Skip to Content

Basic Troubleshooting Steps for Echo PB-413h Leaf Blowers

allthumbsdiy-echo-pb-413h-leaf-blower-basic-troubleshoot-feature-fl

Please keep in mind that this article is for the Echo PB-413h leaf blower with serial numbers P09512001001-P09512999999. If your Echo PB-413 has a different serial number, please refer to the reference section found at the bottom of the oTroubleshooting and Fixing Solutions for My Echo PB-413H backpack Leaf Blower article.

The primary purpose of this post is to do some basic maintenance tasks to eliminate simple problems before tackling more complex issues.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FRESH FUEL

Today, the gasoline you buy at most, if not all, gas stations is going to contain around 10% of Ethanol (often referred to as E10 gas). The government’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program has required that Ethanol be blended with gasoline as a “Greener Alternative” to more harmful oxygenators such as lead or MTBE (methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether). The biggest problem with using the grain or sugarcane based fuel additive is that it is an alcohol. As the alcohol naturally separates from the petroleum-based gasoline, it has an affinity for attracting water.

You can get 100% pure gasoline from a local airport but they are rather expensive (checkout pure-gas.org for locations).

This instability is called “phase separation” and has reduced the shelf life of the gasoline that remains in your small engine’s tank or that which is stored in your gasoline can. Most experts agree that under ideal conditions the shelf life of E10 gas is only about 3 months. If you live in hotter, more humid climates, it is much less.

Once the fuel is contaminated, the bad gas can cause filters and carburetors to become clogged as unprotected rubber hoses and plastic parts actually begin to dissolve and varnish build up happens.

Cleaning varnish/gunk requires carburetor rebuild (for detailed instructions, click here).

We will eventually find an alternative to Ethanol as a gasoline oxygenation agent, or even better, an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. But, until that happens, you should try to limit the length of time that E10 is kept in either your small engine’s gas tank or fill can and add fuel stabilizers right after purchase to prolong the shelf life a bit(I recommend Sta-bil).

Echo requires the use of 89 octane or higher gasoline with Echo Power Blend or ISO LEG-D and JASO M345 FC/FD certified oil at a 50:1 ratio. I prefer to use around 40:1 ratio (2.6 oz per 1 gallon of gas = 50:1 ratio). 3.2oz to 1 gallon gas = 40:1 ratio. remember that too much oil in gas will prevent teh spark from lighting up the fuel vapor.

I keep couple of bottles of Echo 2 Cycle oil that comes in a 16oz bottle. 16 oz is enough to to mix up to 6 gallons of gas and it comes in a nifty self-measuring squeeze bottle. Although some might argue that buying small 2 oz bottles (like this one) is better at keeping oil fresh but I think all those small bottles are wasteful.

By the way, if you have “stale” gas and you need to remove it from the tank, don’t tilt the leaf blower. It will create a huge mess. Instead, use a simple siphon like this one and dispose it properly (my town has several “hazardous chemical” collection days throughout the year).

I highly recommend AGAINST using starter fluid when troubleshooting a leaf blower. Starter fluid tends to strip off lubricants inside the cylinder and may cause damage to the engine.

JUMP TO THE TOP

CLOGGED GAS CAP

The main function of a gas cap to prevent a leak as well as to re-supply air into the fuel tank as fuel is consumed by the engine. If the cap vent is clogged, the gas tank will experience a vacuum or vapor lock as fuel is consumed. This vapor lock will prevent fuel to reach the carburetor causing the engine to stall.

in this particular model, the fuel vent is built into the fuel cap.

The easiest way to test to see if the cap is blocked/clogged/damaged is to loosen the cap slightly and try to start the engine. If the engine starts and runs, gas cap should be replaced.

If your Echo-PB413H has a different serial number, you may see a third fuel line which holds the fuel vent (a.k.a. check valve). This line should go ¼” past the fuel grommet and on the other end it connects to the fuel vent. Some models have a holder for the vent in the engine cover and other do not. The fuel vent allows air to enter fuel tank as fuel is being consumed and releases air out when pressure builds up in the tank.

