GardenKit

I am happy to run any modern saw on a 50:1 mix, as long as the oil is of sufficient quality. Aspen2 FRT uses an extremely high quality oil, so no problems in using it in the kit mentioned.

It has been a while since I posted on this thread, but poor fuel management continues to account for the vast majority of engine repair work. Yesterday brought these two interesting examples. The first images show the half litre of fuel taken from a mower which "suddenly stopped". Not difficult to see why. Note the bacterial growth sitting on top of the water. The next, from a different mower, shows the gel formed by the water content that ethanol has absorbed. Ethanol absorbs it own weight of water then goes through a process known as 'phase separation' which results in this jelly blocking the bottom of the carb and clogging the jets.

When a mower fails to release its clutch it is normally due to a sticking cable (due to damage or rust). How lifting it helps is a little strange, unless the handles are a bit slack and flex the cable when lifted allowing the clutch to release.

To be honest guys, you would be amazed to see how many professional users, both large and small are using Aspen. We are supplying several large and well respected tree surgery companies in the SW with Aspen by the pallet, and a few others throughout the UK. Its true that our largest market is the domestic user, but we also have ever so many garden contractors using it and loving it. Most who use it have decided that the benefits far outway the cost.

Thats stale, old petrol for you Steve! Time to Aspenate?

Don't forget that we supply Aspen all over the country by carrier and are never out of stock!

Maybe the Aspen talent scouts will spot it and give me some brownie points!

Don't wait....Aspenate!

You are a true Gent Andrew:001_smile:

These

There are a few pipes coming from under the base if you look closely. They make up the porting I guess. Its a really nice model and could be used to great effect to show the different flame colours associated with different carb settings, i.e. rich to lean. The blue flame would develop yellow tinges as the mixture richens. (anyone used the Gunson 'Colortune' ?) Could also be great for showing the clean burn of Aspen compared with pump petrol.

To be honest I have sold only Tanaka for the last 27 years a day I would not want to sell anything else. Tanka has been fantastic.

These machines normally have a Zama carb and they are prone to failure of the one way valve which let's fuel out of the metering chamber but should not allow air back in. When they fail the purge bulb sucks air via the valve rather than fuel. The valve is not serviceable Best option to replace carb.

Sorry Steve, did not realise from your post that it was a hydrostatic version. That puts a totally different slant on it as those boxes are mega money at around £440. Needless to say we don't do many of these as people are generally keener to change the machine!

Sorry for the late reply, only just seen this post. This type of ally box has internal steel dog clutches that wear and then keep bouncing off rather than engage. Engagement at low revs helps them to find their slots to engage, also pushing the machine forward whilst engaging helps. The gearbox will go on for years using the above methods.

Transmission problems are very common with these mowers. Some people dismantle the box and pack out the clutch actuator to get a bit more life, but the only real way to do it is to fit a new gearbox. Current retail of £120. And a bit of a fiddle to fit as well, but we do loads of them.

And Tanaka still do! [

Worst case scenario will be clutch, drum and bearing (possibly also bearing housing) Best and most common scenario is that the shoes are just stuck out. Dismantle and clean the clutch, if all looks good simply reassemble, make sure the shoes open and return properly,then get back to work. It's quite a common problem on Stihl.

Strangely I did have a machine in a few years ago with no oil at all in the sump, so I told the customer that he may want to reconsider spending on a service as there was a fair chance of imminent con rod failure due to running with no oil. His reply was that it was 2 stroke and that he had never put oil in the sump from new and had run it for 6 seasons on 2 stroke with no problem so why change now. Unbelievable but true! (By coincidence his name was Joe too)

Still here mate, always listening but seldom speaking these days.

10 out of 10 for having a go Joe, but that machine has no throttle cable as it should have a preset throttle linkage via the governor spring which looks like it may now be bypassed. And... 2 stroke? I guess its all you had? In truth it will run on 2 stroke, but may be bit smoky. Make sure the oil level is OK though as that engine has never been service (painted plug!) Keep posting these little gems of tech help.

You may want to rethink this one Steve, the Mini Rider is 83cm wide but only cuts 60cm, so you will not get close to the edge. The GGP F72 models (as the Honda, Stiga etc) are only 76cm wide and cut 72cm, so leave very little uncut at sides. BUT, the F72 does not have a towing option from factory, but I have put a home made hitch plate on several with no detriment. Barrie

That Honda is in fact made by GGP in Italy and comes out in many colours with different engines. The Honda version does of course have the Honda engine, whilst the Mountfield 1328 has a Mountfield (loncin) engine and the Stiga 3072H has a Briggs. Stiga Garden Combi 3072H It is actually a very well built little mower which just carries on going. I still service ones I sold in the 90's which are in fine condition. Servicing and accessibility is actually very easy contrary to Richards comments, as the whole upper body can be tipped back for access within a couple of minutes, a fact I missed when I first serviced one many years ago. I recall feeling pretty stupid when I realised I could have tipped the body! The little Stiga compact mentioned above on the EBay link (being sold by our very own harrythecat) has not been in production for well over 10 years but were an absolutely brilliant machine. I sold ever so many of them, even recall selling 8 in one day! Very well built, very easy to work on and excellent value. Well worth snapping up, as long as the deck shell is good.

Yep, Stiga mulching decks are the best mulchers on the market. Stiga Park 95 Combi manual deck

I use a product from Autoday called Liquid Gold. It contains just a little 'cut' so does a good job of cleaning as well as leaving a good lustre. Stubborn marks are removed firstly with a cutting polish followed by Liquid Gold. I use a silicone called ReTyre, also from Autoday for tyres and textured plastics. Brings up a lovely shine especially if left overnight to soak in before buffing off.