SMALL LEAF BLOWER (2 cycle)

[Baldy_54]

Would it hurt to put a small amount of "SeaFoam" in the tank to clean up the carb. etc??

[Papa Zook]

Not at all, go for it.

[Oldmsocko]

That is actually a good idea.

[Veritas44]

Noperz. Those things need ALL the Prev. Maintenance help they can get. Don't know what's more aggravating...
Cords 100ft+ long or finicky little engines. Pick ur poison I guess.

[pcombe]

I use it periodically in all my vehicles.
I keep vehicles a long time!

[2006gold]

Having been in the small engine repair business for quite a while, I recommend the Sea Foam. As to two cycle oils, Opti 2 is the best I found. You can also run the Opti 2 mix in your other lawn equipment and have only one fuel can. It's smokeless and actually helps the four cycle equipment work better. These days, too, gasoline is being offered that contains two cycle oil, but no alcohol. Expensive, but you really only need to run a tank or two at the end of the season before you put the unit away and, hopefully, preserve your carb diaphragms and prevent gum up.

[leo3wheel]

In addition, buy tune-up kit with fuel filter, air filter and spark plug. Tune-up does wonders.

[2006gold]

I use it periodically in all my vehicles.
I keep vehicles a long time!

Me too, about every quarter a can gets dumped into the fuel tank.

[Shimpy]

Noperz. Those things need ALL the Prev. Maintenance help they can get. Don't know what's more aggravating...
Cords 100ft+ long or finicky little engines. Pick ur poison I guess.

I learned that a long time ago and went with rechargable Ryobi 40V edger, weed trimmer and blower. They alll share the same battery which last for 2 cuttings for me. The only thing gas for me is the lawn mower and they seem to have a large enough engine that they don't seem to share the same problems with the very small engines that are always hard to start after they are over a year old or so.

[Texan]

I put MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) in all my vehicles and lawn equip plus my trike and have for years.
o~\o

[Baldy_54]

Not at all, go for it.

Thanks Bazooka, I was looking for my post yesterday and could not find it. Thought it had been deleted because it was not motorcycle related. I took "Discuss Whatever You Like" to mean just that, since it was listed under the "general discussion" location.

[Veritas44]

Having been in the small engine repair business for quite a while, I recommend the Sea Foam. As to two cycle oils, Opti 2 is the best I found. You can also run the Opti 2 mix in your other lawn equipment and have only one fuel can. It's smokeless and actually helps the four cycle equipment work better. These days, too, gasoline is being offered that contains two cycle oil, but no alcohol. Expensive, but you really only need to run a tank or two at the end of the season before you put the unit away and, hopefully, preserve your carb diaphragms and prevent gum up.

Great advice! I run that year round in a Stihl S90 (almost bought a Core brand rechargeable Trimmer when bought that) and that thing never gives me any "crap" anytime. Using it last two fills at end of season in all small implements would make good sense. Thanks.

I learned that a long time ago and went with rechargable Ryobi 40V edger, weed trimmer and blower. They alll share the same battery which last for 2 cuttings for me. The only thing gas for me is the lawn mower and they seem to have a large enough engine that they don't seem to share the same problems with the very small engines that are always hard to start after they are over a year old or so.

Thanks for the review on that unit. Had a rechargeable once and didn't like it as was weak and didn't last. Sounds like you found a quality tool that does. When the Stihl finally lays down will look the Ryobi up. Just wonder how would fare for the tougher jobs here on the Farm like the pasture fence rows, around outbuildings, and clearing brush for Deer Blinds?

I like Lucas products. My Granddad was a Lucas Man (and a small engine Surgeon/miracle worker) so you know how that Family Tradition bias runs strong from Generation to Generation. Probably same with all preferences for all Brands.

[tom w]

I was at the end of my rope with gas weed eaters. the green ones last me about 1 year and wouldn't start the next spring . costs about as much to get one fixed as it does to buy a new one.
ran across a factory re-furbished echo weed eater and bought it . I use stabil in my gas and have used this one for the past 5 years. starts every time.

buy good stuff and you will always be happy or really p^ssed that you wasted that much money.

[2006gold]

I was at the end of my rope with gas weed eaters. the green ones last me about 1 year and wouldn't start the next spring . costs about as much to get one fixed as it does to buy a new one.
ran across a factory re-furbished echo weed eater and bought it . I use stabil in my gas and have used this one for the past 5 years. starts every time.

buy good stuff and you will always be happy or really p^ssed that you wasted that much money.

Even fairly cheap equipment can be made to last properly cared for. But, if you don' know how, it is a fact that it is just as economical to replace rather than repair. Most outdoor power equipment shops work by the hour, with some charging flat rates. That and parts can mount up pretty quickly. The newer Ryobi trimmers, for example, were about $90.00 for a new power head and upper shaft. I couldn't do any kind of repair or service on those, as my cut-off point was 50% of replacement cost. All I would do on equipment like that was tune the carburetor, for which I did not charge.

A clarification on my winter storage advice. Use one of the non-alcohol two cycle fuel mixes (there are several - I liked 50 Fuel and 40 Fuel - reasonably priced work well) and run the unit until it is empty. I recommend at least one tank full at the end of the season to condition the carburetor diaphragms.

If you want to step up from big box store product I seriously recommend Stihl, except for their least costly products. One reason is that a vast majority of their product line is manufactured right here in the USA in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Second, Stihl owns Zama that makes most of the carburetors for just about every two cycle unit manufactured anywhere so Stihl can offer better pricing. Third, their dealer network is unmatched by just about any other manufacturer. Echo comes close, but I became very unimpressed with their product once they sold out to the big box's..

[rwhgme]

As a Home Depot tool rental manager and "in charge" of our stores repair department, Ryobi warrants their equipment for up to 5 years...but not on fuel related issues. We STRONGLY recommend the use of ethanol free unleaded premium and synthetic based 2 cycle oil in all small engines. Fuel related carburetor issues are 93% of our repairs. We see, on average 25-40 weed eaters and blowers a week. Lawn mowers...this time of year..10-15.

[Baldy_54]

As a Home Depot tool rental manager and "in charge" of our stores repair department, Ryobi warrants their equipment for up to 5 years...but not on fuel related issues. We STRONGLY recommend the use of ethanol free unleaded premium and synthetic based 2 cycle oil in all small engines. Fuel related carburetor issues are 93% of our repairs. We see, on average 25-40 weed eaters and blowers a week. Lawn mowers...this time of year..10-15.

Good advice, but where does one get ethanol free unleaded gas these days?

[kawabeemer]

Go look at www.pure-gas.org and find a station near that sells alcohol free gasoline, put the stabilizer of your choice in the can before you fill it up.

[Baldy_54]

Figures, the only places that have alcohol free gas are over on the Eastern Shore of MD and that is at a minimum 125 miles away. Guess the only smart people are the farmers over there.

Update: Apparently, that list is not up to date, found a lot of stations when I searched ethanol free gas stations in MD. Need to go
check one out.

[Veritas44]

The "pure" gas usually costs about 15-20 cents more a gallon than the "corn-fuel". Here in The Sticks anyways.

[tom w]

I use a stihl leaf blower (for leafs and to blow dry the trike.) , an echo weed eater, craftsman 2 cycle rototiller, a cub rider, and a husky chain saw.
I want one of those pull behind lawn vac's. lots of leafs here and my back hates using a rake.