How To Fix Echo String Trimmer Leaking Oil Srm 225 

🤣 thats absolutely awesome I'm so glad I could help and glad it worked out for yall, now tell him he has to take you out for a very nice dinner because you saved the day 😆

LOL

Haha awesome 😎 👏

Good for you! It's what it takes; a woman's touch! He done good! - He married you!

Great breakdown I do believe you are correct

What happen if I leave it alone and dont replace/clean the little mesh screen?

@@Carlos.Rivera it will eventually bog down your trimmer to the point you will lose power and maybe even not start

Mines leaked from the first day I bought it, (2019). I take the screens out of all my two stroke equipment. The SRM 225 is the only one that blows out oil. I've tried everything. I've got the carburetor tuned perfect, tried different oil ratios and it still blows out oil. The ONLY thing I haven't done is to try a hotter plug or maybe play with the plug gap. I've gotten used to it and wipe it down after every use. BUT, it still erks me as to why this is the only weed eater (that I've ever owned), that does this. I've got other Echo products, chainsaw and leaf blower, they don't blow out any oil. I've got a Husqvarna weed eater, leaf blower, and chainsaw. They don't blow out any oil. Now, my dad has a bigger Echo weed eater and it doesn't blow out any oil. Why does my SRM 225 blow out oil? Any thoughts to this would be well appreciated. Other than it blowing out oil making a mess, I've got no issues with it. It's been trouble and maintenance free.

@@rutbuster1 Yup, this has been my experience with the SRM 225 as well. 3+ years later and I still haven't gotten around to even taking off or cleaning the spark arrestor. Why? Because it's the most reliable 2 stroke piece of power equipment I've ever owned and the oil is only a minor annoyance. I seriously started it up the other day for the first time in months and it took 4 pulls (3 with choke on, 1 with choke off) and it idled perfectly. I do run strictly 40:1 Engineered Fuel though. As for why it spews out so much oil? I would guess it's a combination of rich jetting from the factory (probably for cooler running and ease of starting) combined with the design of this model's combustion chamber and/or exhaust porting. Something about it seems to encourage unburnt oil from being scavenged out the exhaust port and instead of being burnt up in the cylinder. In any case, it's a damn good weed eater for light to medium use. It sips fuel and starts easy every time. If I have to clean up a little oil here and there, I'll gladly deal with it.

@Derek Walton that's awesome, glad I could help. Yea I'd say this is probably your problem for sure. I thought the same thing

Haha I just commented this than read it a couple comments down. I’d rather use brake cleaner than a torch

@MBG Adventures it definitely made a difference when I started using it, alamo like it had a bit more torque but that could just be me. The oil leak was pretty bad until I did this, I also do mix my oil just a bit on the richer side to tho

@OFFSETT Yep, mine did the same thing. This does void the warranty...but the way I see it is weed eaters are disposable anyways 🤷‍♂️ lol. It will make it just a bit louder and give it a very small bump in power, in my opinion anyways it does.

Just found your video thank you. Mine has been leaking for a couple of years, took it apart and the screen was not clogged. Cleaned everything up and reassembled with the screen on. Started it, ran full throttle and it's still spitting a little oil out of the exhaust.. I don't usually use full throttle and have always used Trufuel 50:1. Checked the plug it's not fouled but has oil on the threads. Is there a better fuel or maybe this little guy is a throw away? Or I can just keep wiping off and cleaning the oil off.

No problem bro I hope this helps. Yessir you are right, for some reason I couldn't think of what it's called lol

@@JonsDailyHustle 🤣👍 it's all good. Happens to the best of us lol

Yes, those are torx bolts.

@Mimnesota Lawn and Landscape thank you sir, I'm trying to help others as much as I can

Hi Charlie, the host should download the operating manual and read it. It tells you the name of everypart of the unit.

@Brett Littrell no problem glad I could help. I just had to do this to my newest trimmer only been used for about 3 weeks and already causing issues

@@JonsDailyHustle so i used it today and it seems as if more oil is leaking out?

@@blitty6048 maybe change your apart plug, that could be caused by it not burning it off completely, or your mixture is wrong and too rich, but I'm not sure on that. Everytime I have done this to my echo 225 it has worked just fine and no longer leaked. I would check the spark plugs is new and gaped correctly

@@JonsDailyHustlemaybe the gap comes in wrong spec because i just changed it the night before i saw your video, my mix is one gallon of premium gas to 1 small container of echo brand oil mix. Was i just suppose to remove the mesh and keep the other piece? Because i removed the whole damn thing fam 😂🤙

@@blitty6048 I removed the screen and the whole thing as well lol, as long as you have the exhaust and the exhaust tip (the first part you took off before you saw the screen) you should be fine as far as I know 🤷‍♂️

Yea - I thought I had a major problem. Was ready to go buy a new one. Oops!

