Do you shake your chainsaw?

[MossRoad]

Well, MANY years ago my car was a SAAB powered by a 3 cyl 2 stroke motor ---->(true story)

Anyway, the WORST thing about THAT car was, after it sat a couple days, I had to round up a bunch of guys to help me pick it up and shake it 100 times before I could start it!!

SR

I knew a woman who's dad bought her and her sister a Meerschmitt to share in high school. She said if they forgot to add the oil to the gas before filing the tank, they'd add it afterwards, then shake the car for a few minutes to mix it.
Messerschmitt KR2 - Wikipedia

 

[Doofy]

I knew a woman who's dad bought her and her sister a Meerschmitt to share in high school. She said if they forgot to add the oil to the gas before filing the tank, they'd add it afterwards, then shake the car for a few minutes to mix it.
Messerschmitt KR2 - Wikipedia

Hahahaha! Good One, had to Google it!

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Never heard of shaking a saw, you sure you don't just like to shake your booty and are embarrassed by it so you pretend to shake your saw while dancing around

If I am going to leave something for months, I do run all the gas out of my two stroke carbs cause the gas will,evaporate and leave the two stroke oil to gum things up.

 

[Turbys_1700]

I don't shake the saw. I must admit though that I do indeed shake the gas can a little. Habits are hard to break.

 

[Buggs67]

Out of habit, I shake my can twice before I fill the saw. I also never use E10 fuel. I hope this explains it for you.

Do you have non-E-10 gas available or do you buy the Pre-mix fuel?

 

[Sodo]

Its not the oil.

The gas stratifies (perhaps more with ethanol?) and the gas at the bottom is less explosive than the gas at top. So the saw starts “just a little easier” like one pull sooner (if you re-mix it by a shake). Not a huge difference but noticeable enough, that you’re inclined to do it again next time.

Pulling the cord shakes it too ya know. I don’t know about “100 times” :laughing: but if its sat for weeks I turn it upside down a couple times for sure, at least to preserve the starter cord.

Try tipping your lawnmower up a couple times before pulling the rope, it makes a difference. Ideally you want to shake up what’s in the system already (in the carburetor etc). In your car, the fuel injection system circulates for a short time to give a quick mix and ‘fresh gas’ for a quicker start.

I always give a gas can one big shake /whoosh before pouring it (if it’s sat awhile) so you’re pouring out a good average. Ethanol has the capacity to hold some water, you want that water evenly distributed, not layered thicker at tha bottom.

Don’t worry about the oil, the 2-stroke engine has lots of oil in the crankcase, piston, from the last time you ran it. Take one apart sometime ( thats sat for years even), you’ll see it doesn’t dry up of oil inside when it sits. It could run awhile on straight gas, certainly can tolerate the 1 or 2 blips until it gets fresh oil from the gas.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

So, where did the "shake the mixed fuel" thing start? Back in the 80's when they started to put alcohol in fuels, manufactures started hearing of seizers from lack of lube in two strokes.

It started LONG before that!

I remember back when 2 stroke oils "didn't" stayed mixed well, and before that, there weren't any 2 stroke oils. Back then, you shook the can before using it, "just to be sure".

2 stroke oils are so good about staying mixed now, that they don't talk about it on the cans any more, like they "use to"...

SR

 

[Sodo]

It started LONG before that!

I remember back when 2 stroke oils "didn't" stayed mixed well, and before that, there weren't any 2 stroke oils.

That was prob castor oils, vegetable based.

Oil = petroleum = gasoline. Oil is 100% miscible in gasoline because its the same. But it will stratify over time, in fact thats how the refinery separated the oil from the gas in the first place (except with more heat). One quick swooshing shake when you pick up the can is a good habit anyway. And for ethanol too, and no-name gas, mixed, why NOT?

Except..... this requires developing another (good) habit. Be sure the cap’s on tight.

 

[Doofy]

I've seen a lot of crud and water in gas cans over the years and usually take a quick peek inside if I haven't used that can in a while.

 

[Sodo]

Yeah letting crud in, then letting it collect is certain trouble ( but later ). A good time to clean them is when they’re empty.