GardenKit

I would be checking the manifold and impulse tube for splits which open up when the handle is pushed down

When is it Jon?

mods.....please, please close this thread!

Careful Steve, train too many and you won't have any work!

To be honest I tend to leave hydrostatic gearboxes well alone as long as they are working OK and not leaking. The change interval according to the book is one year, or 1000 hrs, which is a heck of a variation, and if they figure 1000 hrs is Ok then I reckon thats a bout a lifetime anyway. If you do change it you may find it a pig to bleed.

Just make sure the hydroshift cable is adjusted so that the mower is stationary when the lever is right back towards the operator, but moves as soon as the lever is move forwards. i usually find they don't move until the lever is about 1/4 the way forward, which then loses top speed. Check the Rotostop clutch plates and check the blade boss bearings for noise when blade not engaged.

I had this once on my 03 tranny, lost power and loads of white smoke. It was after driving in VERY heavy rain, no floods, just very wet air. The air filter had become sodden and disintegrated, with bits of soggy filter getting into the turbo. Could be loads of other things of course, but very easy to check.

Thanks for that Mr Twist! I would rather have heard the opposite:sneaky2:, but at least we now know the truth. But as to which is better............................... ...................... its absolutely Aspen!

Aspen 4 is absolutely the right thing to be using in your generator tomlt. If there is any chance that the fuel already in the tank could be stale then drain it down first. Partly fill with brand new, fresh, petrol and run this through for half an hour or so. The solvents in the petrol may wash out some of the gums that could have formed in the fuel system. Then drain down any remaining petrol and run the engine dry. Refill with Aspen 4 and run for 10 minutes then put the machine away and forget it for years to come if not needed. It will be fine whenever you need to start it.

With so many others identifying with the area, Taw, Torridge etc, why not set yourself apart and identify with your very distinctive name. "McLeod Tree Services" There will be only one of you and so will be more readily remembered.

I just remembered I had answered Toms type of question before, and this was my response then. Its a little more detailed than my previous post. I have been trying to identify differences between Aspen and Motomix, which is a little difficult as Stihl are putting out very little information. I have found no mention of Motomix being an Alkylate fuel, merely that it is made from premium 92 octane fuel with no ethanol. This is to some extent backed up by the higher vapour pressure and lower flashpoint of Motomix, properties more in line with pump fuel than Alkylate (Aspen) And, Motomix has an advertised shelf life of 2 years once opened, compared with the 3-5 years (temperature dependant) of Aspen. The current Motomix safety data sheet shows the benzene levels at less than 0.5% compared with less than 0.1% for Aspen. (2% for pump fuel) So far it does look like Aspen is the superior product. If anyone can find out more info on the Motomix I will be keen to see it. Just remember that the pre 2014 Motomix is different to the current one.

Hi Tom Its a difficult question to answer exactly as I have not yet ben able to get a data sheet on the new Motomix. The ones I have found are for an earlier product. But from the few facts I have found it does seem that the Aspen is a better product with a longer shelf life. The price is very similar so no great issue there. Any Alkylate is better than no Alkylate at all though, so I wont knock the Motomix, if it is actually an alkylate fuel, which is unclear. Its a shame you cant pick Aspen up locally though, but if you want us to deliver we can, but as you say, the cost of delivery is a bit of a killer.

These pictures from my library may help. The first one shows a siezed shoe, although in this case it was stuck out causing the head to constantly rotate as well as vibrate. The shoe will be partly gripped by rust between the two thin plates and partly by a rusted pivot bush as shown in the second picture. The cure is to clean off the rust, press the bush out (as in the picture) and clean it with emery, then grease it before pushing back in. This is a fairly common problem with machines transported in open back pick ups.

Those who have never used Aspen know many people who suffer headaches from it. Those who use it know none.

Nice find Neil.

Yes Mike, manufacturers are constantly striving to ethanol proof their components and the green pipes are quite a success. Petrol is still pretty aggressive though, and getting worse.

I have seen the real thing many times Stubby. There is nothing fake about it.

Check that both clutch shoes are free to rotate outwards. I have known them to stick (rust) between the side plates on some Stihl Brushcutters. That will throw it way out of balance.

I think we need to take a step back and identify what is wrong with pump fuel. Its a big subject that has been covered in depth on various threads, but I bullet a few points here. Pump petrol contains around 35% aromatics. They do not combust fully and deposit soot in the upper cylinder and exhaust . This leads to a slow increase in compression and decrease in gas flow. But the process is slow and fresh fuel leaves less than stale fuel. Aromatics are also aggressive to elastomers such as fuel lines, diaphragms and tanks. Once again a slow process and better with fresh fuel Petrol also contains Olefins which react with fuel lines as well as forming gums, again fresh fuel is not as bad as stale fuel. Petrol contains Oxygenates such as ethanol which lean out the mixture creating high temperatures and possible engine damage. Stale fuel rejects the 2 stroke oil which was nicely dissolved in the fresh fuel. Engines run on this will suffer from advanced wear and even catastrophic failure. Again, fresh fuel ain' too bad. So basically, even though petrol is sort of OK, and has been the normal fuel ever since these engines were invented, it does have its problems. Good fuel management, as many Arbtalkers will have, will reduce these problems to an acceptable level and good engine life will be achieved. Many less informed operators have very poor fuel management and will suffer problems. We see these problems all the time. Alkylate fuels contain no Aromatics, no Olefins and no Oxygenates which result in a very pure fuel which without will extend engine life considerably, but at a price. As many of you point out, the savings using pump petrol will pay for more frequent machine replacement, and that's a fair point with which I sort of agree. But there is no doubt that engines run better, more consistently, and last longer when burning Alkylate, and that is only part of the story. Its also better for your health and you cannot really put a price on that.

I am glad you understand, I am not sure I do! Surrey is a long way from here for collection! But if you want to collect then the price breaks are the same as for delivered. I offer 1-8 cans at RRP (£18.98 for 5litres) (Delivery @ £24.00 inc vat, minimum 3 cans) 9-53 cans at 5% discount ( delivery £24.00 inc vat) 54 cans at 10% discount plus free delivery. These are our prices, other dealers may differ.

Maybe a slight misunderstanding of my illiterate ramblings has occurred here:blushing: I was not implying that the addition of ethanol would decrease the octane rating. In fact ethanol is a cheap octane booster so the opposite would be true. What I am trying to do is find documented evidence to support the general belief that the higher octane petrols contain less, or no ethanol. I personally believe that all road fuels now contain 5% min ethanol, whatever area of the country but can find no data to support this. And, Stubby is almost right, he just typed it wrong! Aspen is 95 RON, 92MON, but regular unleaded is also 95RON but only 85MON, So really very similar in most respects, but with Aspen having the edge on the MON scale, so, just as Stubby says, a little more resistant to knock.

I think its a case that a few years ago the high octane fuels had less ethanol, but i believe that it is now not true. But fuel companies are very vague with their specs, and only legally have to label pumps that have over 10%

Something more challenging today, helping my 9yr old grandson with the present we gave him. I wish I had toys like this when I was a kid

Then I fear you never will:001_smile:

Well, I would not go that far:biggrin: