Lawn/power equipment talk

[yqtszhj]

For years I used a push mower and electric weed eater (with extension cords). I used that on our home lots ranging from as large as 1 1/3 acre to small as 1/4 acre. Our current place is about 1/2 acre. That was for about 20 years I did that.

About 4 years ago I had enough because that mower seemed to start getting heavier and heavier so I went all out. Bought a zero turn mower and gas weed eater (no more cords), and was given a gas edger. The zero turn I got on sale and with 48 months zero interest so it was a deal. The gas weed eater was a 2 stroke Stihl and only just over $100.

It all went well until this year (about the time I made the last mower installment.) The battery finally died and I had to replace it. It took a 350 CCA battery so it was about as much as a car battery. Have a leaky left rear tire so now I need to take a look at that because I have to add air about once a month. It’s about time for a transaxle oil change so that’s some more work. Still runs good though. Did get it stuck in the back yard this year after Noah’s flood this spring. Sunk right up to the axle. Also figured out not to ask the wife to help me get it unstuck. The zero turn handles were a little much for a first timer.

The edger wouldn’t start for anything. Ended up having to tear it apart and do a clean, buff, and polish on all the carburetor pieces. That took about 3 hours but it runs good now but I can tell it’s going to need an overhaul probably next year.

The Stihl weed eater ran good the first couple of cuttings this year then all of a sudden it wouldn’t idle then when it gets hot it keeps dying. Tore the carb apart on that and cleaned everything up good. All looked OK but still a problem. Tried adjusting it to no avail. Cleaned the spark arrestor too. When it gets hot it seems to be flooding regardless. Then I figured out all those little gaskets with what I’ll call plastic flappers have to be just right (Goldilocks not to hard not too soft) in order for the fuel to flow correctly. Then saw the parts were made in China. :confused:

Well, I saw last night given it’s made in China you can get a new carb, spark plug, fuel and air filters, fuel lines and extra primer bulbs all for only $18. Hopefully that will fix it.

I dont winterize anything, instead since it stays warm here I get stuff out and run it for a while to get it nice and hot every 2 weeks which always seems to to work well.

I remember when I was a kid there was never getting out of mowing the yard because the mower ALWAYS started and ran as long as there was gas. Where are the good old days?

As a side note, been looking at generators this year since I’m looking at some rural hide out property and they are expecting an active hurricane season this year. I’ve about decided to get dual fuel and use Propane since I have a 250 Gal. tank in the back yard. Maybe that will alleviate carb problems anyway. Always liked generators as we play with them at work all the time.

[Ed M]

Make sure you get gas without ethanol in it. Not always easy to find, but it beats the heck out of buying that expensive Trufuel stuff.

I fill a 5 gal can with the non-ethanol gas and put Stabil in it right away. I fill my 1 gal can from that and add 2 cycle oil for my trimmer/leaf blower/chainsaw. They all run 50:1 mix.

It's the added alcohol that kills the carbs and gaskets. Also kills the primer bulbs on the 2 stroke stuff.

I really like Honda mowers and Echo for everything else. My snowblower(s) are Honda, and I just bought a Wen generator from Home Depot.

Power equipment is cool.:music:

[Bawanna]

I have an Echo Gas Weedeater that I've had for 30 years. Never done anything to it, about the same for my small Echo chainsaw. Had to tinker with it and have to prime it these days to get it to go but once it's going no problem.
The wife has a habit of just going out and buying a new thing if the old doesn't start. She tried to use my weedeater and it wouldn't start so she went and bought a piece of junk Cub Cadet or something. When I got home I started my weedeater for her on the first pull. She said the new one is lighter which it is, junk usually is lighter than quality.
She did the same with the push mower, it was a really good one, brand slipping my mind now but she went and got a new push mower, it's ok, not near as good as the old. I told her it just needed the carb cleaned. My son took it, cleaned the carb, even found a new rear bag for it and he's still using it today.

I think it was 3 years ago my Husqvarna riding mower developed a major oil leak, had it fixed once and a couple years later it started leaking again, got to where I'd just drain the oil after each mowing and then just pour it back in next time. Finally gave up and got a Cub Cadet Zero Turn, wanted a Bad Boy but the Cub is sweet, I'd never go back to a tractor mower again. Took a little getting used to and you have to remember not to wave at the neighbors if you don't have your hand on both handles or your gonna turn hard!

I keep meaning to add Stabil towards the end of the mowing season but seldom remember, a few friends go to a coop and run nothing but Ethanol free gas which I think is the real ticket. I've not really had any problems.

I'm a pretty strange duck in that I actually enjoy mowing, nobody knows I'm a derelict unless I run out of gas way out from the house and sit there waiting for somebody to bring me gas. I fill the tank without fail every time now, after I crawled about 75 yards that one time, don't want to go there again. Wasn't so bad on the grass but the gravel drive and then the cement floor where the chair was located was pure hell on the knees.

My big issue is the front and side of my acre are steeply sloped, so I'm trying to figure out a 4 wheel balancing like chair so I can keep the grass weed whacked down. Have to rely on my kids or neighbors. Don't much like relying on nobody.

[tokuno]

I've got a small Honda generator (2200i) to power the two refrigerators during outages, and the other small appliances (string trimmer, blower, chain saw) are Echo.
They've all run well, but a few months back the blower engine wouldn't turn over. Google told me it's the flywheel (the key in the hub strips out, and there's an embedded magnet for the ignition coil), and eBay found me one less outrageously-priced than retail.
It's back to running normally, but it seems like planned obsolescence (and that flywheel's too spendy to be replacing it instead of just buying a new blower), and it shook my confidence a bit in these little made-in-Japan engines, that I otherwise took for granted.
That said, if I had to replace any of them, I'd start with Echo.

[yqtszhj]

I have a gas station about 2 miles down the road that sells the ethanol free fuel which is nice. I like that idea about the 5 gallon can to the 1 gallon can idea too. I think I’ll try that.

My 2 grandfathers were opposite ends of the spectrum. One maintained everything in detail. He was a farmer when young and could do about anything. When he passed I got a lot of his tools and electric stuff like drills, skill saws, and the like. I got this hammer drill with bits where I can go through 12 inches of concrete. It’s cool stuff.

The other grandfather was a city guy, maintained nothing and ran everything to failure. I remember his lawnmowers looked like they came out of the junkyard (they probably did) and he never did anything but added gas. And the darn things started every time. They sat under a tarp all winter long in the snow and rain.

Ive looked at 2 generator sizes and am trying to decide. Both are portable I’d like the larger one I could plug into the house and run everything but the HVAC but even though portable with wheels is still a little over 200 lbs. and uses more fuel. The other one would be better in a remote area (rural hideout) at only about 100 lbs. and more fuel efficient. It’s also about only half the price. I may end up getting 2. The bigger one for the house and then if the hideout comes along getting the smaller one. I still think I like the gas/propane dual fuel option, particularly for the house.

back on the mower thing though, I inherited from city grandfather a new in box John Deere push mower that runs like a champ. Never had a single problem with it. Not sure if John Deere made it or not but it runs real good.

[dustnchips]

I'm with Ed M. I use ethenol free premium gas and add a staabilizer. I drain my trimmer and blower in the fall and run the carb dry. My motorcycle gets premium ethenol free and stabilizer the last couple oftank fulls. My lawn mowers get the same treatment as does my side by side. I have never had a problem with any of them. My chain saws get the premium ethenol free with stabilizer, but they do not get drained and run dry. They start fine to. Ethenol free premium is the solution. Also buying good equipment instead of the big box discount junk helps a lot.

[yqtszhj]

Sometimes I envy those with a cold season. Living pretty close to the gulf now I mowed in December then in Feb this past winter. I get winter weeds in the back yard that surpass summer growth some years. Particularly if it’s a wet warm winter. Front isn’t much better.

[getsome]

The trick to keeping any small engine running is ethanol free fuel so if you can buy it at the pump that's great but in my area it's hard to come by so I have to buy the cans at the depot but I don't use that much so I just buy a few cans of the 40:1 pre mix fuel for the 2 cycle stuff and drive a bit once a season to the QT that sells the acid free real gas and 5 gallons is good for the summer....What I want to know is why we have to put up with 10% alcohol gas and pay more for it unless it's only to keep the corn farmers wallets fat....There is no cost or energy saving reason at all to add ethanol to gasoline.....

Think about it for a minute, it takes diesel to plant and harvest the corn, more diesel to haul it by truck to the distillery where it takes massive amounts of natural gas to turn corn into white lightning which is pumped into tank cars which use more diesel to transport the alcohol by rail it to the petroleum refinery to be added to gasoline which we have to pay a premium price for a basically degraded product to fill up our tanks with.....I don't see any clear winner here but the farmers...

