*sigh* just use starting fluid, thats what its for.
The main thing thats the most neglected with all small motors is the magnet attached to the pully assembly, it needs to be sanded down and properly adjusted. usually the distance is a piece of paper folded in half stuck inbetween the 2 magnets and theres your distance.
or just use some starting fluid. if it doesnt fire under ether, then you know you have problems that need investigatin
You should NOT try to start a 2-stroke engine with starting fluid. That oil you add to your gasoline is the stuff that lubricates the engine. By running it with starter fluid you're running your engine without lubrication.
That said, for the OP's situation. If it ran a week ago and won't start now, the problem could be as simple as a chunk of gunk lodged in the carburetor. To do it right, you need to disassemble the carb, soak the parts in carb cleaner (careful, it's nasty stuff), clean the residue with brake cleaner, then reassemble. Don't let the carb cleaner touch the gaskets. I will say, though, that you might as well "rebuild" the carb while you have it apart. That will replace all of your gaskets, maybe a needle and float, and possibly a spring, depending on your carb design. I think the kit for my ice auger was $30. The one for my boat motor was a little more.
It's not too difficult to rebuild a carburetor. Just take it slow, take pictures, and make sure you don't have any parts left over at the end.
Some tricks for 2-stroke engines and their mixed gasoline (maybe for yard tools in general):
- NEVER use ethanol in them. Ethanol has a pretty limited shelf life, which can be especially problematic given the relatively limited use of our 2-stroke engines. Around here the only gas I can get without ethanol is 92 octane, so that's what I use.
- ALWAYS use a fuel stabilizer in the gas can. It gets limited use and just sits in the garage.
- Winterize/summerize your engines. When the season for that tool has ended, top it off with mixed ETHANOL-FREE, stabilized gasoline. Pull the spark plug(s) and spray some WD-40 or "fogging lube" in the cylinder. Pull the starter a few times. Replace the plug and put it on the shelf until next year. I generally put a new plug in the motor at the beginning of the season. It's cheap peace of mind, but probably not necessary.
- Use a "one mix" 2-stroke oil. This solves the problem of having a gas can for each tool because of the different mix ratios necessary. Opti-2 and Tanaka Perfect Mix are two examples of these oils.
A little bit of time and care for your 2-stroke engine will ease your frustration and probably give you a tool that you can hand down to your kids.
My boat motor is 23 years old. When I bought it three seasons ago I rebuilt the carb, replaced the plugs, and adjusted the timing. It still runs as well as I imagine it did from the factory. I think my ice auger is going on about 30 years old and still starts and runs like new with a rebuilt carb and fresh plugs. In my opinion you can't beat the 2-strokes for their torque, durability, and ease of maintenance.
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