Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: bennettsleg on October 06, 2006, 10:11:05
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After spending 40 minutes trying to get my blasted JCB petrol strimmer to work (1 year old, lost receipt), gaining two blood blisters and a fine towering rage in the process, I recognise I need help.
Does anyone know of someone how I can make this blasted thing work? Not necessarily take it to an approved mechanic with price tag to match, but how to tinker with it to make it work. I've had to ask the site secretary to strim it for me and I know darn well that's going to lead to comments re: give up 'arf yer plot, missy!" or somesuch. If the strimmer worked I wouldn't have to have that conversation!
JCB Customer Services are useless.
We've managed to get it started twice in the fist three months of ownership and never again since. I presume that the reason it worked back then was that it was exactly 17degreesC in Moscow, the strimmer was resting on a surface that measured exactly 2000mmX x 2000mmY x 0mmZ on which was drawn a perfectly angled pentagram inside of which we'd just sacrified 3 genuine platinum blonde 23 year old virgins who each measured 5' 2 & 3/4 inches precisely. I think someone was telling some porkies...
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:-\
Can we have some more symptoms please? Does it "try" to start, cough and give up? Does it do anything at all?
I have a Ryobi one, so may not be much help, but some of the problems may be the same with all of them...
P.S. Have you been holding your tongue correctly?
;)
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Darft question have you taken the plug out and cleaned it ? They are very easy to
flood as well .
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As Pete says have you tried the plug, I have a ryobi and I tried for hours to get it started, change the plug was up and running in about 10 minutes.
Getting a new plug was not easy though, the place near me sells them in packs of ten which wasn't very helpfull but a single from my local hire shop.
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Stale petrol, dirty plug, dirty air filter, wire loose in cut off switch.
Change or clean, plug,petrol and filter. check for spark at plug by taking the plug out and resting it on the metal part of the machine with the lead still on and pull the starter, you should see a blue spark.
Sucking eggs come to mind. But just in case you know nothing.
when all these have been checked, this is the starting proceedure for most 2 strokes
Switch on, pump the little clear bubble and make sure it is filled with fuel,
put the lever over to choke and pull the starter. When it coughs take the choke off and it should start after a couple of pulls. If not repeat proceedure.
If it does still not start it will be flooded so take out the plug and clean
it and pull the starter with no throttle to clear out the excess fuel.
Some times if you use too much two stroke oil it clogs the plug and makes too much carbon which will foul the plug, widen the plug gap and make sure you still have a blue spark using the plug check system.
GOOD LUCK and use gloves to stop the blisters.
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And, you have been adding oil to the petrol? Silly question maybe but me dad managed to seize his up by not adding it.......soon rectified though.. :)
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I'm amazed it ever did work. JCB = crap. Just be warned, never ever ever buy anything with the JCB logo on. It will be an expensive waste of money!!
valmarg
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Can't be that bad as they hold the fastest diesel car land speed record of 328.767mph ;D
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/5273540.stm
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...and thousands of builders and farmers swear by them ;D
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.....when all these have been checked, this is the starting proceedure for most 2 strokes
Switch on, pump the little clear bubble and make sure it is filled with fuel,
put the lever over to choke and pull the starter. When it coughs take the choke off and it should start after a couple of pulls. If not repeat proceedure.
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^^^^ This is true wisdom for small two-smokes.
The manual (if you can find it) will probably tell you that it will start on full choke. It almost certainly won't. Every machine is slightly different but you may find that after an initial pull on full choke, it will start second pull with no choke as ACE suggests, or perhaps on half choke. My machine (a McCulloch rather tha a JCB but equally temperemental) needs half choke to start and run when it's cold. Only when the engine is really warm will it run on no choke at all. I often have to restart it half a dozen times at the beginning of a session.
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URGGHHHHH!!!! I've got a JCB strimmer as well and it's a SWINE to start ::)
I often think I could cut the weeds down with a pair of nail scissors in the time it takes to fire up. The only good thing about it is, when it finally DOES decide to start, you are entirely inspired to strim EVERYTHING IN SIGHT in one go rather than risking turning it off and doing a bit 'tomorrow' ;D
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Most of the engines in all the popular strimmers are made by kawasaki, even if it does not say so on the machine it probably is. there are 25cc, 40cc an 75cc the smaller is rubbish and the larger are for professional use.
I can only think if there is a problem with jcb is that the jcb clutch is grabbing and making it hard to start under load when cold. Wind most of the strimming cord in to about 2 inches and see if it starts better, once it is warmed up let the cord back out again.
