Craftsman 25cc Gas Blower Won't Start? (Possible Causes & Fixes)
Craftsman leaf blowers are great during the fall season, especially if you live in a very foresty area. If you have a Craftsman gas blower, you can expect it to be reliable. That’s why people tend to be pretty shocked when their blower suddenly won’t start. Worried that you will need to replace it? Don’t be. There are quite a few simple fixes for this surprisingly common problem.
Like with most other gas-powered leaf blowers, there are several common reasons that may cause a gas leaf blower to be unable to start up. The most common ones include:
- A Bad Spark Plug
- Filthy Air Filters
- A Clogged Carburetor
- A Bad Recoil Starter/Starter Pulley
- A Bad Spark Arrestor
- A Broken Ignition Coil
If you have a dead gas blower, it’s good to know what you can do and if it’s salvageable. Our guide will give you the scoop you need to see your blower have better days in the future.
Why Would A Gas Blower Stop Functioning?
There are two main reasons why: the starter system isn’t working, or the gas blower became too clogged with soot to function. To make things a little easier, we’re going to parse things out by the most common parts that blow out in a blower.
A Bad Spark Plug
Before you do anything else with your leaf blower, switch out the spark plugs. Spark plugs that went bad are the number one cause of a gas blower that won’t work, and it’s an easy fix. Once you replace the spark plugs, give your gas blower another try. If you’re lucky, then you will have no need to work further through the troubleshooter.
Filthy Air Filters
Air filters are a must in every gas-powered leaf blower, simply because gas isn’t a very clean-burning fuel. When air filters are too dirty to function properly, soot starts to fill up the blower’s body. This, in turn, can jam up a number of different parts of your gas blowers. If it’s extremely filthy, your filter can actually impede your leaf blower’s ability to start at all. Change out the filter, and you might get a little better.
A Bad Recoil Starter/Starter Pulley
When you “rip” the cord of your Craftsman, does it get jammed? Or does it not go back into the blower’s body? If so, you have a bad starter pulley or rewind pulley. If the starter pulley or rewind pulley won’t work, your gas-powered item can’t get the traction it needs to start up. The only way to fix this issue is to open up your gas blower and replace both pulleys.
When opening up your leaf blower, make sure to take a look at the owner’s manual to locate both pulleys. You can order them online or go to any hardware store in order to get replacements. Not sure you are comfy doing a replacement? Call a repairman or replace the model. If your pulleys work well and there’s no problem ripping the cord, skip this.
A Bad Spark Arrestor
The spark arrestor is a small device that prevents your machine from sparking up in the wrong place, and it’s connected to a large portion of your starter system. Your spark arrestor will fail if there is too much soot clogging it up. Cleaning the area around it can help, but in most cases, your best bet is to replace the arrestor and give it a try.
A Busted Ignition Coil
Finally, one of the more unusual reasons for a gas blower to cease functioning is the ignition coil. This is the little doohickey that ignites the blower after the energy hits the spark plug. If you just connected the spark plug, get an ignition coil tester and run a quick test on your coil. If the reading is bad, then this is the reason why your leaf blower won’t start. You will need to replace the coil. (Don’t worry, they’re cheap.)
When To Worry: A Clogged Carburetor
So far, we’ve gone through a number of minor issues that generally have quick and cheap fixes, even if you hire a repairman for your leaf blower. This is one of the worst things that can happen to your gas leaf blower, regardless of the brand or model you have.
Gas burns dirty, which means that soot is a problem throughout your machine. Your carburetor is the main motor of your blower. When too much soot builds up in your carburetor, it can clog all the machinery and cause your carburetor to brick. With that said, there is still a chance that you can salvage your carburetor if you use a carburetor cleaning kit.
This kit has solvents that help get rid of the soot that clogs up gas engines. All you need to do is follow the instructions on the kit, and you should be able to see some stuff clearing up. After a couple of passes, you can replace the air filter, and then you should be able to work with your leaf blower once more.
What Should You Do If You Can’t Clean Your Carburetor?
Have you been super lax about cleaning out your leaf blower? Well, you might end up paying a bigger price than you think for it. Sometimes, a carburetor can be so clogged up with soot and dirt, a carburetor cleaning kit just won’t be enough to fix the issue. Sadly, if you’ve made multiple attempts to clean the carb without actually seeing results, your leaf blower is done.
A leaf blower cannot run if the carburetor is bricked. This leaves you with two options: replace the main part of your leaf blower, or get a new leaf blower. Unsurprisingly, most people who end up with a leaf blower that has a dead motor choose to replace it. It simply doesn’t make much financial sense to repair it when it’s been so heavily damaged.
Is A Leaf Blower That Won’t Start Covered By Craftsman’s Warranty?
For the most part, Craftsman is a brand that stands by its products. That’s why they have a famous lifetime warranty on their hand tools. When it comes to power tools, they tend to limit the warranty to one to two years. If you have a Craftsman blower that failed within the first two years, the company will cover a repair or replacement.
How To Prevent A Non-Starting Leaf Blower
While not all leaf blower failures will be preventable, many are. These tips below can help save you from having to repair your blower:
- Keep your air filters clean. If they aren’t clean, change them per the instructions in your owner’s manual.
- Store your leaf blower in a reasonably clean place. Debris and dust can accumulate inside if you don’t.
- Clean the carburetor at least once a year. The best way to have a motor that works well is to keep it reasonably clean. You can get the most of your motor by avoiding neglect, period, actually.
- Try to stick with cleaner gas. Don’t use low octane gas, and don’t use gas that’s been mixed with ethanol. In fact, don’t use any type of fuel that is not made for the blower. Doing so will wreck your motor and potentially cause a serious problem for your personal safety.
Related Questions
How long does Craftsman’s warranty last on hand tools?
Craftsman made a name for itself by offering one of the best lifetime warranties in the market when it comes to its hand tools. No matter how long you’ve owned a Craftsman tool, you can call up the warranty line and get a tool replacement. In fact, you don’t even have to call the warranty line. Most major hardware stores will also honor it, so if you have a break, just bring it to the place you bought it from.
How can you tell if your spark plug is going bad on a gas leaf blower?
A gas leaf blower’s spark plugs show that they’re going bad pretty obviously. You might start noticing that your blower suddenly runs rough, or doesn’t stay on for too long. Sometimes, it can even take several attempts before you can actually get it started. Other times, you might notice the motor sputtering before it turns on.Rather than wait till the spark plug blows out completely, it’s better to replace the spark plug as soon as you see a problem with it.
Why does my leaf blower stall when I give it gas?
There can be several reasons for this, but the most common reason is because the air filter that is in your blower is dirty. A dirty air filter means that there won’t be enough airflow to make your leaf blower capable of running its motor well. So, while there’s enough to turn the blower on, it’s not enough to push around leaves.If you notice the blower stalling, the solution is simple. All you have to do is switch the air filter and give it another test run. It’ll work.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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