I've got a (2 cycle) blower that I've had for a while with no trouble in the past starting it, even after setting for a long time. Last night, it wouldn't start, no matter what I did. I found I left a little bit of gas/oil in the tank last fall, but I've done that in the past.

So, I pulled off the case and got to the carb. This is the first 2 cycle engine I've worked on, and its different from the 4 cycle mowers I've messed with. Anyway, I poured a little B12 around the carb and put it back together. Then, it started, but wouldn't stay running. If the carb is varnished, I know I didn't clean all that off.

The fuel has sat for a while, but I do use Stabil in it. Any ideas or recommendations? I'm getting a backpack blower this year because I'm tired of carrying this thing around, plus I want something that blows better, but I do want to get this up and running if for no other reason than so I can do it.

There is surely a good joke in the title of this thread...

and then some...

More seriously, most small 2 cycle engines use vaccuum pressure and capillary flow to draw the gas/oil premix into the combustion chamber. If there is any crack or hole or leak in the fuel tank, fuel line, priming bubble, etc, that lets the vaccum escape and stops fuel flow, it will die off rapidly. after starting. sometimes, you just need to spray everything down with carb cleaner, too.

Try flowers next time...women like that.

"Well wake her ass up!!!" [/waterboy]

Try cleaning the kitchen. That works better than flowers.

1. Make sure your fuel is mostly fresh. Just because you've run it off the old stuff before doesn't mean it'll happen again.

2. Check your fuel lines. A small crack can kill the flow of gas easily.

3. Pull the metal plate off of the carburetor and verify that the diaphragm is flexible. If it is stiff, no fuel will pump.

Take the muffler apart and remove the spark arrest screen. It may be stopped up with soot, etc.

Fire her and get a new one!