Friggin Fraggin gas powered stuff!

[cabmandone]

Seems like I'm either working on something that won't start because it's not getting gas or I'm fixin a gas leak. This time it's my snow blower. Made it through winter juuuuuust fine. Today I walk out in the barn and pick up the wonderful aroma of gasoline. So... I follow my nose... straight to the snow blower that is drip drip dripping gas on my, what used to be, nice sealed concrete floor! Got a generator with a Briggs that won't start so that's on the list for tomorrow. Last spring I had to replace the carb on my Hustler mower because the needle seat was shot and it was a non serviceable seat. Had to put new lines on my backpack blower last year too. I swear I'm gonna sell all my gas powered lawn tools and just buy battery powered stuff. At least then all I have to worry about is dead batteries!

[GH85Carrera]

Likely ethanol gas caused the leak. Small engines do not do well with it.

[oldE]

I hear you!
I few winters ago I walked into my garage to be greeted with the smell of gas. I remember thinking "Oh crap! The Miata sprung a leak."
Nope it was the Husky-built Craftsman twin cylinder mower. The plastic gas tank had split. I had to tear half the back end off the thing to get the new tank in there and while I was in there, I ran new gas line up to the pump.
I think that was the same year the FIL's rear-tine tiller refused to start. I gave up on the thing because the wife uses the tractor mounted tiller on the back of the New Holland.
Such joy!

Best
Les

[Bill Verburg]

All my track gas bottles seals went bad from ethanol, the manufacturer just said don't put ethanol in them

I solved most of the small engine problem w/ 40v tools, only small gas engines I have now are a mower and snowblower, neither of which ever sees ethanol

[cabmandone]

Closest station that carries no ethanol gas is in Decatur Indiana. Casey's General Store had it when they first came into Van Wert but got rid of it after less than a year.

[LWJ]

Sorry. I run ethanol free in my mower, blower, chainsaw, and weedwacker. Fill. Ignore. Run when I need it.

Ethanol is evil.

[thor66]

OP might be a corn farmer...

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by thor66

OP might be a corn farmer...

I hear he's a cornholio, a mighty one, even!

[cabmandone]

I need TP for bunghole!

BTW, just cause the land grows it doesn't mean I like it being used in my fuel. Corn is food... not fuel. Oh and it's moonshine.

[Baz]

[rusnak]

I run small engine tools until they literally fall apart. Of all the brands that I have owned: Honda, Makita, Husqvarna, Yamaha, Briggs and Straton, Predator, Stihl, Echo, etc. I would have to rate Honda as the top of the pile. Those Honda motors will run and run trouble-free for years. Only worn out rings or extreme hours will stop them from starting and running. The worst I've found have been Briggs, and then the US made Stihl chainsaws. Total garbage.

[rfuerst911sc]

I am lucky there are quite a few gas stations near me that sell non ethanol fuel . I use it in all of my outdoor power equipment both two and four cycle . I also add fuel stabilizer in every gas can it's cheap insurance . I have zero issues with carb's knock on wood .

[onewhippedpuppy]

Another huge Honda fan here. I fought B&S crap for years until I finally paid for quality and don’t regret it. I have some smaller Echo stuff that’s also very good. I have a Stihl weed trimmer that’s been crap since new and I can’t wait for it to die.

[cabmandone]

I haven't had any engine problems to speak of other than some fluke problem with my old Husqvarna trimmer. It's always fuel related. I've got an older mower I use for mowing trails in my woods that I know hasn't had an oil change in over 5 years since it went out of service as my primary mower due to holes in the deck. It's has briggs engine. Probably the only engine I haven't had a fuel related problem with which is amazing since it's the one I leave fuel in year around... and the thing still fires in a couple pulls. I pulled the thing out of the barn last fall, brought it up to the woods, topped off the 1 year old gas, pressed the primer a few times, pulled the starter cord two or three times and it fired. Maybe I should remember to thank it today.

[mattdavis11]

Not sure what Honda is doing now, but 20 years ago they had plastic cam gears on small engines. No thank you. I had to work on the mower this year, fuel issue as always. didn't need parts, just a cleaning.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Sorry. I run ethanol free in my mower, blower, chainsaw, and weedwacker. Fill. Ignore. Run when I need it.

Ethanol is evil.

Only my DD F150 sees it ... no problems there. All grades of non-E are readily available here if you seek it.... wasn't always the case. That's all my 2-cycles have ever had... even the E0 93 octane is crap compared to years ago imo... Marinas and airports will have it .... find it

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by KC911

Only my DD F150 sees it ... no problems there. All grades of non-E are readily available here if you seek it.... wasn't always the case. That's all my 2-cycles have ever had... even the E0 93 octane is crap compared to years ago imo... Marinas and airports will have it .... find it

Hi! I'd like to welcome you to Delphos Ohio... where you're 2 hours from everything but only 10 minutes from nothing.

[911Ghia]

We have 50 acres with 4 miles of trails through the woods, 2 zero turns, push mower a couple of chainsaws and 2 quads. Wife has 2 TTR125’s and a Honda CRF150R, the bikes and my saws are the only ones that get non E fuel. The push mower is a Husky with a Honda engine. It’s 10 years old and many a time it’s been left in the woods for an entire winter. Come spring I find where the wife left it. 2 or 3 pulls and it’s running. Just plugs and oil. Best machine we’ve ever owned.

Rich

[Mike Andrew]

Incrementally switching to 40V tools here. Down to just my chain saw, the mower and snowblower with ICE engines. Unfortunately, living in the Chicago burbs, it is nearly impossible to find non E gas nearby. So, when I head north to open my northern WI place for the fishing season, I will take an empty gas can and fill it with non E premium. Local stations all carry it because of the number of boat owners in the area. Every other trip or so, repeat the process.
My merc and Cub Cadet only get non E and I never have issues with the previous year's remnant gas in the Spring.

[GH85Carrera]

My last lawn mower was a Lawn Boy M series. It was great as a mower, but after 25 years it was just getting worn out. The crankshaft was worn enough that the magneto was pushed over far enough it would not start, unless I spent an hour taking it apart, readjust the mag gap, and reassemble. Fire it right up, and not shut it off until I was done. That got old real fast.

I replaced it with a new Honda mower. It is indeed easy to start, but it honestly made for a left handed person. It is a bit cumbersome as a right handed operator. The bag is a stupid design that requires two hands to get back on, and just not a great design as lots of grass dumps on the ground as I try to empty it.

I have 5 gas powered pieces of yard equipment. All of the them are filled with 100% corn free gasoline, and I add in Stabil when I go to buy the gas. Even year old gas works perfectly.

I only use corn free gas in my cars as well. We are luck in Oklahoma to have a choice. It costs more per gallon, but I know it is worth the cost for lawn equipment and in my old 1980s cars.