I bought one and it has run great, the only time it sputters is when the cutting line is getting short. I tap the head get more line to feed out and the sputter is gone. My spec sheet calls for 20w-50 oil. My experiance with most chinese made gas motors (which is probably most that we find available these days) is that they test run them at the factories then ship them leaving some gas in the fuel system, and since from test run, shipping, to sale is usually several months this allows the fuel system and residual gas in it to lacquer up. On anew purchase I usually put some rubbing alchohol in the fuel tank, then take the spark plug out, prime the fuel system, pull the start cord till I smell rubbing alchohol coming out of the spark plug hole. Then I let it sit a day so, the rubbing alchohol dissolves the lacquer, then I put gas in and start it up. I never have problems using this procedure. If you have lacquer gumming up your jets you can adjust the carb all you want but it will never run right!!

Pour out all of the fuel, and then push the primer several times to pull out the fuel from the carb. Then pull the rope a few dozen times, and see if it will eventually start until it burns off the excess fuel. Then mix up a fresh batch of fuel mix and try it again. The fuel that is in it may be so old and stale that it will barely burn, and it was just hopelessly flooded and needed a good airing out, and good fresh fuel is always a good idea. Fish

Having lot the same problem with a Husky 128 LD.about 3yr old. Last season found primer bulb cracked. replaced it and trimmer would not prime. Found fuel lines had basically disintegrated. Replaced, still wouldn't prime.figured carb was gunked up. This season I replaced the carb and gasket. Replaced the fuel lines with non-permeable lines. Replaced fuel lines. Using no-ethanol fuel with synthetic 2-cycle oil. Fuel is fresh and blew fuel filter out with carb cleaner. Now primes real easy, starts real easy. Runs for a minute or two at open choke. With about a 30 second warm up a half choke. Then dies especially when I give it some throttle for some cutting. Will restart but still won't run very long. Any suggestions. First year and half of service was great. Seldom had to run full throttle. Had a Troy built 2 cycle and 4 cycle before this was so much better. Now my Troy built mower with a Honda engine that's a whole different story!

I realize this is a very old thread, but for the benefit of those reading reviews I thought I would share my experience. I've owned several Echo 210's. In terms of reliability the little echo is amazing. Not once in 12 years has an echo trimmer failed me in the field. I've had issues. Even broke a plastic piece on the carb that holds the throttle cable, even so I was able to put a zip tie on it and finish the day. And if I'm honest it broke due to my piling other tools in the back of the truck. Not Echos fault. The 210 is not exactly a powerhouse... Hey it's an entry level semi-pro tool. Echo should advertise them as "It just works". Year after year, use it knowing it will get the job done. In 2008 I bought a bigger Redmax trimmer. A bcz2401. Power on the Redmax was astounding, for a while. In all the years I've owned Echo, none have broken or failed under warranty. Redmax has failed in the field 5 times. Issues ranging from clogged screen to coil failure. Not once have I clogged a screen on an Echo exhaust. While it isn't hard to fix, it just shouldnt happen. Recently the Redmax failed again. It's out of warranty, but still very low hour (I've gone back to using the Echo). After this most recent failure I almost recycled the Redmax, it simply fails too often. I decided to try having it serviced by another dealer. The "new" service center recommended a carb kit, in installing it they found a defective diaphragm. Hopefully it will run as it should, but I will never have the confidence with it that I have with an Echo. Year after year, Echo just works. If it doesnt, I've yet to be disappointed by the installation of an "Echo re-power kit". It comes with everything to restore the original power (spark plug, air filter, fuel filter.) Also in 2009 I bought a Stihl fx 110. Maybe it wasnt setup properly from the dealer, others have said it should have lots more power. By the end of the first day the Stihl was in the back of the truck, my helper was using the old (6+ seasons) Echo. I probably sound like a company schill, but for my money and peace of mind, Echo is the clear winner. Btw if you regularly cut very tall or super thick grass the 230 is much torquier than the 210. It's surprising that such a small difference in cc delivers so much power. The 260 is simply a Hoss.