Stihl blower spark arrestor.

[dodge man]

I have a Stihl leaf blower BG 86 that is 8 years old, maybe 100 to 200 hours on it. Today it wouldn’t start. It seemed like a sudden problem, it ran fine last time, although when you go back and look at the past maybe it wasn’t running quite right. I bought a new spark plug, in tank fuel filter and air filter. No help. My gut reaction was no spark, I pulled the plug and tried to hold it near the head and sometimes got spark but not much. It’s very hard to do this while trying to pull the start chord and get good contact with the plug.

My gut reaction was wrong. After messing with the on off switch I pulled the spark arrestor and it started right up. The spark arrestor was badly plugged up. With mineral spirits, a brass brush and air it cleaned up. Reinstalled it and it’s all good. The bad part is I saw a YouTube video on this very problem but dismissed it at first because I thought the problem was sudden. The spark arrestor is about the size of a spark plug and has a fine mesh screen. I show a picture of it and where it installs in the muffler.

 

[oldballs]

Yep, that's the usual culpritl One forgets about the Spark Arrestor since the machine (BG86) works so well from day to day. I just saw the same thing on my FS 90 Stirhl Brush Cutter.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Roadworthy]

Interesting information. Thanks for sharing. One more trick to keep in mind.

 

[dodge man]

I’ve torn into them on Stihl chainsaws, totally different and less likely to clog. The pic above is before I cleaned it.

 

[ericm979]

The one on my BR430 did the same thing. It's a tiny conical screen, looks like a design that will clog easily. I use a propane torch to burn them clean.

 

[bmg88201]

I am wondering if you can take the screen off the threaded piece and toss it and just screw it back in. I eliminated the screen on my echo trimmer, and both my chainsaws.

 

[dodge man]

I’m sure you could get rid of the arrestor but I’d just as soon leave it intact even though we don’t have a lot of fires here.

 

[Kernopelli]

My buddy just went through this with his Stihl blower. I first thought his issue was the carb or filter. Nope, this was the culprit.

 

[Smokeydog]

Some dirt dobber bug likes to pack the Stihl bower exhaust port every summer. After cleaning runs fine. Think it’s over 25 years old.

 

[Citydude]

Not only Stihl. My 20 year old Yamaha generator wasn't running like it should. Checked the manual on plug gap and so forth and seen the spark arrestor maintenance schedule. The thing was almost plugged. Runs like it should now.

 

[bigtiller]

That's good info. I'll try to remember it.
I would have never suspected a spark arrestor to cause a problem.
I thought they just rusted and fell apart.

 

[big bubba]

like bmg88201 said, i got rid of the screen on the Stihls that require it most, problem solved. wouldn't worry about it unless in fire hazardous conditions.

 

[circled]

I've got a Stihl SR200 sprayer. I need to propane torch the spark arrestor about once a month. I can now tell when I need to. I spray about 30 fruit trees once a week. I read somewhere that the more WOT use the less clogging of the arrestor? I just can't run WOT all the time. Torching it takes about 1 minute. I also occasionally torch the arrestor on my wife's weedwhacker. Using one gallon 93 octane with 2.6oz Stihl Platinum oil.

 

[mgstevens]

I also occasionally torch the arrestor on my wife's weedwhacker.

Well, I can only hope she appreciates it. Sounds like about the right "interval" for older married couples.

 

[JWR]

I’m sure you could get rid of the arrestor but I’d just as soon leave it intact even though we don’t have a lot of fires here.

Has anyone (other than the Stihl lawyer) ever heard of a chain saw that started a fire from throwing sparks?

 

[Tony H]

Has anyone (other than the Stihl lawyer) ever heard of a chain saw that started a fire from throwing sparks?

Some Federal Safety guy was bored and had to create more B.S.

 

[Borane4]

Save the solvents and burn it out with a torch.

 

[circled]

Well, I can only hope she appreciates it. Sounds like about the right "interval" for older married couples.

Had me laughing out loud when I read it. Needed that today!

 

[mgstevens]

I see some North Easterners willing to play fast and loose with sparks in the woods. Here in the west, we lose whole summers to just the choking smoke from fires that are hundreds or more miles away - and worse. Things that create spark in these parts are taken seriously, by more than lawyers and bureaucrats.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yep... start a fire due to no spark arrestor is a serious crime in the fire prone West.

Back in 1980 the first brush cutter was awesome until it wasn't.

Found the spark arrestor plugged and clean it was good to go.

I think the premium/ultra two stroke that Stihl offers must minimize soot because not nearly as big a problem in later years.