How to Start a Weed Trimmer

Overview

Weed trimmers, also known as weed eaters, allow you to cut grass and weeds along areas that are difficult to reach with your lawn mowers. They work great along fences, posts, trees and other areas where your lawn mower cannot reach. Weed trimmers can also muscle through taller grass that would bog a lawn mower down. Although weed trimmers are pretty straightforward tools, a certain order must be maintained when starting them.

Step 1

Prime your weed trimmer. Press the rubber ball located near the engine down four or five times. This will supply adequate fuel to the engine to start it. Usually this rubber ball is red.

Step 2

Push the choke lever to the choke position. Grasp the pull cord and pull it fast. Keep pulling until the engine starts. Ensure the weed trimmer is not near any objects or body parts when pulling the cord.

Step 3

Adjust the choke lever to the 50 percent level by moving the lever to the middle once the weed trimmer starts. Allow the engine to idle until it warms up. This usually takes a few minutes.

Step 4

Adjust the choke lever to the run position. Squeeze the trigger of the weed trimmer to rev the engine when cutting weeds. This will make the cutting string move at a higher rpm and allow it to easily slice through grass and weeds.