• Take off the cover of the air filter.
  
• Clean up the area around the filter.
  
• Take out the air purifier.
  
• The dirt can be dislodged from the filter by tapping it against your palm. Get yourself an air compressor if you think you’ll need one. A new filter should be used if the old one is too dusty or worn out.
  
• Put the air filter in place.
  
• The filter housing must be reattached.

3. Poor Spark Plug

To maintain your STIHL edger in tip-top shape, it’s a good idea to replace the spark plug every year. If the spark plug is dirty, it won’t be able to produce the spark needed to fire up the engine.

The problem can be solved by wiping the area around the spark plug clean before removing it. Take the plug out to see how it is doing. If a spark plug is very worn, damaged, or has a very dark color, you should replace it.

If the spark plug is only slightly soiled, you can try cleaning it with a wire brush and reusing it. My personal preference is to get rid of it and start over. It’s a low-cost component that plays a significant role in keeping your STIHL edger operational.

Ensure that the electrode gap is set correctly by checking the STIHL manual. Put in the spark plug and connect the wire to it tightly.

Taking off the spark plug wire will allow you to keep working on the edger.

4. Wrong Gasoline

Inadequate lubrication in the fuel mix could lead to engine seizing and inability to start. A STIHL edger will explode if you put regular gas in it.

It’s a good method to ruin an engine and waste money on repairs or a replacement edger.

Two-Cycle Gas and Oil Blend for STIHL

A 50:1 gas-to-oil ratio is required for use with all STIHL edgers. This is necessary for both 2-cycle and 4-MIX STIHL motors.

Use unleaded gasoline with an octane value of 89 or higher (mid-grade) and no more than 10% ethanol when blending the oil and gas. STIHL High Performance or STIHL HP Ultra is a premium 2-cycle engine oil that should be added.

Prior to adding it to the edger’s fuel tank, mix it in a certified gas can.

STIHL 2-Cycle Premixed Fuel

A gasoline blend without ethanol is a wonderful choice for minimizing fuel-related issues and maximizing engine longevity. Ready to be poured into your edger’s fuel tank, this oil and gasoline blend does not include ethanol.

The negative outcomes associated with ethanol consumption are outlined below. Having fuel on hand is also very helpful in case of an emergency.

Two excellent 50:1 premixed fuels are STIHL MotoMix Premixed Fuel and TruFuel.

The answer is to change the gas/oil ratio in the fuel tank. If the problem persists, take it to a small engine mechanic so they can assess whether or not it can be fixed affordably.

5. Outdated Energy Sources

Sticky deposits and varnish can form in a STIHL edger if you use old fuel. Fuel restriction and carburetor damage could result from using these, making it impossible to start the engine.

Ethanol, an alternative fuel derived from plants with high starch levels like corn, is now present in the vast majority of gasoline sold in the United States.

Ethanol may be better for the environment, but it’s not great for your STIHL edger’s little engine. This item has a high propensity to absorb atmospheric moisture, which can accelerate corrosion and reduce fuel efficiency.

For this reason, only use unleaded gasoline with an octane value of 89 or higher (mid-grade) and no more than 10% ethanol (E10).

Never put E15 or E85 in the engine; doing so will cause irreparable damage and will certainly nullify any warranty coverage you may have. Both of these fuels can have as much as 85% ethanol in them.

Use a gasoline stabilizer to prevent your fuel mixture from degrading too rapidly. The engine oil blends sold by STIHL, like many other 2-cycle lubricants, already contain stabilizers.

When using a fuel stabilizer, STIHL suggests using the fuel within 30 days and no more than 60 days.

When varnish has built up, you also have the option of using Sea Foam Motor Treatment. In addition to keeping gas from going bad, this product also deodorizes the fuel system and eliminates excess moisture.

DISSOLVE: Get rid of stale gas in your edger. Combine gas and oil in a fuel tank. Blend in some Sea Foam Motor Treatment.

Put the fuel mixture into the edger and let it run for a while so it can circulate around the machine.

If starting issues persist after refueling, continue investigating other potential fuel-related causes, such as a blocked fuel filter, a clogged fuel line, a filthy carburetor, or a faulty fuel tank vent.

6. The Primer Bulb Is Out

If the priming bulb on your STIHL edger is cracked and won’t take fuel, your edger won’t start.

Even though the priming bulb seems fine, a clogged fuel filter or fuel line could be the cause of the problem.

A new priming bulb is the answer.

7. Fuel Filter Plugged

Edgers from STIHL have gasoline filters that are housed in the fuel tank. Before it goes into the fuel pick-up tube, fuel goes through this filter to remove debris. Its purpose is to prevent foreign matter from entering the fuel system.

