I just purchased a new stihl sh 56 ce blower/shredder vac this past weekend. I started off using it to blow all my leaves into a few piles, and then used it to vac everything up. Till all was said and done, I ran 2 tanks of premix through it. My issue is, during the first tank and a half, it would bog down, almost to the point of stalling if I mashed the throttle wide open, and ran rough at part throttle. I had to either ease into it, or blip it a few times to wind it up, then I could go full throttle. I thought I bought a dud, but then thought, maybe I should give the engine to break in and loosen up. salesmaned up vacuuming leaves, then switched back to blower mode to blow my porch off. This is when I noticed that it was running better. This was close to the end of the second tank. The boggy throttle had all but disappeared, only bogs down for a split second if I mash it, and it was running much smoother at part throttle. It's not 100% yet, but much better, and does seem to have loosened up some. Do you guys think it's just a matter of breaking it in fully, or should I take it back to the dealer to have the carb adjusted? The first tank was gas that the dealer put in it when I bought it. They took it out in the shop and made sure it started OK while the salesman rang me up. Don't know how old the gas was they put in it, but it was still acting up after I filled it the second time with my stuff. I bought a six pack of the stihl ultra oil and mixed a bottle of it with a gallon of ethanol free 89 octane, which the manual calls for. Would have preferred 93, but the only station anywhere around me that sells pure gas only has it in 87 and 89 octane.
Performance issues with my stihl blower/vac
- Thread starter afoulk
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I'd say run another tank through it and take it back to the dealer for a little tuneup.
That's why you paid the big bucks for a Stihl - service after the sale.
That's why you paid the big bucks for a Stihl - service after the sale.
That's what I'm hoping. Can't really complain about the price. $232 for the whole thing plus the 6 pac of oil and a fan end for the blower tube. The comparable echo es 250 was another $25. I really wanted the sh 86 ce, but I couldn't see spending another $90 just for the anti vibration system, slightly better air flow/ speed specs, cruise control, and washable air filter. Mine is well balance, gets the job done, and has next to no vibration. Can't say I really miss having the cruise control anyways.
I think the dealer had left old gas in it.
While engines do break-in, they run fine during break-in. I think the old gas is being cleaned up by your new gas.
While engines do break-in, they run fine during break-in. I think the old gas is being cleaned up by your new gas.
It didn't have any gas in it till I bought it and they filled it to run it before I took it home. I bought the one they had on display out on the floor.
Originally Posted By: afoulk
It didn't have any gas in it till I bought it and they filled it to run it before I took it home. I bought the one they had on display out on the floor.
I use to work in the rental department of our local fleet/farm that was a stihl dealer. The shop filled units when sold with the same 89 E10 in our rental tank and sometimes it was upwards of 2-3 months old (Tank usually got refilled every 3 months or so)
Old gas is my guess.
It didn't have any gas in it till I bought it and they filled it to run it before I took it home. I bought the one they had on display out on the floor.
I use to work in the rental department of our local fleet/farm that was a stihl dealer. The shop filled units when sold with the same 89 E10 in our rental tank and sometimes it was upwards of 2-3 months old (Tank usually got refilled every 3 months or so)
Old gas is my guess.
OK, makes sense. I wondered that, but thought it would have cleared up with the second tank, but I didn't run the first one bone dry either. I'm sure they're not going through a whole lot of premix this time of year, so probably is old
I bought 2 new ones just like yours and mine did the same . and yes after break in of about 5 tanks they run awesome ,even getting easer to pull the rope to start , big difference
My new Echo blower, (which I highly recommend) took a tank or two full of gas to get up to full power and run as it should. When I first got it, it seemed to run a bit weak, but now it's a beast, after only a couple tanks of gas. I would imagine a lot of the new ones have much carb adjustment, thanks to our "genius" government. A lot of the new carbs are sealed and only allow idle adjustment.
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I think I'm gonna drop it off with the dealer tomorrow morning on my way to work. Ran it completely dry tonight, then refilled with my premix again. Don't know why, but tonight, as I was running it to run it dry, it was running poorly again, bogging down when mashing the throttle, and running ruff at part throttle. Did the same after refilling it. Odd part is, when I hold it sideways, as if I was using it to vac leaves, it seems to run fine. With tank dry, I looked inside, and the filter is where it should be, and the hose doesn't appear to be kinked or anything.
Grrrrrrrr...took it to the dealer this morning on my way to work. They called me later to say it was fixed, they took the carb off and cleaned it, must have had some dirt in it. Covered under warranty. Picked it up at lunch and wound up having just enough time to run it before I punched back in. Still does the same thing. In fact it's worse now. It used to run fine at full throttle. Now it runs fine, then starts to break up and lose power, then it clears up, and it just goes back n forth like that. Dropping it off on my way home again. Beginning to wonder if I should have went with an echo. The stihl had tons of great reviews, but also some bad ones concerning it running like this. I chalked it up to people running lousy gas in them, but maybe there's something to their complaints.
