Hi Mary,
Without knowing the homelite model you are using I can give you some general tips on how to start a whipper snipper.
1. Check your fuel levels. Fill the tank up to 3/4 full before you start.
2. Squeeze your primer bulb a few times to move the fuel around the engine and eliminate air bubbles (6 - 8 squeezes should be plenty).
3. Your trimmer might have an on/off switch somewhere (sometimes on the handle near your trigger/throttle, sometimes on the body of the engine - depends on the brand). Switch it on.
4. Look for your choke. A choke can have 2 or 3 different positions. Basically, you want to close the choke for the first few pulls of the starter cord to get a richer mix of fuel into the engine. Set it to the closed position (usually an icon like this (--) and give it a few pulls (with your hand fully on the trigger) until the engine sounds like it wants to start.
5. Now, select an "open" position on the choke (usually an icon like (/) or "Run" or a "rabbit". Squeeze your trigger all the way in and give it a few almighty yanks on the starter cord.
This should get you started. If you don't have much luck, try giving the primer a couple of squishes between each step.
Good luck! Let us know if it works.
Quinny
Australia.
Quinny, December 2007
