Homelite Leaf Blower Won’t Start for These 14 Reasons
When your leaf blower won’t start, it can be very annoying. Your work will be simplified with the leaf blower.
You’ll need a grass rake or a push broom to finish the job otherwise. You’ll have to put in more work, and it’ll take a while.
If the air, gasoline, and spark are insufficient, your Homelite leaf blower won’t turn on.
Possible reasons why your Homelite leaf blower won’t start:
- Incorrect Choke Adjustment
- Due to a poor fuel-air ratio
- The Use of Outdated Gas
- Air filter obstruction
- Unclean spark plug
- A gasoline filter that has become clogged
- Broken primer bulb
- Substandard fuel delivery due to clogged fuel line
- Due to a clogged fuel tank vent or faulty gas cap,
- Unclean carburetor
- Poor recoil ignition
- Malfunctioning spark plug
- Spark arrestor with a plug
- Inundated Engine
Always refer to the owner’s manual for a complete list of safety measures that must be taken before doing any maintenance. The spark plug boot must be removed, the engine allowed to cool, and all moving parts secured.
Table of Contents
How to Get the Homelite Leaf Blower to Turn On
If you haven’t maintained your leaf blower in a long time, now is an excellent time to replace the air filter, fuel filter, and spark plug to get it up and running smoothly.
Homelite Leaf Blower with Incorrect Choke Setting
Clamping down on airflow to the motor is what the choke is for. Because of this, the fuel-air combination can be adjusted to run rich, with higher concentrations of fuel and lower levels of air.
To ignite a cold engine, you must move the choke lever all the way to the FULL CHOKE position. Once the Homelite leaf blower’s engine has warmed up, the lever should be moved to the RUN position to enable for a greater quantity of air to be mixed with the fuel.
Your leaf blower could not turn over if you try to start a warm engine without using the choke.
Methods for cranking a cold Homelite leaf blower engine:
- To release the fuel, tap the purge bulb until it fills. No need to completely fill the purge bulb.
- Put the choke lever all the way in to close the choke. To get the engine to turn over, you should pull the starter handle many times.
- Slide the choke lever halfway between the FULL CHOKE (closed) and RUN (open) positions.
- To get the engine going, just pull the starter handle.
- Turn the key to the RUN (open) position once the engine has warmed up.
A solution is to double-check your starting routine to make sure you’re only utilizing the choke when the engine is cold.
Misusing a Homelite Leaf Blower with 2-Cycle Oil
You must use a 50:1 mixture of gasoline and oil with your Homelite leaf blower. The engine cannot function effectively if fuel is not diluted with oil.
You could do irreparable harm to your Homelite leaf blower by using plain gas, which would require you to replace it. The engine will seize if driven on straight gas because it is so dry.
If you want to utilize a 50:1 fuel mix in your Homelite blower, you need get unleaded gasoline with at least an 87 (normal) octane rating and no more than 10% ethanol.
The 2-cycle premium oil Ethanol Shield is what Homelite suggests. Two-cycle oils for air-cooled engines that have the same ISO-L-EGD and JASO M345 FD certifications can also be used.
You should avoid using regular motor oil or 2-cycle outboard oil.
To make 50:1 fuel mix, add 2.6 fluid ounces to one gallon of gas. Gasoline and 2-cycle oil
2 gallons of gas with two fluid ounces of two-cycle oil yields a 50:1 fuel mix, or two gallons.
Pre-mixed fuels, like TruFuel, are a terrific way to cut down on fuel-related issues and keep your engine running for longer. To fill the fuel tank of your leaf blower, simply pour in this pre-mixed oil and fuel combination that does not contain ethanol.
This Homelite blower gas and oil instructions will help you select the optimum fuel and properly blend it.
If your leaf blower won’t start due to the improper gas-to-oil ratio, the solution is to empty the fuel tank and reload it with fresh gasoline.
Using a Blend of Gas and Oil in a Homelite Blower
Ethanol (E) is a component of several gasoline varieties sold at petrol stations. An alternative fuel, it is typically derived from corn or other plants rich in starch. This additive is used to reduce the negative impact of gasoline on the environment.
