Morning learned friends.

I'm calling on those far more knowledgable than me in the internal combustion department for some advice please.

I have a Ryobi 2 stroke petrol Hedge Trimmer that packed up yesterday and wonder if it's worth looking at or throwing away. All was going well with the hedge cutting and then it seemed to over rev (a lot) - only for a few seconds and stopped dead. I could not pull the start cord as all seemed to be stuck. I assumed it overheated and seized.

Was going to throw away them but put it to one side and cleaned up the mess so far. Later on, tried the pull cord and it all moves again but just won't start.

I know its a long shot but any one have any idea what could be wrong and if I should try to get it serviced/fixed or just bin and replace? IF an easy fix then happy to try it myself but no point in throwing good money at it as it's only around the £150 mark to replace. (even though I don't agree with this throw away society)

Thanks all Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Ah, takes me back to my 2 stroke 50cc moped days!!
As you thought, the high revs would be it running lean just before it seized.
If it's turning over it should start again... Maybe you flooded it trying to restart? Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

If it's now turning over because it has cooled down then yes it has seized, bin it and buy a new one


Many years ago (decades ago) I was driving a 7.5 tonne truck, it came to a slight incline and slowed to a stop. I called the work and they sent out a mechanic who turned the key and it started straight away. He was laughing and said I imagined it to which I replied that it was starting to seize. As we were less than 10 miles from base I said I would drive the breakdown truck back and he could drive my vehicle. It took him 5 hours to get back to base, every mile he came to a halt and had to let the engine cool down enough to let it turn over. A full engine rebuild was done to rectify it, the main bearings were shot to pieces

Removed the carb and cleaned all that out - checked the plug and it's dry so not flooded but still no start.

I also have the same engine in a strimmer so swapped the plug just in case but no joy - there does seem to be some compression as it seems the same to pull as the strimmer..

Unless anyone tells me different I think I might just bin it and get another - £150 is not worth crying about I guess but I don't like to be beaten if I can help it.

 Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Before you bin it, try running it again with the correct oil ratio, or slightly richer. You have nothing to lose, it may well continue to operate albeit with a little more bottom end knock!

I assume you have a spark?

I assume so too Goose.

I swapped the plug out from my Strimmer (which does start) but it does not even attempt to cough. I have always used the fuel/oil mix in these things. I add it to the full can after each refill at the pumps so it should be on the correct stuff.

I would happily run it richer/more oil if I could only get it started..!! Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Could a jet be blocked? You do smell petrol after trying to start it I take it? Check the plug is wet after you have been pulling the starter... Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Thx Contra - yep all good there - I took the carb off and cleaned it all out - plug was damp after trying (not soaked)..

The thing is, I'm starting to get a blister with pulling on the starter pull now.... I'm a wuss computer bloke so all this manual/mechanical stuff doesn't suit me  Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

If you have compression and fuel, then it has to be the ignition. Have you taken the spark plug out, connected it to the HT lead, placed the electrode end to an earth, the cylinder head for example and pulled the cord to see if it sparks across the electrode? It's easier to see the spark in a dark space rather than daylight.

I did try that but couldn't see much - I swapped the plug out for another (that I know does already start my Strimmer) but no joy. If I get no speak could it be something other than the plug..? If so - is that a likely issue due to it getting too hot yesterday.?

Off I go to try to get a spark...........  Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Not sure about the heat issue, but you will have a small Dynamo that produces the spark. First port of call though is the kill switch. See if this has stuck in the off position thus breaking the circuit. If you can prize it out, remove the wires and connect them to make it permanently live and see if this produces a spark.

It's a trail of fault finding, one component at a time until you identify the culprit.

Will try that next... So far...

Just tested and with switch on I do get a good spark
Plug is wet (not soaked) after an attempt to start so there is fuel
switched plug out into my Strimmer and that started fine so plug is ok (although that now runs but dies when I try to rev it )

If I get a spark then surely the switch is also working..?

I can only think that it is now compression related and therefore goosed (not worth stripping the ending down I suspect) Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB

Indeed it sounds like the case!

Thanks folks

Guess it's bin time. Any good advice on a replacement or are Ryobi ok..? Ash
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2016 SDV8 AB