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

Quick intro: From eastern Mass (half way between Boston and Providence RI). Need to invest in a snow blower that is robust yet easy to steer - well, one that has a good steering system. I'm about to have L4 & L5 vertebrae fused and during the healing process will need a blower that won't make me screw things up by bulling it around. Anyway, been doing a lot of research (lots of free time - disabled from work until back is fixed) and I am narrowing my search down to the Toro's OEX's (Power Max 826OEX, 828OEX, or 1028 OEX) and the Husky with power steering and the high impeller speed (11524E & 14527E) Questions, how do these steer? At this point that is the priority, I will tackle the other differences later. OR do you know of a RELIABLE machine that needs no body twisting or pulling to steer it. (I read reports that Troy-Bilt have unreliable reverse gears) thanks -Bill

The higher the oct. - the harder to start but 93 is fine if it makes you feel better.

Octane is not the issue. Bring back MTBE

what about the StarTron Enzyme Fuel Treatment, is it a good choice?

A local Toro only dealer told me not to use gas with ethanol in a snowblower. Of course he sold the gas without ethanol.

JoelKlein wrote:

I'm on my 3rd year using Startron and I think it's great. The Honda dealer uses it in all their Honda equipment so I figure why not use it in mine.

I use a bit more than it says on the bottle. But a capful treats like 5 gallons. a 2 years supply costs $10.

Garth wrote:

All gas sold in our state has Ethanol

You can use Startron or other additives to deal with teh ethanol and water that inevitably comes from mixing grain alcohol with proper gasoline.

I really don't like Obama gas and I really hate Obama Gas cans that spill more gas than they put in your tank.

***confused*** Enzyme, stabilizer, additive, what do i choose? is it all the same idea just diffrent names? Startron has stabilezer, and enzyme. i already got the the StarTron Enzyme Fuel Treatment, should i return it?

JoelKlein wrote:

Startron does everything you will need it to do. It's great stuff just put it in your gas and you are all set for the year.

Other products like Sta-Bil and Sea Foam are good too but Startron works just as well for treating your gas.

You want a stabilizer and enzyme in your gas.

talking of stabilyzer's, what about puting it in in my car once a while to clean the lines?

JoelKlein wrote:

It certainly can't hurt but it will add up as one $10 bottle of Startron treats about 185 gallons. I put some in my car every once in a while in the winter.

Interesting about the stated recommendations for gas

My dealer said 89 octane, yet the Briggs & Stratton manual says "a minimum of 87 octane"

Also I thought stabilizer was for storage. During the use season, the fuel is used too quickly to absorb enough water to be damaging

 

and please, Steve, about the "Obama gas", let's not get political nor be like the "debaters" last night who picked easy and erroneous targets for all our problems.

Ethanol has NOTHING to do with Obama. In 1990 & 1992 the Clean Air Act was amended to encourage the use of ethanol and other oxygenated fuels. In 2003 Calif was the first to ban MTBE. In Dec 2008, I had to have the carburetors in an old Toro 724 and my lawn tractor replaced due to ethanol. Obama took office in Jan 2009.

You would be more accurate to call it "Bush League Gas" as G.H.W.B. was in office when the Clean Air Act was amended and started the ball rolling. Or call it "Nixon Gas" because he proposed the formation of the EPA and it began operation in Dec 1970.

Just the facts, my friend, just the facts.