It could also be the diaphram carb getting glued up, I always turn the fuel off and let the engine run unti the bit in the pipe and carb is used up. This also makes it safer to transport without the smell of petrol in your vehicle.
There is a drain button on some models that does this job for transportation. I have been using strimmers/ brushcutters for over 35 years so most of these problems I have come across. By the way The FUJI is the best but expensive.
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...and thousands of builders and farmers swear by them ;D
I think you'll find redclanger that the builders and farmers spend more time swearing 'at' them than 'by' them!!
Living appromixately three miles from the 'World Headquarters' (how naff can you get) they have the most terrible reputation as employers, and there is not a philanthropic bone in the whole of the Bamford family.
Going further off thread, they have built a new factory near Uttoxeter, named 'World Parts Centre'. Every time I go past, I think to myself, does it really???
If I had the option of buying anything or JCB, I would always go for 'anything'.
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one word stihl ;D ;D
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;D Two words ...Bloody expensive. ;D
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they are not now £110 for the bent shaft £180 for the straight brush cutter that will take all the attachments they go on for hours and hours and
how much are jcb's £80ish thats expensive for about 3 hours use :o
tim
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This is all quite encouraging. I have a petrol strimmer that I get quite anoyed with. Until yesterday, I had not used it for about 7 years, and the oil/petrol mixture was the same age. I cursed and swore when I got a new allotment and really needed it - but eventually it DID start, and yesterday I had a very stimulating session with it, only turning it off when I could not bear the vibration and noise any more.
It seems I am lucky.
At this new allotment, the council apparently mows it by tractor every few weeks, but has neglected it recently for a month or so. I have emailed them (and spoken to man on tractor doing another area - "Why not here???" "Oh, does it need it?? I'll tell Them") but nothing has happened yet. So I am very happy that my old strimmer cleared the tall grass around my small and hard-won beds successfully.
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i have also used the new makita strimmers and when my stihl packs up i will be buying one of these a bit more oompf cheaper and quieter but it wont be for a few years yet fingers crossed ;D
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I bought one of these in the Spring, very good it is too, no problems starting as yet and very powerful
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7200195/Trail/C%24cip%3D42115.DIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D44805.Clearance%2BDIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D44825.Clearance%2BGarden%2Bpower%2Btools.htm (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7200195/Trail/C%24cip%3D42115.DIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D44805.Clearance%2BDIY%2C%2Bgarden%2Band%2Bcar%3EC%24cip%3D44825.Clearance%2BGarden%2Bpower%2Btools.htm)
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:o Landcape :o Pants...a Hilka in disguise that was pants too, reason I know
is that I took mine back to Argoos and bought a "Landscape" and that dripped
petrol out the back nearly touching my clothes :o the "Hilka" refused to start ::)
Not wanting to sound like a stuck record, but repeat, buy a 4 stroke generator and use
your domestic electric tools, top of the range strimmers (electric) are cheap
compared to highly dangerous two stroke petrol varieties that most times refuse to work
and if your not fit can damage your health by pulling your guts out trying to
start the blessed things. ::)
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As I said, it's been very good so far, more than happy ;D
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I have one as well Tiller very powerfull it is .
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Cor. Thanks for all the advice. I shall experiment in due course. I managed to get the site manger/co-ordinator/etc to strim the paths for me today - and very grateful I was too! Even OH came down to help me clear the paths fully!
It's got new petrol with the correct amount of 2 stroke oil. The little plastic bulb was full of this new petrol mix. I will shorted the cord, check the spark plug and see what happens.
I doubtless flooded it, too, particularly when I followed the manufacturer's instructions for the umpteenth time that stated something akin to "put on full choke and pull cord for 5 or 6 times or until it tries to start, then take it down to half choke and pull cord for 5 or 6 times. If it does not start, put it back on full choke again and pull for etc...". Flamin' Nora!
Sadly, there's no way I can get electricity to my plot so a switch to a "proper" strimmer is out of the question. I shall post back on progress as the bloody thing has got to work soon before everythings grows back again! ;D ;D ;D
ps: my original thread seems to have messed up with the screen formatting - apologies.
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As I said, it's been very good so far, more than happy ;D
:'( I must have been unlucky... :'( Twice. :'(
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Or I got lucky, ha there's a first time for everything I s'pose
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As I said earlier, if It's got the JCB logo on it, leave it on the shelf. JCB = crap.
