Carburetors

[ZBB]

I don't do any of that. Always used electric yard tools -- and have moved to battery powered ones over the last few years...

I think the last time I used a gas mower was in high school (and living in AZ, it was used weekly year-round). We'd fill it up with gas, check the oil level and every couple years take it in for service...

[FC]

Originally Posted by 3LOU5

I do that to my Honda mower, Stihl weed wacker and blower as well in the fall after the leaves are off the trees.

I usually try to time it so that it runs until it runs out of fuel. If not, I drain the excess. But had never drained the float bowl. Never had issues. Like I said, the last two time I had used it, it still ran with no issues. Also, the carburetor internals looked completely clean.

I've never done that with the Honda lawnmower. At least 12 years old and never had an issue. I just top it off with fresh fuel and it fires right up.

[John V]

The problem with just running it out of fuel is there will be some left in the bowl, and the less fuel there is, the faster it turns to varnish. Really the bowls should be drained completely, though I've had good luck with just dumping Seafoam or StaBil in the tank and running until that stuff makes it to the carb.

Cordless electric lawn tools... yeah, it'll be nice when they get to the point that they hold enough capacity to be usable. We are not quite there yet except for maintaining really small properties.

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by John V

The problem with just running it out of fuel is there will be some left in the bowl, and the less fuel there is, the faster it turns to varnish. Really the bowls should be drained completely, though I've had good luck with just dumping Seafoam or StaBil in the tank and running until that stuff makes it to the carb.

Cordless electric lawn tools... yeah, it'll be nice when they get to the point that they hold enough capacity to be usable. We are not quite there yet except for maintaining really small properties.

That is why I run it until it dies, and then drain the bowl, in that particular order.

There is a few cc of fuel that drains, so you’re right about the residual gas in there.

[FC]

Originally Posted by John V

The problem with just running it out of fuel is there will be some left in the bowl, and the less fuel there is, the faster it turns to varnish. Really the bowls should be drained completely, though I've had good luck with just dumping Seafoam or StaBil in the tank and running until that stuff makes it to the carb.

I agree and it totally makes sense. I had no idea until I got into this carburetor for the first time in my life last week.

[3LOU5]

In addition, I also pull the spark plug out and pour about a tablespoon of motor oil in there. I then pull the starter rope a few times to coat the cylinder walls with it. I then put a new, properly-gapped plug in there (hey, they're cheap). I finish my stowaway procedure by pulling the starter rope until I feel the greatest resistance. This ensures that the piston is at TDC (least amount of cylinder wall surface area exposed) and that both intake and exhaust valves are closed to prevent any amount of moisture from seeping in.

Perhaps I'm being too anal about this whole thing, but all my machines haven't given me a lick of trouble so far....

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by John V

Cordless electric lawn tools... yeah, it'll be nice when they get to the point that they hold enough capacity to be usable. We are not quite there yet except for maintaining really small properties.

Our property isn't "really small". Smaller than your's, but the lawn mower we bought last year has enough to mow the front and back yards on one charge... The weed whacker and leaf blowing are also done -- they use the same battery pack, and edging usually takes just over one battery, and the leaf blower doesn't run out when I swap the battery over to it to finish up. We also have a hedge trimmer that uses the same batteries, which are almost 4 years old and are holding up...

[John V]

The driving case for us is leaf collection and the processing of dead trees for firewood.

I can't reasonably collect leaves with anything battery powered, and the tractor serves triple duty here: grass cutting, leaf mulching / collection and workhorse for hauling logs up for splitting.

I would LOVE an electric snowblower. I don't know of any that would do the job reasonably well, even for the small amount of snow we get here.

I'd love a battery powered leaf blower. The current one I use is AC-powered, and is marginal at best. gas-powered leaf blowers are a nuisance.

[FC]

Originally Posted by John V

I'd love a battery powered leaf blower. The current one I use is AC-powered, and is marginal at best. gas-powered leaf blowers are a nuisance.

Me too, but I have to say my leaf blower is spectacular. Pine needles? Acorns? Gone. It is loud and it's 2-cycle, but man, it's worth it.

[Alan]

I have a battery powered EGO LB5300 my son bought me as a gift (see link below) and it is really powerful.

I don't use it for leaves, I use it to dry off my car after a wash and my son uses it to blow the snow off his car.

I would recommend it at least for the use I am using it.



https://www.acehardware.com/departme...1&gclsrc=3p.ds