Ryobi Gas line trimmer Parts — Browse All Models

What to do when your Ryobi gas line trimmer won't start

The engine needs gas, compression and spark in order to start. First, make sure there's fresh gas in the tank-old gas accumulates water and burns poorly. Replace the fuel if it's old. Add fuel stabilizer to the gas when you refill the tank to help keep the fuel fresh.

If the fuel is fresh, check the fuel lines for cracks. Air enters the carburetor instead of fuel when the fuel lines have cracks. Replace the fuel lines if you find cracks in the lines. If the fuel lines are okay, you may need to rebuild or replace the carburetor because a dirty carburetor won't supply the engine with fuel.

Next, disconnect the spark plug wire and remove the spark plug. If you see deposits or corrosion on the electrodes, replace the spark plug.

Finally, to check for compression, remove the spark plug, press your thumb over the opening and pull the starter cord. If you don't feel air pushing from the cylinder, it's likely that the piston rings need to be replaced (for an accurate compression reading, use a compression gauge).

Procedure for replacing the carburetor on your Ryobi gas line trimmer

• Wear work gloves to protect your hands and work in a well-ventilated area.
• Disconnect the wire from the spark plug.
• Remove the fuel cap and the drain the tank into an approved storage container.
• Take a digital photograph of configuration of the fuel lines attached to the carburetor, or make a diagram. Pull the fuel lines off of the carburetor, using needle-nose pliers if necessary. Remove the cover from the air filter housing and then remove the air filter.
• Use an Allen wrench to remove the 2 mounting screws that secure the carburetor to the engine. Pull the air filter housing off of the carburetor. Remove the carburetor from the side of the engine. The throttle cable is still attached to the carburetor. Take a digital photograph of how the throttle cable control cable connects to the carburetor or make a diagram. Disconnect the throttle cable and remove the existing carburetor.
• Insert the throttle cable on the new carburetor the same way it was installed on the original carburetor. Position the gasket on the nipples of the engine mount and hold the carburetor in place. Install the filter housing and secure it with the 2 mounting screws. Using a torque wrench, tighten the screws to 25 in./lbs. of torque. If you don't have a torque wrench, tighten them reasonable tightly.
• Referring to your digital photograph or diagram, connect the fuel lines to the new carburetor.
• Clean the air filter if necessary before installing it. Position the filter in place and close the cover on the filter housing. Connect the spark plug wire on the spark plug.