Five Frequent Issues With Blowers (Troubleshoot & Fix)
When your leaf blower begins to malfunction, you may suddenly become aware of just how often you rely on it. The versatility of a leaf blower makes it useful for more than just clearing away leaves in the fall.
I’ve compiled charts with links to more detailed information to aid you in recognizing typical issues with leaf blowers and performing troubleshooting techniques.
Always use the leaf blower in accordance with the safety instructions included in the user handbook. That means letting the engine cool down and making sure nothing is moving. Before making any repairs, take off the wire from the spark plug.
Common Issues with Leaf Blowers:
- Trouble starting the leaf blower.
- The leaf blower that won’t stay running.
- The leaf blower is shaky and sputtering.
- With the throttle off, the leaf blower fails to start and stalls.
When troubleshooting, repairing, or operating machinery, be sure to read and follow all directions in the equipment’s operator’s manual. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to conduct the repair safely due to a lack of experience, training, or health, it’s best to call in an expert.
How to Fix a Leaf Blower’s Most Frequent Ills
1. Leaf Blower Won’t Turn On
If your leaf blower won’t start, check for obstructions in the air, fuel, and spark plug. In order to get your fan going and keep it going, you’ll need these three things.
Two-cycle engines are employed in the vast majority of modern leaf blowers. These motors run on a combination of gasoline and 2-cycle oil.
There are three common gas-to-oil ratios used in leaf blowers: 50:1, 40:1, and 32:1. Find out more about how to properly fuel your leaf blower by reading this article.
Never use unleaded fuel in a 2-cycle blower. It will ruin the engine irreparably. Gasoline doesn’t lubricate the engine and might cause it to run abnormally dry.
A few brands have introduced leaf blowers powered by 4-cycle engines. The fuel and oil tanks on these motors may be filled independently. Avoid blending fuels for certain automobile motors.
One thing stands out as different. For those looking for the best of both worlds, STIHL has developed the 4-MIX engine, which operates like a 4-cycle engine but has the compact design of a 2-cycle engine. When fueling one of these engines, it is necessary to combine gasoline and motor oil first.
More information is available at:
Causes of a Non-Starting Leaf Blower
| Cause | Problem’s Root Cause | Solution |
| Incorrect or stale fuel | With time, fuel loses its effectiveness and might block the fuel system. | Empty the tank and replace the gasoline with new fuel. To prevent the gasoline from deteriorating and to aid in the cleaning of the fuel system, use a fuel additive such as Sea Foam. Put in quality gasoline. |
| Using the wrong oil ratio for a two-cycle motor. | When the ratios are off, the engine won’t get the lubrication it needs. | Gasoline and 2-cycle oil should be mixed together. Fuel should have an octane value of 89 or above and contain no more than 10% ethanol. |
| Lack of spark | It is possible to prevent the engine from starting due to a filthy or broken spark plug, a loose spark plug wire, or an improper gap. | Make that the spark plug is gapped properly and that it has been replaced with a new one. |
| Blocked air filter | When the air filter is clogged up with dirt, it stops working. | Take out the filter so it may be washed, and then replace it. If the filter is damaged, you should get a new one. |
| Contamination of the fuel filter | A clogged gasoline filter will reduce engine performance. | Switch out the fuel filter. |
| Damaged gasoline lines | As time passes, deposits of old gasoline and dirt build up in the fuel lines, cutting off the supply of fuel to the engine. | To remove the obstruction from the gasoline line, you can use carburetor cleaning and compressed air. If the line needs to be changed, do so. |
| Vent in gasoline tank is blocked. | If the gasoline tank’s vent is blocked, the tank cannot release excess pressure. It’ll create a vacuum that’ll stop petrol from leaking out of the tank. | Unclog the fuel tank’s ventilation system. |
| Spark arrestor with a plug | When soot clogs the spark arrestor, hot air from the leaf blower cannot escape. | It’s time to clean the spark arrestor. |
| Dull carburetor | Bad gasoline and ethanol deposits can block the carburetor and prevent fuel from flowing. | Take apart the carburetor and wash all of the parts. It should be changed out if it breaks. |
| Broken primer bulb | Fuel won’t get to the carburetor if the priming bulb is broken. | Change the starter light bulb. |
| Boiling water in the engine | It’s impossible to get a spark because the fuel-to-air ratio is too high. Too many presses on the priming bulb or pulls on the starting rope with the choke closed might cause this. | The switch must be set to the “run” position. Choke lever must be moved to “run” position. To start, repeatedly pull the starting rope and press the throttle trigger. |
| Recoil broken in starter | If the recoil is broken or damaged, you won’t be able to use it to start your vehicle. | Find out if the recoil can be restrung by checking it out. Obviously, you need to replace the broken pieces. If the recoil mechanism breaks, replace it. |
It’s likely that many of the same things that prevent your leaf blower from starting are also the ones that will cause it to stop and die while it’s already operating.
