Tw
o-stroke engines may be simple, but they still need some care to keep working. Here’s what you need to know to service your Cub Cadet BB230 blower and solve common problems that can keep it from working effectively.
Maintenance Schedule
Every 10 hours: Clean the air filter
Every 25 hours: Check the spark plug
There’s no oil to change on this blower since it’s mixed with the fuel.
Most problems that aren’t caused by the air filter, spark plug or stale fuel can usually be solved by adjusting the idle speed control. The idle speed doesn’t drift at a consistent rate, so it’s not part of the regular maintenance schedule.
Air Filter
The air filter may need to be serviced more often if you’re working in dusty areas.
1. Open the air filter cover, located directly above the fuel tank, by pushing the tabs on its sides and swinging it left or right.
2. Remove the foam filter. Wash it with water and a mild detergent. Rinse the filter thoroughly and let it dry.
3. Soak the filter in new, clean SAE 30 oil. Squeeze the filter to remove excess oil. To make this job less messy, place the oil and filter in a plastic bag and seal the top.
4. Put the filter back on and snap the cover into place.
Spark Plug
Before servicing the spark plug, make sure the engine is completely cool. If you just finished using the blower, this can take 20 minutes or longer.
1. Disconnect the spark plug wire from the plug.
2. Clean the area around the spark plug with a dry brush to prevent dirt and debris from entering the engine.
3. Unscrew the plug using a 5/8 inch plug wrench.
4. Inspect the spark plug. If it’s damaged, fouled or has worn electrodes, it needs to be replaced.
5. Check the spark plug gap. It should be 0.025 inches.
6. Screw the plug into the engine by hand to prevent cross-threading. Once seated, torque the plug to 110-120 in-lbs. (9-10 ft-lbs.)
7. Reconnect the spark plug wire.
Idle Speed
The idle adjustment screw is located on the top of the blower between the air filter cover and engine cover. It can be turned using a #1 Phillips head screwdriver.
To adjust the idle, start the engine and let it run at high idle to warm up. Move the cruise control lever to “Slow.” If the engine stops, turn the idle screw clockwise 1/8 of a turn. Restart the engine and repeat until the engine runs smoothly. If the engine is idling too fast, turn the screw counterclockwise 1/8 of a turn at a time.
Storage
Do the following if you’re storing this blower for longer than a month:
1. Empty the fuel tank.
2. Start the engine and let it run until it stalls. This removes any residual fuel from the fuel line and carburetor.
3. Let the engine cool completely.
4. Remove the spark plug and add 5 drops of two-stroke oil or regular motor oil to the combustion chamber. Pull the starter handle a couple times to distribute this oil inside the cylinder. Reinstall the plug.
5. Clean the blower using a small brush and a cloth. Check for loose bolts and damaged components.
When taking the blower out of storage, remove the spark plug and pour out the oil inside the combustion chamber.
Troubleshooting
Whether the engine won’t start, idle or has problems speeding up or stalling, it’s usually due to one of 6 causes:
— There’s no fuel in the fuel tank.
— There’s no fuel inside the primer bulb. Slowly press the bulb until fuel is visible.
— The fuel is more than 30 days old, or it wasn’t mixed correctly. The engine uses a ratio of 50:1 gasoline to two-stroke oil. If you aren’t using Cub Cadet oil, you should also add a fuel stabilizer at a 150:1 ratio. That works out to 2.6 oz of oil and 0.8 oz of stabilizer per gallon.
— The spark plug is fouled.
— The air filter is dirty.
— The idle speed isn’t set correctly.
Get the Parts You Need for Your Cub Cadet
From leaf blowers to classic tractors, you can get everything you need for your Cub Cadet from www.cubparts.com. We’re not just an online retailer: we’re an authorized Cub Cadet dealer so you can be sure you’ll only get quality OEM parts. Our site even has factory exploded parts diagrams built in, letting you see where the part you’re ordering fits on your blower. We ship across the US and Canada.