The brushcutter is a must-have gardening tool, both for grass cutting and for cleaning and finishing lawns, ditches and undergrowth. Whether you have a lightweight brushcutter like the STARK 2500 TR for keeping your garden tidy, or a medium-powered brushcutter such as the DS 3500 S for taking care of larger properties, you are bound to encounter problems starting your machine on occasion.
If the brushcutter is used only occasionally or kept in storage for long periods, such as during the entire cold season, you may find that the device fails to turn on. So, what should you do if your brushcutter won't start? Before contacting a service centre, you should carry out a series of simple on-the-spot checks, as listed below.
Check the fuel
If your 2-stroke brushcutter fails to start, the simplest explanation is that there is not enough fuel: in this case you simply need to top it up.
A 2-stroke brushcutter engine runs on fuel/oil mixture, which you can buy ready prepared, such as EFCO-Mix Alkilate alkylated mixture in a 5L can. Alternatively, you can prepare the mixture yourself in an approved fuel/oil can (designed for transporting and storing hydrocarbons), by mixing together unleaded car petrol and specific 2-stroke engine oil for gardening power tools, in the proportions indicated in your brushcutter manual. Never use oil for cars or outboard engines.
It is important that the mixture is fresh, so buy only a little fuel at a time, making up enough mixture to last a maximum of 1 or 2 months. Special additive can help to preserve fuel/oil mixture, such as Efco ADDITIX 2000: besides protecting the mixture from degradation and oxidation for at least one year, it also facilitates engine starting and cleaning of the fuel delivery system.
Follow the correct procedure for starting 2-stroke brushcutters
After inspecting the fuel level, check that the power switch is set to ON, so that the electric circuit energises the brushcutter’s spark plug, allowing fuel to combust and thereby start the engine.
Once the switch is turned on, follow these quick steps to start the brushcutter, but only when the engine is cold:
- Place the brushcutter on the ground in a stable position.
- Fill the carburettor with mixture by pressing the primer bulb several times.
- Place the air lever (starter) in the fully closed position.
- Supply fuel by locking the accelerator lever in the semi-acceleration position.
- Hold the brushcutter still and pull the starter cord until the first firing sound is heard.
- Bring the starter to the intermediate position.
- Again pull the starter cord until the engine starts.
- Let the engine warm up for a few seconds before touching the accelerator.
- Set the starter to the fully open position: now you're ready to work.
Keep your brushcutter clean
In order to keep your brushcutter in perfect working order, it is important to keep the machine and all of its components clean at all times. After using it, remove dust and grass clippings from the tank air vent and clean the tank filter. If you decide not to use the brushcutter for an extended period – such as when winter is approaching – empty any remaining mixture from the tank and carburettor.
Go to a service centre
After carrying out these checks, if the brushcutter still fails to start, we recommend contacting a service centre for help: it may be necessary to check, clean or replace the brushcutter spark plug, test the electrical circuit, inspect the engine for flooding or check the ignition system and starter cord.
Efco distributors and service centres offer you the reassurance of expert technical service, including high-quality, fast repair and replacement using only original spare parts.