Be sure you’re using the correct starting procedure if the blower turns on but quickly shuts off. To start a cold engine, you need to turn the choke lever to the “on” position, which restricts airflow.
Once the engine is up to temperature, turning it off is the only option left.
More information is available at:
Your leaf blower begins, then stalls and stops.
| Cause | Problem’s Root Cause | Solution |
| Incorrect Choke Position | If the choke lever is not moved to the open position after the engine has warmed up, the engine will shut off. | In order to get a cold engine started, you need to close the throttle and limit airflow to the engine. As soon as the car’s engine has warmed up, you may pop the hood. |
| Bad fuel | Using fuel that has been sitting around for a while could result in poorer efficiency, a clogged fuel system, and perhaps engine damage. | Empty the tank and replace the gasoline with new fuel. To prevent the gasoline from deteriorating and to aid in the cleaning of the fuel system, use a fuel additive such as Sea Foam. |
| Blocked air filter | When the air filter is clogged up with dirt, it stops working. | Take out the filter so it may be washed, and then replace it. If the filter is damaged, you should get a new one. |
| Contamination of the fuel filter | If the gasoline filter becomes blocked, not enough fuel will get to the engine. | Swap out the fuel filter. |
| The gasoline pipes became clogged | The engine could not get the gasoline it needs if dirt and sediment build up in the fuel lines. | To remove the obstruction in the gasoline line, you can use carb cleaning and compressed air. |
| Dull carburetor | Bad gasoline and ethanol deposits can cause the carburetor to get filthy and clogged, cutting off the fuel supply. | The carburetor’s individual parts should be cleaned. If it’s broken, fix it or get a new one. |
| Vent in gasoline tank is blocked | If the gasoline tank’s vent is blocked, the tank cannot release excess pressure. It’ll create a vacuum that’ll stop petrol from leaking out of the tank. | Unclog the fuel tank’s ventilation system. |
| Spark arrestor with a plug | With enough soot, the spark arrestor can get blocked, preventing the release of hot air. | Spark arrestor screens may be cleaned with a metal brush by removing them. Repair a cracked display. |
Your leaf blower’s harsh and sputtering performance might be the result of a filthy carburetor. If old gas has clogged the fuel passages, this is a frequent symptom.
Having a blocked spark arrestor that prevents the engine’s hot exhaust air from escaping is another prevalent cause of this problem.
More information is available at:
The Inconsistent Performance of Your Leaf Blower and Why
| Cause | Problem’s Root Cause | Solution |
| Used gasoline | Gummy deposits left behind by old gasoline can block fuel flow and eventually lead to component failure. | Take out the old gas and put in the new. For cleaner gas and a longer-lasting fuel system, try using a fuel additive like Sea Foam Motor Treatment. |
| Lack of cleanliness in the spark plugs | Sluggish performance can be caused by a dirty spark plug that only intermittently sparks. | The spark plug must be changed. |
| Contamination of the fuel filter | A clogged fuel filter prevents fuel from flowing effectively. | Switch out the fuel filter. |
| Fuel system clogging | When dirt or old fuel accumulates in the fuel line, it might get clogged, limiting the fuel supply. | Get the gasoline line serviced or replaced if necessary. |
| Vent in gasoline tank is blocked. | If the gasoline tank can’t vent, a vacuum is created and no fuel can escape. | Fix the leaking fuel tank cap. |
| Blocked air filter | Eventually, the air filter may get so clogged with grime that it will no longer allow enough airflow. | Toss out the old air filter and get a new one. |
| Dull carburetor | Old gas deposits can block the fuel passages in the carburetor, preventing the engine from receiving the fuel it needs to run. | The carburetor should be taken apart and cleaned. Reconstruct it or get a new one if it breaks. |
| Spark arrestor with a plug | When the spark arrestor becomes clogged with carbon, hot exhaust air cannot leave the blower. | Take off the spark suppressor and clean it. |
The airflow can be limited by using the choke. Once the engine is warmed up, you may need to adjust the fuel and air mixture by using the choke to keep the blower going.
