OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Trimmers and Brushcutters Ryobi Trimmers & Brushcutters Best practice upkeep for Ryobis

Now I understand that Ryobis are not the front-runner as far as whipper snippers go, they're not even close BUT some years ago before I was wise I bought the Ryobi Expand set where you get a Ryobi unit that drives a whipper snipper, pole saw, brushcutter, blower and other bits and pieces. I forget what I paid but it was plenty. The appeal was that instead of buying a whole lot of tools that took up space you just bought these attachments and added them to the Ryobi head. Anyway I am stuck with Ryobi and would like to know what I can do to get the most trouble-free experience with them. Obviously you don't leave any fuel in them when finished, use fresh petrol, what else?

Change the fuel pick up filter regularly, they are cheap and a cause of many problems.

Thanks Trev, that's easy enough to do. Just one question, where do you get yours from?

A good tune regular use and ethanol free fuel. The ones I get from the tip for personal use are all choked up with oil from a bad tune and never getting worked hard to burn all the oil out and old fuel sitting in the tank and evaporating leaving mostly oil behind,or the no fuel in the tank and everything rubber all dried up even the Carby diaphragms....
The most common problems I see as to why one won't run is the Carby diaphragm are shot..Muffles all choked up I just put the Muffle in my fire for an hr or so ,then blow them out and hit them with some paint to stop rusting.. I've got some good running Ryobi's from the tip for next to nothing But I do stay away from the newer looking ones I try find them with walbro carbs a lot less trouble to get going..
Looked after you should get many years out of yours..Cheers

I have had my Ryobi bought new in 88,



Starts fine, always follow the steps
Full choke, pull starter till she pops
Half choke, starts and run for approx 10 secs
No check and running

I mix my fuel only a little at a time so just a bit is left in the tank, I use a quality 2 Stoke oil but mix it right. Only work I have done is to replace the clutch spring







I pulled the muffler off while I had things stripped down and it had very little carbon build up and the rings and bore look great. I think regular running and a good oil/fuel mix is the trick.

Thanks Chris, what you described in your first paragraph is exactly what my Grass Scorpions are like ie heavy oil residue. You've got an interesting way of dealing with the muffler, won't it be ruined in the fire and if it's got petrol/oil in it isn't that a fire hazard? Good tip about painting the muffler.

Thanks Paul, you've got almost 30 years out of your Ryobi, I'm gobsmacked, you've given us new hope although I believe that the older Ryobis were a lot better made than the current ones.