425 Cold weather start

[Arnie_T]

Just had to share--
Reciently I've had great difficulty with 425 cold weather starts here in the great Tug Hill of NY. Talked with my neighbor--a farm mechanic. He said the E-85-90 alcohol gasoline mix is terrible for cold starts. He suggested an additive for the ethanol blends. I searched around and found Sta-Bil Marine for Ethanol. So far I don't need the magnetic heater on the oil reservoir or the ether/salamander-- to get it going to plow the snow.

I'd be interested in others cold weather experience with the ethanol blends in the Robin engine.
We can't get real gasoline here in NY.

 

[washita]

I have a 425, use e85 about all year but noticed had to run motor at 1/3 choke during cooler weather to keep motor from stalling out and yes anything below 20 degrees f and it would not start no matter how much persuasion but I am running the next hotter plug to help with cold weather starting and synthetic engine oil and 87octane in the winter, e85 the rest of the seasons

 

[Arnie_T]

I went to 89-- and still no good--was going to go to 92--or whatever--
my garage has no heat but is attached to the house-- the snow don't melt on the firewood in the garage!!!--hence the mag heater on the hyd oil tank--and the ether--. Lots of pops--and flame-- but with the additive-- it catches and gets going--so I am sold on that. I changed the plugs too-
I was some frustrated for quite a while--

 

[SCOTCHERS]

Arnie,

I had the same problem. When ever it got below 35 it was a bear to start. I'd had mine from 2004-2010 and finally , frustrated and in speaking with a different mechanic, he asked the question "Did you ever have your valves set?". I responded. " I assumed it came set new when I purchased it". We got the manual, set the valves and it now starts in 0 degrees. Awesome. I wish I'd have thought or done that years ago. Saved alot of frustrations and money with heaters, block heaters, cans of ether soo on and so forth. I hope it's this simple for you. Let us know

 

[Arnie_T]

SCOTCHERS--
Thanks much!
can you give brief a description of that process--so I can decide if I will have it done-- or try myself.
5 above today and the garage was about 20 deg--but she kicked right over--with the additive--

 

[PTWannaHave]

Hello Scotchers & Arnie,

I am not a mechanic, but consider myself mechanically-inclined. Would you have a (somewhat brief) explanation for me why changing the valve setting would make a big difference in the winter? Also, what happens with fuel consumption and/or running in the summer with 'winter valve setting'?

It was -14F this morning...

Thank-you in advance,

 

[ponytug]

Mis-set valves can dramatically reduce the peak temperature in the head, by allowing too much fuel in or not enough, or not enabling good exhaust. All things that dramatically cut into cold starting, and cold power levels.

Essentially, it regulates the breathing of the engine.

It can also rapidly gunk up the combustion chamber and spark plugs.

It is a good thing to check and set.

All the best,
Peter

Hello Scotchers & Arnie,

I am not a mechanic, but consider myself mechanically-inclined. Would you have a (somewhat brief) explanation for me why changing the valve setting would make a big difference in the winter? Also, what happens with fuel consumption and/or running in the summer with 'winter valve setting'?

It was -14F this morning...

Thank-you in advance,

 

[MossRoad]

Just had to share--
Reciently I've had great difficulty with 425 cold weather starts here in the great Tug Hill of NY. Talked with my neighbor--a farm mechanic. He said the E-85-90 alcohol gasoline mix is terrible for cold starts. He suggested an additive for the ethanol blends. I searched around and found Sta-Bil Marine for Ethanol. So far I don't need the magnetic heater on the oil reservoir or the ether/salamander-- to get it going to plow the snow.

I'd be interested in others cold weather experience with the ethanol blends in the Robin engine.
We can't get real gasoline here in NY.

Is that engine rated to use E85 gas by the manufacturer?