Blower needs something, but what?

[Walter R.]

I have been using my Sears gas blower for about 10 years. It's the kind you carry in one hand. It's been working fine, except lately it stutters and stalls when I take the blower out of the horizontal plane and tilt it, especially when I try to blow the cobwebs from the patio ceiling.

Any clue what might cause this problem?

Could it be gummed up gasoline? The blower sits unused for several months at a time, although I use the gasoline additive to prevent gumming. If so, is there a solvent that will clean the gummed up parts?

Thanks for any help. I would hate to take this thing apart.

[ransley]

probably some dirt in the carb and you have to take it apart.

[Oren]

Check the gas cap... *noting venting*? Clear vent and try again.

[Don Young]

All-position gasoline systems use a small hose with a heavy strainer on the end in the tank so they can feed sideways or up-side down. If the hose is broken or has a crack that could cause your problem. Also check if there is a little vent valve in the cap that may be sticking shut.

Don Young

[Stormin Mormon]

I've had those hose, weight, and strainer rigs break off. To pull the hose out, requires a bent wire, kind of J shaped. To replace a broken off one, takes some really creative thinking.

[Don Young]

Since the hose OD fits tightly in the tank hole, I use a razor knife to taper the end. I feed a thin stiff wire into the exit hole and out the filler hole, slide the hose on the wire at the filler hole, and work it back into the tank and out the exit hole. I then grasp the tapered end, pull the wire out, and stretch the hose to feed it on through and out. Trim the ends, attach the strainer, connect to carburetor and you're done. There are at least two different hose sizes and I get the correct hose from a small engine shop.

Don Young

[jimmyDahGeek]

WoW you're lucky, I had 4 of these from Sears bought one, the other three were all warranty replacement. Mine had major carburetor issues. Two of them the carb feel right off. The bolts that held them on broke right off. I never got one to last more than two years. If you've had it 10 years I would suggest you've gotten your moneys worth out of it. Junk it and go out and buy a Stihl blower. I've never had an issue with my Stihl blower. It should last you 25 years.