GardenKit

I like it too Bill, I will certainly be giving that a try. Top video, short and concise. With a bit of slippery stuff of course!

I think its always best to let people use whatever they feel happiest with. If that is XP then so be it. That said, lets not be too hard on FB oils. They are every bit as good at lubricating as FC and FD oils. FC oil offers increased detergency and lower smoke (ash) than FB, whilst FD is even higher in detergency and smoke resistance than FC. But their lubricity is the same. Use whichever oil your handbook suggests and you should not go wrong, but to be honest most modern oils from well known brands are equally as good as each other. The quality of the fuel causes more problems than the oil, yet this cause of failure is often overlooked by those analysing failure. It is too easy to blame the oil.

I guess modern saws are better, but what goes in must come out, its just that on a modern engine there are less volume of fumes, the chemical make up is still the same. Only catalytic converters can clean up the fumes. Some saws do now have them.

No, I saw it. I bought a 12.5kg tub of Vaseline around 20 years ago, still got loads left. It eases entry into tight spaces, It holds gaskets and o rings in place to aid assembly, And it sticks nuts into sockets to get them to confined spaces. It sticks screws to screwdrivers. Its marvellous stuff and every workshop should have some.

Hi Its not like me to miss a thread like this! It has been interesting reading, I love a debate that includes Aspen. There has been a little scorn about Eddies statement that Aspen will prolong the life of engines over the use of regular pump fuel. To be fair to Eddie, his statement is not unfounded. I have seen the results of long duration tests run on identical machines on a bench, both for the same time an under the same load. The engines have then been dismantled and inspected. The Aspen fuelled ones always show less wear and are much cleaner with practically no carbon residue in the upper cylinder. I would reckon that I probably service more machines run on Aspen than any other person in the UK and I see the results every day. The plugs remain virtually untarnished. They will take on a colour consistant with the state of tune, but will have no build up of deposits at all. The piston crown and upper cylinder will have virtually no deposits or discolouring. The rings will stay completely free. The carburettor stays completely untarnished. The fuel lines do not degrade. And, in a fourstroke such as a lawnmower engine, the oil stays clear and clean, as there are no carbon deposits to be absorbed. If the oil is clean, the wear within the engine is greatly reduced. So although I have no doubt that engines will last longer, I have to agree that the extra cost of Aspen over the life of the machine could exceed repair and replacement costs. However, you cannot put a cost on your health. Comments like this in the past have been derided as being 'scaremongering'. Aspen was developed to counter the incredibly high, and well documented, health problems experienced by the Swedish loggers a few decades ago, and was readily accepted in that industry resulting in a massive drop in health issues from exhaust fumes.

Oh, I see. I thought you meant you had a sort of special, purpose built,service tool. I wondered why I had never seen one:biggrin: Never seen that wire trick before, might give it a try. One trick I use is to cut the hose at an angle like you have said, then feed a bit of appropriate size strimmer cord down through. You can then get a good grip on the hose with pliers to push it through the hole without collapsing or doubling over. A bit of vaseline helps ease the way too!

These were brought in yesterday in the dry, and washed this morning in the pouring rain!

These were a couple more from a few weeks ago. These are £800 mowers in these boxes. Makes me so mad

I learn something every day Bill. Never knew there was a fuel line installation tool. Got any pictures?

Blimey, a blast from the past! How are you keeping Rich? Edit, just seen the other post Rich. Best wishes to you mate!

Its not all plain sailing being a dealer. This box arrived by carrier today, taped up with the carriers own security tape. The large 100cm mower deck has obviously fallen out of the damaged box at some time in the delivery process. Been shoved back in but all the loose, items such as fitting kit, side arms, instruction book etc are missing. It will all get replaced by the sender, but what a waste of time, just because they cannot be bothered to handle it correctly.

My mowers used to always stay in groups of their own colour, but this week they have started to be social and pair off.

That would drive me crazy, too repetitive. What sort of charge per unit?

haha , picture makes it look like you missed out two gaskets! Interesting primer arrangement on that one.

This 16 year old Stiga looked fantastic after its service. Polish helped but the new deck was really the star! Here's to the next 16 years. You just can't beat Stiga quality.

Slowly but surely the petition grows. Thanks guys.

I am guessing its the likes of the one that pops up every now and then offering to provide me with a fake passport and identity. Or whoever this Jonnybaby guy was yesterday. I doubt just talking rubbish counts.

I employed a firm to deliver 5000 leaflets a few years ago (well, actually about 15years ago) They were cheap. Our first enquiry came very quickly. Potentially a big customer I thought, rubbing my hands together when I saw the NRA van (yes, that long ago) pull up outside. "Good morning Sir" he said, "can you tell me why 2000 leaflets promoting your business have been found in the River Sid"

Too costly, me, Steve, and I don't want to have to tell you about that hugging again, gerr orf!

I am quite surprised that the boat forums don't debate the issue. I know several marine engineers who are very aware of the problem caused by stale fuel, and ethanol. When you think about it, the leisure boat season is very short and generally over by September. The boat goes away under cover (or not!) in the hope that there may be just one more outing before winter. of course that does not happen so the poor old boat does not get winterised properly and is dragged out on the first day of early summer. The petrol is at least 8 months old and there is nearly always trouble. I am just as bad with my boat, even though I know better, and have had my fair share of hasty pre season repairs. I once suddenly realised that my 'new' 2.5 suzuki auxilliary was in fact 3 years old and I had never used it. It had the same petrol in as when I first fitted it. No surprise really when it did not start! So for the last 3 years it has had Aspen in. It has still never been used but starts first or second pull every spring when I test it. I even run my 25hp Merc Bigfoot on Aspen, its just so sweet and no smell at all when pottering around creeks with a tail breeze. And it starts first time, every time. It was never as good on petrol.

The trouble is finding someone like that Steve, any ideas?

ALL engines, no matter if outboards, mowers, cars, saws etc will last much better if using non ethanol fuel. Its not scaremongering, its just fact. As Eddie says, most modern engines state that 10% is the very max amount of ethanol that their engines can tolerate. I have quickly searched american sites for mercury and honda outboards who also state 10%. BUT, in the UK all pump fuel has some percentage of ethanol in it now as it is a requirement on the fuel companies to put it in. If they don't they have to pay a penalty on each litre. So we have to live with it and take measures to minimise the risk. Additives help to prolong the shelf life and partly counter the phase separation, but the effects of the ethanol will still be felt by the engine. For instance etahnol contains more oxygen than petrol so without retuning it will run weak. Ethanol also produces 30% less power than the same volume of petrol would. If you can get ethanol free petrol then certainly use it, but so far I cannot find any petrol company currently offering ethanol free in the UK. A lot of the googled results such as the TR register are a few years old and out of date. Please let us know if any of you find a defineate, up to date supply of ethanol free. And, as Eddie says, Aspen contains absoluteley no Ethanol. Its the fuel of the present in Western Europe in our industry, but we are so far behind in our attitudes here in the UK. But it is the fuel of the future for us. The cost is not too difficult to justify with the better working environment and the extended life of the engines.

Just go to a seaside port Eddy, you will see plenty of BIG outboards! I seem to remember reading that petrol outboards are banned on most, if not all, inland waterways.

I have noticed that some add it as standard practice to the bill, but the small print gives you the chance to decline paying it.

Most, if not all, outboard motors are petrol. Thats a hell of a lot of outboards. Not to worry, mine both run solely on Aspen!