Throttle Line Is Stuck in a Poulan Weedeater

Broken Throttle Spring

• Underneath the front handle sits the throttle trigger and throttle cable. Both of these parts connect together so the operator can accelerate the trimmer. When the operator lets go of the trigger, a spring on the other side of it pulls the trigger and throttle cable back in place. This spring can get damaged or over-stretched through normal wear and tear or can come off the underside of the trigger if it got bumped hard or awkwardly.

Broken Throttle Line

• The throttle line, or metal cable, runs from the trigger back to the throttle plate on the carburetor. On the trigger side, it attaches to the trigger via a locking screw; on the carburetor side, it attaches to the carburetor via a Z-fitting and a screw. If either of these screws comes loose or gets lost, the throttle cable will no longer stay connected and will get stuck either opened or closed. The Z-fitting on the carburetor side may also get bent or broken.

Broken Throttle Valve

• When the trigger gets squeezed, the throttle cable opens a small plate on the carburetor, allowing more gas to flood into the carburetor. This small plate attaches to the throttle cable's Z-fitting and opens and closes in response to the Z-fitting's movements. If the throttle valve gets stuck opened or close, the throttle cable will also get stuck. The throttle valve's plate can get damaged from debris flying up from the spinning head, or it can get stuck closed from rust or other foreign matter.

Making the Repairs

• The repairs to the Poulan Weed Eater's throttle cable can be made with a few common tools. A pair of needle-nose pliers will allow the operator to disconnect the throttle cable from the trigger and the Z-fitting, and a screwdriver will allow the operator to remove the trigger and the Z-fitting. After removing these parts, inspect them for damage, such as bent tips, and for rusting. If these parts get damaged in any way, they will need replacing to get the throttle line working again.