[AT] Backpack leaf blower

Sat Dec 11 09:43:11 PST 2021

I buy 87 octane, 10% ethanol pump gas 15 or 20 gallons at a time, mostly
for mower in summer, snowblower and occasionally generator in winter.  I
always add Sta-Bil at the time of purchase, and I always write the date on
a piece of blue tape on each can.  For the 2-strokes, I measure out 50oz of
this gas and 1/8 cup of oil using kitchen measuring tools.  That can last
quite a while, depending on what I'm doing.  Never had a problem; wish I
could say for sure how long I've left it laying around (Hey - why don't I
put a piece of blue tape on the 2-stroke mix?!)  After I run any of the
2-strokes, I always dump the fuel out of the tank and run the carb dry.  I
am not exaggerating when I say I NEVER seem to have any problems - knock on
wood now that I said it out loud!

Steve O.

On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 12:11 PM Brad Loomis <brad.loomis at gmail.com> wrote:

> I failed to mention that pump gas regardless of octane at least here in
> Smogafornia are all blended with a minimum of 10% ethanol. That is the
> culprit in small engine demise. Other states may not be blessed with that
> curse.
> Brad
>
> On Sat, Dec 11, 2021 at 9:06 AM Carl Gogol <cgogol1971 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 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>
>> 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> 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> 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> 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> 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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