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You are a LIFE SAVER! If you are ever in Brisbane, Australia I will buy you a beer...and it won't be Foster!

A huge thankyou from Bowral, in Australia! I was surprised by my HS 45's misbehaviour, as it is well used looking after our half acre of garden, but also well looked after. I am meticulous measuring and mixing the fuel, only using Stihl oil and 50:1, and no dirt and no stale fuel, and the HS45 is only 4 or 5 years old...And the problem had developed suddenly- between one use, and the next. (But 45 years ago, during university holidays, I worked in a mower repair shop, so seen plenty of 2 stroke faults, and how to fix them. While I had at that time, seen clogged 2 stroke exhausts, I had only seen them in battered old mowers, so didn't look at the arrestor as I assumed it a very unlikely issue). Instead, I replaced the air filter elements. No change. Then thought it could be a gearbox lubrication issue- checked- no, plenty of grease and no metal fragments; all good. No bent teeth on the blade. Put a totally fresh tank of fuel in, but still no change. Removed starter cover to check sparkplug lead insulation- nup; looked all ok... I was getting really concerned, as I noticed when I bought the new air filters, that the mower dealer's workshop was overflowing, with waiting repairs, and our extensive hedges were growing like crazy, with our very wet Spring this year. I was thinking... weeks of delay and $$$ and very overgrown hedges. Over dinner, my wife suggested Googling, and within seconds found your blog! I went straight out, to the shed and was even lucky to find in my tools a 5/8 inch AF long shank sparkplug socket, which to my surprise, fitted and to my greater surprise, the arrestor was clogged. Not having a propane torch, I fired up the Weber BBQ and within a couple of minutes,,,, problem solved. (Though I did burn my knuckles holding the arrestor over the flame, with a Vice Grip...) Sorry for the long comment, but you can see the funny side of my "Know it all" attitude! Anyway, a huge thankyou!

I was quoted $200 to fix the trimmer... Found your Video and 10 minutes later it's working great! Thank you!

Thanks for the video. My 56 was starting to bog down then it wouldn't rev at all. It would just idle. I was thinking "spark arrester". I started trying to get to the muffler but seeing much difficulties as you have to do much work to get there. I checked for a video like this and found you! When I saw how easy it was to remove the spark arrester, I was kicking myself!!! With your guidance I immediately got it out, cleaned it, and now my machine is working perfectly. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Thanks a million!!!!!! wow that's what they told me. They said tune up and replace this and adjust that , $$$.$$ told them ok they say it will be about three weeks out! Did everything else myself, but wouldn't rev up, watched this vid !!!! Thank you again!

Yep. 5 minutes and it was working like a charm. Thank you!

Thank you so much! I replaced plug, air filter, fuel filter, replaced ethanol free mix just in case I had ratio wrong, and tore carb off and cleaned it as well (it was already spotless). I was ready to give in and take it to the dealer when I found this video. 5 minutes later it was running like new.

Thank you very much indeed. Just cleaned the spark arrestor and now have a working hedge trimmer.

Had the same problem with my Stihl backpack blower Did the same procedure (after doing what everyone else does: New plug, new air filter, even dumped the fuel and put in new), and it worked perfectly. Just had the problem with my Stihl HS46 trimmer. Did not remember the spark arrestor. Didn't even know there WAS one on this thing. Located it, pulled out with a 15mm socket, burned off the carbon and replaced. It now starts on the first pull and runs like a champ. Thanks for a really good video.

Worked like a charm! Never would have suspected. Good job Fill’s!! Bob B

That was the answer for my HS 45. It took about 3 minutes. Thank You

Thanks for the video! Used the hedge trimmer yesterday and it worked perfectly. Then today it would not rev or even idle properly. Tried cleaning out the air filter and replacing the fuel, but this had no effect. Cleaning out the spark arrestor worked immediately!

Thanks Mate, helped with mine, thought it was the fuel mix, re did it, no change then youtubed it, and it runs like a dream now. Appreciate it 🤟🤙

After thinking it was the carb and replacing it, had the same problems. Thanks to your video, I found the spark arrestor was completely clogged. Cleaned it with a wire brush and some brake cleaner. Runs like a champ now. 😎

Right on Fill! Good info...

Thank you sir! This video just saved me over $350. I have a Stihl HS 46C & HL 94. Both were sputtering & I figures it was something with carburetor? Ask a dealer about maintenance & was told its busy season & would be about $350 + for maintenance, along with 4 wk wait time. I typed in maintenance & model numbers here on KZfaq & what ya know.... 10mns to watch the video & 45mns later I serviced my tools by myself! Thanks again & subbed!

Fill thank you 🙏 mine was horrible and it cleaned right up now runs perfect

Thanks man. My HS45 is as good as new now, thanks to you!

Just did it works like a charm thanks a lot.

Great job Fill, we see that all the time. Especially in blowers. Great editing and camera work.

Thank you for this video, this fixed my issuse 👍

Thank you for your very very good video I learned a lot I’m a steal 100% customer all the way

I got one for $20 locally. The spark arrester was so clogged up you couldn’t see through it at all!! Looks like the spark arrestor and spark plug were never changed out they were hard to take out. Thanks for the video!!

Thanks I’ll give it a try on the 45.

Super handy! Thank you

Nailed it, thank you sir!

Thank you very Much From Australia. You know we could have taken that to the Stihl store here and they would be dumbfounded as to what the problem could be, Fuel, or this or that and with every thought the price adds up and all the time they know deep down what the bloody problem is and they can now charge you $350.00 after it has been a week in the shop for a 10 minute job. Thank you once again

Did the trick! Thanks

Thanks for the video, big help!

