Quite a few years ago, more than 10, I purchased a real good commercial weed eater. The first year it was perfect. The next year it was hard to start. The third year I had to take it to the shop and have it serviced. It cost about $100 to get it running. From then on it has been in the shop an average of once a year at a cost of almost $100 each trip. I don't like weed eating so it not working was a good excuse note to trim. Last year, I took it in the spring and it worked pretty well all summer. I was going to trim up around the fence the last time last fall and when I pushed the primer bulb, it split. I took it back to the shop this spring. Well they no longer make parts for it so I started shopping for a replacement. I thought about getting an electric model but the outlets are not handy and I would have had. To use 150 feet of extension cord. I also looked at a battery model but didn't think it would last the job and if it did, it would be too reliable. No excuses like out of gas or it won't start. I looked online at what Home Depot had to offer and noticed that they had a $100 gas powered model. We were in Walley World yesterday and I noticed that they had a Murray 2 cycle for $90 and tax. I bought it and 2 liters of pre mixed synthetic fuel. I put some fuel in the tank and followed the starting instructions and it started on the sixth pull. The instructions say to crank 5 times at full choke then got to partial choke and start the motor. It starts good and seems as powerful as the old one and I will not be taking it to the shop. It I get one season out of it I will be ahead of the game. The fuel was $2.50 per liter but is good for 2 years after you open the container. I estimate that I will use 2 liters per year I will pick up a fresh can when I empty the first one.
If you have 2 stroke tools such as chain saws or hammer drills that you don't use much the synthetic fuel might be something to consider. The instructions with this unit say to always use fresh gas, less than 2 weeks old. I used less than 8 oz this morning so a liter will last a while
In a previous thread, someone recommended Stabil gas conditioner, which I tried and found gives excellent results. A tool can sit up for months with the Stabil/2-stroke gas mix in it and fire right up. Considering how inexpensive it is, that would be my first choice.
Goats, man. They trim and fertilize all in one trip. They will also take care of those annoying flowers and shrubs that create obstacles to mowing in straight lines.
Don't have any of my own because SWMBO absolutely refuses to allow their existence anywhere on OUR (not mine, apparently) property. But, maybe you could give it a go.
I learned a long time ago and am regularly reminded that our house is HERS! However, my office is MINE!
I am a big fan of the pre-mixed 2 cycle fuel in the convenient little cans.
4 cycle fuel for lawn mowers, etc. is also available. This is good non- ethanol gas and it doesn't require filling gas cans at the pump which can be a huge hassle in CA. Do other states have those annoying new whatever-compliant gas containers?
Don
Yes we also have those whatever-compliant gas containers. And they are the only kind I could buy to replace the cracked one I had. I really hate that thing. It's awful!!!!
Google "racing fuel can" and you will find a better can. Add some PVC fittings, hose and a ball cutoff valve and you've got a winner.
B-)
> I am a big fan of the pre-mixed 2 cycle fuel in the convenient little cans.
> 4 cycle fuel for lawn mowers, etc. is also available. This is good non- ethanol gas and it doesn't require filling gas cans at the pump which can be a huge hassle in CA. Do other states have those annoying new whatever-compliant gas containers?
>
> Don
I second that absolutely. ETHANOL is the bane of two cycle engines. They weren't designed for it; if they run on gas with ethanol in it, they'll do it for only one season, after which it will just gum up everything in the carburetor.
I'm fortunate enough to have a station near by that sells ethanol free gas at the pumps...they do it for the snowmobile crowd...I put it in my car, my rider, chain saws, weed whackers. It's the only way to keep two strokes running, IMHO.
> ETHANOL is the bane of two cycle engines.
I agree completely. I hate ethanol gas. Like you, I'm lucky enough to have a station about a quarter mile from my house that sells non-ethanol gas. I use it in all of my small engines.
I bought an Echo straight shaft weed eater about 3 years ago which has been the best one I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot. It's powerful, dependable, and easy to refill with line.
