Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

How old is the machine?  

Call me old school but when it comes to small two stroke OPE engines, all I do is clean the spark plug, air filter and make sure the screen in the exhaust is either cleaned or preferably, removed.  If the fuel lines look good and the filter is passing fuel, don't bother with them.  I've got 30 year old equipment with small two cycle engines running on original fuel lines and some are even still running with original plugs.  Two strokes are pretty simple.  If you keep your fuel clean, air filter, spark plug and exhaust clean during the season, chances are it will run very many years without problems.  One tip I'd like to offer is to run Seafoam through your fuel system.  I usually mix about four oz. to two gallons of two cycle fuel.  That will last most of the season.  Second tip:  If the carb's doing it's job, don't mess with it.  If it is malfunctioning, you'll have to buy a rebuild kit for it which is usually a couple of diaphragms and a spacer or two.  Be very, very careful during dis-assembly.  Some of the small diaphragm carbs have tiny spring(s) in them that seem to evaporate once the carb is opened up.   One other thing to watch for is the throttle cable.  Make sure it's not binding anywhere and ensure that it moves freely.  If it's stiff, put some light machine oil into the cable.   Finally, if you have an access port for adding lube to the trimmer head gear drive, you might want to check and add some lube if required.   

Regarding the trimmer head.  I bought an Echo a few years ago that uses two ten inch pieces of fairly thick line that fit into a locking cam.   They are pretty much bullet proof but do require fairly frequent changing if trimming along concrete surfaces.  I usually pack half a dozen or so in my pocked if I'm doing around the house and along the curb which is probably five hundred feet or so.  I usually buy a big roll or the correct diameter string then cut a supply of pieces to last the season.         

What is SeaFoam?  Is that a fuel preservative or a carb cleaner?  How do I use it to clean a diaphram carb?  I'm currently using Sta-Bil on my OPE because that's the one I'm familiar with.  Have not come across SeaFoam at the stores.

You're obviously on the right track changing fuel lines/filters that need it.  If the carb is working fine, don't mess with it.   Chances are that it's not in that much of a need for dis-assembly to clean it.  A season of using Seafoam will take care of that. 

I used to use Stabil up until a few years ago when I found a bottle in my garage that had turned to a gel.  It wasn't even a year old.  Ever since then, it's been Seafoam all the way.   I went on an engine tune up/cleaning spree a couple of years ago.  All two stroke engines in a couple of chain saws, brush cutters, outboard motors and a four stroke lawn mower.   The effects of additives such as Seafoam etc. are difficult to measure.  I have found through experience that often, there will be no change in the engine's performance.  Understandable if the engine is well maintained and in good running order.  However, I did notice a considerable improvement in a 25 year old  Tecumseh two cycle engine on a Jiffy ice auger.  It had not seen much use and when I fired it up, it wouldn't rev out well, and overall ran poorly.  I put a full oz. of Seafoam into half a quart of fuel and ran that through the engine for a while.  It smoked quite a bit for a while, coughed and sputtered as per how it was running.  After three or four minutes, it began to smooth out and within five minutes, it was running like new.  That confirmed to me that the Seafoam actually works.  Now I run a bit of it each year through all of my engines.   I use a bit of a stronger mixture in my two cycle mixed fuel just to keep fuel systems in good shape.  It also works well for taking water out of fuel.   I run it in my car, truck, and eight motorcycle engines from my six cylinder liquid cooled Valkyrie to my single cylinder two stroke dirt bike.  Not saying that it's just because of the Seafoam but everything is running top notch.    

I'm hesitant to use SeaFoam in my car though.  There is so much emission control and computers that it may throw a diagnostic code.  I don't tinker with new car engines with OBD-2 since it is beyond my knowledge. 

Seafoam has been around for a long time.  It's been a well kept secret and is not as readily available as Stabil.  Do a little research on it.  You'll be surprised how many people swear by it.