Homelite Weedeater model UT20002A Engine starts but .........

10 years ago

OK, I have a Homelite weedeater. I purchased it an auction about 4 years ago. It has never run right since I got it but I can start it and it will run on half choke and high throttle.

Trouble shooting in the manual says:

Engine starts but will only run at high speed at half choke: SOLUTION: Carb requires adjustment-Contact a servicing dealer.

OK, contacting a servicing dealer will cost me more than the thing is worth. I am convinced after searching the net, that it is a carb adjustment problem. Well, it seems to me that the damn carb isn't adjustable and that is probably why they say take it do dealer. Here is a photo of the "Non-adjustable" screws:

The above picture shows the ajdusters from below. It looks like that white shroud holds the red and white plastic "adjusting screws" in place. I am thinking that if I remove them, there might be regular adjusting screws underneath. At this point, I really don't care if there is not and if I jack it all up, no big deal. I either order a replacement carb off ebay for sub $10 or pitch the damn thing.

From what I understand, these carb adjusting deals were a design by Homelite to conform with some stupid EPA regulation. I am so sick of the EPA costing this country and it's citizens billions if not trillions of dollars a year. I really don't think my little weedeater that gets about 22 hours of use a year is going to cause any global warming, or is it cooling, or is it climate change? The only thing it causes is me a headache and another trip to Homedepot $100 lighter in the bank account.

So, what does everyone think? Am I off base here with my diagnosis of a needed adjustment to the carb? If so, where else should I look?

If so, do I pry off the shroud and see if there are actually normal adjustable screws under there? Should I just get a new carb? Or, should I make that pilgrimage to Homedepot?

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Comments (5)

esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
OK folks,

I was out there checking it out again and I got pissed and just ripped the plastic adjusters off. Guess what, there are adjusting screws under there. And guess what, they are steel. And guess what, if you turn them both all the way clockwise and then back each one off 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 turns and then start the damn thing. It will run perfect. It will start, it will continue to run, it will idle just fine and it will rev just fine and it will stay running. Just like it is supposed to. So, basically, you have to break it to fix it.
exmar zone 7, SE Ohio
10 years ago
You were fortunate that it's an older one and had the orfice screws "camoflauged." The newer ones don't have screws, just tiny machined orifices that love to get plugged up with crud due to the ethanol gas we have to buy. With those, it's disassemble, soak in Carb cleaner overnight. clear orifice with fine wire and air. PITA.
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esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
Yah, I guess so. What is the purpose of making the damn carb unadjustable? Is it really in response to EPA regulations?

I buy 91 octane gas for all my small motors. It has NO Ethanol in it. I don't seem to have problems with carbs fowling up. I know that in some places, it is hard to find no Ethanol gas. It is readily available around me, but you have to buy it in Premium 91 octane which is fine with me. For the little gas I go through in lawn mowers, weed eaters, leaf blowers, snow blowers and the like, I don't mind paying an extra 60 to 80 cents a gallon. And the small motors seem to do well with the higher octane gas.
exmar zone 7, SE Ohio
10 years ago
As I understand it, in the "bad old days" when we actually had screws to adjust BAD people would adjust them so the engines ran properly. This "tinkering" with small engines caused totally awful, terrible, amounts of bad stuff into the atmosphere. MUCH better to replace every year or two, no environment or atmospheric impact through the manufacturing process of rapid replacement though......:-)
esox07 (4b) Wisconsin
Original Author
10 years ago
Disposable weedeaters?

I guess they don't care they are going into land fills. I will let them hug the trees while I cut them down with my maladjusted carbureted smoke spewing chain saw. And then if they are kind enough to move their feet, I will trim around them with my resuscitated self tuned weed eater.