You're welcome! glad i could help

I also let my trimmers warm up well before use. I loved my echo trimmers for sure. Put them through some hell and kept going lil. Thanks for watching the video

My guess is that because it's a two-cycle (oil mixed with gas) the oil has to be separated during the fuel burning process. The little bit of oil get burned off through the muffler.

@Nate awesome glad I could help

Press the throttle and observe the weed eater's engine. If you see blue smoke coming out of the exhaust or oil dripping from the exhaust, the fuel ratio is too rich, meaning it has too much oil. Turn off the weed eater and replace the fuel with a properly mixed ratio of gas to oil. This will stop the leaking all together. And of course be sure to clean the filter good before hand as seen in video. 👍

Charlie is correct about cleaning it and ensuring your mix is correct...but even with the correct ratio it can happen if you're not running wide open throttle WOT enough

@@kirkthebeerslinger This explains my oil leak. I usually like run 1/2 throttle a lot because it already has plenty of power.

I never run mine wide open. Even with the Huskies and the Echo leaf blowers. They don't leak any oil. My dads got a bigger Echo trimmer and he never runs his wide open. I've tried running my 225 wide open and it still leaks oil. I'm using a 50:1 mix. The only thing I haven't tried is a hotter plug. Oh, the carb is tuned perfect too.@@kirkthebeerslinger

@@rutbuster1 the only place oil exists in these engines is in the mix. So, to my way of thinking, the only way to have an 'oil leak' is through unburnt oil exiting the fuel system/engine...this seems to be a problem with the 225's mostly. I would not lean out the mix beyond 50:1 personally. I tend to run slightly rich if anything between 50:1 and 45:1. I would recommend sticking with the OEM NGK plug but ensuring you have it clean & properly gapped, a clean air filter and clean unobstructed spark arrester screen and exhaust port. The only way for there to be oil leaking out of the exhaust is if it is not being burnt up in combustion...so to me that would mean too much fuel...I run two stroke equipment in the summer, (backpack blower, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws) and the winter (Toro 141cc R-Tek) and everything gets run at WOT a lot. I use Castrol 2-cycle Snowmobile oil and Super Tech Universal 2-cycle oil with minimal smoking only on choke/cold start/under load occasionally...Maybe check with Echo - It may be a known issue on the 225 specifically. Good Luck!

Some people will say your mixing too strong...personally I think it's a design issue. However here is the fix for it lol. Thanks for watching More videos coming very very soon 😁

@L Ferrell well I recommend just throwing it away and be done with it, however it does void the warranty if you do it 🤷‍♂️

What would happen technically without the spark arrestor? Couldn't start a fire or prevent sparks/ flames? Could you run it without it?

@@onecrazywheel I believe it's just an EPA rule to have one as it prevents glowing carbon particles from ejecting and potentially starting a fire. For most homeowners just trimming their grass, I'd say the risk is quite low but that's your call.

100% called "torx screws" ahha I just commented than scrolled down and seen you beat me to it 😆 but yes, they are indeed called "torx screws" and the "star bit" depending on its size are called "T-2, T-3, T-4, T-5, T-6, or T-7's".

@@charliestyle575 Sorry, but you were on the right track and knew it anyway which has some credence! 8-)

This model does have an exhaust plate, haven't heard of anyone doing that to this model

@gerry butler eventually your muffler will clog up if you don't do it. So at least clean it out like I showed. It will void your warranty I'm pretty sure when you remove it completely so I'm not gonna tell you, you have to do it but 🤷‍♂️.....lol It will prevent future problems lol. Also the only other down side is it's just a bit louder then with it still in but not terrible. Thanks for watching I'm glad this helped

That's why I returned my echo srm225, you shouldn't have to be messing with your trimmer when it's brand new, not everyone can do this repair or figure there's a problem until it's too late.

@@1caqui This is an easy fix to do, replacement screens are about $7 on Amazon.

