I have a convertible craftsman weedeater that has run like a champ - until now! I can get it to run briefly, a few minutes at most, then it dies and will not restart. After reading some similar posts I am beginning to suspect either an in tank filter or the inlet filter on the card
Sound reasonable?

How old is it? You could replace the fuel lines and in tank fuel filter... if its of some age. Next thing to do is take the carb off (get a new gasket for it) and get a carb kit for it (diapragm/gaskets) and blow it out with carb cleaner and compressed air, and rebuild it using the kit. Also make sure the primer bulb isn't cracked and the airfilter is clean.

I tried cleaning everything. It's only 2 years old. I did not put sta-bil in it this year like a moron. It's firing but not starting at all. The lines appear good, I was certain that I was going to find trash in the tank or the carb but could find none, I will try a rebuild kit next. Thanks for the suggestions!

Any warranty to speak of? Or just went out right before this started happening? Btw, don't resort to trying starting fluid, it'll make them run fast and hot... and sometimes burn the engine up. Deep creep is a good starting fluid for 2 cycles. Has lube in it, so not to burn the engine up. Btw, a good easy to find 2 stroke oil would be poulans 2 cycle oil, it's a synthetic and already has fuel stabilizer in it, so no having to add it extra. Some other brands have stabilizer in it, some don't.. read the bottle to be sure.

This malady is very typical of diapraghm-type carb-equipped power tools. In a high percentage of cases, gasoline (and/or its additives) over time causes the diapraghms to harden thus disabling critical fuel/air sealing within the carb. Result; engine either won't start or runs for just a few seconds. FIX: Replace the carb diapraghms available from several websites. Be gentle, take digital pix as you go to help in reassembly (if you're mechanically challenged) and remember cleanliness is paramount (I work on chopping block paper). I see some good advice from several others, here!

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I tried cleaning everything. I did not put sta-bil in it this year like a moron. It's firing but not starting at all. I will try a rebuild kit next. Thanks for the suggestions

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Before you get a kit empty the older gas out and get new High test gas and try it then. Theses small carbs are very tight in tolerances of octane etc. Not to mention the added ethanol at many of the pumps. More so then not its filter and octane and pump at the end of that spectrum