Small engine repair

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   If it ain't broke....

Those things are the devil to replace. I finally had to have the pros do it on the chain saw and then the 2nd time I used it after that it punked out and needed a carb rebuild. When I took it back to the same place the guy said "oh yeah, the carb needs to be rebuild about the time the lines junk out". I wondered why they didn't say anything but I guess they figure that the customer might think that they were trying to run up a bill.
Regardless the shop is a hike away and not opened on weekends so it was a semi-pain.

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Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Topic: Small engine repair Posted: 16 Apr 2012 at 2:05pm
	If it ain't broke.... Those things are the devil to replace. I finally had to have the pros do it on the chain saw and then the 2nd time I used it after that it punked out and needed a carb rebuild. When I took it back to the same place the guy said "oh yeah, the carb needs to be rebuild about the time the lines junk out". I wondered why they didn't say anything but I guess they figure that the customer might think that they were trying to run up a bill. Regardless the shop is a hike away and not opened on weekends so it was a semi-pain.

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 12:12pm
	The trimmer is still out of order. I'm thinking of raising my standards from the Ryobi cheap-o to a Stihl. Anyone have any experience with Stihl products?

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 12:26pm
	When I got my last I queried the groundskeepers at the golf course as some of them did string trimming 8 hours a day and to a one they preferred the RedMax. I only recall this as I was looking at a Stihl at the time and their rap on the Stihl was the vibration, just not pleasant to use according to them. I've been using the RedMax for, gosh, probably 6 years now and it's never failed to start and the only thing I've done to it is add gas and line. Offhand I can't tell you which model I have but if you're interested I'll be glad to note it although I doubt if it's still in production.

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 1:22pm
	My closest dealer is a little country store down around Maydelle of all places. He carries them and told me the same story your groundskeepers told you .... that the pro yard guys in the area will only use RedMax. The storekeeper suggested I stick to the commercial models. The one he has in stock runs around $330 which is a bit more than I'd like to pay. I had also read about the vibration complaints about the Stihl.

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 1:33pm
	I must not have gotten the commercial as it was cheaper than that but I did buy it online. There was a bit of assembly required but nothing that was a big stress or anything. If I had to do it over again I'd buy another RedMax. And getting rid of the Homelite (sp?) was a real joy. I'll have to check but I don't think they use a B&S engine. Anywho a very well done piece of equipment. I don't anticipate ever buying another, think it'll be a lifetime piece of gear, it's just that good.

Karl_db Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 29348	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 2:45pm
	Now this is an interesting thread. Or piece of a threat. I've been thinking about trying another gas trimmer. I've been using an electric for..quite a number of years. Corded. Which is a disadvantage. And through it still runs...it didn't smell too good after one particular long day of use last year. My 'nose' says it's on it's way out. But....I could also use a small chainsaw for cleanup work around here...probably more than a new trimmer. (Or a robust outdoorsman son-in-law.)

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 2:55pm
	You'll be impressed at how much more you can get done with a gas one. Gas is an electric on steriods. Re: chainsaws for the price I kind of prefer the cheaper Poulan over the Husqvarna. The Husqvarna is rated better than the Poulan and it was the cheapest I could find but heck, over than a few glitches that probably aren't unreasonable for over 11 years of use I think it's been the better deal. The glitches; last year the gas cap got difficult to screw on and I need pliers to get it off and have to be careful not to cross thread it when putting it back. Plus it's always leaked chain oil in storage. But then I've always used it a lot more than is reasonable for a 14" saw. Gosh, just realized, maybe it wasn't really all that much cheaper given the time between the two.... And that's not to say that the Husqvarna isn't a good saw plus quality has probably declined in the last 10 years especially in the low end of the market. So nevermind (grin).

Karl_db Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 29348	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:08pm
	I had a gas. I'd have to look in the shed attic...it's still there...been there for years. The string thingie flew apart once (goodness only knows what happened to the pieces.) But...I didn't bother fixing it. It was a real bugger to start. Seems there were other issues also, but don't remember the specifics right now. Most of my chainsaw needs is keeping dead stuff trimmed out of these trees. Especially the sweet gum and some Japanese elm tree. Just to avoid constant cleaning before mowing. I don't have that much, but I'm finding out that anything over a few inches just isn't as easy to cut anymore with my hand saw. (It probably needs sharpening...not that I'm getting older.)

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:17pm
	I assume you are talking about the Poulan chain saw when you mentioned the gas cap. Mine had that problem so bad I bought a new cap. What I discovered was that both original cap and the replacement would swell when on the tank. I have developed a system of rotating caps because a swollen cap is left to dry it will shrink back to where it is easy to screw on. The cap in use is always the devil to get off but I haven't broken anything yet forcing it. As to chain oil leaking - do you use dedicated chain oil? For the longest time I used old used oil and all saws I've had would act as if they had diarrhea. They dripped and ran oil all the time. Specified chain oil has very thick viscosity and solved my oil leak problem. (Except it will seep oil when the saw is put away hot)

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:20pm
	Thanks, I'll give that a try on the cap. The funny thing is that it was fine for 10 years. Yep, use the real thing but it's leaked since day one. Not a huge problem, I always have a nice reserve in the bottom of the plastic case in case I run out and don't have any spare.

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:35pm
	A last question about RedMax - does yours have a curved or straight shaft?

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 3:50pm
	Straight shaft. I'd say that was deliberate because there is less to go wrong but in reality it's just the way it came (grin).

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 4:14pm
	It's a selling point and a longevity point I think. Anyway, thanks. They are like Stihl - sell through authorized dealers, usually small shops, and I haven't found a suitable online site.

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 4:18pm
	I got mine off of eBay. It was new and I figured the eBay protection program would cover me. Saved over $100 IIRC.

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 4:23pm
	Ah, looks like the same guy is still in business. NEW REDMAX TR2350S COMMERCIAL LAWN TRIMMER WEED EATER

Bob Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Location: Piney woods Tex Posts: 11149	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 4:31pm
	Thanks, eBay is one of the few places online I've seen ... and as you say, more reasonable.

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 4:34pm
	I recall now that I couldn't handle the higher prices elsewhere and it's probably the most expensive thing I've bought there but it worked out just fine. That guy hadn't been around long back then and I worried it had fallen off the back of a truck but if it did he's skated for a long time (grin).

Randy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Location: USA, Georgia Posts: 15275	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 6:00pm
	My Craftsman has done okay but I get sick of wrapping line on the two spools. They don't hold very much line. Starts after not too much trouble, just pour in gas and replaced the lines once. Looks like a RedMax might be a good way to go when it dies.

Don Watkins Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Admin Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 22304	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 6:02pm
	I felt like it was a real find plus access to guys who used them all day was my only fringe benefit to that job.

Karl_db Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 29348	Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 2012 at 6:25pm
	The gas trimmer I used to use is a Craftsman. Might tinker with it and see about parts for the spool/string end. Depending if it runs. LOL RedMax...nice stuff. Sometimes though all I need is a little incentive to try a little harder with what I already have. (And checking the prices gave me more than a little incentive...for no more than I have to do.) Between my handsaw for some of the bigger pieces and 'el-cheapo table saw for other...my little wood pile is all cut up.