I have a Homelite 26vt Mighty Lite that will only start when I dump gas straight in the carburetor after it uses that gas it will not start

50 to 1

You should wind it in the opposite direction of the head spin during operation.
Jim

Your fuel filter is INSIDE the fuel tank at the end of the fuel line that flows gas to the carburetor. The air filter is behind a snap on plastic cover over the side of the carburetor. There may be a plastic lever there which is the "choke" lever which is to be used when the engine is cold to aid in starting.

The detailed instructions, plus diagrams are in your manual. You can go here to view it. You will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer. This is the closest I could get to your model.
http://lawnandgarden.manualsonline.com/mdownloads/7d2e081d-9dc3-4ad6-b637-f6f946e2283e.pdf

There is a threaded cap on the spool that can get very tight, but a pair of Channel-loc pliers usually does the trick to remove the cap. Getting the string to feed consistently is a trick that I have not figured out how to do...

have you tried to replace the H T lead?

Setting up the carb right on a trimmer is like setting one up on an RC gas operated car. It takes someone with a good year,and a lot of experience doing it. If youre new at it,youre not just going to be able to get it tuned,well you could,if you want to spend a few hours. Just take it to someone who does it,they wont charge you much and it will save you a lot of aggrevation.

type in homelitest and ut number on the trimmer and then search google . maybe

Take the carb. apart and blow thru all the little passaged w/ carb cleaner you probably have a passage pluged with yuck. Make sure you use new gas when you try to start it again.

Your carburetor needs cleaned you had old gas in it this cloggedup your jets and made the diaprams hard witch will not move enough to pump enough gas to keep engine running off choke.