I bought a Spear and Jackson SPJGT 30 strimmer last year and had no problems. Come to use it this year and it won't prime the carburettor. I didn't empty the tank and run the engine at the end of the season, as the instructions say, but I never have with my lawn mower. What appears to be the return pipe seems to be clear and bubbles when I press the primer, but it doesn't suck out of the tank. If I turn it upside down petrol runs down the delivery pipe. but still won't squirt into the carburettor. Where do I go from here? Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated.

Sam Colley, May 2010

Tank got a leak in it where will I get a new one

Michael, July 2014

Have had problem with the nipple that you prime with has split and am having problems finding a new one as bought it through Argos. HAve left message with Einhell UK but they have not called back and can't find new primers on their online list for the spjgt 30 for me to order - any ideas what I could use to cover it over with to stop the petrol flowing out whenI'm priming and to stop the air going in when I'm running it?

Strimmer Lady, March 2011

hi ,sounds like theres an air leak on the suction pipe or delivery pipe.Leaving fuel in over winter can damage seals or pipes,ie premature ageing

ian colclough, November 2010

i had the same problem with my one it turned out to be the pipes had perished and were letting air in so it wouldnt prime i replaced them and it primed and started straight away hasnt been a problem since

jon, July 2010

I think maybe you are referring to a different carburettor. I couldn't relate your directions to mine. Anyway, I removed the primer attachment from the carb and dismantled it. I could see no evidence of any dirt or anything bunged up. What I did find was what appears to be a ''rubber'' non return valve behind the primer bulb and I suspect this was the problem. I poked a paper clip through it and reassembled the whole thing, tried the pump and it sucked up fuel, started the engine and it fired up and ran perfectly. I think the lips of the non return valve must have been gummed together.

Anyway, its all done and dusted now and I must thank you for your patience with me. This winter I'll properly winterise the machine.

Thanks again

Sam, May 2010

Many thanks for the very detailed instructions. I'll have a go and let you know how I get on. Thanks again.

Sam, May 2010

If you are quite sure the filter in the tank is not blocked ( try with full tank and no filter connected ) its into the carb, the cover with the single screw is the pump side, there will be a gasket and a diaphram in that order, under here will be a fine screen, clean the screen,re fit the cover, the cover with four screws is the metering side, there will be a diaphram and a gasket in that order, once removed you will see the metering lever and needle, make sure the lever moves freely and lifts the needle, conect a fuel supply to the carb and depress the lever, you should get fuel now comeing through, if yes re assemble and try again, if no you will need to dis assemle the carb and soak in fuel, blow out with LOW pressure, be sure not too blow the screen out and lose it. With all pipes dis connected does the primer bulb return normally?

Husqvarna man, May 2010

Did as you suggested and dripped fuel into the carb. The engine started and ran briefly. Repeated this quite a few times, but still no fuel sucked up the fuel pipe. Primer also still doesn't work.

I appreciate your help with this problem and will welcome any further advice. I've checked, and the strimmer is just out of warranty, but my neglecting the manual's instructions as to how to prepare the machine for winter storage will probably invalidate it anyway.

Sam Colley, May 2010

Before getting too deep into carb cleaning, try priming the carb manualy,remove the air filter cover and squirt some fuel down the carb venturi, if you can get it started it may be enough the to clear the carb through.

Husqvarna man, May 2010

I found that the tank had loads of rusty grit in the bottom and the filter looked as if it could be blocked. I cleaned the tank out and refilled with fresh petroil. Tried the primer again and still no joy. Tied cranking the engine umpteen times, but still no fuel drawn out of the tank.

I removed the priming attachment from the carburettor, but could see no apparent blockage. The priming bubble will blow back into the tank but will not suck out of it (I know the filter is clear). After being pressed, the bubble only slowly returns to its normal shape. If there is a blocked non return valve, and I guess the symptoms support this, How do I go about unblocking it, or do I buy a new primer/carburettor? After all this, by the way, I tried cranking the engine again - still nothing.

Sam, May 2010

Primers, do not, as most people think, push fuel into the carb, they pull fuel from the carb and dump back into the tank, so you either have a blockage in the tank filter, or the non return valve in either the carb or the primer itself is stuck. Drain and re fill with fresh fuel, use full choke, just keep cranking the engine, the fuel pump in the carb will eventually pull the fuel through and start the engine, once fresh fuel is through the carb the primer will probably now work, the primer is only an addition, many machines do not have one, so they will start without.

Husqvarna man, May 2010