ok all knowing OB....I've seen the threads on the gas vs electric edgers, weedeaters, etc but I'm not ready to give up on my existing equipment. Been good so far and for a long time. Going on 10 years. So yes, some will say just throw away and replace but I have a feeling the problem is minor and can be resolved easily and still get solid use out of my equipment.

I go to edge the other day and just before I grab it from the wall I notice it's leaking fuel. It appears to be coming from the carburetor or the fuel lines but I can't see exactly where. It's a small leak. So I drain the fuel tank and don't have time to mess with it then so put it back on the wall with some towels underneath. Check later that day and no more leak. When I get time I take it off the wall to mess with it and see that the fuel line from the tank is completely in half inside the tank.

This unit has the fuel tank and then a grommet on the tank holding/sealing 3 lines. One line is the fuel line that has filter on end inside tank and connect to carb. Second line is clear/yellowish return line from the carb to the tank (barely goes past the grommet inside the tank). And the third line I'm guessing is a vent line. Barely goes inside tank and just sits outside with a white top on it not connected to anything.

So I have an echo weedeater as well with same engine, config, etc. I had already replaced the carb on it and kept the lines from it as they were good. They are the EXACT same lines. So I took that fuel line that was still good and used it to replace the bad one on the edger. Replace the line and put it all back together, put fuel in and go to prime it. Bulb pushes but no fuel enters bulb. HMMMMMM. Go ahead and try to start it anyways and after a few pulls it starts up. Runs and runs good!! Thinking I'm back in business. Use it for maybe a minute and shut it off. Try it again...bulb still doesn't work but now it won't start. Let it sit for an hour and then try again. I can tell first 2-3 pulls it's TRYING to start and then it finally does. Still no fuel in bulb. Run it for a good 2 minutes and then let it sit and it cuts out on it's own.

Went ahead and replaced the bulb. Now it fills with fuel but I can't get it started!!!

I'm thinking it has to be something with the fuel or air but can't tell which. But I'm stumped now. What say ye....

That is probably a Zama carb. On most of mine, I rebuild them with new gaskets and pump diaphragms. These can have a few issues of fuel, especially ethanol type fuel is used. Under your primer bulb is a base. It's a primer base, primer body, or whatever you want to call it. Inside of that are some internal check valves. Since your bulb is pushing IN but not sucking fuel, your check valve may be gummed up. OR you could have a failed pump diaphragm in the carb. I cannot recall if it is in the same gasket stack or on the side. Anyway, the same thing that happened to your fuel lines happens to everything else that is rubber or plastic.

You can chase this down with a new carb, a new rebuild kit, a new primer body, or maybe all three.

And for what it's worth, Amazon has some Chinesium carburetors that are matches to the nice one you have and they are about 12 dollars. It pains me to say it but I have used them when I don't want to spend 60 bucks on a carburetor for a 150 dollar echo tool.

Anyway, long story is that everything in that carb runs in vacuum and diaphragms and there is an issue there. All fuel circuits are controlled by a couple of screws and flappy diaphragm material. I realize the usage of the word flappy discredits my entire post but that what I call it because it makes my kids laugh.

I'd say throw an amazon carb on it and throw the one you have in your coffee can of parts carburetors. Everyone has one of those right ?

Brazos...yes, forgot to add a note about the fuel....for YEARS I used regular fuel with ethanol (i.e. Exxon). A few years ago I switched to using ethanol free.
I'm sure the years of ethanol have done damage but since I replaced the carbs I've run ethanol free only.

when it runs it runs great!! Even the bit I ran it after working on it today was better than it had in a while. Just gotta get it where it runs great consistently without problems.

I know they don't cost a ton so I'm hoping I can spend $20 and have it run for a solid season or maybe two. Start looking at $40 and might as well put that towards something new (likely electric)