GardenKit

Can't disagree with the sums there, but the whole thing goes much deeper than the costs of repairs or replacement. As Steve has said, the cost of downtime can be factored in and that can far outweigh repair costs. Then there are the health benefits to the user as well. I realise it is difficult to understand at first, I go through this with new customers several times every day. I convert ever so many users to Aspen and they very seldom revert to petrol, despite the cost of Aspen. Thousands of satisfied customers cannot be wrong.

Last month has been a record for us of having machines in for repair that have not been used for several years. Invariably they have suffered from gummed up carburettors, corroded carburettors and decomposed fuel lines. If only the owners had used Aspen fuel, had they done so they would have avoided the expensive repair bills, and we would not have had to suffer the nauseating stink of stale petrol. Every cloud has a silver lining though, and every one of the owners has purchased Aspen for future use. Our Aspen sales continue to grow each year, despite the fact that we are just a small dealer with a relatively small customer base. Sales across the UK continue to grow too for the Aspen distributor, Anglo American Oil. They report that they have had the best May sales figures ever with sales of Aspen2 being an incredible 49% up on May 2016. This incredible product is really taking off now and changing the lives of many small engine operators.

The pre 2003ish had a 2.5 engine. The 2.8 packs a great deal more punch

Have a look at the post 2003 Jeep Cherokee. They are not well known but are amazing vehicles. Built like a tank. 2.8litre VM engine with 160hp. Towing limit of 2.8tonnes. Selectable, proper, 4wd with low range too. I really liked mine. Great off road and on. Mine was silver, this is a pic I pulled off the net. [ATTACH]221637[/ATTACH]

Melted fuses are quite common on Countax. Its usually down to corrosion on the spades of the fuse which results in a heat build up with the current arcing through the corrosion. It could of course be to the load being too great, but this is not that common. As said before, replace with new and check for heat after a short period of running.

Welcome to the forum Kursietis. The spring in question is designed to pull the steering back to straight ahead, without it the power steered models can feel a little 'twitchy'. Part number is 1134-2171-01 at £14.99 plus vat. I usually carry one in stock. Barrie

Its maybe a bit late for the OP, but this is a Video I did a few years ago. The lever on the 550 is different but the principle is the same. [ame] [/ame]

If I read this right, it seems that the engine stopped OK when you turned the key off, but the starter was still spinning. It probably made a whirring noise, but the starter gear had been thrown along the bendix so it was not cranking. You then pulled the wires off the solenoid, but it made no difference. This indicates that the solenoid contacts have welded internally and proves that it is not being activated from the switch. You then tried do disconnect the battery and whilst doing so, interrupted the power briefly, allowing the starter send the gear back along the bendix as soon as the power was restored, so cranking the engine. It all points to the solenoid having failed. This is a simple and cheap repair.

I have to disagree slightly with this tuning procedure. Whilst it is spot on for saws which are tuned at WOT with no load, its not right for a blower which is under full load all the time its running. The saw is tuned a little rich under no load, it then leans out and runs clean in the cut. So the blower should be tuned exactly as Spud describes, but then just leaned back slightly to run 'clean' again. Otherwise full revs and performance will be compromised. Sorry to be critical

Not sure if this will help you. According to a Stihl service bulletin issued in 2013, the coil was changed from 1139 400 1307 to 1139 400 1311 in 2013. The bulletin states that they are not interchangeable . The difference in appearance is that the earthing terminal on 1307 is bent at an angle whilst the 1311 is straight. Each coil uses a different loom.

[ATTACH]220974[/ATTACH] Yes Mike, there should be a spring and cap in the recess, with the cap resting on the diaphragm. Without these the fuel pump will not operate. And you are spot on with your part numbers! I would not bother with that carb though. Get a modern Pulsa Jet carb and tank from a Sprint engine off a rusted out mower. Much easier to start.

I read on Arbtalk that most stolen saws get sold as parts, so I imagine it's fact.

Years ago I was a bona fide ag mechanic. Brilliant on big things like combines and 6cylet diesels, but rubbish on small things. Messed up a good few saws through ignorance and blind faith. Same with most the others I knew. Small stuff had to be learned when I changed career.

