I only run ethanol free fuel in all my small engines....

Running fuel from a can is key. Never run pump gas in them. I had opposite problem tho...Stihl are the worst starting saws for me, got rid of mine and went to Echo. Stihl quality is better no doubt, but reliability has been all Echo for me.

Echo for me. I used Stihl for many years. Then I bought a new one with the snap caps for gas and oil. They didn’t work so I sent it to the Stihl repair people. They told me that it was my fault for over filling. BS! So their warranty is useless. I talked to a small motor repair guy who told me that Stihl had been having that problem for years but kept building and selling them. My Echo saws, 4 of them, are dependable.

BTW, I use non Ethanol gas, dump it back into the can, and run the saw until the carb is empty.

My Stihl did the same. Why does ethanol make gas gum up?

it has more to do with the oil in the gas, not the ethanol gas itself. simply draining the fuel mix back into the fuel can and running the engine completely out of fuel will save a lot of troubles in the long run

when the fuel evaporates, it leaves that oil that doesn't evaporate. that broken down oil residue starts to turn to a black tar and then starts to harden = trouble. dry storage = less trouble

Ethanol makes a varnish that clogs the carb.

Ethanol eats away at fuel lines and primer bulbs.

The government has successfully f-ed up our gasoline and our fuel cans.

Ethanol is ruining four stroke engines as well.

I use 93 octane, add add Stabil, and start with starter fluid with my 2 cycle equipment. Works for me.

My Echo chainsaw starts on the third pull cold every single time. Never had a lick of trouble out of it and use it a bunch.

My 20+ year old Stihl does the same....and its been worked hard over the years.....on the 4th bar and 150+ of chains....

1. Always run the carb dry on any gas operated unit these days if you don't intend to use it often.
2. Use an additive that can help offset the effects of CORN IN YOUR GAS, i.e. Startron or Berryman Chemtool.
3. There's a product called "Mechanic In A Bottle" that actual works to help restore gummed up carbs.


Onward.

I have heard these things about echo over and over...

Ive got a 70's or 80's model poulan that died on me, some of the carb seals diaphrams are finally eat up by time or ethanol or whatever. I cant find a repair kit for it and I cant find a carb for it. Think im going to take it to a repair shop who has better parts access than me and get a new carb or have it rebuilt if I can. Have a newer poulan and not to impressed with it. Had to clean carb on it and replace all fuel lines and filter. Dang near had to take the whole damn saw apart to get to the parts I needed to get too. I will be going battery power for any next weed eater or chain saw I buy I think, but want to test them first.

I have that one Bill. It works pretty good.

Got the pole saw back this morning. The problem was that somehow the air cleaner took a hard impact, driving the air cleaner screw into the carb and locking up the choke. I can’t blame this on Echo, so I guess the cause of the problem was me. I just can’t remember a time when I dropped it or caused it to take a hit. Oh well...

I will therefore do a rant recall.

This is what I do on the ones I don't run weekly.

My experience is to opposite though. My Echo stuff is much more reliable than my Stihl. Neither are really bad, the Stihl motors are just a lot more finicky and require a more trips to the shop on average.