Yard trimmer (Homelite Mighty Lite 26e) fuel filter replacement

My trimmer

I bought this small yard trimmer back in 2007 (9 years old!).  This Homelite Mighty Lite 26e trimmer had one issue about 3 years ago.  Rubber fuel tube got cracks so I replaced them.  This time, my trimmer had another issue. It became very difficult to start, and the engine stops right after.  When I tested it without the fuel filter in the fuel tank, it stayed a little longer.  My gut feeling about the main problem was the fuel intake part.

Figure 1. Homelite Mighty Lite 26e yard trimmer (I am holding the old fuel filter)

Buying parts

I went to the nearby Homedepot but it seemed like they no longer carry Homelite products.  My local store did not have the filter itself. Instead, I finally found Ryobi's part with ~$8.  It contains Fuel tube with the filter and the metal string to install. Part from different manufacturer may not fit, but I did not have much choice.

Figure 2. Ryobi's Fuel System Tune-up Kit from Homedepot.

Installation

I took out the old filter and the tube (See figure 4). Since the new filter came with the tightly attached tube, I had to replace them all together.

Figure 3. Old clogged fuel filter (upper) and the new filter (lower)

Figure 4. Taking out the old filter and the tube. 

From the outside to inside the tank, run the metal string through the hole.  Tightly attach the new tube and carefully pull it until you can hold the tube outside the tank.

Figure 5. Installing the new fuel tube using the metal string. 

Once you see a tiny bit of the new tube from outside of the tank, carefully grab it using long nose and slowly pull it to make it fully through the hole. 

Adjust the length of the tube inside the fuel tank. Cut the rubber tube to match the length to the metal attaching tube (give about 1/2 inch more length for flexibility). 

Figure 7 shows the finished trimmer. I was able to start the trimmer and the engine was running in excellent condition.  

Figure 6.  Once you see the new tube from outside the tank, use long nose to pull it out. 

Figure 7. Finished!

Fixing friend's leaking kitchen faucet (Pfister Hanover GT529)

Problem

One day, I was invited for a dinner at my friend's house. I was surprised to see their kitchen faucet is as same model as mine, and theirs was leaking somewhere in the spray head. The model is Pfister's Hanover GT529-TMS.  My kitchen has different color, though.

Figure 1. Pfister Hanover GT529-TMS Stainless (Photo courtesy http://www.pfisterfaucets.com)

She asked me to see if I could replace the faucet for her but I thought it would be a waste of money if it could be fixed.  So I promised to take a look some day.

Today was the day.  As before, the spray head was still leaking so I started to disassemble the spray head to see if it would be fixable.

 

Figure 2. Leaking kitchen faucet spray head (Pfister Hanover GT529 Stainless)

Disassemble

 I unscrewed the top part then the spray head came out.  Then I screwed out the bottom black plastic part very carefully not to scratch the plastic.  After a few snug rounds, bottom part finally removed.  I still had no idea where the leak is coming from.  I wanted to take a look at the inside of the spray head but it did not come out until I shake it hard.  It finally came out after a few shaking!

Figure 3. Removed spray head (left) and the inner assembly.

Finding Clues

When I temporary screw just this black part in the main water hose, I was able to see the leak in the upper black screw part.  I wish I had a picture of it!!  When I unscrew the upper part, as shown in Figure 4, there are a rubber rim and the other side (upper side) is the plastic.  As you can see in the picture, the rim had cracks and broken into many pieces.  The water was leaking right there!

Figure 4. Finally found where the leaking is happening!!!  (See the broken plastic rim in the zoom-in picture in the left (or upper)).

Fix

I have decided to use the WaterWeld that I have bought for my bathroom renovation project.  It is waterproof and water pressure resistance so it is a perfect tool for this project.  I have assembled the parts and used the WaterWeld putty to fill the gaps due to the cracks.  I used enough putty to tightly fill the gaps.  Then it was dried a little bit although it can be wet right away.  I just wanted to give some time to dry up to be able to work with water pressure.

Figure 5. WaterWeld was used to block the cracks.

Finally

After about an hour, I assembled the spray head back and the leak is fixed!!!

Figure 6. Water leak is fixed!!!

Epilogue
I was able to buy the spray head parts and it would have cost ~$48.  If this fix breaks I would just recommend to buy the part, but at this moment, the fix is satisfactory.  My friend has saved some $$.