Gasohol and Small Engines

DarkBlack · Sep 9, 2015

Nothing benefits being light more than an airplane, and some of them run diesel. Price and complexity kill it for use in a saw.

big bubba · Sep 9, 2015

dfkrug said:
Well, one thing at a time. We don't even have 4-stroke chainsaws, yet. Some small garden tools are now
4-stroke, and some of those still require pre-mix gas.

A 4-stroke chainsaw is going to be heavy, and a diesel, even heavier. Don't even think about old Diesel
fuel with algae growing in it as it gets old.....

hey see what you're missing on those old school chainsaws....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTyGflwBg9s

Sodo · Sep 9, 2015

A lot of "the problem" is many people have tools they rarely use. Then when it's time to use it, it don't work because it sat too long. Seals dry up, carbs gum up. This always has been a problem and always will be. Nobody can remember even 8 years ago how can they know this isn't a new problem?

Next generation of tools will be electric. New electric Husqv saw T536Li XP® Battery Powered Chainsaw - Professional chainsaws. is a ripper and technology will continue to improve. Wont be free to run like you'd think - they'll "get us" on the batteries.

See what you'r missing with the new chainsaws. These are professional trimming saws, Husqv 540 and electric 536

arrow · Sep 9, 2015

Sodo said:
A lot of "the problem" is many people have tools they rarely use. Then when it's time to use it, it don't work because it sat too long. Seals dry up, carbs gum up. This always has been a problem and always will be. Nobody can remember even 8 years ago how can they know this isn't a new problem?

Next generation of tools will be electric. New electric Husqv saw T536Li XPｮ Battery Powered Chainsaw - Professional chainsaws. is a ripper and technology will continue to improve. Wont be free to run like you'd think - they'll "get us" on the batteries.

See what you'r missing with the new chainsaws. These are professional trimming saws, Husqv 540 and electric 536

hmm. Don't necessarily disagree with your premise here. In this video however (I'd be interested where it came from) the gas saw is obviously in poor tune (pr dead cold) if the sound from the video is accurate (seems to be 4 stroking) . If it's to promote the battery saw, then it's understandable as I would guess the gas saw is losing at least 1500 -2000 rpm with it's present settings. If this url works, one can easily see the differences. https://youtu.be/2HLpx5mqvW8

big bubba · Sep 9, 2015

if small engines were run even occasionally in down season using non ethanol fuel w/stabilizer, imho 90% start up problems would be solved. if you have "too many" to do that, well.....guess deal with it

Sodo · Sep 9, 2015

Bubba I've found to deal with is is:

Drain carbs when I can
Ignore it when I can't
No stabilizer, no worries about last year's gas.
Have not had any of the problems that I read about on the internet.

This is in WA state (Pac NW) maybe our Ethanol is friendlier than yours. But I hear all the same things about it from people up here talking. Suppose they read all the same stuff on the internet.

========

Arrow - 1st part of the video they run it cold, just to show you the amount of time wasted warming up a gas saw. 2nd part they run it warmed up and they are comparable.

Surprised the first decent battery saw I've seen - is nearly a 'tie' against gas.

Reason I heard about this is a friend, prof arborist with both 536 Li-Ion and the 540 (gas, & tuned correct) and says now he always reaches for the Battery saw. It's also 40% lighter weight, powerhead is more compact, and never wastes energy pulling the rope. Much safer because you never have to rev it to clear it out (and chain spinning), just set it and pull the switch. Not leaving it running while moving between branches.

big bubba · Sep 9, 2015

sodo: probably a wise move. i have had problems w/residue & varnish using that practice, but maybe using the wrong additive,etc. maybe modern gasket material is also more tolerant of drying/shrinkage. glad it does work for you, certainly is a traditional practice. best regards

k0ua · Sep 9, 2015

I am starting to wonder if some regions ethanol gas is better than others.. I had some fuel hose melting problems on string trimmer, and I have had "last years gas" not be able to start no matter what the heck I did.. Just put fresh fuel in and away it went. But with my recent policy of not using ethanol fuel any more in my small engines "last years" gas starts right up and fuel hoses still look good now. This might not be a scientific test, but It is what I remember from about 3 years ago when I stopped using the stuff. It is ethanol free fuel for me from now on. But obviously some people are not having trouble with it. I don't have any problem with it in any of my vehicles, but they are both E85 capable.

Diamondpilot · Sep 10, 2015

k0ua said:
I am starting to wonder if some regions ethanol gas is better than others.. I had some fuel hose melting problems on string trimmer, and I have had "last years gas" not be able to start no matter what the heck I did.. Just put fresh fuel in and away it went. But with my recent policy of not using ethanol fuel any more in my small engines "last years" gas starts right up and fuel hoses still look good now. This might not be a scientific test, but It is what I remember from about 3 years ago when I stopped using the stuff. It is ethanol free fuel for me from now on. But obviously some people are not having trouble with it. I don't have any problem with it in any of my vehicles, but they are both E85 capable.

I wonder this also. I see fuel hose issues all the time and water (condensation) in the fuel way mor than I did 20 years ago, 10 years ago, and even 5 years ago.

Chris

arrow · Sep 10, 2015

k0ua said:
I am starting to wonder if some regions ethanol gas is better than others.. I had some fuel hose melting problems on string trimmer, and I have had "last years gas" not be able to start no matter what the heck I did.. Just put fresh fuel in and away it went. But with my recent policy of not using ethanol fuel any more in my small engines "last years" gas starts right up and fuel hoses still look good now. This might not be a scientific test, but It is what I remember from about 3 years ago when I stopped using the stuff. It is ethanol free fuel for me from now on. But obviously some people are not having trouble with it. I don't have any problem with it in any of my vehicles, but they are both E85 capable.

Ethanol is loaded into the truck and is not made in batches or is mixed at the refinery. Depending on how this substance is properly distributed or mixed while in the truck could explain deviations accounted for here. In my state, the delivery point is close to everything being that RI is only about 45x90 miles big. Ethanol has wreaked havoc in anything smaller than a car. When I clean out my motorcycle carbs, it's like someone put Farina in there as there is so much cellulose stuck in the float bowl.
I am wondering what happened to the mandate expiration down in Party Town.