[I_Like_Turtles]

I use ethanol-free gasoline in my mowers.

[yqtszhj]

Think about it for a minute, it takes diesel to plant and harvest the corn, more diesel to haul it by truck to the distillery where it takes massive amounts of natural gas to turn corn into white lightning which is pumped into tank cars which use more diesel to transport the alcohol by rail it to the petroleum refinery to be added to gasoline which we have to pay a premium price for a basically degraded product to fill up our tanks with.....I don't see any clear winner here but the farmers...

Man that’s a good point. We need to start a movement that all distilled corn remains in its intended form...... White Lightening.

Will anyone second the motion?

[getsome]

I'm with you all the way brotherman, sipping on a JD on ice as we speak which is Gods intended purpose for the corn plant, cheers and a mighty fine weekend to you!

[wally1]

I just use the regular ethanol flavored gas and rarely have problems. Of course, down here, I could be mowing in December. If any of my gas powered stuff starts acting funky, I mix up a strong dose of SeaFoam and it cleans it right out. Haven't had to take a carb apart for years.

[DavidR]

I’ll have to ask my yard guy.

Did my own yard for 27 years but in 2009 my work responsibilities left me no time for yard work. Hired a yard guy. Most of them do a terrible job. They scalp the yard and in hot southern Florida that’s a recipe for disaster. Finally got a guy who agreed to raise the deck on his mower and my yard is now in great shape again.

[I_Like_Turtles]

I’ll have to ask my yard guy.

Did my own yard for 27 years but in 2009 my work responsibilities left me no time for yard work. Hired a yard guy. Most of them do a terrible job. They scalp the yard and in hot southern Florida that’s a recipe for disaster. Finally got a guy who agreed to raise the deck on his mower and my yard is now in great shape again.

I recently replaced a guy from a mowing contract. He "mowed when he felt like it" with a riding mower, did not weed eat, did not rake, ran over trash. I came in there and for $5.00 less per mow, push mowed, weed ate, picked up all the trash, raked, loaded up all the grass clippings (three 55 gallon bags' worth), removed all the mowing hazards such as cinder blocks, rocks, etc. Then I came back on my own time and removed a stump, three fallen logs, and broke up and removed a large section of old chimney. Only one course of bricks was above ground, 4 or 5 courses below! It must have laid there a long time to sink so deeply.

Now the same lady wants me to begin mowing all her rental properties. I am about to offer her a price on clearing a lot. Doing a better job for less seems to work. :cool:

[berettabone]

My riding mower is on it's last leg. It's an old Murray and I've been nursing it for years. The handle for raising and lowering the deck took a crap and broke in half. The deck is all the way down. The repair parts are more than the mower is worth. I never paid a dime for the mower. Got 5 years out of it. It's tough to keep blades on a mower by me. The ground is mostly all sand and it sandblasts everything underneath, and chews up blades. I may get one or two more mows out of her and then retire her to the garage where I'll probably take the deck off and use it to pull stuff or just sell it or give it away. I've been trying to avoid buying a new mower but will probably check out deals at the end of the season........I always use an electric weed trimmer. 100 feet of electric cord does me. They don't last but the gas ones are great the first season, then they don't want to start any more. I always run my gas with saver in it and take care of my equipment with regular oil changes and maintenance. The lawn really got buffed this time. I call it a lawn but it's actually a desert in the Midwest.

[dustnchips]

I have a Stihl trimmer. I run premium no ethanol and use Stihl 2 cyl oil. I drain the tank at the end of the season and run the carb dry. Five years of use and starting on six without any problems. I don't like cords and they would be too long for my use. If you can manage with electric tools it is the way to go. Sure avoids a lot of problems.

[yqtszhj]

Well, the new carb and all the other changeable parts (plugs, air and fuel filters, plug, fuel lines, etc.) didn’t fix my Stihl trimmer. Still has the same symptom and it has not much power even running full speed. At least the kit wasn’t expensive. Nothing else to change out or clean. I saw some videos talking about ring issues with the engines of those trimmers. Guess I may have to try something new. I’ll have to ponder it for a bit.