Are your ambiant temperatures cool these days (very likely since it's late fall / early december)
The dealer is perhaps fine tuning your blower that has been sitting inside their warm workshop for a few hours.
Get them to leave it outside, start it up cold and tune it in the actual temps it will be operated in.
I find my Stihl blower a little finicky on fuel level,
anything less than 1/3 tankful and it tends to cut out if operated at steep angles.
The dealer is perhaps fine tuning your blower that has been sitting inside their warm workshop for a few hours.
Get them to leave it outside, start it up cold and tune it in the actual temps it will be operated in.
I find my Stihl blower a little finicky on fuel level,
anything less than 1/3 tankful and it tends to cut out if operated at steep angles.
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Today was unseasonably warm, mid 50's today, so probably not a whole lot of difference in temp with their shop. Guess I got lucky with the pick up on mine, I ran that thing almost bone dry last night and it only sputtered once. I did some research on Google, couldn't find muCH on my model, but quite a few discussions on the carb on the 86, which as far as I can tell is the same engine and power output, just a bigger air filter and has the cruise control. Sounds like these zama carbs are junk and really hard to tune. I hope they can straighten this out because I really like the blower
Why was there any dirt in the carb to start?
I would take it back and tell them you need to be using it not bringing it in for service. I would tell them either replace the carb or new machine or refund.
Warranty is for when a working machine breaks. This was never a working machine.
I would take it back and tell them you need to be using it not bringing it in for service. I would tell them either replace the carb or new machine or refund.
Warranty is for when a working machine breaks. This was never a working machine.
Originally Posted By: Rand
Have them put it back on display and put the money towards a "new" echo maybe.
This may be the route I'm taking if they can't get it right this time. From everything I've read so far, these newer zama carbs are junk and a pain to get adjusted right.
Have them put it back on display and put the money towards a "new" echo maybe.
This may be the route I'm taking if they can't get it right this time. From everything I've read so far, these newer zama carbs are junk and a pain to get adjusted right.
Originally Posted By: Donald
Why was there any dirt in the carb to start?
I would take it back and tell them you need to be using it not bringing it in for service. I would tell them either replace the carb or new machine or refund.
Warranty is for when a working machine breaks. This was never a working machine.
I wondered that too. Obviously that wasn't the problem as it still has the same problem.
Why was there any dirt in the carb to start?
I would take it back and tell them you need to be using it not bringing it in for service. I would tell them either replace the carb or new machine or refund.
Warranty is for when a working machine breaks. This was never a working machine.
I wondered that too. Obviously that wasn't the problem as it still has the same problem.
Originally Posted By: Mr_Joe
That's crazy with new Stihl. If they can't get it right I'd at least look to a trade with a working model.
It almost sounds like a plugged Spark arrestor, but shouldn't be an issue with a new machine.
It thought the same there as well. Dropped it off thursday evening on my way home from work and was told they probably wouldn't get to it till friday afternoon, and I said that was no problem, but were almost at the end of the working day today, and I still havn't heard anything from them. This is my first time buying new yard equipment from a dealer, so I'm not sure what the proper edicate is there. I know anytime I've took a new vehicle in for work, I expect to atleast be updated if its going to be longer than a day. Last of my leaves finished falling this weekend, so I'm really itching to get it back so I can get the last of them cleaned up before we start getting snow.
That's crazy with new Stihl. If they can't get it right I'd at least look to a trade with a working model.
It almost sounds like a plugged Spark arrestor, but shouldn't be an issue with a new machine.
It thought the same there as well. Dropped it off thursday evening on my way home from work and was told they probably wouldn't get to it till friday afternoon, and I said that was no problem, but were almost at the end of the working day today, and I still havn't heard anything from them. This is my first time buying new yard equipment from a dealer, so I'm not sure what the proper edicate is there. I know anytime I've took a new vehicle in for work, I expect to atleast be updated if its going to be longer than a day. Last of my leaves finished falling this weekend, so I'm really itching to get it back so I can get the last of them cleaned up before we start getting snow.
My "guess". It needs a new carb. They are diaphragm type carbs, with integral fuel pumps. If the pump is not working well, the pressure will be low, and the engine will act up.
I think all of these tiny engines use the same style carb. So your chances of problems are similar, regardless of brand.
I have 2 Stihl 86 blowers (same engine I believe) . Both run well.
I think all of these tiny engines use the same style carb. So your chances of problems are similar, regardless of brand.
I have 2 Stihl 86 blowers (same engine I believe) . Both run well.
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