4 cycle craftmen trimmer shuts down

Have a craftsmen 4 cycle 29cc trimmer. It shuts down or runs really rough when i trottle. Is it bad gas, or is it something else.

 

Stupid stuff first-Is the tank full?
Was the trimmer left sitting without running for an extended period of time?
Any leaks or visible clogs?
When was the last time it was serviced??

 

Gas tank was full.
Trimmer has been used 2 times a month since purchased in 2008.
Nothing visible. Did notice gas on my fingers when I touched the gas lines.
Never been serviced.
Thanks.

 

Well a gas leak on the lines is no good. It will suck in air threw the hole and be nothing but problems. The other one I'd check is the plug. You might find it needs to be replaced. Even when they look good they could still be done. You need to test it in a spark plug tester and since you probably don't have one of those the easiest and cheapest way is just replace it.

 

I have the 40-cc model and I had the same issue when the oil level was low.

 

If you left it for any length of time more than a month, the gas may be clogging the fuel filter (when gas dries it leaves a kind of shellac). I had two of the same trimmer and had to pull the spark plug to soak the cylinder in WD40, and replace the fuel filter.

 

Thanks guys. I'm going to change the spark plug and the oil.

 

Because the government has enacted stiffer emissions restrictions on power equipment.

Could be a clogged spark arrestor. Common problems on the the new 4 cycle trimmers. Its basically a screen over the exhaust. Clean that out, change the plug and you should be good.

Your main problem is that its a crapsman. Take that piece of junk back. Spend the extra money and buy a good trimmer. Stihl, echo, redmax, shindaiwa, kawasaki are all great brands and will last you a long long time. They also offer reasonably priced homeowner grade models.

 

Throw it away and buy a Stihl trimmer. I've used the same Stihl trimmer for the past 15 years with no problems!

 

I agree. All those stupid environmentalists ruining a perfectly good technology. Its a ~20-30cc engine for goodness sakes, there are things out there that pollute far more than a string trimmer.

Its gonna be a few more years before the 4-cycle technology gets its kinks worked out. Currently they are very touchy (even the pro models) which is not very convenient when you are in the landscaping biz. Time is money and having to deal with a touchy trimmer wastes money. They are also a lot heavier than their 2-cycle counterparts which leads to more operator fatique which leads to less productivity which leads to less money made.

 

You're right, Craftsmans are junk. My craftsman mower sucks too. I'm trying to get another year out of them then in the trash they go.

 

Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money and buy good quality equipment next time. Go to a local small power equipment dealer and buy your equipment. They generally have pretty comparable prices to the big box store but they offer the maintenance and parts support that the big box stores don't provide. For a good homeowner 21" walk behind, I would suggest Honda, Snapper, or Toro they all make great quality equipment. The brands I suggested in my previous post are all great trimmers and are what the pros use.

 

Chris, I think that's it. It runs a little longer each time I remove the gas cap and tighten it back open. I was looking at the cap, when i pull the little tab, should it pull out a little to vent?