SunDog

I'm posting this here, because many of the smaller tractors have 1- or 2- cylinder gas engines. Both my lawn mower and snowblower have been running badly the last several years: Sputtering, low on power, stalling, not sure whether the choke is on or off. I'm going to clean the snow blower carburetor, then go in search of ethanol-free gasoline for it. I keep reading about the problems people have had with E10 gas in small engines.

What have been your experiences?

- 2003 Kubota L4630 compact utility tractor w/ loader & backhoe, bought new.
- Category 1 Implements include a Befco tiller, 6 ft Bush Hog cutter, antique Massey Ferguson 3 bottom plow and a post hole digger
- 1986 Kubota G6200H garden tractor, bought in 2005 to maintain lawns and harvest grass clippings for mulch.
- 2004 Ariens 1128 PRO walk-behind snow blower.

jbrumberg

Ethanol-laced gasoline will do all the above. The available water attaches to the alcohol which in turn can rust/corrode/disolve all kinds of stuff in small 2 and 4 cycle engines in engines and tanks left unused.

PaulChristenson

Motor Treatment - Sea Foam

Run this every so often in your little engines...

Paul in VT

I used to own an ant farm but had to give it up. I couldn't find tractors small enough to fit it.
-- Steven Wright

http://www.wunderground.com/US/VT/Bu...typeclick=big2

Ducati996

What others have mentioned above plus the use of super or 91 and above octane, coupled with Stabil.....

I shutter to think of the proposals that they are thinking about raising it to 15% or 20%....should pretty much cause many.many problems long term...has to be something better than ethanol

Kubota L39 w/WR long RGB Grapple, Bradco Pallet forks, Backhoe QA buckets, and more!
JD 2520, 210Cx, 46BH
Cub 3204 with Blower & Simms Cab
Ford 2006 F550 turbo diesel 4x4 w/11' mason dump
Wright Stander RH 52",
Better Outdoor Product Quick 32" mower!

"I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather … not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car."

"I'm never wrong. I once thought I was wrong, turns out, I was mistaken"

SunDog

Thanks for the responses. I've used fuel stabilizer and run the tanks dry at the end of the season. I'll try 'Seafoam' and higher octane gas if I can't get Zero-ethanol gas.

- 2003 Kubota L4630 compact utility tractor w/ loader & backhoe, bought new.
- Category 1 Implements include a Befco tiller, 6 ft Bush Hog cutter, antique Massey Ferguson 3 bottom plow and a post hole digger
- 1986 Kubota G6200H garden tractor, bought in 2005 to maintain lawns and harvest grass clippings for mulch.
- 2004 Ariens 1128 PRO walk-behind snow blower.

Mickey

E10 has been the std around here for many years & can't buy gas without ethanol. I've never noticed any operating problems with any of the small air-cooled engines I have.

Never have done more than use Sta-bil in the tanks during the winder months. Equipment always starts and run OK come spring.

I'd start looking for some other factors. Ya might want to check out the fuel lines if they are rubber. Had to do so last year on the Cub but couldn't place the blame on the E10 gas as most/all the problems were noted on the exterior of the hose. Hoses were heavily checked and was possible for fuel pump to suck in air along with the gas. After replacement poor running was a thing of the past.

Food for thought: No matter how bad you think things are in your life, Remember, somewhere out there, there is a Mr. Pelosi

Practice makes perfect: After many decade of hard work and practice, it now takes almost no effort to get tired.


1970 Bolens 1257 w/tiller
2005 Cub 3204 48" deck
Yanmar Fx24D
5' Howse rotary mower
RSB 1300 Yanmar tiller
5' Hawkline box-blade

Cretebaby

Same experiences here.

PaulChristenson

When they try to go to E85 is when then fun starts...

Paul in VT

I used to own an ant farm but had to give it up. I couldn't find tractors small enough to fit it.
-- Steven Wright

http://www.wunderground.com/US/VT/Bu...typeclick=big2

SunDog

Bought ethanol - free gas last Wednesday, will try it in the snow blower with some Sea Foam treatment this week. If that doesn't work, time to take the carb apart and clean it. Snow blower fuel hoses seem OK.

- 2003 Kubota L4630 compact utility tractor w/ loader & backhoe, bought new.
- Category 1 Implements include a Befco tiller, 6 ft Bush Hog cutter, antique Massey Ferguson 3 bottom plow and a post hole digger
- 1986 Kubota G6200H garden tractor, bought in 2005 to maintain lawns and harvest grass clippings for mulch.
- 2004 Ariens 1128 PRO walk-behind snow blower.

RenPro

I have the same problem with my 8.5 Techumseh engine on my Ariens snowblower. It most affects the low-speed circuit. I've used stabilizer but it still develops problems due to ethanol mixed in the gas. My local small engine repair places are loaded with repairs. They insist that the ethanol-blended gas starts to break down and varnish in as little as 30 days even when stabilized.

For the average homeowner that doesn't continuously run their equipment it is an on-going problem unless you have fuel injection.