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

chefwong wrote:

I still need to verify the body/condition of the unit.
It's a Honda 621, and the gas was left in there for 2 years. It has not been started since then.

I plan to do a physical check up, etc. I am kool with replacing belts and such.
Afterall, it's a old machine....

I'm probably going to end up replacing the carb on it instead of doing a soak & clean.
Just short of the varnish, is there anything else that might surprise me on a older machine.
I think the only issue that may present itself is the varnish

I'm thinking new carbs, paddles, scraper bar and drive belt.

Shake the auger shaft and look for play in the support brearings.  Pull the start rope all the way out and check for fraying. 

Save the money ($70-80) on a carb purchase and dip it.  With the savings get a can of marine grease and a cheap chip brush for 40 cents and slime everything.  You'd have enough left over for a spare plug, spare belt, spare paddles and spare scraper bar. 

 

 Under the side cover check tensioner and return springs, break bushings, and cover what you can get at with grease, springs, any metal part.  Same for any other parts you can get in the engine area. 

   You could try loosening the muffler parts, wire bush them and put them back in with high temp anti-sieze.  Break any bolts and screws you can get at like paddle bolts, recoil cover, auger flange support bolts.   Spritz them with PB, marine grease or anti-sieze.  It may be several years before you have to work on it and it’s nicer when you don’t have rust frozen bolts like on the paddles that strip or break.

 

   Put rust neutralizer on any rust and cover with grease after or cover again with Navel Jell.  Put some in a cup and paint it on with a chip brush.  If in a protected area the Navel Jell with stay on for years.  If an exposed area will stay on for 3-6 months.  It looks bad but great protection.  NASA uses it over better products because of its ability to stay on and protect for long periods. 

Bill_H wrote:

   Never tried Weatherpruf, too expensive versus other things.  The first protection after de-rusting is a coat of Rustoleum.  I use WD-40 as a fogger but mostly use any oil, or grease with a paintbrush and coat any exposed metal.  The main protection is keeping machines dry.  For me that's a number of machines outside covered with tarps, grill covers, and automobile covers.  Auto covers are super.  Usually great material, durable and big enough to cover a few machines; and cheap, $10 to $15 for a decent material cover.  Their only drawback is colors.  I use a lot of big camo tarps which are much better than blue or green.  The camo hides things a little.

   The product I'd like to find again is Future Floor Wax.  It was a clear liquid you could spray, wipe or sponge it on leaving a thick coat that was about the thickness of a few sheets of paper.  Great stuff.  People put it on their vinal and sheet metal siding.  I used to spray it on the lower sides of my car and wheel well area. 

trouts2 wrote:
It is still available, just renamed. Per the SC Johnson web site:
"The Future® Floor Polish product was renamed under the Pledge® brand in November of 2007. It is now Pledge® Premium Finish with Future® Shine. Don't worry – it is still the same great Future® formula, just a new name and still provides that durable, long lasting shine."

If all else fails, Amazon has it.

Bill_H,

    Thanks, I'll try the stores and see what I come up with.  It's been many years since I last used it.