Although ethanol is a greener fuel choice, it shouldn’t be used in your Homelite blower.
When ethanol is burned, it leaves behind sticky deposits and attracts moisture to the fuel, both of which can damage the fuel system and its components.
Damage to the fuel tank can create a varnish that prevents enough fuel from reaching the engine, making it difficult to start the blower.
Never use fuel with an ethanol level more than 10% due to the ethanol’s detrimental effects. E15 and E85 fuels, which can contain up to 15% and 85% ethanol, respectively, should be avoided.
As a SOLUTION, if gasoline has been lingering in your leaf blower for more than 30 days, you should drain the tank and refill it with fresh gas and oil. Fuel stabilization, fuel system cleaning, and moisture reduction can all be achieved by using a fuel stabilizer like Sea Foam Motor Treatment.
There is a fuel stabilizer in some 2-cycle lubricants. For example, whereas certain additives may only stabilize fuel for 30 days, others may do so for two years.
Don’t assume the oil you purchase will stabilize the gasoline for more than 30 days if it doesn’t say so on the label.
If you purchase fuel that does not include ethanol, you will not need to add a stabilizer.
A Homelite leaf blower with a clogged air filter
Fresh air is necessary for the engine’s ignition and operation. To prevent the engine from not starting due to a lack of air, the air filter must be kept clean and free of debris.
Before you turn on your Homelite blower, you should inspect the air filter as preventative maintenance. The filter plays an important role in keeping the engine safe, but a clogged filter can actually increase the risk of overheating and engine failure.
If the filter gets really dirty or is damaged, you should replace it every year. To keep it in good working order, you should inspect it frequently and clean it when necessary.
SUGGESTION: Have an air filter inspection performed. Remove the dirt or substitute it if necessary.
Here are the steps you need to take to clean the air filter in your Homelite leaf blower:
- Pull off the air filter cover and take out the filter.
- It sounds like you need to check the filter. Substitute a new filter if the old one is too broken or clogged to function properly. If the filter is clean but in good shape, continue with the procedure.
- Clear the filter by flushing it with water until the water no longer carries any debris.
- Pull the water out of the filter by squeezing it.
- The filter needs to dry naturally.
- Replace the sanitized filter within the filter housing.
- It’s time to put the air filter cover back on.
Never use your blower without a filter, even if it’s just to get the job done quickly if you discover the air filter is clogged and you don’t have a replacement on hand.
If dust and other particles are allowed into the engine, it will wear out faster and possibly break down. Protecting your engine is the tiny filter.
A Homelite Leaf Blower with a Dirty Spark Plug
A filthy spark plug with carbon or grease accumulation may not produce a spark strong enough to activate the blower. An improper electrode gap, a loose wire, a broken porcelain electrode, or any of these can also be causes for alarm.
Take off the spark plug and have a look at it. If your spark plug is dirty or broken, you need to get a new one. Gap the spark plug according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and be sure to fasten the boot tightly.
Spark plugs can be cleaned with a wire brush if they look to be in good condition but are simply dirty.
Homelite Leaf Blower Fuel Filter Clogged
The fuel filter serves a similar function to the air filter in that it keeps debris out of the fuel system.
To clean the gasoline filter on a Homelite leaf blower, just disconnect the fuel line from the fuel tank and pull it out. The fuel is strained before entering the fuel line, preventing any dirt or debris from the tank from being sucked into the fuel line.
The typical homeowner should also update this filter annually. It’s important to regularly inspect and replace your gasoline filter.
FIX: Change the fuel filter on your Homelite leaf blower.
- When removing the gasoline cap, be sure to wipe the area surrounding it to prevent dirt from entering the tank.
- First, take off the gasoline cap.
- Hook the fuel line with a clean, bent wire, then remove the fuel filter from the tank.
- Holding the fuel line firmly with one hand, remove the filter from the fuel line using the other.
- The male end of a new gasoline filter should be inserted into the fuel line.