JUMP TO THE TOP

WET AIR FILTER

Check the air filter to make sure that it is relatively clean and dry. A wet filter is like trying to drink out of a straw. Carburetor needs lots of air for the combustion to occur.

To replace a dirty or wet airfilter, (read my review of OEM and non-OEM air filters for Echo leaf blowers here).

JUMP TO THE TOP

AIR FILTER HOUSING

Unlike other variations that came with a 2 screw design, PB-413H P09512001001-P09512999999 comes with a design that requires an owner to engage the bottom tab of the housing before screwing down the top.

With it’s air filter installed, this task is quite arduous and it is very easy not to close it up properly, possibly introducing dirt particles into the engine space.


JUMP TO THE TOP

EXHAUST / MUFFLER

The engine must be able to “exhale” for it to operate correctly.

  • (7) – Spark Arrestor Screen
  • (8) – Exhaust Gasket
  • (9) – Exhaust Guide

Check to make sure the exhaust and spark arrestor screen are not clogged (free from carbon deposit or debris).


JUMP TO THE TOP

SPARK PLUG

Remove and visually check the spark plug to ensure that electrode is clean (no black carbon deposits) and properly gapped The spark plug gap should be at 0.024 – 0.026. A good, reliable spark should have a larger space between insulator nose and shell than cheap spark plugs. Larger spacing reduces fouling and misfiring. A high quality ceramic insulator also provides better insulation/heat dissipation

You can check the gap with either of these simple, inexpensive gapping tools: (1) Lisle or (2) A&E.

  • The best way to check and make sure your engine is operating correctly at top end is to “read the plug”.
  • Remove the spark plug and clean the electrode with a wire brush, get it as shinny as possible
  • Make sure there is no foreign debris stuck in the plug when you reinstall it
  • Run the leaf blower few times and remove the plug when it cools down
  • The electrode should be a medium brown in color. This means that all is well with both carburetor settings and choice of pre-mix oil
  • If the electrode is white or grayish in color, leaf blower is running too lean. Richen the high speed needle and perform the plug check once again. Do this until the plug reads the safe color
  • Make sure that there is good spark. Just remove rubber boot from spark plug, insert tester & place tester boot on plug and turn the engine over. If ignition is being sent to the cylinder, light in tester glows. If there is spark, then temporarily remove the ground wire from the module and check for spark again (must use the recoil starter);
  • If there is spark with the ground wire disconnected then there is a problem with the kill switch or a bad wire;
  • If there is no spark, then replace the CD ignition module;
PLEASE NOTE – if there is excess fuel in the cylinder or on spark plug, it can catch fire! So be careful to cover the hole with a heavy rag so that any fuel cannot be exposed to spark plug during testing.

PARTS AND TOOLS

There is a lot of confusion about which spark plug to buy due to it having multiple part numbers (this spark plug is used in various Echo products like weed trimmer, leaf blower, chainsaw, etc.)

For clarification, please note that Echo PB-413H leaf blower uses:

  • Spark plug made by NGK;
  • Echo OEM part number is # 15901019830; replaces obsolete part number # Y16052078010
  • Spark plug also comes in a standalone Echo “REPOWER” packaging, labeled Item 90114;
  • NGK’s equivalent product number is BPM-8Y, NGK 2057, NGK 5574 or BPMR-8Y
  • “R” in BPMR-8Y designates Resistor. A resistor spark plug prevent electrical interference that can disrupt car radio reception, two-way radio and cellular phone operation. This part is interchangeable with NGK BPM-8Y spark plug;
  • This spark plug can also be found in Echo’s tuneup kit (see below);

JUMP TO THE TOP

IGNITION WIRING CONNECTION

Please note that ECHO PB-413H or PB-413T models used either coil ignition or capacitor discharge ignition. Please refer to the Resource Page for Echo PB-413H Backpack Leaf Blower for more information.

There are 2 wires that come from the on/off switch.

One wire goes to the ignition and one wire goes to the ground on the engine. The larger wire is the high tension lead. This wire goes from the spark plug to the ignition.

make sure that there is a good connection between ignition wires and good grounding connection to the engine block.

