Do you have to be a mechanic to own small engines?

[Rivets]

You don't have to be a mechanic, just able to read and follow directions. A lot of people around here that are will to help you out. We can get you manuals and offer tips. Mainly depends on your mechanical skills. You'll get a lot of different opinions and will have to pick and choose which to follow. I personally also recommend SeaFoam and have had great luck in using it.

 

[davbell22602]

I have used sea foam not that great but it dose work on some things ..I just got a ultrasonic cleaner to me it was a waste ..I do about 10 to 15 carbs a day ..Waste of money on the powder...Its cheaper for me to use gas and a sea foam mix and soak them clean them out with a needle and compressed air works like a charm ..With the amount of gas I get in that is flat it makes great parts cleaner

If you bought the HF powder it only works on jewelry. I buy cleaning solution from design technology for my HF heated ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[MarkF786]

I have been using Stabil. I'll give Sea Foam a try before pulling apart the engine.

I was just thinking to myself, "what other appliance do you spend $600 on, use it once, and then it's broken?!" I've found many people reporting the same problems I've had - and it's from one of the best rated snow blowers.

Sorry, I'm cranky after a spending a day of maintenance on the thing, and it still runs like crap. I should have just stuck with shoveling snow by hand.

 

[itguy08]

I think the problem is ethanol plus poor storage practices. I may be lucky but I do this to all my gas - StaBil at the recommended dose + Marvel's Mystery Oil at the recommended dose. I run this through them all year. For storage I just get some fresh gas and top it off. Taking out of storage is no big deal - they fire right up. I don't use ethanol-free or the botique fuels and have not had an issue.

The only issue I had was when I used to store the snowblower and gas outside during winter. I had to replace the carb after 2 years. Water ate the carb. Ever since I moved inside for storage no more issues.

I think most of the "fuel is the issue" is BS. Yes, it plays a role in it, but what is the difference of that gas running through the fuel lines during use or sitting there? Yes, if you store it outside in the elements you will have issues, but storing in a watertight shed and use some stabilizer you should be fine.

I think the keys are:
1. Fill the tank full for storage (less room for condensation)
2. Use Fresh gas + stabilizer for the last few mows/uses.

If you want, run it once a month during the off season for 10-20 minutes to keep things circulated. I do that with ur generator but the gas in it is a year old by the time it runs out and I replace it. With StaBil + MMO I know I'm OK.

 

[briggs]

If you bought the HF powder it only works on jewelry. I buy cleaning solution from design technology for my HF heated ultrasonic cleaner.

I had a friend bring it back from the states for me ...I will see if I can find a place here that sells it as we don't have HF here ....

 

[Rivets]

DaveB and Briggs, we have been using the HF powder for over a year in our shop and have had great success with it. Cleaner gets used at least three times a day and sometimes have to change the solution more than once a day. Four techs here swear by it.

 

[davbell22602]

I think most of the "fuel is the issue" is BS.

I disagree with that theory if the gas is bought at Sheetz. Sheetz is watered down. I seen it destroy fuel injection systems on automobiles cause how much water is in the gas. But if gas bought from a Exxon or Shell then its probably poor storage practices.

 

[davbell22602]

I had a friend bring it back from the states for me ...I will see if I can find a place here that sells it as we don't have HF here ....

DaveB and Briggs, we have been using the HF powder for over a year in our shop and have had great success with it. Cleaner gets used at least three times a day and sometimes have to change the solution more than once a day. Four techs here swear by it.

The cleaning soution from Design Technology is much effective than that powder from HF. The cleaning solution from Design Technology isnt a HF product. You get it from tinytach.com. Stens ultrasonic cleaner and cleaning solution now also.

 

[briggs]

The cleaning soution from Design Technology is much effective than that powder from HF. The cleaning solution from Design Technology isnt a HF product. You get it from tinytach.com. Stens ultrasonic cleaner and cleaning solution now also.

:thumbsup: awesome will look into it ...I was going threw it like crazy ...Because 90% of are work is related to crappy gas and improper storage of EQ....

 

[briggs]

DaveB and Briggs, we have been using the HF powder for over a year in our shop and have had great success with it. Cleaner gets used at least three times a day and sometimes have to change the solution more than once a day. Four techs here swear by it.

it worked but not as good as I expected it to ...I was still doing better with my gas and sea foam mix and compressed air ....like I said I can 10 to 15 carbs a day sometimes more I was going threw it like mad lol