Poulan leaf blower won't start

I had spark and compression. It was definately a fuel delivery problem as the primer bulb was not filling with fuel. I tried taking off the carb spraying it with cleaner, blowing compressed air through the fuel lines and removing the fuel filter.

Finally I took the top of the carb off (the two screws holding the primer bulb on). I sprayed the ports with carb cleaner and used compressed air to blow through the fuel inlet and outlet.

When I put it back together, the bulb filled with fuel on the first prime, and the engine fired up on the first pull. The throttle response is also much snappier than it has ever been.

I'm not a mechanic, but it worked for me. Hopefully it will help someone else.

Never buy a Pulan again.

As a service center for Poulan products the usual problem for not starting I see is compression, or the cylinder has come loose from the crankcase. Compression needs to be 115 psi minimum. If you remove the plastic muffler cover you can see the cylinder-crankcase joint. Wiggle the spark plug to look for any movement at that joint. If there is any movement the cylinder screws are loose.

Poulan has an excellent 2 year warranty and any service center should be happy to repair it under warranty for any problem.

I'm sick and tired of low quality **** from over seas. Is there a American Made Leaf Blower that I can buy.

Just fixed one up myself -- I took it right apart down to the piston, then put it all back together, making sure to seal all the joints like crankcase-cylinder, carb-cylinder, etc. with 2-stroke oil. Sealed the spark plug with anti-seize stuff. Made sure screws were nice and tight (but without destroying the thread) when I put it all back together, then it fired right up.

Yes I have an answer for you buddy. Get rid of it. I just bought a Poulan leaf blower vac and have the same "hot engine" will not start problem. I have tried EVERYTHING! Including using premium gas and a little less PPM oil in the gas... still will not start. I was raised on a ranch and we had 2 & 4 cycle engines all over the place. I have taken them apart and put them back together again and have never had the starting problem this engine has. Why this kind of difficulty is beyond the pale. A 2-chcle gas engine is about the simplest internal combustion engine there is and startin should be a breeze. Not so with this piece of ****. Just get rid of it and chalk it up to a learning experience.

Leo - Billings Mt.

I don't understand the compression answer, even if the compression was off, it should still spark, assuming all else is correct. My guess is the ignition coil is bad if the engine is unable to creat enough electricity to make a spark. If you pull the spark plug out and it is wet, it is getting fuel. Have a friend hold the spark plug wire to the spark plug and pull the cord, if your friend jumps, you have enough energy for a spark.

I took the gasket from between the carburetor and the head and turned it around. When you take if off, you will see 1 large hole, 2 bolts holes and 1 extra hole that goes on the R-hand side. This is looking from the back of the blower. Reassemble and try this. It worked for me.

I, too, have just had mine for a year and the thing won't start this year. I gave it to a repair guy and he says it's the magneto. I don't know; built in obsolesence, maybe?? Surely not from Poulan.

Mine is doing the same thing, weak spark runs in start position and on, but soon as I hit the throutle it dies. I tested the spark and can hardly feel it with my hand. Im going to try a new coil. I will repost if that corrects the problem.

Look in the gas tank and make sure that the filter is still on the fuel line that goes to the carburetor. When I took mine apart the small tubing that goes from the filter in the tank had deteriorated. The filter was not on the line any more. The line itself is poor quality. Replace the tubing with This same thing happened to me with a Stihl Weed Eater. Same fix.

I haveone also is only 2 years old i used twice and noe star but
when i try to blow the leaf just die. i did ck all over but a soon i push the small handle die, does over and over,
any sugestions?
thank you

Likely the carburetor has fouled from storage. Empty fuel from blower. Add Seafoam fuel treatment (1oz/gal) to your fuel container of FRESH FUEL. Refill blower, press primer bulb several times, and let it set overnight. Reprime periodically (every hour or so).


After a few hours, reinstall a properly gapped spark plug and attempt to start.

I had a similar problem. Had mine just under a year, used it maybe a dozen times at most. It worked fine 2 weeks ago. Today it wouldn't start. Same gas as before. It seems to be getting gas and it is getting a strong spark, but I tried for about an hour (different plug/different gas) to get it to start and it never even so much as sputtered. I still had my receipt so I returned it today and got a refund.