Thanks I have that 45 product, been good one

Awesome info 👍👍👍Thanks

I got same problem I changed carborater, spark plug,clean filter but I don't know that carobrester until I see this video Thanks brother god bless you 🙏

The good thing I search first before going to buy a new spark rester. Edge trimmer It works great now, you saved me some 💵

Thanks buddy.

thanks! good infos

Very helpful 👌

Thank you!! You just saved me from having to take two trimmers to the dealership!

Thanks 👍

thanks. was exactly what was wrong. 👍👍

Stihl HS82R - It died when I turn it on its side to cut front & back of hedge. Fought it for 2-3 years. Started realizing it was actually when it warmed up (which is probably about when I move from top to front/back) Check carb adjustments again, cleaned spark arrestor in solvents. Finally, today I removed the screen, and so far, no more problems! I WILL ALWAYS REMOVED THAT 🤬 SCREEN FROM NOW ON!

Gotta admit , I had completely forgotten the spark arrestor and that was the problem. I used a mapp torch to burn off thecruddy screen , problem solved. Thanx !

this is a problem ive been seeing with all of stihl's two strokes. spark arrestors always clogging up after a year of use, sometimes not even a year.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! This was totally my problem and I was able to fix it 😄

Nice video, you used action director...how did you get the subscribe graphic?

Good one Fill. Would spraying brake clean on the spark arrestor damage it? Thanks for the video!!!

Dude great video, I ve got the 45 but there’s no arrestor on it it’s just the exhaust pipe, it’s an old model , any help would be great, cuts out but if I unscrew the petrol cap a bit it runs

Just try this and it fixed my trimmer. Thanks 😊

Another problem with not throttling up can be the carb diaphragm that is old and un-supple or goobered up with sludge from leaving gas in it. If you don’t use your machine on a regular basis consider switching to engineered or canned gas. They’re mostly pure paraffins with the automotive additives excluded.

Deep wells are the best 👍

The “T” tool came with the socket tool to remove it just an FYI. The best option is to air compressor it clean. But my dealer showed me how to clean them. Bur i asked for more parts not always able to fix this issue at work.

This is why I remove spark arrestors.👍

my hs45 doesnt have a spark arrestor ,,, why is that ? I've taken the muffler off and cleaned it , but nowhere on there is there a spark arrestor !! I've checked all over the muffler no place for one , the exhaust outlet is part of the muffler , no nut or anything !!

Fill is right, im being trained to be a stihl silver technician at a dealer, and they say in their literature that it's more cost effective to sell a new one to the customer, than burn it off, I disagree.

Mine bounces between a high-idle and a low idle and revs okay--but is nothing like running most power equipment--which doesn't "hang up" at a high idle. I'll check the arrester, but don't think that's the problem. I want this thing to run like my saws and other 2-stroke gear. Is it the reciprocating cutter that makes it rev weird? This is a pole-trimmer by Stihl--something 90.

Hi I Just used my HS45 today. The blades got stuck and I pulled on the throttle trigger 3 times to no avail it would not move the blades, then I noticed the blade was caught on a bit of wire fence. I pulled it out and back to normal except it immediately now starts making a rattle noise when revved what has caused this please?

Remove spark arrester an throw away.Then reassemble it's much easier.

What to do with the European versions? Spark arrestor is welded into the muffler. In the past, I've removed the muffler, sprayed a good bit of carb cleaner & lit it. But eventually, the arrestor becomes too clogged to do this.

Engine (HS45) dies after moving the cold throttle from cold to warm or when trigger engaged, what is at fault?

Hi l have a stihl hs 45 and want to clean the spark arrestor but l can't get it off there is no bolt mechanism at the bottom of the exhaust it looks as if it is a sealed exhaust I've even taken off the exhaus box . can you please help me

Mine isnt removable where your doing yours. I have the same teoubles as you did in the video but my spart arrestor must be somewhere else on the hedge cutters

Hi, my HS 45 doesnt have a spark screen on the muffler

k nice ..i have problem on hs45 but u dont show a hs45 plug , i dont have this metal fence on my spark on hs45

I have the stihl hs 45 trimmer and can not find it anywhere. Could you please help me locate where it is

Where is the same part on the HS45 please? Thanks.

mine wont start, just replaced cracked gas bulb, and changed spart plug. Now got to get medieval on the electric!

Mine doesn’t look like it doesn’t have it in there and I bought it used like that is that the reason why it starts but doesn’t keep on running it goes out

HS46C Stihl just check clean . Now it won’t prime ! Is the unit just junk now . Won’t rev .. now it won’t start to not rev..

What about when the cutting blades won’t move

The hs45 doesn't have a spark arrestor I'm lost why your saying it does

Hey guys mine won’t stay on and I press the gas and let it go and it’ll go off and I just realize that there’s not one in it could that be the main reason why

This does not work with the HS45.

Mine don't have that

Mine keeps running without pressing the trigger you know why?

Why can’t you just cut the screen off?

Junk I will never buy another one stihl hedge trimmer 145 it doesn’t matter what I do because every time I give it full throttle it dies

Hey Fill great video also I was wondering if you could do a custom logo for my KZfaq channel if you can that would be great my email is on my about page on KZfaq.

This goes for any small equipment not just “stihl hedgers”

I always just remove the screens when i first buy any thing with a spark arrestor. I run 40 to 1 fuel in my 50 to 1 two stroke engines anyway so they'd probably clog up faster anyway