Man, you guys are good!

[jotul8e2]

The old Stihl FS74 trimmer would not run above idle, and I had tried everything I know. Going over it one last time (before heading to the repair shop), I realized I had not looked at something mentioned here more than once: the spark arrestor screen.

Sure enough, it was completely plugged. It took me a while to remember how to clean one - torch - but in just a few minutes I was back running full speed.

So, not only do you answer my questions when I post but now you are anticipating my questions and providing answers before I even start a thread!

 

[jetsam]

My amazing mental powers don't stop there. I can also anticipate stuff that my wife wants me to do and mutter about it for a week before she actually makes me do it!

 

[Allagash350]

The old Stihl FS74 trimmer would not run above idle, and I had tried everything I know. Going over it one last time (before heading to the repair shop), I realized I had not looked at something mentioned here more than once: the spark arrestor screen.

Sure enough, it was completely plugged. It took me a while to remember how to clean one - torch - but in just a few minutes I was back running full speed.

So, not only do you answer my questions when I post but now you are anticipating my questions and providing answers before I even start a thread!

Awesome! Sometimes I don't post a question and just try to find the answer. But I've realized someone else may have the same question down the road and my thread would come up in a search, and help them too.

So us helping you could be helping a bunch of people who don't even post here too.

Also another helpful tip, check your mix, spark plugs, and quality of your oil. They shouldn't be gumming up to the point of not running.
I personally remove the spark arrestor on everything (except my chainsaw, due to high rpms, proximity to sawdust etc), but regular maintenance, clean fuel etc, is probably the better option.