The fuel filter, like the air filter, can become clogged if it is not frequently replaced. The fuel filter should be changed once a year and checked on a regular basis.

If you discover your fuel is contaminated, you may need to drain the tank, refuel, and change the fuel filter.

A clogged fuel filter reduces fuel flow because less fuel may pass through the filter and into the fuel lines. Your STIHL engine may not obtain the gasoline it needs to start and run if this happens.

SOLUTION: Locate the fuel filter inside the fuel tank and replace the plugged filter. Replace the fuel if you find it dirty as well.

• To prevent any loose dirt from entering the tank when the gasoline cap is removed, give it a quick wipe around the perimeter.
  
• Remember where the filters already are so you can put the new one in the right spot.
  
• Locate the filter and unlock it. The filter can be removed from the tank with the use of a pair of clean bent or needlenose pliers.
  
• Take the gasoline line apart and get rid of the old filter. The line retaining ring should not be dislodged from the filter.
  
• Connect the fuel line to the new filter and use the retention ring to keep it in place.
  
• Reinstall the gasoline cap and filter in the tank.

8. Fuel Line Clogged

Sticky deposits left behind by old fuel can clog your edger and prevent it from receiving fuel. This can cause a blockage in the fuel line, making it harder to start your edger.

If the gasoline line on your STIHL edger is broken, bent, or clogged, replace it immediately.

9. The Fuel Tank Vent is Clogged

The gasoline tank should have some sort of venting system to allow air to enter and leave the container. If there is no way for air to escape the gasoline tank, the carburetor will run dry.

STIHL machines have a little fuel tank venting component. Your edger’s performance will degrade and it may stop working altogether if this component becomes blocked.

If your STIHL edger starts up fine, but dies after a few minutes, the problem may be the fuel tank vent.

If the engine won’t turn over or runs poorly, try releasing some air pressure by loosening the fuel cap.

If the string edger dies and won’t start again until the cap is loosened while running, the fuel vent is probably clogged.

The gasoline tank vent must be cleaned or replaced.

10. The Carburetor Is Filthy

The carburetor controls the ratio of fuel to air in the combustion process. The carburetor will become clogged with old fuel, rendering it ineffective.

Clean your carburetor yourself if you’re at all mechanically inclined. Take apart the carburetor and clean it with carburetor cleaner.

After cleaning, if the carburetor still doesn’t work, you may need to have it rebuilt or get a new one.

It may be more cost-effective to buy a new edger than to replace the carburetor on an older one, taking into account the model and age of the older machine, the cost of a new carburetor, and the cost of labor.

11. A Poor Recoil Activator

A recoil is used to power your STIHL edger’s motor. Starter recoil failure can be caused by a defective pulley, a missing or loose spring, or broken clips.

It may be possible to restring the recoil or replace the spring. If the pulley or clips in your recoil are broken, the whole assembly should be replaced rather than trying to fix it.

12. Spark Arrestor with Plug

Your STIHL edger comes equipped with a spark arrestor to prevent accidental ignition. The spark arrestor is a thin screen attached to the muffler that captures sparks and prevents them from flying out of the edger and potentially burning someone or starting a fire.

Soot can accumulate and block the spark arrestor. The edger won’t turn on if this occurs.

REMEDY: Take off the cover on the spark plug. The muffler needs some time to cool down. Take apart the muffler and take out the spark arrestor, gaskets, and screen cover. Remove the soot off the screen by brushing it with a wire brush. Reinstall.

If the spark arrestor is too dirty to clean, too damaged to repair, or has a hole in it, you should replace it.

13. Wet STIHL Edger

My repair shop has had clients who brought in their edgers because they were unable to start them. The majority of the time, a flooded engine is to blame.

Overfilling the carburetor can cause the engine to flood if the choke is in the closed position and the starter rope is pulled repeatedly.

Even with the power off, repeatedly pulling the starter rope or pressing the priming bulb can cause this.

SOLUTION: “Unflood” your edger by following these steps so that the engine has the ideal fuel-to-air ratio for starting and running smoothly.

Way 1 to Restart a Submerged STIHL Edger:

• Slide the choke lever to the open position.
• The beginning throttle position is achieved by holding down the throttle trigger lockout and the throttle trigger and moving the slide control to the start position.
• Just pull the starter rope and we’ll get going. Ten to twenty pulls may be required to get something going. The motor in your chainsaw will start to splutter initially. If you keep pulling, it should turn over after another pull or two.

Restart a STIHL Edger That Got Wet Choice 2:

• Set the stopper on the sliding control.
• Just pull the spark plug out.
• To start, pull the rope six to eight times.
• Replace the spark plug with a fresh, dry one.
• Choke off/open before turning on the chainsaw.