Ok let me start first by saying I bought a PB-250 Echo Blower, and a SRM225 Straight pole trimmer when we bought the house. I think I bought them Aug 2010. They seemed to run fine. I winterized them for storage just like the manual stated. I use the trimmer a few times it seemed to run just like new. Then all of a sudden it wouldnt stay running for anything. I changed out filters/plug still not. So I returned it. They gave me a new one. Then I had the same issue with the blower. I did the same thing changed everything it would run fine at full speed but as soon as I let off the trigger it would instantly die. So I took it back and the guy thats good with small engines at HD looked at it and said maybe they had a bad batch of carbs out of sync or something of that nature. He remembered me returning the trimmer and said take a new blower in exchange for old one.

Well the trimmer was acting a little sketchy so I went up to the local echo/trimmer dealer. I told him the issues I was having he stated it was probably due to bad gas. So he sold me some premixed fuel in a quart can that has no ethanol in it. He said to drain them and put this gas in and run and if its gas it would run fine. If not its something more. I did that and still ran like crap. So I changed the plugs/air/fuel filters again and still ran like crap. The trimmer ran a little better and wouldnt die but seemed short on power. But the blower again wouldnt run for anything. Kept dying. Seems like it would run fine at full speed but had loss of power and as soon as I let off it would die instantly.

So since the trimmer seemed a little Ok I took the blower back and HD again exchanged it for me. This is getting really old. I've been doing everything it says as far as storage etc. and still have no luck. What could the problems be.

simpson wrote:Im not sure with out looking at it. Silly question are you priming the gas first before you start? Also your not leaving it on cold start are you?

I have to start mine and let them warm up first for a few mins before they work fine. I have the echo blower and string trimmer as well

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Yes, I prime it few times till I see gas coming up through the tube which is like 2-4 pushes says 3 on it.

No not leaving it on cold start. On the blower just to get it running I have to keep feathering the Cold start/Run just to keep it running till it will run full power. Then again when and as soon as I let off the gas it dies.

Yea normally once they are running I will run it full power for 2 or so minutes and let it idle for couple minutes to get it warmed up before use and after using them for a long period I'll let it idle for a minute or two, to cool down a little before just turning it off right away.

I know u used his gas, for the trimmer sounds like dirt in the carb, 2 mixture screws if I recall correctly, idle and throttled up, dirt in the idle passage could be an issue. You can change fuel but if the dirt is in the carb. it's not going any where most likely even if you drain and re fill the tank.

I'm thinking the same thing as Bavaria. Could be a clog in the fuel line.

I know I had a similar problem with my Regent earlier this Spring. Somehow a clog developed in my fuel line. Once I blew it out, it ran like a champ once again.

Try a bit of Seafoam in both. I have the same blower and trimmer as you and mine run like new. I've had them since early 2010. I mix in a bit of seafoam with my fuel mix, and they both run perfectly. I also add a bit to my tractor's gas. They all seem to idle better with it mixed in. My dealer swears that the Ethanol based gas is horrible on small engines. I have purchased Stabil, Seafoam, and a blue ethanol fuel stabilizer (sorry, I forgot the name). I generally use the blue stuff and the Seafoam in my blower and trimmer because the fuel mix sits for so long. Seafoam does the job in my tractor, until the winter, and then I go with a blend of Seafoam/blue stuff. I don't know if this will help, but it's worth a try.

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I too had problems with my Echo trimmer. It would idle, but as soon as throttle opened, it died. I took it to the Echo repair shop. They informed me that 80% of these come in with that type of problem due to the ethanol in gas. I was told to use gas with no ethanol, or buy their additive. They claimed the ethanol ate the gaskets, etc. I don't know about all of that, but I bought non-ethanol gas and it is running good now.

It wouldn't surprise me eating gaskets I personally have seen BMW headgaskets blown in M30 and M44 engines which I almost never use to see unless overheat or 250,000 300,000 miles. Gaskets have got better over the years. The M30 engine dates back to the late 60's design. Also fuel pump failures.

FWIW, I ended up using the VP racing gas for small engines black can, yellow lettering its the premixed. the trimmer seemed to run fine after running 1/4 tank through it I still had issues with the blower. I took it back and they exchanged it for me this is the 3rd time exchanging it. I finally said I'm just going to use this premixed quart cans from here on out. I dont use each of them enough for it to be terribly expensive but I'm tired of having issues. So we'll see come next year if I still experience the same problems after using this recommended gas