OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Ryobi Trimmers & Brushcutters Ryobi Grass Scorpion pull cord

The starter cord is impossible to pull. It feels like there's a ton of compression but the gauge measures only 75 psi. Would lubrication help, if so, where? This machine has not been used for at least 6 or 7 years.

Im confused. Are you saying you pull on the cord but it wont budge? If so likely seized. Try removing the spark plug and giving it a couple of pulls (Put a small drop of oil in the spark plug hole first). OR are you saying the cord doesn't want to move but does anyway? Could be a rusty recoil spring (Remove the starter and replace the spring or lube the old one up if its still OK with a little axle grease or the engine could be partially seized (In this case pour a 40/60 mix of diesel and auto trans fluid down the spark plug hole to penetrate the rust and get it moving again). If this is the case obviously it is best to hone and replace the piston but the diesel/ATF fluid will get it going to rule out any other problem aswell.

Either way more info needed to advise the best solution. I always start with the simplest fix first - remove the starter and inspect the spring then remove the spark plug and pull the cord. THEN remove the head and inspect the bore/piston and decide whether or not to attack the rust inside.

All really depends how it was stored, in what climate you live in and how the machine was maintained prior to you getting it/fixing it, and if you can be bothered.

Hope this helps. Would be interested to see how you get on.

The cord can be pulled approx 6 to 8 inches, the feeling is similar to a mower without its decompressor valve in. The movement is jerky. Without the spark plug it's easy to pull. No rust on cylinder or bore, put a little 2 stroke oil in there to help free it up but made no difference.

I have one the same, it's a straight shaft unit. Nearly kills your arm to start it, I have never investigated it. I picked it up from the kerb side clean up, I guess the owner had enough and dumped it. Same as this one

Mine is an earlier model, think it's got too much petrol and oil in the cylinder, tried pulling on the cord, with and without choke, just will not evaporate.

Have to conclude that I haven't got far on this. I was sure this was some sort of hydrolock.
In summary: compression gauge measures 120 psi, able to pull approx 8 inches only, pretty jerky motion though. Without spark plug in it easy to pull starter cord.
Assumed it was hydrolock so pulled starter cord many times without plug to try and clear oily residue, then tried to clear it with a liittle petrol and oil in spark plug hole, thought there was some improvement. Left it for a few days, starter cord was again difficult to pull. Took muffler off and tried to run compressed air into cylinder bore, again I thought there was some improvement but after a few hours it is again difficult to pull.
Maybe I've misdiagnosed this and it's a starter problem but why is it easy to pull without the spark plug inserted ?

It may be an issue with the clutch, with the plug out there is going to be less resistance with no compression. Probably just enough to cover up for something else, take the clutch off and then try it. That way you have the motor isolated from the clutch, shaft etc. I watched a YouTube video on clutch removal and it looks very easy.

Thanks Paul, was hoping to avoid playing with the clutch but as I'm out of ideas I'll give it a try. I just read on another site where someone had the same symptoms as me that it was a reed valve within the cylinder http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=431799&page=7 Reed valve.
Am hoping I don't have to go to the same lengths that that guy went to.

Got it to start and run, it took some WD40 as lubrication to get the piston to move a little easier and also must have been combustible enough to give that initial firing. The compression is still pretty high on this unit but that translates into a well running unit, thanks everyone for your help.

I got mine to run and used it for about 30 min with no change to the starter, if you have a crook shoulder this trimmer is not for you !

Why do they make them so hard to pull then? Half of the population ie women will struggle with this, what's the point of making a tool that women can't use, it just means men will always have to do the whipper snippering.

When I have time I will investigate it some more.