Look for anything that might be preventing the engine from getting the correct amount of air or fuel, if your leaf blower will only operate with the choke on.
More information is available at:
Your Leaf Blower Only Runs with the Choke On
| Cause | Problem’s Root Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Used gasoline | Varnish and deposits left behind by old gasoline can limit fuel flow and shorten the lifespan of fuel components. | Get rid of the petrol in the tank. Replace the gasoline with new. Fuel system cleanser and fuel system stabilizer should be added. Turn the key and give the gas some time to circulate. |
| An accident involving a broken fuel line | The volume of air reaching the engine may be increased by sucking air into the line. | Change out the gas line. See whether there is any slack in the gas line. |
| Contamination of the fuel filter | Airflow is impeded by a filthy, clogged filter. | Toss out the old air filter and get a new one. |
| Leaking gasket in the carburetor. | It’s possible that the gasket has worn out and is no longer doing its job, letting air into the carburetor. | It’s time to take out the carburetor and swap out the gasket. |
| Dull carburetor | If the fuel lines are clogged up, there won’t be enough gas to burn. | Take the carburetor apart and clean it. Reconstruct it or get a new one if it breaks. |
| Vent in gasoline tank is blocked. | If the vent in the gasoline tank is blocked, the fuel tank will develop a vacuum. The gasoline tank will be sealed off from the outside world. | Fix the leaking fuel tank cap. |
A filthy carburetor and other issues limiting gasoline are generally to blame when a leaf blower isn’t producing adequate power or is bogging down.
Also, check for spark difficulties, airflow restrictions, and blockages in the blower’s exhaust duct.
More information is available at:
The Weaknesses That Cause Your Leaf Blower to Clog & Stop Working
| Cause | Problem’s Root Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Used gasoline | Varnish and deposits left behind by old gasoline can limit fuel flow and shorten the lifespan of fuel components. | Get rid of the petrol in the tank. Replace the gasoline with new. Fuel system cleanser and fuel system stabilizer should be added. Turn the key and give the gas some time to circulate. |
| Blocked air filter | A blocked air filter prevents adequate ventilation. | Toss out the old air filter and get a new one. |
| Lack of cleanliness in the spark plug | An intermittent spark might be caused by a dirty spark plug. | Spark plugs should either be cleaned or replaced. |
| Contamination of the fuel filter | A blocked filter prevents adequate gasoline from getting through. | Switch out the fuel filter. |
| Stuck gasoline line | In the event that the gasoline lines get clogged, the carburetor will not receive any fuel. | It may be necessary to replace or clean the gasoline line. |
| Vent in gasoline tank is blocked. | If the vent in the gasoline tank is blocked, the fuel tank will develop a vacuum. The gasoline tank will be sealed off from the outside world. | The gas tank must be changed. |
| The use of a spark arrestor with a plug | Once soot builds up in the spark arrestor, high-temperature air can no longer escape. | To clean the spark arrestor screen, take it apart and scrub it with a wire brush. |
| Accumulation of carbon on the exhaust pipe | When carbon accumulates in the exhaust pipe, it blocks the flow of hot air to the muffler. | Clear out the stack. |
| Dull carburetor | If the fuel lines are clogged up, there won’t be enough gas to burn. | Remove any varnish from old gasoline by cleaning the carburetor. If it needs to be fixed or replaced, do so. |
You may prevent serious issues with your leaf blower by keeping up with normal maintenance.
To maintain your leaf blower in tip-top shape, I advise servicing it once a year.
The air filter, fuel filter, and spark plug are all replaced at each year’s service. You also need to clean the outside and check the fuel and cooling systems.
Fix any dangling fasteners and swap out any worn components. Moreover, before starting the blower, you should check its condition to make sure it is in working order.
Read More: Leaf Blower
