Thread: Winter Sucks!!

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IC2, Good to hear from you. Your list of partially functioning equipment reminded me of an earlier October Head Cold here when I faced the "yard leaf" dilemma. I had two leaf blowers that would not start and I almost threw away the older one but I had saved a bottle of Marvel's Mystery Oil because my rebuilt SBC had set for almost seven years and I had the Marvel's Oil to put some in the plug holes before starting. I did not need that because the engine was freely turning when we finally started it this September. Anyway I took the plug out of the older (Craftsman) leaf blower and filled the entire two stroke engne with Marvel's Oil and let it soak for over an hour. Then with a new plug and draining the oil out it started on the second pull along with a cloud of blue smoke! I was so pleased to get the old engine running that I spent the next three hours "herding leaves" in a cloud of dust and leaf fragments which led to an amazing head cold which was later made worse by driving in the roadster without a top in late November. Still it was fun to get that old Craftsman running again even though it is barely larger than a model airplane two stroke. Why not try Marvel's in that diesel? Best wishes and Good luck for the New Year.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder

Hi Don.
You caught my moans and groans - but that's what winter does to me now that I no longer ski (too @#$% expensive).

Hopefully we wont get any really cold and snow until the diesel sump heater arrives - and Harbor Freight just relieved me of $99 plus 8% tax for a replacement engine for the walk behind blower - which will be installed shortly.

Leaf blowers/string trimmers - I've probably had about every brand made and so far the best are the current ECHO which cost a bit more, but have seemed to have lasted more then 2-3 years of the cheapies plus actually start easily. We have 13 huge oaks in the yard plus that many more in the woods at the lawn line and still on my property which means that come fall, several 4-6 hour days are spent blowing leaves and acorns. I don't think Marvel Mystery Oil would fix any that I have had as they either die from ignition failure or piston ring breakage. I use an oil mix at 30-40:1 vs the 50:1 that is spec'd so it isn't lack of lubrication for the rings. Another way some of these will quit - fuel intake is via reed valves which gum up. This sounds like what you had and the Marvel cleaned them good enough to again work. The ECHO IB even says that a regular cleaning should be done.

I'm all too well aware of a head cold, 2 weeks and counting for the current one - - but did take the car out for a couple runs about Thanksgiving (low 30's) before it went to bed for the winter. I am happy to hear that you finally are driving yours - phew. 'Bout time. They are a 'blast'.

Off to install an engine

Man I miss Durran Eastman beach and my beach buddies.Five of us all over 60 yrs old with our canvas coolers on sand too hot to walk on just watching the water and another day going by.Folding lawn chairs is the norm.Three of them still raising hell chasing women in bars.LOL.And everyday is a lesson in life from guys with oh so different backgrounds telling their stories of things they have done.

Always miss the summers!

Originally Posted by IC2

Hi Don.
Leaf blowers/string trimmers - I've probably had about every brand made and so far the best are the current ECHO which cost a bit more, but have seemed to have lasted more then 2-3 years of the cheapies plus actually start easily. We have 13 huge oaks in the yard plus that many more in the woods at the lawn line and still on my property which means that come fall, several 4-6 hour days are spent blowing leaves and acorns.

Dave,
Visit your local Stihl dealer and get quality blowers, chain saws and string trimmers that will start easy and last many years. I quit buying the cheaper junk when we moved to the country and I needed stuff that would work when I needed it.

Originally Posted by rspears

Dave,
Visit your local Stihl dealer and get quality blowers, chain saws and string trimmers that will start easy and last many years. I quit buying the cheaper junk when we moved to the country and I needed stuff that would work when I needed it.

Roger - the local yard guys are using the Stihl or ECHO but mostly the back pack version blowers. I was tempted but ended up with the top of the line shaft drive trimmer and blower. The Stihl also tempted me at about the same price as I have one of their 20" Farm Boss chain saws which is 'only' about 25 years old and going as strong as it did new.

And that replacement Harbor Freight snow blower engine - 45 minutes from dragging it into my basement shop to moving snow. Two pulls on brand new engine and it started and shut down only when I finished cleaning the walks. At $99 bucks, doesn't pay to even attempt to fix the broken one on December 31 tho will take it apart to see if it can be repaired - cheaply. Doesn't everyone need a spare 6-1/2 Hp gas engine? JIC Heck, both work(ed) better then the original 8Hp Tecumseh piece of junk that my FIL screwed up with MBTE loaded gas

I have one of the Stihl hand held blowers with extensions to blow gutters with, one of their extension chain saws that's 11' extended, but my favorite is the 18" chain saw with the recoil starter. Easy pull wraps the spring, and when it gets to the trip point it spins the engine. One spin to prime, one spin to start, and none of the shoulder strain from the hard pulls. Best option I ever bought!!

after 32 winters at 7000 feet in the colorado rockies.
i am kinda digging the weather here in new mexico.
it gets cold but nothing like at home (read -30f )
i installed at 28000BTU heater in the 27 chevy and drive year round with the windows down.

I used to do quite a bit of business with these guys and all you need is a tax number and your good to go.

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With the engine replacements you need to measure the diameter,length,key way,style of crank.With s/blowers 90% of the work is in carb rebuilds.

The better shaft drive string trimmers have a clutch drive making them easier to start.

Some of the better leaf blowers/string trimmers are 4 cycle so they start the same as any other 4 cycle lawn equipment and last longer not having the engine spin up as high and have alot more torque.

The backpack leaf blowers certainly have a better CFM rating than the hand held's and it is the CFM that is doing the work,not the mph. So as long as you don't care about the blower/vac feature that hand held's have and you have the type of property that needs heavy cleaning,the backpack blowers is the way to go.Here again 4 cycle options are available.

We drove home in the Jeep around 12:30am with light snow still falling and roads very slippery, but awoke this morning to a crystal clear sky and bright sunshine through the snow covered trees. Sure beats living in town!

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Did city (Chicago) life for 50m years now you couldn't drag me back

Could be a bit uncomfortable sitting in that recliner right now,Charlie.. I think I'll stick to what we got..thanks anyway,guys..

Yeah but the drinks stay cool

The only ting that can be bad about country living is losing your power out there this time of year. We had this issue a lot when I was growing up. Back when we got real storms. LOL These lately are just a taste. Haha

BIG Generator in shop takes care of that