Update - Old 2-stroke fuel

Lakesailor

Lakesailor

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Following on from the thread on old fuel I have conducted an experiment after lunch today. I didn't clean any plugs or do any special preparation.

Tohatsu: a dozen tugs of the starter, ran fine.

OBTohatsu.jpg


Not started for 10 months, still had the same fuel that was left in it (which was not that new). I didn't add any new.



Seagull: 20 pulls of the starter, then fired and ran but died. Fired and ran each pull after that but died. Fired and ran properly on the sixth effort.

OBSeagull.jpg


Not started for over two years. Still had the aroma of fuel in the tank. I didn't add any and it seemed to run on the fumes.

Conclusion: They both start and run 1st pull now. Use the old stuff. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Now try the experiment whilst stranded five miles offshore with a poor weather forecast.

I guarantee neither engine will start..... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Likewise, this fuel will always start your lawnmower, no matter how old, and no matter how much you would rather be boating. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
While I can't argue about the seagull, I personally don't like being whipped in the face every time I start one. We had one when I was young and I somehow managed to scav an old one with a recoil starter (engine was wrecked) but I never managed to mate the two parts. The two engines were in my dad's garage when I left home and they disappeared, shame, I would try to recondition now I have some money to spend.

As for the tohatsu, I had the yammy badged version of that, it was a happy day when I took it to the dump. I hated that little engine.

Let us never speak of the mercury 2.2 that near gave me a nervous breakdown in the 4 years I worked on it to keep it alive. I still have it, I am thinking of connecting TNT to it !!!

I now have a suzuki 4st, quieter, cleaner, easier to use (no more bottles of 2st stashed around) and a nice twist grip throttle and gear box.

Is a bit easy to stall when it is cold though, I am too quick letting the choke go, practice will make perfect I am sure. A year on and still starts (even when cold) on a half pull; That just makes it a pleasure... I am still not used to that and actually feel shock when it bursts to life, I am usually set up for half an hour of sweat and toil. It seems it is going to take a long time for me to forget the pain of old smelly hard to start 2st engines.

sorry
 
I'm not aware of any "Badge engineered" Yamaha engine. Even the malta and the 3a(?) were designed and built in the land of the rising sun. Tohatsu made power heads for Mariner and Mercury, and as far as I know, only the colours and the applique logo's differed.

Mind you starting anything on crap old unleaded petrol can be a nightmare.....
 
Couldn't agree more. I can't abide an engine that I can't rely on to start. That's why these two get so few outings.
My Yamaha 4hp 4stroke was a beauty. Always started.
The 70hp Johnson on my last but one boat started every time, 1st time.
That's all I ask really.

The oars on Serendpity have never failed. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I've just run out of logs and the chainsaw will not start on the 2 stroke thats been in it since last July, bet the outboard will start but it will not cut logs
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Actually you're right, that photo is more like my merc 2.2. The colour threw me, the yammy I had had a flip top lid (broken off) with a rope start (no recoil). It was a nice small and lightweight engine, but turned into ballast at any moment.

These engines are so basic they should never fail, but as we all know..

The suzzy I have now is the first brand new outboard I have ever bought, I hope I can treat it well and will be mocking the next generation about it's reliability. Still need to paint it pink though, anything to stop it walking.
 
The problem with using old pre mix 2 stroke fuel is that the "oiliness" of the lubricant diminishes quite rapidly after mixing.
After half a lifetime of riding, repairing as a professional MC tech, and competing on 2 stroke off road motorcycles, I have yet to see a manufacturer advise using pre mix fuel over a month old. In many cases they recommend discarding the fuel after a week.
IMO a week is absurd, but be aware of this problem.
 
I've just replaced the main bearings on the Tohatsu (last year) and they get little use, very gently when they are. I also tend to over-oil the mix. Not by design, just bad maths.
I take it that the "oiliness" stays good until you mix the fuel, as I've about 4 litres of 2 stroke oil in bottles in the workshop, which will last me until...........oooo....about 2016 I should think. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
this fuel will always start your lawnmower, no matter how old, and no matter how much you would rather be boating. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
I defy it to start my lawnmower - I dont have one! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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