I'd recommend doing what was shown in this video. Either clean the screen or remove it completely. I've ran mine commercially for years and this fixes that problem. Be aware that removing it does void warrenty. Hope this helps you Thanks for watching More videos coming very very soon 😁

Thanks glad you enjoyed. Yes, on echo trimmers the spark arrestor gets closed up and doesn't alow oil to be burned off, causing it to run poorly and it will build up and start to leak everywhere. If yours is doing this chances are this needs to be done to it as well

@@JonsDailyHustle many thanks 👍

I think the only way the oil comes out is Through the exhaust. I have the same problem I cleaned mi e today and I saw this video very helpful. I will remove the part that voids the warranty. I have had this weed eater for years and it always has been plugged. 😊

@Cesar abanto I've been told that as well. This trimmer has been run wide open several times a day every day since its purchase....it didn't help me. Tried changing oils as well, still the same thing. Took this out....haven't had a problem since. It's got over 500 hrs on it I'd guess as well

I was told the same thing by the dealer. I don’t like to rev the motor too high. I think the spark arrester is the problem.

@vanessa massaro Yes I've heard that as well, I believe that's echo's way of not having to fix this. I've run mine at full throttle with the echo red armor oil mixture mixed perfectly, at full throttle it still will leak oil just not as much. I took the sparkler out which does void your warranty, and it seemed to fix it as though it doesn't clog up with oil really anymore and occasionally give it a bump for about 15 seconds at full throttle before you shut it off after using it Don't know if that really does anything different for that but that's what I do after taking the arrestor out and if had no problems. It is unsafe in my opinion to run a trimmer at full throttle 100% of the time You're bound to hit something and throw something at a window person vehicle etc

@@JonsDailyHustle I run mine strickly with tru-fuel and still had this issue, I knew it was clogged screen. Easy fix.

I don't believe that for a second. They need to explain why other weed eaters no matter how cheap don't leak oil at half throttle. Just stop screwing your customers echo and fix the problem.

@@foreverwood1963 Update: I replaced the screen and still have a leak. It's not a big leak but an occasional small leak. I'm guessing the full throttle fix is correct, I hardly ever run mine at full. Never felt the need and I try not to make lots of noise.

@@Tommyr I just can't see how full throttle would solve the problem, but let me ask you a question. Would you recommend the 225? I was considering it, but I don't want those types of issues

Hey man thanks for that tip, I'm wanting to do that, I'll see what I can come up with this weekend. I'd really appreciate that alot, always help me make more content

I'm not sure how it works but I think since you have over a 1000 subscribers you should be able to do it. You may just have to look around when you're logged in on a computer or at Google it.

I finally added a way to do that... If you would like to Tip/donate money click HERE www.venmo.com/u/JonsDaily-Huslte HELP me raise 2500$ for a RAMP RACK/MOW & GO setup All revenue collected from these tips/donations will be reinvested back into the channel

@Mr. G glad I could help. It makes it run so much better

@John Hartin the blow torch. You burn it out

@2010stoof my newest 225srm was doing this since day one as well. I took it out after the first day of use and haven't had any problems with it since

@@JonsDailyHustle so it's the spark arrestor? I need to remove that?

@Jackson Renegar yep, this will eventually happen. For some reason echo 225 seem to all have this problem. I have hundreds of hours on the one in this video since then....absolutely no problems with it

@@JonsDailyHustle Ok ill be taking mine off tomorrow then😂

@@JonsDailyHustle Would cleaning the arrestor work or would the same problem happen?

@@jacksonrenegar2175 it will fix it, but it's a temporary fix....eventually you will have the same problems

Borrow one.

You can if you chose to, or throw it away or clean it and reuse it like shown

Correct, it's not pure oil. It's the burnt oil that comes through the exhaust. Not exactly pure oil per say but is oily

Pull this screen out and problem solved

No, if anything this will make it easier to start, could be a combination of things, bad gas, air filter, spark plug, fuel filter

@Jon's Daily Hustle I'm sorry, I meant, would the unit being clogged caused the trimmer to not start. My trimmer starts about half the time. It's a 50/50 chance every time I cut my yard.

@@77rightguard ahhh gotcha, yes this being clogged will cause starting and running issues

If you clean it, it will help it but it will clog again and leak oil. It's best to just throw it away however removing it voids the warranty so do so at your discretion. I recommend removing it and keeping the screen if it's still under warranty just incase it needs to go back in for any kind of work

Most likely due to this screen or it's bad fuel or bad fuel mixture. So 2 strokes will smoke white smoke a bit but of its really bad it could be due to bad fuel or mixture ratio is off. This does use 50-1 ratio I hope this helps you

Trust me it helps somehow...and yes as far as I know it's only this 225 model seems to do it. I have 2 of them now and the exact same thing

It has to be tuned to correct rpm idle and high speed. 2700 idle 8000 high speed

I've been using 50:1 oil mix for 4 years now and none of my echo equipment leaks oil, first day using this srm 225 it's all covered in black gunk so it's definitely not this mix in my case. Unless they changed the ratio specifically for this model.