[AJBert]

I bought 30 gallons (six 5 gallon cans) of non ethanol premium gas when price bottomed out about a month or so ago. I've got a Stihl chainsaw, 3 generators and a 25hp outboard that I run the stuff in (chainsaw and outboard both 2 stroke 50:1 mix). I do have an electric weed eater, though. I also run the medium generator for the camper on propane. I did have a riding mower before moving up here that I kept running for 11 years by scavenging parts from my dad's broken down mowers over the years. Swapping engines out is considered scavenging, right? Went through two chainsaws before getting the Stihl, but they both went through a lot of use. I have always used non-ethanol premium gas in small engines, and when I couldn't I made sure to put in Sta-bil.

[jeepster09]

My Craftsman 42" Hydrostat Rider died last fall and I had to replace it. I went with a Toro Timemaster 30" BEST THING EVER. It actually does better job and is faster.

https://www.toro.com/en/homeowner/walk-behind-mowers/timemaster-21199

[Ed M]

I started doing the 5 gal can to 1 gal can thing just to use up the gas in the big can faster. It's also easier to be accurate vs a pump nozzle.

All my power equipment is pretty miserly on fuel, so a 5 gal can lasts all year for me. Adding Stabil ensures it's gonna make it to next year.

My house has an oil furnace for heat and hot water. My generator only needed to be big enough to power the furnace and refrigerator. I live right next to the local high school, so likely won't be without power for long periods. I'm gonna have a power connection added to my breaker box, so all I have to do is plug the generator in to it. We're not talking a lot of amps here.

I second the White Lightning motion...

[tokuno]

Are the cylinder and piston clean? My blower was sluggish and struggling. When I pulled the muffler, the innards looked pretty varnished up, so I Seafoamed it clean (straight into the cylinder), and it was back to its peppy self.

[yqtszhj]

Are the cylinder and piston clean? My blower was sluggish and struggling. When I pulled the muffler, the innards looked pretty varnished up, so I Seafoamed it clean (straight into the cylinder), and it was back to its peppy self.

Looks pretty good but at this point I have nothing to lose so I’ll give it a try. Thanks.

[berettabone]

I used to use Seafoam back in the day in my cars. It's a good ole standby............................don't know about other areas but in my neighborhood, gasoline has a shelf life of about 30 days before it starts turning to varnish. I use lots of gas saver, I keep it in all of my gas cans and run it through my equipment constantly. I also NEVER run my fuel dry in any of my stuff. You should always keep a bit of fuel in your equipment to keep any gaskets wet. They will dry out over the winter. Also, running out fuel allows any junk in the bottom of a tank to get in to the filters.

[dustnchips]

I always had the same concerns about running the carb dry. The Stihl dealer told me to run it dry for winter storage and the manual says the same thing. Most of the gaskets now are some rubber composit so I guess they don't kneed to be kept moist. It has worked for me so far. When all else RTMD and follow it.

[DavidR]

No problems for me over the last 15 years running the carb dry in my generator. Monday I fired it up for the first time in two years. Ran rough for a few minutes and then smooth. Ran it dry and put it back under my work bench. Really hoping I don’t need it this hurricane season.


https://i.imgur.com/lyqFb2P.jpg

[yqtszhj]

No problems for me over the last 15 years running the carb dry in my generator. Monday I fired it up for the first time in two years. Ran rough for a few minutes and then smooth. Ran it dry and put it back under my work bench. Really hoping I don’t need it this hurricane season.


https://i.imgur.com/lyqFb2P.jpg

Lucky you, You’re not going to get one that good anymore. Good engine.

[DavidR]

Lucky you, You’re not going to get one that good anymore. Good engine.

I inherited it from my father in law in 1999. He’d had a few years then so it’s probably 25 years old. 10hp Tecumseh engine, 5000 watts, pull start.

I did have the carburetor rebuilt in early 2005 because it had sat for too long with gas in it.

Eventually the pull start feature will be too much for me. If my plans to retire to NC come to fruition next year I will likely give it to one of my buddies before we move and pick up one with a battery powered starter.

[yqtszhj]

My edger is big steel push around type from before 1995 and has a real USA Briggs and Stratton engine. About every 5 years or so I have to pull the carb off and shoot some carburetor cleaner through the fuel lines and pump then it runs like a new machine. They don’t make them like that any more in my opinion.

[dustnchips]

@David R At 84 my dad was looking for a generator and was going to save some money by getting one with pull start instead of electric start. I took him to a Home depot where they happened to have a returned pull start on the floor. He pulled it three times and decided he need the electric start. Just remember to start it monthly and run it for 15 minutes or so. sitting unused isn't good for such things and the start battery will need a charge anyway.

