Storing Saws and other 2stoke Equipment for Winter

[HLC03]

Hey guys,

I have a unique problem this winter. I live in Pennsylvania, the temp this morning was 24 degrees F. The last week it dipped below 20. I'm getting my equipment winterized, usually everything is stored with Sta-bil fuel stabilizer in our cold garage. This year I have to store nearly everything outside, under many tarps held down from wind with ratchet straps from my trailer.

I have my mowers about half full tanks with Sta-bil run through them already, same with my Little Wonder blower on wheels (honda 4stroke).

The QUESTION is: Should I just empty my saws, trimmers, blowers and let them sit with what little fuel they have in their lines. Or should I just put Sta-bil in fresh mix and run the stuff for a while then store it, so the lines don't freeze and crack.

I'm pretty sure I answered my own question. But since I have to store stuff outside under tarps as opposed to storing it in my cold garage I figured its best to ask.

Thanks in advance,
Adam

 

[o8f150]

empty the tanks completey and then start them and let them idle till they run out of gas

 

[PA Plumber]

empty the tanks completey and then start them and let them idle till they run out of gas

Yep,
Been doing that for years with all of my 2-stroke stuff.

Because of the E-10, the last few years, I've been doing the same to my 4 stroke stuff.

 

[atvhead]

personally, i dont use stabil, and i dont run anything dry and i have never had a problem and i basically have everything stored outside. i do start things once or twice during the winter for a few minutes. however, if you have a lot of toys and starting all of them for a few mins is just not practical, i would run the 2 strokers dry i guess. i am not really a fan of running 2 strokes dry because it takes that many more pulls to get it stated again after being dry. and with a 2 stroke, those pulls are "non-lubricated" piston cycles. maybe it just isnt enough to matter i guess.

 

[FATGUY]

empty the tanks completey and then start them and let them idle till they run out of gas

Yep,
Been doing that for years with all of my 2-stroke stuff.

Because of the E-10, the last few years, I've been doing the same to my 4 stroke stuff.

:agree2:
and on a side note, it never ceases to amaze me how long a saw will idle with an empty fuel tank. (So much for guys not letting their saws warm up because they feel it's a waste of fuel)

 

[PA Plumber]

:agree2:
and on a side note, it never ceases to amaze me how long a saw will idle with an empty fuel tank. (So much for guys not letting their saws warm up because they feel it's a waste of fuel)

After they shut off for the first time, the saws will usually start again 3 or 4 more times.

I prefer to get as much fuel out of the carb and lines as I can.

 

[o8f150]

:agree2:
and on a side note, it never ceases to amaze me how long a saw will idle with an empty fuel tank. (So much for guys not letting their saws warm up because they feel it's a waste of fuel)

i bet that 361 i have stored now idled for a couple of minutes before it started to run out. Then it fired a few more times with choke all the way on.

 

[FATGUY]

After they shut off for the first time, the saws will usually start again 3 or 4 more times.

I prefer to get as much fuel out of the carb and lines as I can.

i bet that 361 i have stored now idled for a couple of minutes before it started to run out. Then it fired a few more times with choke all the way on.

yup, (and I'm always fighting the temptation to goose the throttle)

 

[souliog]

You guys are nuts. Would you run your car engine without oil????

For 2-strokes and stabil to fuel and top off tank...top off bar oil tank....add a cap full of premix through sparkplug hole and pull a few times to get oil to coat cylinder walls....Might not be the easieat way but it's better than running your saw without oil..

 

[sunfish]

I leave fuel in all my stuff and never had any problems. But my 2 stokes stay in a heated shop.

 

[PA Plumber]

Not running the saws with out oil.
As long as there is fuel, there should be oil in it.

I've got a 15 year old 026 that will testify that it hasn't minded one bit.
It's sat up to 1 1/2 years on an empty tank/lines/carb, and started right up the next time it was needed.

Bought that 026 new in 1995 and I would guess it's done at least 35 cords of firewood.
I believe the compression was close to 168 the last time I checked it.

Other than bar, chains, sprockets, clutch drum, clutch needle bearing, and spark plugs, not a single thing has been changed on that saw yet.

Stihl runs like a top.

 

[RES]

Have you considered Star-tron Star-brite Enzime fuel treatment. My Stihl dealer swears by it. The boating crowd has been using it for years. Do a search on this site and you will find a lot of opinions on it.

 

[Pendagator]

Why do so many of you add Stabil? Most of the chainsaw oils have fuel stabilizer in them. Isn't this good enough?

 

[FATGUY]

I don't think stabil helps you with the alcohol in the fuel, I think it just keeps the fuel from seperating....

 

[ran3465]

anybody still use fogging oil??

 

[PA Plumber]

anybody still use fogging oil??

Fogged my boat motor, once. 10 years ago.
Haven't done it the 9 years since.

I just unplug the fuel line and run it dry after every outing.

 

[Knuckles]

I don't think stabil helps you with the alcohol in the fuel, I think it just keeps the fuel from seperating....

I just bought some over the weekend, it does now.

 

[PA Plumber]

I buy the marine version of Stabil for the boat, mower and quad.

It is a tad more concentrated and worked out to be a little more economical when I figured out how many gallons it treats.

 

[CGC4200]

If I forget

I have got into the habit of returning fuel mix to the container after
every use. If a saw or other 2-stroke has got stiff after long storage, I will spray lube down spark plug hole until it turns over smooth with plug out, seems to help getting foul mix & moisture out of lower end too.

 

[HLC03]

Ok, thanks for the quick replys gentlemen. I think this is what I am going to do based on the general consensus of guys that actually store their 2stroke equipment outside for the winter.

Winter Procedure
1. Empty Saws/Trimmers/Blowers
2. Run until totally empty (choke and repeat if necessary until empty)

Spring Procedure
3. Make a spray bottle of 93octane/redmax 2stroke oil mix and spray a shot in the sparkplug hole
4. Pull cord gently a couple of times (with sparkplug removed) to turn the gasoline/oil mix against the cylinder wall/piston
5. replace spark plug
6. add my normal mixture of 93octane/RedMax 2stroke earl
7. Prime/Purge 3 or 4 times till ball fills with fuel
8. Fire 'Er Up

Can someone with some experience please verify that this is a good/acceptable practice?

I think I am going to try this this season. I used to be a Stabil and Store in a cold garage guy. I think this might be the way to go this winter as I will be forced to keep my 2stroke equipment outside.

What do you guys think?

Adam