That's all I used and only my echo 225 leaked oil. No other equipment ever did. And yes, I mixed my has correctly

That is it....thank you very much. Couldn't think of it for some reason 🤦‍♂️ lol

Its all good, I forget the names of stuff all the time 😂

Yep, ran mine for years without the screen and it worked great

@Imua Lewis or just take this out like I did and never have to worry about it clogging again 🤷‍♂️

@fowvee that's a very good point. This fixed the problem for me. No more oil leaking and I put close to 200 hours on this weed eater last season

Good catch. So, why do they leak? My PP428S leaks like crazy! I’ve tried many fixes. It’s the only engine I haven’t stripped down completely…yet. I’m learning that many Poulan trimmers seems to have this problem. Am I simply chasing my tail?

@@housestohomesteads I can only speculate that the excessive oil in the exhaust port is caused by an overly rich carburetor setting. With a 2% oil mixture in the fuel (50:1 ratio), the only reason for there to be excessive oil would be the carburetor high speed screw setting is adjusted on the rich side. By leaning the mixture the amount of oil will also be reduced. I do caution anyone that if you are not familiar with the running of these engines then leaning the mixture too much can and will lead to a hotter running engine and possibly to ring or cylinder seizure.

@@fowvee It's not a 2-cycle engine. It's a 4-cycle. The gas and oil are not premixed. Also, I never said it was leaking specifically from the muffler. That's Jon's dilemma. Mine appears to be leaking oil from everywhere. I did have the muffler off at one point and that was not the biggest issue. After reviewing a lot of complaints on this particular model, I feel like I'm not alone. In fact, the gasket atop the cylinder cover is no longer made and I believe it was over a design flaw. I've fabricated the liquid gasket and it appears to have formed into the groove properly, but I can't say it's not leaking from there still. I'm aware of the fuel mixture. I do have it set to be rich because an 1/8th of a turn back and the engine stalls. I've taken roughly 20 engines(big and small) apart down to the last bolt and put them back together with 100% success until this project. By the way, it was purchased as a "return" and leaking upon purchase. I think it's just one of those problematic machines. My Dad bought it. He'll buy anything, if it's on-sale. Ironically, I fixed an old Weed Eater, which was thrown in the garbage, simultaneously and it works like a charm! The only issue is, I don't like the curved shaft. No need for jokes. I like the Poulan straight-shaft when it works. It wouldn't be the end of the world, however, if it died. It's 10yrs old already...but I like maintaining equipment. Everything should be built to last instead of being disposable. My old Troy-bilt tillers and Ford 8n still work(or they do now) and they're 50-70yrs old. Simpler is better. Thanks for the feedback.

@@housestohomesteads Ahhh, well then I stand corrected!! But, this makes the contaminated exhaust even more disturbing. Thank you for the clarification.

@Jamie Broun could you see through it at all? I've never seen or heard of that at all. Usually if the oil is leaking out the exhaust it has to get through the arestor so you should've seen something on it

@@JonsDailyHustle yeh i know why im stumped. the arrestor is inside the exhaust chamber, cant get to it. the top part is dry, i can see that through the port, bottom half i cant see, would assume its clogged. Only way i can clean it is soak it, or buy a whole new exhaust. Got another issue now, it wont idle, it will start with throttle open, and runs at full rev, but dies as soon as I release the throttle... What you think?? Thanks for the reply by the way.

i sorted the idle problem lol, i loosened the adjusting screw to get the cable off, forgot to repositiom it lol

All my other small engines have a screw on screen arrestor like yours in the clip, but this make, Bushranger, it’s sealed inside. What a silly idea

@@BahnGop yep, that's the arestor....it should be anyways. That's what mine was doing on top of leaking oil. I'd say pull the exhaust off and take a look at the areator, if you can't get it to separate from the exhaust just pry it off or break it off as you should honestly just get rid of it anyways lol

I loved my echos. Never had any issues with them other than this screen issue. Used them for several years commercially

I love my echo too! easy to do a tune up!!

Lmao

Or maybe Torq?