This is what my wife uses. Along with several Craftsman C3 XCP high capacity batteries.
She also has the chain saw and 1/2" impact wrench that uses the same battery that she keeps in her truck. They come in handy on the rural mail route.
There was one day after a storm had blown in that she came up on a tree across the dirt road and it was still raining. She put on her raincoat and got her chainsaw out about the same time an oilfield truck pulled up behind her. She thought maybe the driver would get out and help, but no, he just sat there. She made 2 cuts, got out her chain and pulled it out of the way. Then drove thru a gap in the tree just barely wide enough for her little S10 truck to fit thru. Left that sucker in the truck sitting there.
James
Interesting can, but what I hoped to find last summer was a simple can/spout. My spout cracked so I figured I could replace it.
But someone somewhere waved their regulator wand and decided for me that pouring gas out of a can was unacceptable cause I'm too stupid to do it safely.
Since I started using non-ethanol, my lawn equipment has performed better and has not been in the shop. I asked a honest small engine repairman why my equipment needed servicing every year and he said it would not happen if you use non-ethanol gas.
> > ETHANOL is the bane of two cycle engines.
>
>
> I agree completely. I hate ethanol gas. Like you, I'm lucky enough to have a station about a quarter mile from my house that sells non-ethanol gas. I use it in all of my small engines.
>
> I bought an Echo straight shaft weed eater about 3 years ago which has been the best one I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot. It's powerful, dependable, and easy to refill with line.
Count me in with an agreement. I live a couple of miles from two stations that sell ethanol free gas. I have noticed a huge difference in the way my small engine equipment runs. In my opinion, it's worth the extra 40 cents a gallon to keep the equipment in good shape. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way several years ago by having to replace a carburetor in the John Deere while using the gas with the corn in it.
I also have an Echo weed eater that I bought three years ago. It doesn't matter how long it sits for, it always cranks right up. I fully plan on keeping it until it dies, and then I'll buy another one. It's a great machine.
Same here I have several stations around me that sell E-Free gas. Matter of fact we have a lot of stations here in Louisiana.
E-free for my truck, lawn mowers, weed eater, chain saw and boats.
I hate ethanol!
The other side is the increased cost for cattle farmers b/c of the amount of corn that is being used for ethanol production. Thank you government mandates!
Wearing a big smile on my face now. Great thinking on her part.;-)
> .... I also looked at a battery model but didn't think it would last the job and if it did, it would be too reliable. No excuses like out of gas or it won't start. ..
Too reliable! That's quite a leap of logic of convenience there.
For that matter, why not "battery isn't charged, I'll do it tomorrow...."
Most 2 cycle oils contain fuel stabilizers these days. Draining the gas and running it until it sputters after use - especially when you aren't going to use it for a few weeks - would have saved you about $1000 over the last decade. Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.
Stabil is great. I use it in the lawnmower and the snow thrower - works great!
I have a Black and Decker battery powered string trimmer. It has an automatic feed instead of the bump feed (which doesn't work after 2 or 3 weeks). It works great. It came with two batteries.
It's lightweight; I wouldn't want to knock down 2 acres of grass with it but for general lawn trimming and weeding planters it's great. The idiots on the Lowes website whine about it not being able to clear 5 acres of brush but ignore them; that's like whining about not being able to drive a rebar with a jeweler's hammer.
I recently bought a Stihl weed eater. It's a 4 stroke that uses 2 stroke oil for lubrication.
It starts first pull and idles uncannily smooth. It has lots of low end torque, so you can run it part throttle just fine.
Based upon my experience thus far, 2 stroke weed trimmers, will be a thing of the past.
It seems to weigh just about the same as any other straight shaft trimmer I have used.
I use the same product. Lot of my equipment gets used only seasonally so if I can't or don't want to drain the fuel for the winter or summer I'll just add this and run it through before putting it away. I'm a big fan of Stihl products including their weed eaters. Bought my 029 chainsaw twenty years ago and it 'Stihl' fires on the first few cranks.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.