[AT] Backpack leaf blower

Mon Nov 29 08:19:46 PST 2021

Farmer-

Your advice is always good, but your salty sayings are the best!; “more zippers than a motorcycle gang” made me burst out laughing.  Write more often.

From: AT <at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com> On Behalf Of Indiana Robinson
Sent: Monday, November 29, 2021 9:47 AM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] Backpack leaf blower

There is another thing to consider about battery tools. The EPA has had gas mowers, chainsaws, string trimmers and leaf blowers in their sights for several years now... That may soon start affecting a lot of decisions by a lot of us.

Steve, I would say that your experience reflects my own over the years and I still have a bad taste in my mouth from my first cordless drill purchase quite a few years ago. At that time (like today) there was a plethora of low voltage cordless drills, many of which were not worth carrying home. I had already been warned away from them so I bought a 12 volt DeWalt (sorry Henry :-) ). Actually it was a great drill but the batteries gave out after the first year with fairly limited use. Battery replacement cost was horribly absurd and I just sat the case up on a shelf where it still sits today. 

Shortly after that Home Depot had a good deal on a combo kit of an 18 volt drill, batteries, charger and a large flashlight for 1/3rd less than what DeWalt wanted for a replacement 12 Volt battery. I bought 2 of them... I have heard a few bad stories about the Ryobi tools but I have had these sets for quite a few years now and used them a lot. I later bought the 18 Volt saw and then picked up another one that looked new at a yard sale for $5. Everything still works perfectly, no smoke leakage...  :-)  Of course the original batteries have all gone to the happy hunting ground but Ryobi sold me new ones for just over $20 each instead of the just over $100 each that DeWalt wanted. One thing that I like about Ryobi is that they have worked to keep things backward compatible. The 18 volt "One Plus'' system fits about everything including the newer lithium batteries. Son Scott bought me a kit a few years ago consisting of a drill and an impact driver. It is still about all backward compatible. The new charger will charge both the lithium and the old conventional batteries. The old charger will not charge the lithium batteries. Any of the tools will work fine with any of the batteries.

As Henry said "we are both happy"  :-)

BTW, I did recently buy some after-market One Plus lithium batteries on Amazon that are working very well and I am going to try to find a pair for the 12 volt DeWalt there. As I said it was a great drill...

Several years ago Diana wanted a new cordless string trimmer and since we had been through a couple of really crappy ones we moved up a bit and bought a 60 volt Snapper trimmer. Awesome trimmer... Somehow it always strikes me as a bit funny seeing someone who could be called "elderly" in some fence corner attacking a patch of waist high grass and weeds...  :-)  She much prefers working around the farm and with the horses with me over housework.

Now if you want to buy costly batteries for something, get an electric golf cart.  :-)  Ours is a daily worker around the farm. It has tractor type chevron rear tires and will go almost anywhere. It often has about 100# of tools and supplies onboard and has no problems with muddy or snowy horse lots. This year we bought a weather cover for it, we are getting too old for the cold winds. This cover is a bit like a cross between the canvas weather breaks for tractors and a Jeep soft top. It fits over the cart roof and hangs down (tied) all of the way around. It has more zippers than a motorcycle gang. The difference is really remarkable...

.

On Mon, Nov 29, 2021 at 5:23 AM Stephen Offiler <soffiler at gmail.com <mailto:soffiler at gmail.com> > wrote:

Henry points out some clear benefits to the battery-powered equipment.  Wondering about downsides (cost is already on the list, and weight).  What is the life of a battery?  Any rechargeable I've ever had (across the spectrum from drills to flashlights to cell phones to whatever) is weakening after 5 ish years and certainly useless by about 10.

SO

On Mon, Nov 29, 2021 at 12:24 AM Henry Miller <hank at millerfarm.com <mailto:hank at millerfarm.com> > wrote:

I've started solving that problem by investing in battery powered stuff.  I choose the DeWalt system, but others are just as good (some treat it like religion and condemn you to hell for the wrong choice, not me - if it has the tools you need and they work then we are both happy).

I can see a pro preferring gas - it is lighter and a $20 gas can will run you all day, compared to $1000 for that many batteries.  However for the little I use them a battery is always charged, no stale gas, and just as much power.  A little heavier, but not too bad. 

-- 
  Henry Miller
  hank at millerfarm.com <mailto:hank at millerfarm.com> 

On Sat, Nov 27, 2021, at 19:19, Spencer Yost wrote:
> If you ever figure out a way to prevent other people from ruining your 
> engines, please let me know.  Engine one was destroyed by a coworker 
> who had a lot of storm damage and needed a chainsaw quick. I lent him 
> my chainsaw. I gave him my oil gas mixture, and specifically left 
> additional oil and told him explicitly if he needs more fuel, to mix 
> this with 1 gallon fuel. Did not do that.  $150 for new engine innards.
>
> Farmhand, grabbed waste fuel container:  You know the container where 
> you put stale gas, kerosene, leftover crosshatching lubricant, you name 
> it and the stuff you’re about to take to the recycling center. He put 
> that in my string trimmer.  300 for a new string trimmer.
>
> I write in black magic markers on all the fuel cans explicitly stating 
> which equipment that gas/fuel is used for. Nobody reads.
>
> So if you ever figure it out let me know. 
>
> Spencer
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Nov 27, 2021, at 8:08 PM, Moe Fretz <tubetester at gmail.com <mailto:tubetester at gmail.com> > wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> Even though the piston is scored and the rings somewhat sized in their grooves, they make enough compression, along with rich fuel mix from using the choke, the engine will fire and run momentarily. 
>> 
>> What brand and model is it?
>> 
>>> On Sat, Nov 27, 2021 at 16:43 Mike M <meulenms at gmx.com <mailto:meulenms at gmx.com> > wrote:
>>> Thanks Moe,
>>>  Why will the engine restart when hot with choke after it dies? Any thoughts? I'll check the exhaust port tomorrow.
>>> 
>>> Thank-you,
>>> 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
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
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>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> -- 
>>>> Moe Fretz 
>>>> 
>>>> L’Orignal ON,
>>>> Canada
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>> -- 
>> Moe Fretz 
>> 
>> L’Orignal ON,
>> Canada
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-- 

-- 

Francis Robinson
aka "farmer"
Central Indiana USA
robinson46176 at gmail.com <mailto:robinson46176 at gmail.com> 

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