Small engines

[Trev]

I have a JD 724 snowblower that gets used rarely.. I have the gas treated, etc. But I'm wondering if it's wise to turn off the fuel valve and let the engine simply run out of gas when I shut it down? Does this do much good, or does it possibly do any harm?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Bird]

Bob, I don't know a thing about snowblowers, but in my opinion running all the gas out of the engine and carburetor is a good idea on small engines. I think it's more important on two cycle engines with the oil mix, but I, long ago, got in a habit of doing that with all my small engines.

 

[Trev]

Thanks, Bird! And you just reminded me.. I didn't do anything with the weed wacker this year. oopsey! Better go get that started and run it out.. provided it will start! /w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[GaryM]

My Snapper snow thrower's in pieces in the garage because I forgot to run it empty last Spring. This winter it was all gummed up and no fuel getting through.

I won't forget again!

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I always run the gas out of mine that way for storage. I've had it for 8 years now and never had a problem with it...

 

[beenthere]

Hopefully it will start. If it does, make several trips around the all the trees and shrubs, flower garden, rock walls, just so the neighbors can wonder if they need to call in for some help for you. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif [sigh] Would you let us know if you get any comments, or is this too embarassing? Sorry, but this is what I would do.

 

[Gfranklin]

Last year I bought the small honda (4-stroke) tiller that is similiar in size to the Mantis tiller. This is by the way an awesome machine and a joy to use. From what I have read on different forums about these, they are very sensitive to this. It is important to run them dry for storage over winter.

I try to do this on anything I can if I intend to leave it alone for more than a couple weeks and my restart problems have virtually disappeared.

Greg

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Bob,

I don't run any of my gas engines dry and have never had a problem traced to this. (Generator, rototiller, chain saws, weed eater, DR bush wacker, pressure washer.) I do start all of them up about once a month warm them up and shut them down. Most see use year around.

 

[Molerj]

In my experience,the number one reason for small engines not starting are fuel related. Snow blowers being the most susceptible to this due to generally not being used that much. Treat fuel with Sta-bil. The fuel that is used today is not the same as before. In the small engine industry the general belief is that fuel lasts 30-60 days. Just running the engine out
of fuel does not always insure that the carb. is dry. If there is a bowl on the bottom of the carburetor, I remove the nut or push the drain button. That said, alot of people get by, without draining or treating the fuel. But sooner or later it will catch up to them. I can tell you fuel stories from lawn mowers, lawn tractors, weed eaters, pressure washers, snow blowers, tillers you name it.

 

[heehaw]

i never run the gas out of anything, i always treat it with sta-bil, even when i fill my 5 gal gas cans, i start putting sta-bil in @ august or september, and have never had a problem.
heehaw

 

[BB_TX]

I never run any of mine dry or even treat them. I have never had a problem. Of course, I am still using my mower, weedeater, etc. in November and start again about March. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
What's a snowblower??/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Trev]

Yeah, I'l look pretty funny with a weed wacker when there are snowbanks 8 feet high! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Nobody mentioned it, but if you run an engine dry do the seals and gaskets ever dry out and need replacing as a result?

Thanks, all who replied......

 

[jhburke]

I run in to this back in the 70's. I bought a sears roto tiller and if it wasn't run every 45 days it would start but only run on choke. I had the service warrenty and their service man would come out and take the bowl off the carb blow up thru the carb and it would run. After the 3rd time I asked what was going on. He advised puting Sta-Bil in the gas. I never had a problem with again. I started to put Sta-Bil in my gas cans when I filled them. I have had my chain saw not started in 2 years and only a few pulls and it will start and run with no problems. I have weed wackers, blowers, tiller, saws, and my garden tractors which set all winter.