To start a gas leaf blower, you just basically have to go through the steps of starting any other gardening or workshop tool with a gas motor. So if you already know how to start a gas powered lawn mower, air compressor, or a chainsaw, then chances are you can get a new gas powered leaf blower purring along on the first try.
That said, it never hurts to have a review of the proper steps to starting a gas leaf blower. Most importantly, don’t hesitate to check with your user’s manual if you are ever in doubt as to how to get your gas leaf blower running – it’s information you just have to look up once, but will stay useful for you as long as you continue using your tool.
A word on gasoline: The first step, assuming you have a new gas leaf blower with an empty tank, is to figure out what kind of fuel it will need in order to run. If you have a four stroke engine, then you’re in luck – all you need to fill it up is straight gas and you will be good to go. On the other hand, a gas powered leaf blower with a two stroke (or two cycle) motor will need the right type of two cycle engine fuel.
Most gas powered leaf blowers with two stroke engines use a common fuel mix ratio, like 50 to 1 or 40 to 1. It’s not uncommon, though, to find gas leaf blowers with two cycle motors that run on completely different ratios – you may have a blower that needs a 32 to 1 mix, or something else entirely.
In any case, it’s always the best idea to check your user’s manual so you can make sure that you are getting your recipe right – or if you are using premixed fuel, you can also check that you have the right premix at hand.
Most gas powered leaf blowers will also have a label near or right on the fuel tank itself that lets you know of the proper gas to oil ratio to put in.
How to Properly Mix Fuel To Start a Gas Leaf Blower
First, you need to make sure that you have the right type of gas and oil for your leaf blower. The two cycle motor in your gas powered leaf blower needs a specific engine oil, which is the aptly named two cycle oil. As always, your equipment may vary – it’s a good idea to check with your user’s manual if the manufacturer recommends a particular type of two cycle oil for your blower.
Next, you need some gas, and not just any gas will do. Two cycle motors such as those found in gas leaf blowers perform better and last longer if you fill them with regular unleaded gas, the type that contains no more than ten percent ethanol by volume.
Hopefully your gas comes in a gas can that has a handy spout for use with handheld gas powered equipment. It’s a lot safer for your engine if you fill up the gas tank with properly mixed fuel.
Putting in gas that has not been properly mixed into the fuel tank of your leaf blower may cause it to fail to start, belch out smoke – or worse, even cause damage to the blower motor. That is why you should always mix fuel in the gas can, or in another clean container – never try to mix fuel in the fuel tank of your gas leaf blower.
Figuring Out Your Two Cycle Fuel Mix Ratio
For many of the two cycle gas powered leaf blowers in the market today, you may need a 50 to 1 or a 40 to 1 gas to oil ratio. Every now and then you might come across a gas leaf blower that needs a 32 to 1 gas to oil ratio, too. It’s a good idea to note the common ratio of oil you need to use for your leaf blower, relative to the amount of gas you would usually buy.
For example, take a gas powered leaf blower that needs a 50 to 1 fuel ratio. If you have a gallon of regular unleaded gas, that’s equivalent to 128 ounces. Then you will need 2.6 ounces of two cycle oil to get an accurate 50 to 1 fuel ratio.
If you need a 40 to 1 mixture, then the recipe becomes 3.2 ounces of two cycle oil for every gallon of gas. And if you have a motor that needs a 32 to 1 gas to oil mix, then you simply need to combine four ounces of two cycle oil for every gallon of unleaded fuel.
If you prefer to go metric, then it will be 20 ml of oil for every liter of gas to get a 50 to 1 gas to oil ratio. Adding 25 ml of two cycle oil to a liter of gas yields a perfect 40 to 1 ratio, if you need that for your gas leaf blower. And to get a 32 to 1 mix of gas to oil, then you need 31 1/4 ml of two cycle oil for every liter of gas you have.
Once you have the ratio figured out, then it’s a good idea to write them down somewhere so you don’t forget – if you have a bit of space, writing it down with a sharpie on one of the labels on your gas leaf blower will do the job.
Then it’s time to mix the gas and oil in the gas can. Pour the oil into the gas, and gently shake the container until the gas and oil are thoroughly mixed together.
Of course, if you have a gas powered leaf blower with a four cycle engine, then you simply need to fill it with straight gas.
