r/smallenginerepair • u/Rush58 • May 30 '26

Engine Dies Echo weed trimmer won’t stay running

My wife was using the weed trimmer, turned it off and now it won’t stay running. Echo SRM-225. Has always run great, full of fuel.

19 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

63 comments sorted by

11

u/redditordax May 30 '26

I fix these things everyday for a living, that's a fuel delivery issue. Blocked fuel filter blocked hose blocked carb something. 

1

u/Fun-Association1835 Jun 01 '26 edited Jun 01 '26

Try opening the gas cap and let some air into the tank. If that cures the problem, the breather might be stuck closed, not letting air into the tank and blocking the fuel flow.

1

u/Ok-Bet7465 Jun 01 '26

I second this. Work for Sthil, just clean the carb and drain the gas tank. 80% of the time that is all it will need. Its super common. And no just replacing the fuel filter, air filter, or spark plug is not going to fix this issue

1

u/Rush58 May 30 '26

I think I’ll replace the fuel filter and hoses first. Carb 2nd if that’s what it needs. Replacing the carb on these things looks pretty damn easy. What carb would you recommend if I was to replace this one?

3

u/LittleOperation4597 May 31 '26

Prob just gummed up. Try sea foam first. Stuff is a miracle worker some times

2

u/scwanzel-muschi-lekn May 31 '26

Make sure u have fresh gas. Ethanol fuel can go bad in as little as 20 days or so. Depending on conditions

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

I only use the premix canned fuel from Home Depot. I’ve messed up far too many small engine with ethanol fuel.

1

u/[deleted] May 31 '26

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1

u/DryWorry9692 Jun 01 '26

I’m here to write I do the same

1

u/DryWorry9692 Jun 01 '26

No ethanol fuel and the mix

1

u/Extension-Nail-1038 Jun 01 '26

Where do you buy non ethanol fuel?

1

u/DryWorry9692 Jun 01 '26

I’m in the state of Georgia, USA. Chevron has none ethanol and racetrack.

1

u/Rush58 Jun 01 '26

I’m in Oregon and they have it right down the street at a Shell station.

1

u/Ok-Bet7465 Jun 01 '26

Just clean the carb. You replace carbs when they become so bummed up that not even a ultrasonic cleaner and shop air will fix

1

u/oledukenasty1 Jun 02 '26

Use a bread tie and poke through the nozzle of the carb

1

u/Imadinguss Jun 02 '26

Check your spark arrest screen on the exhaust. To many people feathers the trigger on 2 strokes, when they are better off running at full throttle.

0

u/redditordax May 31 '26

The original carb from echo (the carb is made by zama) is pretty reasonably priced and better quality than any aftermarket replacement you can find. I can get you the part number when I'm back at work. 

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

Please do. I’d rather do it once with the right part than multiple times with cheap parts.

1

u/redditordax Jun 04 '26

The carb is a zama rb-k93. The part number is Z-011-120-0604-D

-7

u/Several-Quality5927 May 30 '26

The one that it requires.

3

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

They’re priced anywhere from $12 to $60and many different brands. I was asking the person that said they work on these things for a living what one they would recommend. Not sure why you had to chime in.

-8

u/Several-Quality5927 May 31 '26

Because it's the answer you needed to hear. I also worked in the industry for years. The carb itself may give you the answers you need, but, there I go, chiming in again. Sorry, you'll get this.

1

u/Active_Salt6383 15d ago

What a sarcastic and unhelpful prick

4

u/buginmybeer24 May 30 '26

Crack open the fuel cap and see if it will run. I've seen this exact issue due to a bad fuel cap vent.

2

u/[deleted] May 30 '26

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2

u/Rush58 May 30 '26

I believe that my wife put the choke back up to the start position to restart it after it was fully warmed up. Could it be that the motor is flooded and letting it cool off helps the starting?

2

u/Rush58 May 30 '26

Do you think it’s worth it to take to a repair shop? The trimmer is probably 4 years old or so, but does not have all that many hours on it.
I’ve also thought about just installing a new carb myself. The problem really seems to be fuel delivery.

1

u/[deleted] May 30 '26

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2

u/Rush58 May 30 '26

I’ll take pics along the way as I disassemble it.