Which model Stihl is this?

The spacers are critical, and the bolts should be completely tight. There is no adjustment on stihl. The spacers do not wear, hight wise. The blades do wear and become loose rather than tight. I suspect incorrect assembly or bent blades.

It's a good mower, there is also a Mountfield version. But the 5 yr warranty only applies to domestic use.

Thought the 075 had a vented filler cap?

About 100yds from where I sit now, there is a wooden bench sitting under some laylandii on a small verge beside a lane in this sleepy Devon village. One morning in february at around 8.00 am, just as the kids were going to the bus I spotted a guy sat on this bench wearing face paint, full camoflage kit, a helmet with twigs stuck in it and cradling an automatic weapon on his lap. He appeared to be on a different planet, unaware of his surroundings and often his head dropped to his knees as he gently rocked back and forth. So I dialled 999. I was then interrogated for 10 minutes by the operator. What did he look like? " action man" How tall? "like I said, he is sat down" What sort of gun? " I have no idea" Have you asked him what he is doing there? " not bloody likely, he's acting weird and got a bloody gun" Anyway, phone call over, and I sat back waiting for sirens, helicopters, SWAT and Bruce Willis to turn up. An hour later, nothing has even disturbed the birds. The guy was still there rocking about but had dropped his rifle. Then the police called back. They conveyed the thanks of the Royal Marines who had lost a guy on a night exercise on Woodbury Common. They were coming to fetch him. Seems he was a Marine Bandsman, but they still have to join in the exercises from time to time. He had been wandering about in sub zero temperatures and was suffering from exposure and hypthermia.

Take the kettle out and water the weeds with just boiled water. Guaranteed quick kill.

The model is 100602 The type is 0153 B8 Its a valid model and appears on the Briggs IPL list. I have just tried it. Download a QR code app and scan the code, this should lead you straight to parts lists and manuals. Failing that, pm me your email and I will send it to you.

I had this done about 15 years ago. I saw a consultant within a week of the 'lock up' during which time I was on crutches. The consultant said 'you need an operation, come in tomorrow' so I did. The pre op nurse found I had super high blood pressure (another story) so could not give me a general, so the op was done under local so I was able to watch it on the monitor! Op was done at about 1pm and I walked out at just gone 5pm with no stick. They sent me back with a box of pain relief which I never needed, and I was back in the office the next day. Back to full use within a couple of weeks. I guess some just go better than others and I was lucky.

Good point, a chunky pulley could add enough weight. I had assumed that you would use a standard blade boss pulley as used on a self propelled mower. They are very light and would not help.

Reasonable idea, but wrong engine. As I said before, it will not start without the blade on as it has the light flywheel fitted. Find an engine from a rotavator or similar as they have the heavy flywheel.

All Briggs engines, including the Classic, have an ignition kill switch which works by grounding the coil. In the case of an OPC (engine brake) model such as this, the switch is a contact on the brake plate at the rear of the engine and is operated by the OPC bail bar at the same time the brake is applied. If it was not there the engine would not stop quickly as the brake pad is very small. The vertical shaft engine can only be mounted in the vertical position, you could use it to drive a pulley or sprocket, but most drives of this type would be taken from a horizontal shaft. The bottom crank bearing is just a plain bore in the sump, but it is lubed and will take a radial load OK, it would not take a high load, but 3.5hp is not going to power a high load anyway. The engine will be fitted with a light flywheel, so will not start properly without a blade fitted. (OK, someone will argue that it will start, which it may. But not without 'kicking back' and whipping the pull handle through your fingers) The hayterette is particularly easy to start because of the heavy blade carrier disc, which gives a good flywheel effect. If the engine is used to power a drive, then it should be via some form of clutch, so the load will not serve as a flywheel. All in all, I would say leave it alone and use it, or sell it, as a mower.

Try a better weld Mike. Let the heat penetrate down the threads then, when it has finished glowing try to undo it. The numbers should be on the cowl, so keep looking.