[AT] Backpack leaf blower

Sat Dec 11 08:58:41 PST 2021

My experience with regular gas parallels yours and everyone else’s.  High test and especially an alcohol free version of high test is quite storable in the tool, at least as long as the Winters in Syracuse.  I use Amsoil synthetic at 100:1 without issues. Eventually tools still need to have their spark arresters cleaned (burned off) or ports cleaned.  Performance in chainsaws is night and day between regular and highest.  I know the manufacturers say 87 octane is acceptable – but try it, you might like it.  We use 20-30 gallons of mix a year between saws and weed whackers.

Carl

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Brad Loomis
Sent: Saturday, December 11, 2021 11:37 AM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Backpack leaf blower

I got a dozen bottles of the 'silver' oil with two Stihl purchases.  But with the wide condemnation of using pump gas in small engines, I use my premix very sparingly and with a blend of the canned Stihl premix fuel. Yeah, a gallon can is $10? I don't even recall as my yard tools get less use as the yard becomes less and less with drought and synthetic grass. I don't let them sit idle with premix only in the tank, always sure to have some canned Stihl fuel in there. 

I've had a few small engine repair shops say even a single drop of pump gas can cause problems. We have a 21" Husqvarna string trimmer with a Briggs (4 stroke) that if it sits for more than a month or so I won't start. Same refrain, pump gas. I don't know how much canned gas for small 4 strokes is but that can add up. Thankfully the rider is a 455 Deere diesel. 

Along the lines of the blower only running for a few after having straight gas, I have an Echo hedge trimmer that is a pain to get going. I can pump the prime bulb, choke, and it will fire. run nice at idle, but pull the trigger and it bogs and dies. It will go through those gyrations a dozen times or more and I'll give up. If it sits a few days, the next attempt it may fire right up and run like a greased ape. New plug, air cleaner, fuel filter, all the usual suspects with no improvement. Does anyone have ideas? It has always had only premix or canned 2 stroke fuel. 

On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 4:09 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com <mailto:soffiler at gmail.com> > wrote:

Hi Mike:

Sounds like a reasonable conclusion.  Between getting work done with a new one, and farting around experimentally with the old one, you made the call that's right for you.

Have you played around with piston rings much in the past?  They are quite brittle to begin with. I'm not sure whether overheating would make them even more  brittle, but, maybe.  I think if they were seriously affected by heat, they might be discolored too.

Another good call with concern about other internals.  Specifically, bearings.  Mains, conrod, and piston pin are all lubricated by that tiny bit of oil that's carried in with the gas mix.

Hey,  while we're here, I'll put in a plug for synthetic 2-stroke oil.  I am a Stihl guy (Stihl vs Husky is like JD vs Farmall or Ford vs Chevy!) and Stihl packages 2 different products.  Little orange bottles are the regular, "perfectly OK" stuff, and for more money you get silver bottles with the synthetic oil.  I use silver bottles.  What I have noticed over time is that (a) the gas doesn't go stale (b) very little smoke or smell (c) I have never, and I am not exaggerating, NEVER purchased a spark plug.  I've got a saw that's probably about 15 years old now, a weed whacker must be going on 20, and a hedge trimmer that I got at auction, who knows how old.

Best regards,

Steve O.

On Fri, Dec 10, 2021 at 1:50 PM Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com <mailto:meulenms at gmx.com> > wrote:

I did tear it down further and removed the piston, When i tried to remove the upper piston ring it snapped and was very brittle, I assume from over heating. I bought a new blower, the exact same model, and will keep the old one as a parts machine. One concern I had with just replacing the jug and piston, is I don't know what internals might be damaged.

Regards,
Mike M

On 12/9/2021 7:59 AM, Stephen Offiler wrote:

Hi Mike: 

I didn't get any picture with this note.  Maybe it got stripped due to excessive image size?  There's a limit.  I think below around 350K (working from memory) is good to go.

Steve O.

On Wed, Dec 8, 2021 at 7:26 PM Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com <mailto:meulenms at gmx.com> > wrote:

Hi Steve,
Here's a better picture of the scoring, this piston is literally the diameter of a silver dollar. my reason for the first pic was to figure out how to get the piston pin out. I may have to send this in separate posts. 

Thanks,
Mike M

On 12/8/2021 6:40 PM, Mike M wrote:

Hi Moe,
Here's a shot of the piston and the retaining pin, not really sure how to get the pin out since the retaining clip appears to be a washer not a cir clip. I can order a new cylinder, piston, pin, washers and and gaskets for about $40, a lot cheaper than a new blower. Thanks for any advice anyone can offer.

Regards, Mike M

On 12/2/2021 6:39 PM, Moe Fretz wrote:

So what's the cylinder inside look like?

Can you save it?

Husqvarna trimmer is well worth the repair costs.

On Thu, Dec 2, 2021 at 3:11 PM Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com <mailto:meulenms at gmx.com> > wrote:

So I pulled apart my leaf blower today, and looked at the exhaust port, as was suggested. Heavy scoring on the piston. So you were right, she ran it with straight fuel.
Mike M

On 11/27/2021 7:20 PM, Moe Fretz wrote:

No, engine has experienced a lean seizure. 

Lack of lube is another way to put it. 

No quick fix. 

The engine will need a piston and rings at the least. 

Pull off the muffler, look in at the piston, you’ll see the piston scored on the exhaust side. 

If you’re lucky the cylinder isn’t damaged, you’ll have to 

pull the cylinder to check it. 

Used to do 15 or 20 of those every year. 

One quick error, sometimes, can cost a lot of money. 

On Sat, Nov 27, 2021 at 15:33 Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com <mailto:meulenms at gmx.com> > wrote:

So my lovely wife was out blowing leaves the other day with my backpack
blower, and it ran out of fuel. She mistakenly filled it with straight
lawnmower gas, and after a bit it started to stumble and then quit. She
came in to tell me about it and ask what the problem was. When I looked
at the tank I noticed there was no blue tint in the gas, and I asked her
what can she filled it from, and she pointed to the gas container I use
for my zero turn. I told her that was straight gas, and she needed to
use the 2 cycle mix, that is in another red 5 gallon can, honest
mistake. She claims I told her to use that fuel, when I know I did not. 
I used it today and it will run for about 5 minutes and then sputter out
and die, like it's running out of gas. It will restart, but then the
same scenario starts all over again. Is their any chance of saving this
engine? Maybe a higher oil/gas ratio? Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Mike M

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Moe Fretz 

L’Orignal ON,
Canada 

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