You will need to remove the shroud cover in order to tighten the ground screw.
JUMP TO THE TOP

 

THROTTLE LINKAGE

Leaf blowers are constantly being knocked around so check to make sure the throttle linkage is correctly seated in the plastic bracket and that throttle control is not binding or catching on any objects.

If your throttle lever and cable are disconnected, you will be required to at least remove the air filter housing (cover + base) and fuel lines to get clear access to the tight space in the rear. You can find the detailed How to Clean and rebuild Zama C1M-K77 Carburetor instructions by clicking here


JUMP TO THE TOP

FUEL FILTER

Check the fuel filter for any discolorations, debris or missing foam pieces. The fuel filter should be dropped down to the bottom of the tank.

JUMP TO THE TOP

FUEL LINES

Over time, fuel lines can get stiff and brittle which may cause holes or cracks. Fuel lines are relatively inexpensive and should be replaced every couple of years.

You also need to make sure the fuel lines are not touching any hot engine parts which may cause fuel to boil cause vapor lock

Item Part # Description
08 12532908560 Cap, high-speed limiter
09 P005001650 Needle, high-speed limiter
10 12536312820 Retainer
11 P005001640 Shaft, throttle
12 12531308360 Spring, throttle return
13 P005001650 Needle, high-speed limiter
14 12536312820 Retainer
15 P005001640 Shaft, throttle

Fuel Line Replacements for Echo PB-413h, Serial P09512001001-P09512999999

The first black colored line (10) & (11) is a main supply fuel line (thicker than the yellow line). This line is the fuel pick up line and it has a weighted fuel filter attached to the end inside the fuel tank. The line should be just long enough so the fuel filter can submerge in the fuel at all times. The other end of the fuel line is attached to the purge pump body under the primer bulb to the connector closest to the cylinder. The connector usually has several barbs at the end to help hold the line to the carburetor.

The second line (13) is a clear yellow line (skinnier than the first line). This line is the return line and it connects from the fuel tank grommet to the purge pump body to the connector closest to the air filter. This connector has a single barb at the end to secure the return line. This line is not submerged in the fuel.

If your Echo-PB413H has a different serial number, you may see a third fuel line which holds the fuel vent (a.k.a. check valve). This line should go ¼” past the fuel grommet and on the other end it connects to the fuel vent. Some models have a holder for the vent in the engine cover and other do not. The fuel vent allows air to enter fuel tank as fuel is being consumed and releases air out when pressure builds up in the tank.

Please note that a clogged/deteriorated vent assembly will stop the flow of fuel from the tank to the carburetor causing a lean fuel supply to the engine drastically reducing power and could result in engine seizure.

Check all fuel lines to make sure that they are pliable and are not cracked, bent or pinched.


JUMP TO THE TOP

PRIMER BULB

Press down on the primer bulb couple of times to see the fuel flow back in the return line. If the bulb is cracked or leaking, it needs to be replaced.

The bulb pulls fuel from the carb into the bulb and back to the tank, if the bulb does not fill it is because there is a fuel blockage, either in the fuel filter in the tank, or the screen in the carb itself.

You can read the detailed how-to instructions found here

JUMP TO THE TOP

WRAP UP

Leaf blower looks pretty simple but all components must work together which can make troubleshooting task very long and difficult.

Eliminating these simple maintenance items as possible suspects allows us to more effectively determine the root cause.

After doing all these maintenance tasks and your Echo leaf blower is still not working, head on over to Troubleshooting and Fixing Solutions for My Echo PB-413H backpack Leaf Blower article (click here) for more solutions.

Well, I hope you found this article to be useful and do me solid by signing up for my newsletter. The signup form is found at the top of the screen on the right side.

 

Chuck Baker

Friday 16th of November 2018

Just rec'd a used Echo PB-413H backpack blower which needs minor(?) tuneup. No previous experience with backpack blowers or Echo brand. Your website is proving invaluable - great photos and information on finding replacement parts. It's certainly a 'keeper'. Thanks.