Help Me Start My Stihl Backpack Blower Please - Lawn Care Forum

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Steve-1

So I'm all ready to start my business, all I needed was a blower. Ace Hardware had an old backpack blower, the salesman said it was like the 430, its got the square body. They are an authorized dealer/repair center and the one I bought the owner never came back to get it. They put a new plug, air filter, and carburetor. The salesman knew I was coming to pick it up cause he called me about it. I get there, it cranks right up. We start it a second time and it cranks up. I get home and it cranks up. I wanted to show my wife about an hour later the power the thing has and it wouldn't start. This is my first one so to make sure I have everything correct, the switch on the handle has to be in the up position, the lever on the handle should be mid setting, and just pull the cord, right? When I called the salesman later I had told him I had the choke on cause it was a cold start. He said no its not cold start cause we had it running (but that was 2 or 3 hours earlier) and he said I probably flooded it. Note, I did have it on my trailer leaning up against the gate, but the weight of the gate makes the trailer tilt upwards so you can say my blower was sitting about a 45 degree angle. Could this have caused an issue? #1 · Jul 6, 2016 So I'm all ready to start my business, all I needed was a blower. Ace Hardware had an old backpack blower, the salesman said it was like the 430, its got the square body. They are an authorized dealer/repair center and the one I bought the owner never came back to get it. They put a new plug, air filter, and carburetor. The salesman knew I was coming to pick it up cause he called me about it. I get there, it cranks right up. We start it a second time and it cranks up. I get home and it cranks up. I wanted to show my wife about an hour later the power the thing has and it wouldn't start. This is my first one so to make sure I have everything correct, the switch on the handle has to be in the up position, the lever on the handle should be mid setting, and just pull the cord, right? When I called the salesman later I had told him I had the choke on cause it was a cold start. He said no its not cold start cause we had it running (but that was 2 or 3 hours earlier) and he said I probably flooded it. Note, I did have it on my trailer leaning up against the gate, but the weight of the gate makes the trailer tilt upwards so you can say my blower was sitting about a 45 degree angle. Could this have caused an issue? See less See more Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · Jul 6, 2016 Sthil blowers flood easy if you dont know what your doing. Pull plug when you do flood pull cord clear cylinder and blow off plug. When you crank it as soon as it hits on choke take choke off. Usually cranks next pull. Get it cranked so you can show your wife how strong it blows. #3 · Jul 6, 2016 As was mentioned they flood easily.While clearing it out, ya wanna make sure the throttle is wide open. Make sure the kill switch is off. I usually use a blowgun in the plug hole while cranking it over. When it stops spittin' gas,( It may take a while) Put the plug in, etc. I usually try to start em w/o using the choke first, and the throttle on idle, or just a tad above idle. Get ya an owners manual here: http://www.stihlusa.com/manuals/instruction-manuals/#blowers-shredder-vac #6 · Jul 6, 2016

BigFish said: http://www.stihlusa.com/manuals/instruction-manuals/#blowers-shredder-vac Click to expand...

Thank you! 0 Reply #4 · Jul 6, 2016 Thank you guys. I took the plug out and some fuel did spit out. I tried cranking and it almost started. Can I leave the plug out over night or just keep cranking without the plug? #5 · Jul 6, 2016 Once cylinder and plug is cleared crank it. This is something that when you get to know what your doing takes about 2 mins from flooding to getting back cranked. I have had to do it before on lawns. #7 · Jul 6, 2016 i got it to start! Thanks #8 · Jul 6, 2016 (Edited) I had one of these once and I swear it had a primer bulb, but maybe I'm not remembering right. I had nothing but trouble with the throttle handle. The kill switch wouldn't engage. #9 · Jul 6, 2016 Do yerself a favor: unscrew the muffler spark arrestor and twist/cut/remove the screen, clean the fitting bore then screw the fitting back in They clog on ya. They can be cleaned but most commercial guys just remove em. Don't go ape**** with the oil. 50:1 is all ya need, no " extra shot of oil 'cause a taste xtra wont hurt" #10 · Jul 6, 2016 You mean a BR-420, or maybe 420C? Those are a bit tricky, they are true two strokes and have no primer bulbs. Parts are still available new and aren't too bad. They might not be the strongest machines, (518CFM AT 172MPH) but great machines that last forever! I recommend ear plugs if using it frequently as it is loud 74dB(A). Here is a direct link to the manual: http://www.stihlusa.com/WebContent/CMSFileLibrary/instructionmanuals/BR340_420_Manual.pdf I use one of these daily, How I do it: When cold starting: Make sure the on off switch on the handle is in the up position, set the throttle to half way, turn the choke on. Pull once, then return choke to open, pull again and it should start. Never pull more than twice in the choked position, it will make a burp sound when its ready to fire. Warm starting: Make sure the on off switch is in the up position (I have forgotten this and flooded mine before, its easy to forget when your hot and tired) & the throttle is half way or a little better, no need to choke, should crank with 2-3 pulls. As big fish says see if there is a screen on the end of the muffler, it will be held on with a wire clip. It may be long gone, but if not you can easily pull it off and discard or clean. Also lay the blower down and look at the bottom of the frame, there may be a wrench and screw driver still attached as these machines were designed to carry those and came with them. Most are long gone, but if it belonged to a homeowner they could still be there. I keep a wrench and screwdriver stored in mine to this day. It will take a few times but you will get used to it and what the burp sounds like. Good luck on the new blower, I hope it serves you well. #11 · Jul 6, 2016 Its definitely a 420. No tools underneath and no screen either. Got up this morning and it cranked on first pull. Got to my job site and cranked on first pull. This thing definitely moves the grass. Im used to an electric blower but never anymore! Insert Quotes Post Reply

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