I have a Ryobi S430 4 stroke Weed Eater Trimmer. How many times do i pump the choke (primer) to start cold?

You are right Ryobi (a wholly owned Home Depot product) products are cheap junk. Take it back and get a good one.

Terry: According to eHow.com:

"

Put on a pair of safety glasses. Remove the fuel cap from the Weed Eater and set it aside. Fill the fuel tank with unleaded gasoline that has been mixed with quality 2-stroke oil in a 40:1 ratio. Replace the fuel cap.

Move the Weed Eater to a safe place and lay it flat on the ground. Depress the fuel bulb located beneath the carburetor approximately six times to prime the engine. Press it slowly so that fuel has adequate time to traverse the fuel line.

Slide the handlebar-mounted engine "On/Stop" switch to the "On" position. Slide the choke lever beneath the fuel tank to the "Full" position.

Depress the "Throttle Lock" lever located beside the engine "On/Stop" switch. Keeping the lever depressed, squeeze the throttle trigger. Release the throttle lock. This sequence holds the trigger in the depressed position, which aids in starting the Weed Eater.

Roll the Weed Eater so that it is resting on the engine and the trimmer head shield only. This will allow the spinning trimmer head to avoid contact with the ground. Brace the Weed Eater by holding it to the ground with one hand. Using your other hand, pull the starter rope quickly until the engine begins to run. Do not pull the rope more than a dozen times. If it fails to start by then, squeeze the throttle trigger and continue to pull until the engine starts.

Allow the Weed Eater to warm up for about 15 seconds, then slide the choke lever to the "Off" position. Let the trimmer run for another minute without touching the throttle lever. After the Weed Eater has warmed up, squeeze the throttle trigger once to disengage the throttle lock. The trimmer is now operational.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_6720315_start-gas-weed-eater.html"

overhaul the carby
replace the pump diaphragm

Sounds like you need a new spark plug and probably a new gas filter. To start the weed eater it is recommended to pump the primer bulb seven times and the choke full down. You can get the fuel filter out of the tank with a hooked wire. Good luck.

You have a hairline leak in one of your hoses or a small gasket under primer bulb.

We have a Ryobi gas weed eater. We can get it started but it doesn't stay on. I took it in to get it fixed and he said it was the primer switch, which he replaced, but we are still having the same problem.
Can you help us or refer us to a Ryobi repair store? We live in Phoenix, Arizona but can go to any repair store in Glendale, Tempe, Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, wherever in Arizona. Thank you. Sally

I have the same problem. It will run if I put it halfway between Half Choke and Full Choke. But, just dies if I put it on Run or Half Choke. Don't ever loan your WE to anyone, They might just try to run it on straight gas--That is what happened on another week eater that I had.

somewhere on it is a primer button pump it a few times and choke the blower it should start

Check the carb jets, they might be a gummed up!

you need to replace fuel filter inside the fuel tank . fish it out with and empty tank using a coat hanger and a small hood bent on the end.filters are around $9.00