- To use, just replace the gasoline cap after inserting the filter into the petrol tank.
A Homelite Leaf Blower with a Busted Primer Bulb
If the primer bulb is cracked and won’t take fuel, the engine won’t be able to get gas to the carburetor.
A new priming bulb is the answer.
Homelite Leaf Blower with Blocked Fuel Line
Sticky deposits left behind by old gasoline can clog up your Homelite leaf blower and prevent you from using it.
If the leaf blower’s fuel line is broken, bent, or blocked, you should replace it. If a gasoline line is clogged, you might try disconnecting it from the blower.
The clog in the gasoline line can be loosened by spraying carburetor cleaning into it, and then the blockage can be removed by forcing compressed air into the line. To clear the blockage, spray carb cleaning and blow air through the pipe repeatedly.
Homelite Leaf Blower With Blocked Fuel Tank Vent
A breath of fresh air is welcomed by the fuel tank’s vent. If your Homelite fuel tank doesn’t have a vent, the fuel will sit there forever.
When a leaf blower loses power, shuts off, and won’t restart unless the fuel cap is removed to let air into the tank, this could be a sign of a venting issue in the fuel tank. As you unscrew the cap, you may feel the vacuum being released.
If the engine starts and runs normally without the cap, replacing the cap and letting it run can help you confirm that the gasoline cap vent is the source of your starting difficulty.
If your gasoline cap is leaking, you need to replace it with a new one.
Homelite Leaf Blower with a Filthy Carburetor
The carburetor controls how much gasoline is introduced into the cylinder before it is combusted by a mixture of air. An old fuel will cause the carburetor to jam up and stop working properly.
Your carburetor may be cleaned if you are a little mechanically inclined. Disassemble the carburetor and clean it using special carburetor cleaning.
After cleaning, if the carburetor still doesn’t work, you may need to have it rebuilt or get a new one.
Dealers in small engines can also provide cleaning services. In any case, learn how much time and money it will cost to clean the carburetor. Think of it like getting a new carburetor.
There could not be much of a difference in cost. It could end up being cheaper to just get a new carb instead of paying to have the old one serviced.
Homelite Leaf Blower with a Faulty Recoil Starter
Any Homelite blower may be started with a recoil. It can be difficult to get going again if the string has become unstrung. A malfunctioning recoil start could also be caused by a damaged clip, a missing spring, a loose pulley, or any combination of the aforementioned.
Recoil spring replacement and restringing are possible solutions. If the pulley or clips in your recoil are damaged, it may be best to replace the entire recoil assembly rather than trying to fix it.
Homelite Leaf Blower with a Broken Ignition Coil
It’s possible for the ignition coil’s winding to come loose, which would cause it to short out. No spark will be produced by the spark plug because insufficient voltage is being supplied. Because of this, your Homelite blower won’t turn on.
The problem can be solved by using an ohmmeter to check for a break in continuity in the ignition coil. If there is a crack in the ignition coil, you will need to replace it.
Homelite Leaf Blower with Blocked Spark Arrestor
As a tiny screen, the spark arrestor is susceptible to becoming soot-clogged. Forget about trying to start the leaf blower if the spark arrestor is blocked by debris.
A wire brush and some spark arrestor removal could be the answer. Spark arrestors can be cleaned, but if that doesn’t work, you should get a new one.
Flooded Homelite Leaf Blower Engine
In addition to the initial difficulty starting the engine, you may have flooded it. This can occur if the starter rope is pulled repeatedly while the choke is closed.
It can also occur if the priming bulb is repeatedly pushed or the starter rope is repeatedly pulled when the switch is off.
Quick fix:
What to Do If Your Homelite Leaf Blower’s Engine Is Flooded?
- To activate, simply flip the switch.
- The choke must be opened by shifting the lever.
- Repeatedly pull the starter rope and press the throttle trigger to start the engine. It may take 5–15 pulls to get something going. As a first sign, the motor in your leaf blower will sputter. If you keep pulling, it should turn over after another pull or two.
