RBarr2

Mainly for the lawnmower segment -- I flip through the ads for Sears & the borgs, and almost all the mowers use side-valve engines again.  I thought the trend was toward the OHV like the Briggs Intek for the 5 to 7 h.p. range.

When the Tecumseh died on my aging Sears self-propelled unit, I bought a 'bulk' Briggs Intek brand new for $115 at a shop near O'Hare airport in Chicago.  That engine has performed so well that I can't see ever putting up with less.  It's just absolutely trouble-free, powerful and quiet.  The only small gas engine I've ever owned that was this good is the GX Honda in my HS621 snowthrower.

So why all these cheap side-valve engines now?

Hmmm.   Now that I think it over, I can't recall exactly when the primer bulb quit working.

The only possible misrouting would be that the two connections at the carb are switched.  The unit uses two different sizes of tubing, and there's one of each size coming from the tank, and one of each going to the bulb.  That means that both tubes to the carb are the same size.  Perhaps I got  them backwards last year!  Then again, maybe there's a bum check valve that neither of us is aware of.

We'll see.  Thanks for the suggestion.

Older Weedeater / Poulan trimmer purchased at Sears, so the Craftsman # is 358.798420.

Last year I replaced the fuel lines & in-tank filter.  This year the primer bulb pretty much gave up and wouldn't pop back out, so I replaced it.  It pops out OK now, but all it seems to do is move bubbles back & forth.  It never fills with fuel, and consequently it takes quite a few pulls to get this thing started & running.  Once it's going, it's fine.

I really don't quite understand what happens with the primer bulb when things are working the way they should, so I'm not sure what ails it this time.  I'm guessing there's a check valve somewhere, but I thought I'd ask here.

This thing is hardly a premium trimmer, but it sure has held up like one.  I had to put one ignition module in it, and I'm sure it's at least 9 years old.  It gets a serious workout every time I mow, as I have a bunch of chain link to maintain, and this old dog just keeps on working.  I hope to keep it alive another few years.

Thanks in advance.