Craftsman Leaf Blower, no start

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I couldn't find a more appropriate place to post this.

History: Started and ran several times this spring already. Fresh gas to start the year. It usually started in 2-3 pulls and once started, I would need to keep reving it to keep it going. If I let it idle, it would die and if I just floored the throttle it would die. It took a long time (longer than I remember previously) to get to a point that it would run at either full throttle or at idle without dying. Also, it seemed to have just a little less power than before but I may have been imagining this. Anyway, I have used it several times this spring as I said with not much trouble starting it. Starting in early April, I used it to clear all the sand off the road in front of our house after the snow plows load it up over the winter. That was a good hour of running time. Then I have used it to blow leaves from around the house. A good half hour straight. Then a few times to clean drive and deck after mowing the lawn for just 5 or 10 minutes each time (3 or 4 times). Today, I wanted to blow some leaves that had collected under a trailer and it tried to start on the second pull but died. Subsequent pulls showed no sign of life. I let it set for an hour in the shade and tried again, nothing. I tried several hours later and nothing. I pulled the plug and plenty of gas on it. The plug looks good. I tested for spark and have good blue spark. I pulled the plastic side plate off and the back piece covering the air filter. I cleaned the air filter and put it back in and tried to start it, but nothing. I have got rid of the gas, emptied the gas tank and refilled with fresh 40:1 premium (no ethanol) gas. Still no love.
You guys helped me out a week ago on my Craftsman push mower but now that I have that running, the leaf blower is giving me fits. Craftsman is making my life difficult this Summer.
If anyone has any other suggestions, let me know. Easy and cheap fixes first please. Oh, when I pulled off the plastic side plate, this part was full of nasty oily gunk as shown in the photo. I don't think it would cause the problems I am having, but maybe it is a symptom. It is called the "Crankcase Plug Assembly".

Here is the data plate on the blower:

Here is the shroud that I removed from the side of the blower:

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Comments (8)

dchall_san_antonio
10 years ago
Did you post it in the Lawn Mower forum?
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
I did not find a "Lawn Mower" forum. Lawn Care was the best I could find.
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User
10 years ago

Click on the GREEN words "Lawn Mower" in the post above. You could also try the Tool Shed forum
PSU4ME
10 years ago
I agree that you'll be better off in the other forum (more mechanical experts there) but if I had to take a stab I'd check the metering diaphragm in the carb. Easy enough to replace if needed but be sure to compare the cost of a new carb too. Sometimes they can be surprisingly cheap
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
I agree as well, I am currently working on a possible fix and I just need one head bolt from searspartsdirect.com to test it out. It should be here next week. If I am still having issues, I will repost in the lawn mower forum. Thanks all for the suggestions and links. Thanks.

So, please consider this thread "DEAD".
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
Just wanted to followup with an update. I received the new head bolt this afternoon, got it installed and after some aggravation got the thing started and purring like a loud kitten. After everything, I am going to put the ultimate blame on bad gas as the reason for the blower not starting to begin with. I suppose it could have something to do with me disassembling it and messing with it, but I think, in the end, it was me replacing the gas that was in it that got it running again. In the mean time, I learned a bit more about leaf blowers and how they work. The biggest thing I learned however is that they are a PITA to work on.
PSU4ME
10 years ago
Good for you. I just replaced the diaphragm on my weed trimmer after only 1 use and it sitting the winter. Bad gas ate it up. Runs great and I bought a case of trufuel! No more regular gas
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
I always buy Premium gas with no ethanol. It could be that gas that was in there was still from the Winter blend gas they use up north here in the winter. I have heard that small engines don't do so well with it. But it wasn't like it was from last year. It was probably purchased in April or maybe even May.

I have a homelite weed eater that works, but it won't run with the choke in the Run, or "A" position. I have to keep it in the "B" position. There is also a "C" position but that is for starting. It runs OK , but I can't get it to idle and I have to keep reving it to keep it going. I took it to a small engine repair shop but he told me it costs about $20 for homelite weed eater diaphrams and for him to repair it would be a $50 total bill. He suggested I just use it as is and replace it when it dies. That is what I have done for two years now. I don't use it all that much. I should check online to see if I can find a diaphram for less. I am sure a weed eater won't be any harder to work on than a leaf blower.......YAH, RIGHT.