What to Do When a Weed Eater Will Not Work on Full Throttle

Heat and Exhaust Issues

• At full throttle, your Weed Eater engine produces a lot of heat. This heat can cause metal engine components to expand, leading to potential fastener problems or even cracks in the engine housing, which may be causing sudden stalls and failures. Check the bolts throughout your engine and retighten as necessary. If there is frequent popping from the exhaust port, you may need to replace your exhaust valve as well. One way to diagnose heat-related problems is to give the Weed Eater a rest and see if the engine starts working again once it has cooled down.

Stuck Throttle

• Shut down the engine and examine your throttle carefully for signs of damage or blockages. If the throttle is not opening all the way, it could be locked or the locking mechanism could be jammed. To prevent this from happening, thoroughly clean the throttle area and replace or loosen the lock if necessary. Debris can get trapped in the throttle and potentially jam it, so always keep the throttle clean and wipe your starter components down after each use.

Air Issues

• The problem may not be the throttle at all. If you have never replaced your fuel filter, the fuel may be backed up or too dirty to operate correctly. Likewise, if you have not taken out and cleaned your air filter device yet, the air may not be flowing correctly to create the necessary air/fuel mixture that the engine needs. Wipe down the air cleaner with warm, soapy water to remove dust and dirt, then try to use your Weed Eater again.

Fuel Issues

• Weed Eaters use two-cycle engines that need a mix of gas and oil. The wrong type of fuel can keep the engine from working correctly. Your Weed Eater should give other clues that is has a poor fuel mixture, such hard starting or rough running. Likewise, a bad spark plug will keep the engine from running no matter what position the throttle is in. You may need to clean, adjust or replace the spark plug to make it work. If this fails, your problem could be another part of the ignition sequence that requires a closer, professional look.