Control system for power tool with internal combustion engine

A string trimmer comprising:

• an internal combustion engine having a throttle;
• and
• a control system having a throttle actuator, a control cable operably connected between the throttle actuator and the throttle for controlling speed of the engine, and means for actuating a first auxiliary function on the engine when the cable is moved to a first predetermined position, wherein the first predetermined position is past a throttle fully open position of the cable.

In a string trimmer having an internal combustion engine, a throttle actuator, an electric starter and a start switch, the improvement comprising:

• means for preventing the start switch from being actuated unless the throttle actuator is located at a predetermined actuated position, wherein the means for preventing includes a first section on the throttle actuator that is located, at least partially, in a path of a second section on the start switch into the throttle actuator is moved to its predetermined actuated position.

In a power tool having an internal combustion engine with a throttle valve, and a throttle valve control system with a user actuated throttle lever and a control link between the throttle valve and the throttle lever, the improvement comprising:

• a throttle lever control member movably connected to the throttle lever, the throttle lever control member having a first position relative to the throttle lever for adjustably stopping movement of the throttle lever in a predetermined direction at an idle position and a second throttle lever release position for allowing the throttle lever to move past the idle position in the predetermined direction to an engine stop position, wherein the throttle lever has a projection adapted to be stopped by the control member at the first position and, the control member has an aperture to allow the projection to move past the idle position when the control member is at its second position.

In a power tool having a user control section, an internal combustion engine with a throttle valve, and a compression release system, the improvement comprising:

• a single control cable connected between the control section and the engine, the cable being adapted to control the position of the throttle valve, actuation of the compression release system, and stopping of the engine, wherein the cable is connected to a shaft of the throttle valve and, the shaft has a cam member thereon for moving a portion of the compression release system when the cable rotates the shaft to a predetermined position.