Echo Trimmer Question

[Deltona_Dave]

Thought I would stir the pot a little. Last year, I bought an Echo SRM 255 straight shaft string trimmer to replace the old Troy-bilt trimmer. I know most 2T trimmers like to be run WOT, but this trimmer has so much power, I only need to give it a little throttle to get the job done.

Is this bad for the engine? I do give it full throttle from time to time, but it is really not needed, with the crossfire line and the torque.

I work on OPE all the time, and see the effects of abuse, ethanol, etc. I have been running E-0 and Echo's power blend X oil at 50:1 ratio. The spark plug is fine and the cylinder/piston have almost no carbon on them.

What's ya'lls thought? I have heard to run WOT to keep every thing clear, and also, just run it appropriate for the job. This little 21cc engine thinks it is 3X the displacement.

Dave

 

[kcfx4]

just a thought, but not running it at a decent speed near WOT, could cause the spark arrestor (piecee of screen) on muffler to clog w oil, ive seen alot of echos from a few yrs back clog that way, with the customer saying their mixture was correct, so my other thought is too low rpms

 

[Deltona_Dave]

I should clarify, most of the 2T problems I see are due to improper storage, wrong plug, or wrong mixture. Most are carbs fouled with gook in the passages/screens. This little 21.2CC rivals the old Troy-bilt 32 cc engine by a long shot.

Will running low throttle, with the right mix foul things up, or no problem?

Dave

 

[Deltona_Dave]

Kc,
I do run WOT during my runs, as I like to vary the speed, but with weekly trimming, it is not necessary all the time. Several times during the season, I pull the arrestor screen, but it is clear.

Dave

 

[kcfx4]

excessive oil in muffler causing screen to clog is still possible in time, next time you pull the screen, throw it in trash, no worries, other than that (oily muffler) i cannot see any issues not running wot all the time

 

[tig1]

I use Amsoil Saber oil and E 10 gas in my Echo weed wacker. I have had the machine for 10-12 years and it still runs great even on the original plug.

 

[kcfx4]

not bad mouthing asoil, nor reccomendation, but echo oil is more than sufficent, one of the better factory 2cycle oils out there imo

 

[Deltona_Dave]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
not bad mouthing asoil, nor reccomendation, but echo oil is more than sufficent, one of the better factory 2cycle oils out there imo


I have used Amsoil at 50:1, and it seems to work fine. I am not a big fan on 100: or even 80:1. I am an amsoil dealer.. The Echo oil came with it, and I have a source for no ethanol fuel.

My Q was, does running less than WOT hurt a well built 2T engine, or should I just run the darn thing WOT?

Dave

 

[wavinwayne]

FWIW...I have an Echo trimmer that I purchased in 2007. Like you, I sometimes run it at less than full throttle. I have always used Exxon 89 octane gas, and either Mobil 1 2T or Echo 2-cycle oil at the recommended dosage. This winter, I removed the spark arrestor screen, after finding it approx. 90% clogged with an oily "crud".

 

[kcfx4]

Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave

My Q was, does running less than WOT hurt a well built 2T engine, or should I just run the darn thing WOT?
Dave

geeze, ok, i thought i answered that, worse case an oily muffler/clogged screen

 

[hate2work]

I tell my customers not to do this, here's why. You have idle and mid-idle acceleration ports in the venturi of the carb that draw fuel as a vacuum is created when you open the throttle. If you run it partial throttle, you may be running it in a "flat spot" that is not supplying enough fuel, and it will run lean.

Truth be told, you may never have any problems by doing this, I just wanted to make you aware of what could happen.

 

[kcfx4]

good point hate2work (so do i! lol), but going from a tb to an echo is probably like adding a 4barrel @ WOT

 

[Deltona_Dave]

I agree on the power issue. This thing is like going from a 4 cylinder car to the same model with a v-8. I try to run WOT when I can, but it seem pointless to run WOT when light throttle will do the same job. I don't see any harm, except a clogged arrestor screen and excess smoke. I was just curious if 1/2 throttle will destroy the engine, but from what I gather, it may just gum up the exhaust.

Dave

 

[kcfx4]

Originally Posted By: Deltona_Dave
I agree on the power issue. This thing is like going from a 4 cylinder car to the same model with a v-8. I try to run WOT when I can, but it seem pointless to run WOT when light throttle will do the same job. I don't see any harm, except a clogged arrestor screen and excess smoke. I was just curious if 1/2 throttle will destroy the engine, but from what I gather, it may just gum up the exhaust.

Dave
no serious engine problems @ all @ less than wot, this post seems quite correct

 

[01rangerxl]

Originally Posted By: kcfx4
not bad mouthing asoil, nor reccomendation, but echo oil is more than sufficent, one of the better factory 2cycle oils out there imo


Echo oil is good stuff. We use it in all 2 cycles at work.

 

[kcfx4]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Originally Posted By: kcfx4
not bad mouthing asoil, nor reccomendation, but echo oil is more than sufficent, one of the better factory 2cycle oils out there imo


Echo oil is good stuff. We use it in all 2 cycles at work.

we did too, rather it was an OLD mchullogh requiring 16:1 or a lawnboy @ 32:1 or poulan @ 40:1, they all saw echo oil @ 50:1, and i see amsoil/other syns as a waste in the OPE section. PERIOD 2 or 4 stroke

 

[boraticus]

You won't hurt the engine running at less than wot. However, over time, you may build up carbon on the engine head and piston. Plug fouling may also occur with continued low rpm use.

I own a few vintage two cycle Yamaha bikes. If I were to run them at wot all the time, I'd be dead by now. Machines with variable throttle can be run at whatever speed is required to do the job. In the case of two cycle OPE engines, higher rpms when loading the engine is best. Look at chainsaws. They run at WOT because the load demands it. With a trimmer, the load may not be as demanding and rpms can be reduced but the engine should be run at higher speeds as much as possible just to keep the potential for carbon build up to a minimum.

I own a number of Echo products. They are excellent machines for the money.

New two cycle engines run pretty lean and newer oils don't produce as much carbon/residue as in the old days. If you keep revs somewhere in the mid to high range, you probably won't have any issues. Just make sure you keep the engine at a speed that will provide enough power to do the job.