Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

E10 has been around for what, 20 years now? One would think that small engine makers would have figured out how to work with it by now.
As you said, use fresh gas and run it dry if you're not going to be using it for a while and you'll be fine.

What's all this got to do with HF?

Not much unless it involves Predator engines....:laughing:

I turn the fuel off on my seasonal Preds and run the carbs dry on them as well and I fill the fuel tanks completely full of gas with Marine Stabil in it.

HF has a winner with those engines, I have 3 and one replaced a Honda that tossed a rod. One on a tiller, one on a pressure washer and one on a push mower. Tiller had the Honda that puked, pressure washer had a Briggs that used more oil than gas and the push mower came with a blown Tecumseh.

 

[Diggin It]

A gas chain saw hazard we didn't expect:

Cal/OSHA officials are investigating a firefighter injury while they were using a chainsaw to conduct Kincade Fire firefighting operations when the fuel cap came off and splashed their pants with fuel, which set on fire and resulted in second and third degree burns. The worker was taken to the UC Davis Medical Center Burn Unit.

That specialty clinic 100 miles away is for the most severe burns.

That's not the first time that's happened to a wildland FF. There are other stories out there.

 

[hunt4570]

I do the same thing as 5030 does in post #2012. It only takes a couple of minutes to drain fuel out and then run machine until it dies; then whenever I need it again it always fires right up with no hiccups at all.

So do you drain that fuel back into the can or what? And why is it any better stored in the can as opposed to stored in the saw?

 

[hunt4570]

Watched a you tube vid about just that and the guy in the video said Motion Pro was coming out with a insert fix, Went on their website and saw nothing. he did say the fix cost a bout a hundred bucks a cap. For that price I'll keep the quarter turns.

Yep, I just got a new set for my MS260...

 

[thepumpguysc]

I just received an email flier w/ a "10% off entire purchase" coupon but when u read the fine print, as to what u CANT use it on, it lists practically the whole store..

 

[Oaktree]

HF has a winner with those engines, I have 3 and one replaced a Honda that tossed a rod. One on a tiller, one on a pressure washer and one on a push mower. Tiller had the Honda that puked, pressure washer had a Briggs that used more oil than gas and the push mower came with a blown Tecumseh.

I have one of their 212cc engines in my log splitter that replaced a 30 year old B&S and I agree...it's a good engine for a great price. Quieter, more fuel efficient and easier to start than the B&S ever was.
Local small engine guy who recommended it told me their horizontal shaft engines are good, the vertical shaft ones not so much. True?

 

[5030]

I have one of their 212cc engines in my log splitter that replaced a 30 year old B&S and I agree...it's a good engine for a great price. Quieter, more fuel efficient and easier to start than the B&S ever was.
Local small engine guy who recommended it told me their horizontal shaft engines are good, the vertical shaft ones not so much. True?

The one on the free bee rotary mower my wife uses in the front yard has the vertical shaft motor and it has been just as reliable for us. Not sure about the larger V twin vertical engines. My Kowalski on the zero turn keeps humming along, has been for 10 years now.

 

[5030]

I just received an email flier w/ a "10% off entire purchase" coupon but when u read the fine print, as to what u CANT use it on, it lists practically the whole store..

HF is getting very selective about what you can and cannot use a coupon on and the 'fine print' requires a magnifier to read...lol

I belong to the 'inside track' club so anything marked in orange is much cheaper.

Bought a Gardner knife sharpener the other day, 3 bucks to replace the Chief's Choice we have in the kitchen drawer that has about expired. Didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised, it does the job and uses ceramic rods placed at the correct angles. Should last a good long while.

3 bucks don't break the bank.

 

[Gregster613]

hunt4570, Yes I drain it back into the can but that's mostly because I'll be using another 2 cycle engine soon (trimmer, blower, weed whip, etc.etc.) and I'd rather use it up so that when I do use the saw again it will now be a fresh batch of mix. Plus, I don't have a fuel shut-off on the saw or other small engine machines so I need to drain the tank to run the carb dry. Greg

 

[hunt4570]

hunt4570, Yes I drain it back into the can but that's mostly because I'll be using another 2 cycle engine soon (trimmer, blower, weed whip, etc.etc.) and I'd rather use it up so that when I do use the saw again it will now be a fresh batch of mix. Plus, I don't have a fuel shut-off on the saw or other small engine machines so I need to drain the tank to run the carb dry. Greg

What about using Stabil in the gas?

 

[Diggin It]

I just received an email flier w/ a "10% off entire purchase" coupon but when u read the fine print, as to what u CANT use it on, it lists practically the whole store..

There's a yellow 10% off anything, no minimum, no exclusions, a yellow $5 off $50 no exclusions and a new green 10% off with the usual exclusions normally seen on the 20% and 25% off ones. Makes me wonder if they're planning on dropping the 20 and 25s.

 

[ultrarunner]

I suspect most of us raised by parents who were part of the Greatest Generation feel that way. But tools are an established exception. The only real question should be, "Which tool will give me the best bang for the buck?" :laughing:

Dad was extremely frugal but "When" he did spend money he insisted it last saying it is less expensive over time such as with the roof, house paint, type L copper pipe, etc.

 

[ultrarunner]

E10 has been around for what, 20 years now? One would think that small engine makers would have figured out how to work with it by now.
As you said, use fresh gas and run it dry if you're not going to be using it for a while and you'll be fine.

What's all this got to do with HF?

Plenty of issues with small gas engines and Harbor freight... at least my buddy that is a Harbor Freight junky has had them with his gas water pump used to irrigate from his pond....

He buys the insurance policy and returns for exchange... until he brought it back too many times and they said here is a full refund!

Many locations have low cost alternatives to ethanol... no such luck anywhere around here.

At the annual bulky pickup block after block of non working gas powered lawn and garden tools pushed to the curb... scored a Craftsman garden tractor with flat tires, dead battery and the owner said it no longer ran... carb was all corroded... air in the tires and new battery... that was 7 years ago...

 

[DMax82]

Well, went to buy the 4375 watt generator this morning and they were sold out. The lady there said that last week's storms caused a rush on them. She called a store about an hour away and they have one that they will hold until the end of the day. I was a bit frustrated that I couldn't pay for it in my store and pick it up at the other one tomorrow. Oh well, I guess the lack of sophistication helps keep prices low.

 

[hunt4570]

Well, went to buy the 4375 watt generator this morning and they were sold out. The lady there said that last week's storms caused a rush on them. She called a store about an hour away and they have one that they will hold until the end of the day. I was a bit frustrated that I couldn't pay for it in my store and pick it up at the other one tomorrow. Oh well, I guess the lack of sophistication helps keep prices low.

They have the 8750 one on sale till tomorrow for $549..

 

[DMax82]

Considered that one, it was out too. Only one in stock was the $800 inverter model.

 

[dragoneggs]

So what is the bar length on that battery saw.. and what do they cost?

Mine was $349 w/14in bar.

 

[hunt4570]

Mine was $349 w/14in bar.

Ouch, seems high.. but then again I just bought a battery framing nailer and it was about the same price, so maybe not so high...

 

[5030]

So do you drain that fuel back into the can or what? And why is it any better stored in the can as opposed to stored in the saw?

My drained fuel from the saws and small equipment goes in the car gas tank actually. I don't keep fuel around any more.

 

[hunt4570]

My drained fuel from the saws and small equipment goes in the car gas tank actually. I don't keep fuel around any more.

So you put two cycle gas in your car??