It will be a VERY expensive exercise buying anything with the JCB logo.
valmarg
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Very harsh on JCB i have a spade and folk from them and they are very good .
Having worked in the motor trade for a number of years i have heard good
things about JCB. If you want real crap french cars are the way to go .
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Yes Pete10, I am very harsh on JCB, it is the most obnoxious company on this planet. When you see a load of blurb, saying that a 'digger' has been 'donated' by JCB, to a charitable organisation. After the logo, donated by JCB, should be added the word 'suppliers'. JCB give nothing away, and if they get publicity for having donated machines, you can rest assured that the suppliers have been told ' you want our business then you will donate the parts. It really is a nuts company.
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Not wanting to sound like a stuck record, but repeat, buy a 4 stroke generator and use
your domestic electric tools, top of the range strimmers (electric) are cheap
compared to highly dangerous two stroke petrol varieties that most times refuse to work
and if your not fit can damage your health by pulling your guts out trying to
start the blessed things. ::)
You really believe that Roy? All the electric ones I've used have been pants themselves, comparatively little power and flimsy lines, and a very small cutting radius.
The best one I have used was a 50cc MountField Multi-Trim with 4 lines, powerful enough for anything and with a harness to help with the weight. Nothing lasts forever, however, and nowadays I use a McCulloch 35cc thingy, lighter and good enough for what I need (and not too difficult to start).
The thought of having to do my allotment with either of the 2 B&D electric ones I have fills me with dread, it would be nigh on impossible..............
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I see your point about the company .Did not realise they where like that.
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We've no electricity and have been using an 18V battery powered Bosch
with a plastic blade instead of string. Got through several blades before getting the hang of it!
Not good at all for big boy stuff like established brambles,
but fine for keeping our relatively small (55ft x 25ft) allotment tidy.
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Glad to hear you are happy with your cordless one Barnowl as i will be buying one soon and haven't heard anyone speak of them on any forum i visit :(
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I've tried one, the power pack wasn't up to it, and soon faded away. I wouldn't bother again.
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You really believe that Roy? All the electric ones I've used have been pants themselves, comparatively little power and flimsy lines, and a very small cutting radius.
The best one I have used was a 50cc MountField Multi-Trim with 4 lines, powerful enough for anything and with a harness to help with the weight. Nothing lasts forever, however, and nowadays I use a McCulloch 35cc thingy, lighter and good enough for what I need (and not too difficult to start).
The thought of having to do my allotment with either of the 2 B&D electric ones I have fills me with dread, it would be nigh on impossible..............
::) Horses for courses, if you want to spend a couple of hundred quid on a petrol strimmer then I would expect it to start a the push of a button, these peeps are talking about lesser known makes at cut prices, yoose get what you pay for. ???
My £40 Domestic electric Black 'n' Decker has heavy duty cords for heavy work and works a treat for the weeds on my plot in fact I use the normal plastic cord most times and it performs very well off my £50 second hand 4stroke generator that starts first pull.
I will repeat my genny also makes a fine cuppa tea ;D
Try this link it's long but covers the same ground.
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,91/topic,19101.0
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Couple of hundred quid?
Try about £80 from B&Q..... ::)
Oh, and the mountfield cost a tenner!
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I sympathise with your problems trying to start a petrol strimmer. I have bought two this year and taken them both back because I just couldn't get them to start or if I managed to get them started they wouldn't stay started. I had the blisters and the arm ache as well. I think my arms were just not long enough to pull the cord hard enough.
I have now got a Bosch battery powered one which is fine as long as really tough stuff like bramble stems is cut down first. It starts at the touch of the switch and although it only does about 20 minutes on one charge it's probably as much strimming as I want to do at one time. There are also no fumes and no vibration, and very little noise.
I would say the best way would be to use a petrol strimmer to get the very tall tough weeds down and then just keep up with them with a battery powered one.
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Insert Quote
Couple of hundred quid?
Try about £80 from B&Q..... Roll Eyes
Oh, and the mountfield cost a tenner!
mine was £50 from Argos, superb stuff ;D
PS. I take it you lot who have had problems starting 2 strokes never tinkered with mopeds or model aeroplane glowplug engines in your teens 8)
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PS. I take it you lot who have had problems starting 2 strokes never tinkered with mopeds or model aeroplane glowplug engines in your teens 8)
:P Nope :P Only Women ;D :o 8)
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Nope Only Women
;D ;D ;D
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Nope Only Women
Aha, this explains alot ;D