Husky 150-bt backback blower

[NCFord]

My blower has started to miss and lack power lately, seems to be a bit worse as it warms up. Sounds and feels exactly like it is running lean. I searched online and found others have had the same problem, most just returned it, but I think I am outside of the 1 year warranty. In fact I'm not really sure what the warranty is, I bought it last fall and it has a 2014 date on it. Anyway, I though I would just adjust the carb, well... there does not seem to be any H L. So are there no adjustments? How do I get it running properly? Right now I'm not using it because I don't want to burn up the piston. thanks

 

[Boiler74]

Have you tried loosening the gas cap? My old 165 but was running poorly just the other day. I loosened the gas cap and it went back to running right. Other than that, new gas and cleaned the carb seem in order. I had to do that a year or so ago.

 

[NCFord]

You know it's so easy to get tied up in all the possibilities that it's easy to forget to obvious stuff. I will try that tomorrow or later tonight if I can get some time. I will post back with results.

 

[Rock Crusher]

I have a 150BT currently apart that was straight gassed-someone from work's, that I will try to take and post some pictures of. Have you tried running non ethanol fuel in it? The piston dome on this unit was anything but lean, model year 2013. Also, can you partially choke it to make it run better?

 

[NCFord]

It has only seen non-ethanol fuel since new and stihl oil. Partial choke does not help, I don't think is fuel quality related. It has never had old gas and never sat very long without running.

 

[Rock Crusher]

Usually a partially closed choke resolves a lean condition. Suggestion for non ethanol is that ethanol leans out the fuel mixture and unfortunately like you saw is there is no high speed mix adj. When I receive the new piston and cylinder I will see how it runs. The original piston had zero piston wash. Have you pulled the spark plug and checked color, could also use a bright flashlight to check piston wash?

 

[Mag Craft]

While you are at it make sure you check the spark arrester. I have seen a lot of 2 cycle engines that idle fine but no power at wide open throttle. Spark arrester.

 

[sportbikerider78]

Usually a partially closed choke resolves a lean condition. Suggestion for non ethanol is that ethanol leans out the fuel mixture and unfortunately like you saw is there is no high speed mix adj. When I receive the new piston and cylinder I will see how it runs. The original piston had zero piston wash. Have you pulled the spark plug and checked color, could also use a bright flashlight to check piston wash?

Some more detail.....
The issue with ethanol and 2 strokes is that the alcohols that are ethanol absorb moisture. 2 stroke mix has oil in it. When the water comes into the mix, the oil will separate.

If you need to be convinced how well alcohols absorb moisture, just look at a bottle of vodka. Perfect mixture, even though there is quite a bit of water in there. If you added oil (not that you would ever waste a good bottle of booze ) it would never mix.

When you store a 2 stroke with gas in it for a long period of time, drain out the gas and put in fresh.
Also, go well out of your way to get some non-corn fuel for your small engines. They will love you for it.

 

[NCFord]

Ok, here's the verdict:....Simply a fouled spark plug. See pic. The was a piece of debris stuck in the electrode of spark plug. Not sure what it was or how it got there but cleaned it and ran perfect! For some reason I can't get the picture off my phone, I will try later.

 

[Rock Crusher]

Great news NCFord, glad the problem was fixed. Still waiting for the cylinder and piston for my co-workers blower.