[getsome]

I inherited it from my father in law in 1999. He’d had a few years then so it’s probably 25 years old. 10hp Tecumseh engine, 5000 watts, pull start.

I did have the carburetor rebuilt in early 2005 because it had sat for too long with gas in it.

Eventually the pull start feature will be too much for me. If my plans to retire to NC come to fruition next year I will likely give it to one of my buddies before we move and pick up one with a battery powered starter.

Wow I haven't seen a Tecumseh engine in years, when I was a kid my best friend and I saved up grass cutting money and bought a used go cart that had a 3 horse Briggs & Stratton that would barely run so we found a used tiller with a 8 hp Tecumseh and swapped motors and man that 8 horse with the governor removed would scream, that little go cart would run 45 mph easy....Lucky we didn't get killed on that thing....

[340pd]

Well, the new carb and all the other changeable parts (plugs, air and fuel filters, plug, fuel lines, etc.) didn’t fix my Stihl trimmer. Still has the same symptom and it has not much power even running full speed. At least the kit wasn’t expensive. Nothing else to change out or clean. I saw some videos talking about ring issues with the engines of those trimmers. Guess I may have to try something new. I’ll have to ponder it for a bit.

If your trimmer has a spark arrestor on the muffler, that is likely your problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsXznA67-zA

BTW if any of you have small engine issues check out this guys youtube channel
Steve's Small Engine Saloon

[yqtszhj]

If your trimmer has a spark arrestor on the muffler, that is likely your problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsXznA67-zA

BTW if any of you have small engine issues check out this guys youtube channel
Steve's Small Engine Saloon

That Youtube channel is a good one. Used a lot of his videos and some others on the trimmer diagnosis. His beer of the day in the videos is what got me. If you check his website he has a button to “Buy Steve a beer”.

Yeah, Spark arrestor is clean as a whistle. Checked the last little thing yesterday, the small hole in the block who’s pressure operates the fuel pump on the carb. Looks good too. Still has no power. I used to have a compression tester but for the life of me I can’t find it. Anyone know where I put it???

[berettabone]

I have had 2 different machines have their gaskets dry out from running them empty. That's why I use the gas saver. Never have to get rid of/use bad gas. Never have to run the crud in the bottom of any tank through any filter running the tank dry. It's worked for me....................mowers, snow throwers, grinders, whippers, generators. Gaskets don't always dry out of course. Some dry out and reinvigorate when they get wet again. Others dry out, crack, get wet again and leak. Some disintegrate over time, some don't because they are rubber. I don't bother to see what type is where, I just treat everything the same. I refuse to waste my time fighting with stubborn machinery. If it wastes too much of my time, it's down the road. I use electric weed whackers because they are convenient, clean, and when they break, I toss them and get another. I purchase my push mowers from overstock places usually for less than $100 shipped to my door. I usually have to attach the handle and wheels. No biggy. I never change the oil, just add if needed. They last an average of about 7-8 years. Changing the oil would not increase the life by very much because I've been there, tried that, so for $100, I don't bother. I DO take care of my riders and blowers because of the investment. I'm another one who likes mowing. It's actually relaxing and can be zen like on a nice day.:)

[dustnchips]

I have had a Toro self propelled mower for about 16 years now. I change the oil and sharpen the blade in the fall and run no ethanol premium in it the last tank full in the fall. Good equipment does last if maintained.

[jeepster09]

Now here is a LAWNMOWER UPGRADE! :amflag:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S_GEbLT6mM

[yqtszhj]

Now here is a LAWNMOWER UPGRADE! :amflag:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S_GEbLT6mM

Cool. That looks like something Harrylee would build.

[Bawanna]

That's wicked cool for sure. I just can't help but wonder how he puts gas or oil in the thing. I'd have to put a side hatch so I could get in the thing. I got a zero turn I'd love to do something cool to. Maybe like a funny car, tilts up, get in, drop it down and off we go.

Damn it now the wheels are turning. Get Harrylee on the line for consultation.

[Harrylee]

Now dang my ears been burning for a day now and couldn't figure out why till now. It’s you guys! Now this guy is worthy of being my son, now I was thinking a flame thrower attached to it would be good for killing weeds as you mow. Been crazy times with all this shut down stuff so with time off I built another bullet feeder for my buddy in poulsbo washington. Seems like it took for ever but I went a little nutty on it. Now I still look in once in awhile to see what you guys are up to. Here that bullet feeder I made.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JIvEAyQcmU