Carburetors

[lip277]

Originally Posted by ZBB

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...

My electric leaf blower (battery) runs out of juice about 2/3 of the way through blowing out my shop. That happens with both via my own Ryobi as well as a borrowed Dewalt. Electric is great for small stuff - but not if you don't have more than a multitude of batteries (and the time to charge them) or just a fairly small job.

That's ok for me though - I use the electric leaf blower as I don't want the 2 stroke gas fumes/exhaust inside when I am blowing out the shop. If I have a regular outside job to do - my gas powered Stihl blower is great.

I have a whole set of Ryobi cordless tools. They are old... and had the (I think) NiMH batteries??? Replaced the batteries with Lithium and that is great. Old tools, new batteries. Granted - If I were a pro and were using my drill for hours and hours - then I'd need a whole bank of batteries (just like my contractor friend who uses cordless tools - and has about $1,500 in just batteries - lol)

As far as gas and storage goes though - I store about 50 gallons of gas on my property. I keep it in 5 gallon jugs. It is all ethanol free 92 octane (premium) fuel. I also use Stabil (old style - not the ethanol flavored stuff).
For my generators, I shut off the valve and run it dry each time I finish with them. I do the same with my walk behind mower. The other items - I don't as there is not a gas valve for them.
But - all told - I have had very good luck with all my equipment. Both now and in the last 30 years... I also use synthetic motor oil and change it (more or less) annually. Plugs and filters - maybe every three years (or when I get around to looking at them).

The boat - I do not use it that much. I also use ethanol free fuel in it with Stabil (as above). I store the boat now in the shop (inside and heated) so, don't winterize it like I used to. I did have the carb cleaned out a few years ago - never had a problem until one time I think the years caught up with it as I had the motor stall out on the lake about 6 or 7 years ago. It would run, but just above idle.

That's about it. For me - electric is great... if you keep in mind the power density of batteries and the time it takes to recharge.