Trimmer Maintenance

[racer12306]

Broke the pull cord on my Troy Bilt trimmer today. In trying to get it apart to replace the pull cord assembly, I got it all the way down to the piston. Guessing that I would need to pry the clutch off to have a clue at getting it the rest of the way apart. Time to buy a new power head as I have a trimming head, edger, blower and brush cutting attachment and I don't want to buy all new of those.

I noticed one thing that had me a little puzzled. The piston had a good layer of carbon on it. The engine has a 2009 emissions sticker on it, so I bought it either beginning or late 09. It replaced a trimmer I was borrowing and can't remember that far back.

Didn't pay special attention to it, filled it up with at least 40:1 like it called for. Used a synthetic oil. Most of the time I was a little heavy on the oil but it never smoked really bad. I try to get it good and warm each time I use it, however for the most part it only has about 5-10 min of trimming to do. It's heavier use is when I'm edging.

I'd like to make this next trimmer last a while, assuming the cord stays together or at least when it does break I can replace it. Is this carbon something to worry about or is there something I can do to help prevent it?

 

[dwcopple]

run tc-w3?

 

[Warlord]

Do you hold it wide open or bog it?

 

[ddtmoto]

Run a good syn 2 smoker oil at the correct ratio... Like redline

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: dwcopple
run tc-w3?


tcw3 is for watercooled.

TC is for air cooled.

 

[Spazdog]

SeaFoam.

I used SeaFoam religiously in my Homelite junker and even though the carburetor was garbage (new carb is within $20.00 of a complete new unit) the piston top was nice and silver. The Troy-Bilt that replaced it is about as old as yours. All I've ever done is change the plug and clean the air filter (and tighten the carb mounting screws a time or two) Last time I changed the plug, there were a few spots on the piston top but no significant buildup.

But since SeaFoam's price shot up from $2.99 a can to $9.99 a can, I've been dosing with MMO. Doesn't seem to dilute the 2-cycle oil's lubrication. Still runs good....well, as good as a 4 year old MTD can run.

 

[tom slick]

How much carbon was in the exhaust port? Did the spark plug ever foul due to carbon?

 

[123Saab]

Im with the Seafoam rec. NEVER TCW3.

Preferrably Non ethanol gas thru the season or Premixed Like TruFuel etc.

 

[asand1]

Originally Posted By: racer12306
Broke the pull cord on my Troy Bilt trimmer today. In trying to get it apart to replace the pull cord assembly, I got it all the way down to the piston. Guessing that I would need to pry the clutch off to have a clue at getting it the rest of the way apart.

Clutches come off pretty easy. Takes along skinny screwdriver, Torx or flat, to remove the bell, and then the clutch shoe assembly just unscrews from the shaft.

 

[racer12306]

Originally Posted By: Warlord
Do you hold it wide open or bog it?


Since it's clutched, I generally ran it wide open to prevent slipping the clutch too much. My old trimmer could idle my whole yard since it didn't have a clutch, and it had a bigger engine.

Originally Posted By: ddtmoto
Run a good syn 2 smoker oil at the correct ratio... Like redline


I'll look into good oils for the next fill. I needed a trimmer yesterday, so I just filled a gallon and mixed in the bottle that came with the power head. This one is 50:1.

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
SeaFoam.

I used SeaFoam religiously in my Homelite junker and even though the carburetor was garbage (new carb is within $20.00 of a complete new unit) the piston top was nice and silver. The Troy-Bilt that replaced it is about as old as yours. All I've ever done is change the plug and clean the air filter (and tighten the carb mounting screws a time or two) Last time I changed the plug, there were a few spots on the piston top but no significant buildup.

But since SeaFoam's price shot up from $2.99 a can to $9.99 a can, I've been dosing with MMO. Doesn't seem to dilute the 2-cycle oil's lubrication. Still runs good....well, as good as a 4 year old MTD can run.


As in you add it right into the gas or shoot some in the carb every now and again.

Originally Posted By: tom slick
How much carbon was in the exhaust port? Did the spark plug ever foul due to carbon?


I'll have to take some good pictures to post next weekend. It's still completely disassembled in my shed. Never had an issue with it in the time I used it. Mowing season kind of snuck up on me this year so this was the only year that I didn't change the plug before use.

Originally Posted By: 123Saab
Im with the Seafoam rec. NEVER TCW3.

Preferrably Non ethanol gas thru the season or Premixed Like TruFuel etc.


I don't think there are any non ethanol stations around here. That TruFuel looks a little too pricey.

Originally Posted By: asand1
Clutches come off pretty easy. Takes along skinny screwdriver, Torx or flat, to remove the bell, and then the clutch shoe assembly just unscrews from the shaft.


Live and learn I guess. Bought a new Toro power head that uses all of my attachments for $110. After just one use, I like it more than the Troy Bilt. The vibration difference is very noticeable since the Toro has a full crank. Much smoother engine too.

 

[Spazdog]

I think 2oz SeaFoam per gallon pre-mix is recommended.

I think I gave the carb a shot of DeepCreep a time or two but not regularly.

When it was cheap, I used it in all my OPE.

MMO seems to be working pretty well -- at least as a stabilizer. I cranked up my ChinaChampion GenSet with gas that I don't really remember when I put it in. Cranked first pull. Ran it for about an hour while I mowed to burn some of it off and then used it to run the old leaf vac for another 15 minutes. I don't know if it is keeping the internals as carbon free as the SeaFoam but that gas is at least 8 months old and it ran without a hiccup.

 

[bvance554]

Its their nature to carbon up like that. Its a good idea to clean out the muffler/spark arrestor now and then, but as for the piston its supposed to be black.

 

[racer12306]

Thanks for the info.

I took a picture of the piston over the weekend. Uploading it to Photobucket now.

 

[racer12306]