My Stihl BR800C-EZ is going back to the shop for the third time for warranty work because it runs like garbage at full throttle after 10-15 minutes or so. I got it back from the second trip to the shop on Friday 9-5-25 and used it the next day to clear my entire driveway with no issues. When I was done it went down in the barn where it sat until today. Where I live the leaves are starting to fall pretty heavily, so I had to blow the lower yard clear before I could mow it. 10 to 15 minutes into cleanup the RPM's started dropping off on full throttle and it would almost stall when I let off to idle. I got the yard cleared and did the mowing, but the dealer/service department are getting a curt phone call bright and early tomorrow morning. I will DEMAND they call Stihl for support and inform them this is THE LAST TIME it goes in for service, or I will be making a claim for either a whole new machine or a 100% refund and I'll go buy a Husqvarna machine.
Now before you think I have anything to do with the problems it is having, take a look at my gas powered equipment list. Both 2-stroke and 4-stroke machines and none of them have ever been in for service. I replaced the normal wear parts myself and they all start on 1 or 2 pulls. I always use fresh gas or gas/oil mix. My fuel is mixed with Sta-Bil 360 which has an ethanol treatment along with the gas stabilizer.
1995 - Honda Harmony 215 lawnmower.
2001 - Poulan 16" chainsaw (Purchased by my *Dad but I took it away in 2009 at the urging of my Mom before he hurt himself with it)
2002 - Tanaka hand held leaf blower (replaced spark plug in like 2015)
2005 - Honda powered Craftsman 2500 PSI power washer (I replaced the worn out pump)
2005 - Generac 7550 EXL Briggs & Stratton powered generator (I replaced the shorted out stator)
2006 - Cub Cadet 930 Tecumseh powered snow blower (replaced belts and friction drive wheel)
2006? - Ryobi Weed Wacker to replace the electric Craftsman one I used at my old house on a tiny city lot. Home Depot special. Poorly made piece of junk. The cylinder kept coming apart and I would have to screw it back together. Last time it quit, it quit for good and it went to the dump!
2015 - Honda HRR216VYA replacement mower. At 20 years old I did not want to get stuck with a dead mower mid-season. Last I knew the guy I gave the original one to is still using it. Replaced wheels, belts, and blades.
2016 - Echo weed wacker. Has the brush blade kit too and works great.
11-8-22: I purchased the Stihl BR800C-EZ and used it without issue to cleanup the leaves in that fall, 2023 and 2024. It started acting up at the end of this past June. I did a post about it here.
My only oops was that stupid Ryobi. So in my current stable of power equipment, the one and only Stihl I own is what's giving me grief. I am shocked to say the least given Stihl's reputation.
*About Dad.... He passed away in 2018. He was THE WORST when it came to anything gas powered. He never understood choking or priming and always seemed to flood everything.... to the point gas would pour out of the carb. He always used whatever old skunky gas he had kicking around, nothing fresh or treated. Never mixed the oil right for 2-stroke making the exhaust extra smoky. Because if a little is good more must be better, right? The list of failures is endless. He had a 4000W Coleman camping generator for his house backup to use with extension cords but never tested it regularly. It was a pull start and at this age he couldn't pull it requiring help from the neighbors. Then it ran like crap the whole time and would end up quitting. He decided to get an automatic standby generator. I told him to be sure to involve me in the purchase process to be sure he got EXACTLY what he needed, but instead he succumbed to high pressure sales and the next thing I knew he said he had one coming. Because he dicked around so long getting one, they delivered his generator.... the day Superstorm Sandy was arriving in 2012. Needless to say they weren't doing any installs they were doing emergency service only, so he moved in with us for the week.😒We were happy to be able to keep an eye on him, and don't even get me started about his dog that was with him.
Plugged/defective fuel tank vent, or fuel filter issue would be very likely culprits. Too many small engine techs are morons, and can't effectively diagnose. I had 3 saws to 5 different shops, because I thought I didn't have time to attend to them. After I realized I could have fixed them all, several times, in the period I had been chasing around, the fixes were relatively easy. They would start, run, then get real crappy. One was a filter that had a buildup from the fuel additives, another had a plugged vent, same stuff. When the tank got a vacuum induced, no fuel. The other had a messed up gasket on intake.
ReplyDeleteMy lawnmower was doing the same, new spark plug fixed it. Had the original plug, 15 yrs old.
ReplyDeletePlugged spark arrestor on the muffler....don't ask me how i know.....
ReplyDelete@Steve: So I took it to a different Stihl dealer a little farther away from home yesterday. It's still under warranty so I am not going to fuck with it... they are! I started it up before I brought it there and right away it was running like shit. Told them the whole sordid story so we'll see what they come up with. My machine has a simple muffler, not a spark arrestor.
DeleteTo all commentors on this post: The different shop I took it to obviously fixed it right, since I have been using the shit out of it after getting it back. Multiple blowing sessions at home, and a half day leaf cleanup work party at the club. Not even a little hiccup.
ReplyDelete