Filling Up Your Gas Leaf Blower
Now that you have the mixture ready, use a small spout to load the mixture into your leaf blower. You may need to consider emptying the leaf blower first, however. Stale fuel in the tank may cause the motor to fail to start, so if you know that you’ve kept a bit of fuel in the tank for a long time, try emptying the tank first before you put in your first gas and oil mix.
Slowly fill the tank of your gas leaf blower, and try to avoid overfilling it.
Starting Your Hand Operated Gas Leaf Blower
Some models of gas powered leaf blowers have a separate “on” switch or starter switch that you need to set first before you can start your equipment. Check with the manual on the location of this starter switch, if your model has one in the first place. Set the starter switch to the “on” or “run” position so you can move on to the next step.
You will need to set the choke to the “start” position first before priming the motor. If you are restarting a leaf blower that is all warmed up after running for some time, then you may be able to skip this step. If you are starting your leaf blower cold, however, it becomes important to make sure that the choke is in the proper setting.
Many models need to be started with the choke lever manually set to halfway open, while others may have an automatic choke that does this for you. As always, check with your manual on the proper start procedure for your blower.
The next step is to prime the engine to a start. You can press the primer bulb five to six times to make sure that the engine is thoroughly primed.
Then take the starter cord into your hand. Handle the cord with care – do not wrap the cord around your hand, and when you pull it, don’t yank it all the way to the very end. To start the motor, you just need to give the cord a good strong pull. You may have to pull the cord several times to get a cold engine to start, but there’s no need to hurry and yank it with all your might.
Once your engine has started, you need to give it a chance to warm up to its optimum state. Give the engine around ten seconds to half a minute to get going. For models that come with an automatic choke, your blower will set itself to a “run” position after some time. If you are working with a manual choke, though, remember to set the choke into the “run” position before revving up the motor.
Backpack Gas Leaf Blowers
Backpack gas leaf blowers are more powerful than regular handheld gas leaf blowers, partly because of the larger motors they are equipped with. When working with a backpack gas leaf blower, you will need to start it first on the ground or on a stable surface, before you put it on.
The procedure is similar to the handheld gas leaf blower models – fill the tank with the right fuel or fuel mix, check the starter switch, prime the engine, set the choke and pull the starter cord. It’s a lot easier to do all these while the tool is still on the ground.
Some of the newer backpack gas leaf blowers now come with electric start features. This means that you can fill the backpack leaf blower with fuel, wear it, and get it to start by simply pressing on a start switch on the trigger handle.
Walk Behind Gas Leaf Blowers
Walk behind gas leaf blowers are the biggest and most powerful of blowers you may come across. They come with much larger motors, bigger fuel tanks, and a set of wheels to cart all of that weight along the ground.
Starting a walk behind gas leaf blower and a gas lawnmower is pretty much the same process. You fill the fuel tank with the right fuel, check the starter switch, and prime the engine. You may have to put the choke into the “start” position before pulling at the starter cord, too.
Of course, some walk behind gas leaf blowers now feature electric start, as well. This makes the whole process of starting a walk behind gas leaf blower a one-button affair (after checking the starter switch, of course)
Why Do Gas Leaf Blower Fail to Start?
Gas leaf blowers, just like most other gas powered equipment, may fail to start from time to time.
This does not mean that your blower needs to be sent in for repair. One common cause for a gas leaf blower failing to start is the priming step – you may not have pressed the primer bulb long enough or for enough times. To remedy this, make sure you are pressing the primer bulb some five or six times.
On the other hand, your engine may actually be flooded with fuel, which will leave it unable to start properly. To deal with a flooded engine, press and hold the throttle control while giving the starter cord a series of pulls, which will cycle the excess fuel through the motor.
The next common culprit for blowers failing to start is in the fuel. Any stale fuel mix in the tank, when left in the gas leaf blower, may have become separated which can give your tool difficulties. Of course, you need to make sure you have fuel in the tank in the first place.
If everything else looks right, but your gas leaf blower still fails to start, then check the air filter to make sure that it’s still relatively clean. A clogged air filter will cause combustion issues in the motor, which may then result in the blower failing to start.
Finally, gas leaf blowers may fail to start if their spark plugs have become fouled or corroded. If you are familiar with your equipment, then you may be able to remove and check the spark plugs for signs of fouling. Blackened, worn-out spark plugs will need to be replaced by a qualified technitioan.