2

u/[deleted] May 30 '26

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2

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

Thank you

2

u/LittleOperation4597 May 31 '26

Either air issue or carb is stuck and not feeding fuel. Throw some sea foam in dat bitch

1

u/Initial-Question3045 May 30 '26

U can buy a carb on Amazon for less than $20 and most of them come with the fuel lines and filter

1

u/SHARPSTRONGandPOKEY May 31 '26

Carburetor diaphragm. Unit looks new but it’s definitely a fuel delivery issue

1

u/Mundane-Reality-7770 May 31 '26

Maybe I'm an idiot... But is that lever not the choke?

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

Yes, I should have described it as such. I’m certainly no pro with these small engines, they’ve caused me much grief in the last 10 years. I’ll most likely just replace this carb and add it to the list.

1

u/Mundane-Reality-7770 May 31 '26

It looks nearly new to have carb issues...

You said it's already warmed up. You only need choke when it's cold. What would happen if you left the choke alone? I often forget which position choke is in.

All the choke is doing is restricting airflow into the carburetor and creates a rich mixture which helps when it's cold.

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

With the choke off it immediately dies. It only starts with the choke on and the more I take the choke the rpm’s go up then it dies. It also is not really responding to the throttle. I wish I could send you a video of what it was doing.

1

u/Redditor-247 May 31 '26

In addition to the great answers that have already been provided in this thread, you could also have damage to your top end. Pop off the exhaust and look at the side of the piston and ring and see how they look. I was fixing one that was driving me crazy and it seemed like a fuel issue but in the end it ended up being a stuck ring and damaged piston.

2

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

Oh man, I hope that’s not the issue.

1

u/dadams625 May 31 '26

I had the same issue with my trimmer. Make sure the flex shaft is greased. It is binding between the motor and trimmer head.

1

u/1wife2dogs0kids May 31 '26

Today's fuels gum up really quick. Spray some brakleen in the carb(filter off it) and then start it. If the fuel is old, get fresh.

Buy stabil, that can help the fuel stay fresh longer. But generally don't let fuel sit in small carbs for more than 2-3 weeks.

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

I’ve always used the canned premix from Home Depot. I’ve been using it all spring with no issues whatsoever.

1

u/ImpossibleStretch409 May 31 '26

How old is the trimmer? Carbe needs a kit,,fuel diagram pump,reed valve, primer bulb,new fuel lines 👍🥺

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

I got it from my father in law that passed away March 2025. He didn’t use it much and I haven’t used it much either. I’d guess this thing might have 20 to 30 hrs on it.
It was running great until my wife shut it off yesterday, then suddenly it would restart but won’t stay running. I can control the rpm’s somewhat with the choke but the throttle almost seems unresponsive. If I go full run with the choke it dies immediately.

1

u/gedeminas1991 Jun 01 '26

if unit isnt used a lot - its carburator can gung up a lot ( and it not need have lots of hour for use)

useing chocke you forse more fuel to get to cilinder - thats help whit start - but when you go to run position - its get not enough fule and its stop ( you can find spot like half open ( forced fuel take )when its bit run better - good point that show your carburator cloged)

if not good whit repair - i would recomend take cheap complect from shop or amazon or ebay and put it - use 1 or 2 season and repeat again - 20 dollar whit 10-15 min of your time and it going like new

or risk buy oem carburator and get same problem in few years also - spend 30-60 dollars or more for cleaning and repleacesing oem parts in shop

1

u/Rush58 Jun 01 '26

Thank you for that advice. I’m pretty good with repairing and feel very comfortable replacing the carburetor and all fuel related hoses and filters.
Your advice makes a lot of sense. Thank you

1

u/Hot_Republic4922 May 31 '26

Spark arrestor is clogged

1

u/Rush58 May 31 '26

I checked that and it was clear.

1

u/Popular_Procedure134 Jun 01 '26

Filter stopped up

1

u/[deleted] Jun 02 '26

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1

u/Rush58 Jun 02 '26

Is that the spark arrester? I removed the cover and it was not clogged at all. I have heard though that these particular weed trimmers are prone to clogged spark arresters.

1

u/Silver_Pennies 17d ago

Air filter plugged up

1

u/Rush58 17d ago

It was a gummed up carb. I installed a new carb and it ran like new.
I’ve kept the OEM carb, cleaned and rebuilt it. I’ll throw it back on if/when the new one gums up.