Replacing Ryobi Expand-It's Fuel Primer Bulb: A Step-By-Step Guide

If the primer bulb on your Ryobi Expand-It has seen better days, it's easy to replace. Primer bulbs are an important part of your trimmer's fuel system, pumping fresh fuel into the carburetor and making the engine easier to start. However, due to constant exposure to fuel, they will deteriorate over time. You can buy a replacement primer bulb for your Ryobi Expand-It from online retailers such as Amazon and eReplacementParts.com.

Remove the rear cover

To remove the rear cover of your Ryobi Expand-It, you will need a Phillips-head screwdriver. First, remove the four screws from the rear cover. Once the screws have been removed, you can lift the rear cover away from the engine. It is important to keep the screws in a safe place so that you can secure the cover again once the new primer bulb has been installed.

If you are planning to drain the fuel tank, it is recommended that you do this before removing the rear cover.

Detach the carburetor

To detach the carburetor of your Ryobi Expand-It, you'll first need to drain any excess fuel from the fuel tank. Once that's done, you can proceed to remove the two screws from the carburetor assembly. With the screws removed, you can then take out the choke plate and choke assembly.

The next step is to disconnect the throttle cable from the carburetor. This is done with a lift-and-twist motion. Now, your carburetor should be detached from your Ryobi Expand-It.

From here, you can continue with the rest of the process by removing the fuel lines from the primer assembly.

Remove the fuel lines from the primer assembly

To remove the fuel lines from the primer assembly of your Ryobi Expand-It, you'll need to first drain any excess fuel from the fuel tank. This is an important safety precaution as you'll be working with fuel lines and you don't want any accidental spillage.

Once the fuel tank is drained, locate the primer assembly. You'll find that the connection inlets/outlets on the back of the primer assembly are different lengths. Take a moment to note or even sketch out how the existing fuel lines are configured. This will be helpful when it comes to reassembling the parts.

On the Ryobi Expand-It model, the fuel return line, which is between the primer and the fuel tank, attaches to the longer stem of the primer assembly. The line between the carburetor and the primer, on the other hand, attaches to the shorter stem.

Now, it's time to disconnect the fuel lines. These lines should pull away from the assembly relatively easily using your hands. However, if they're being stubborn, you can use a tool like long-nosed pliers to gently coax them off. Be careful not to apply too much force, as you don't want to damage the lines or the assembly.

By following these steps, you'll have successfully removed the fuel lines from the primer assembly, setting you up for the next steps in replacing the fuel primer bulb on your Ryobi Expand-It.

Remove the primer assembly

To remove the primer assembly on your Ryobi trimmer, you will need a receptacle for draining fuel, a Phillip's screwdriver, long-nosed pliers, and a standard screwdriver.

First, remove the rear cover by taking out the four screws and lifting it away from the engine. Next, detach the carburetor by draining excess fuel from the tank, removing the two screws, and disconnecting the throttle cable with a lift-and-twist motion.

Now you can remove the fuel lines from the primer assembly. Note that the connection inlets/outlets are different lengths, so take a photo or draw a diagram to remember the configuration. The fuel lines should disconnect by hand, but you can use long-nosed pliers if necessary.

Finally, the primer assembly itself is held in place by two plastic locking tabs. Compress these with long-nosed pliers to release the assembly from its base. Then, simply slide the primer assembly towards the back of the trimmer and away from the trimmer head to remove it.

Install the new primer assembly

To install the new primer assembly, first, align the tab on the new primer assembly (beneath the short inlet) with the slot on the mounting base. Then, press or snap the new primer assembly into the mounting base.

Next, install the fuel lines. The primer kit comes with a new piece of the fuel line. To remove the old fuel line, pull the line that was disconnected earlier through the carburetor mounting plate (toward the carburetor). Disconnect the old fuel line from the carburetor. This line should be pulled away from the carburetor relatively easily by hand, but long-nosed pliers may be used if necessary to remove the line.

Now, install the new fuel line onto the carburetor. Pass the new fuel line through the hole in the carburetor mounting assembly. Connect the new fuel line to the primer assembly (the line from the carburetor attaches to the short inlet on the primer). Reconnect the fuel return line to the primer assembly (the fuel return line attaches to the long inlet on the primer).

Frequently asked questions