If you own/operate any type of 2 stroke/cycle motorized tools, a few tips to keep you sane/productive.
Friends helping Friends Everywhere...
These handy and powerful tools are a blessing to use, But can be finicky to say the least so...
Unless you have a great mechanic at your disposal, And don't mind a once a year tuneup ( time & cost ), Minimum.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
Fuel :
Take extreme care keeping your fuel ( proper mixed with 2-cycle oil ) clean. Yes the equipment has internal filters, but why plug your last line of defense ? ( not free,easy,cheap or maybe even available ). maybe use a good fuel strainer/filter every time you transfer fuel into your equipment.
Mixing your fuel at the manufactures suggested gas/oil ratio is so important, that I always add a little more ! ( here's why ), That is the only lubricant the motor gets and too little could destroy your piston/rings, So the extra I add ensures better lubrication ( in my eyes ), But at the same time creates more smoke, and fouls the spark-plug quicker. The smoke doesn't bother me, its my decision which way I face while cutting. ( hint ) Down-wind. And spark-plugs are cheap/easy to replace (motors are not ).
Nuff said :-)
Air Filer :
While less critical, a important and easy component to maintain. Lots of info is available to care for the different filters available so... Here's the why's.. ( Guy LOL ). Your motor is Breathing the same air as you, at a way faster rate than you do, so if you can blow (or pick ? ) big dirty boogers from your nose, just imagine what your air filter is trapping !
A good friend down the road, couldn't find a replacement filter, so he made 1 out of a clean sponge ! That's when I thought of this blog but didn't have my camera, to take a picture, boo me :-( It would have made a nice touch here (next time).Ok then, my chores are suffering while I'm typing to you, This was just kind of a test post for #diy-country :-)
I'll attempt to close with a bit of a list of Tips & Topics, We can reply/comment on Right here :-) ! ?
- Drain tank of fuel and run motor till carburetor is dry - when expected storage time is over a week or so
- Fine tuning with the high/low jet screws
- Use of ether to diagnose
- Problem solving in the right order ( I just busted my hump ) on what I thought was a carb problem ( but timing was off)
Here is that tale, while I think of it.
My weed eater was running great, but the clutch had come loose, it was a quick repair but failed to start again and after too many carb inspections stripped everything off and checked where the flywheel was at top dead center ( piston at its highest point ), Well, the flywheel was 180 degrees off ! when the clutch stuck it broke the flywheel ( not just the key ), $ 8.00 part, But this is Panama & another blog . LOL
Here is a picture of the mess...
So no grass trimming for a week or 2 Booo Hooo :-(
I hope you enjoyed this post ( many to follow )
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