CN FORUMS ARCHIVE Telescope Reviews: Chain saws & Weedeaters

Diego, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has fits with these gas engines. With the 2 stroke stuff, I find it really helps to use very fresh gas, and so I only mix up the gas/oil mixture in small batches.

If you ever take apart a weedwhacker, you'll be amazed at how crudely everything is made. It's a wonder to me that these gizmos work at all. The funny thing with those, is that the best one I ever had was also the cheapest. It was branded "Ryan" and though cheap, it put up with a level of abuse that my current WeedEater brand one won't tolerate. This namebrand one, is really finicky and tends to go through the monofilament spool heads at a ridiculous rate. Why they can't make a "bump n go" head that'll last more than a season, is beyond me.

Why do chainsaws, weedeaters, blowers and all those other 2 cycle engines all take different gas/oil mixtures? Now, that's a pain to try to keep up with.

It's not 2 cycle, but also in this general category of yard equipment that I fight with is the rototiller. Yesterday, I spent all day trying to keep my "Earthquake" brand rear-tine rototiller going long enough to till and furrow a 20'x60' vegetable plot. I've had it for 10 years, and since day one, it's required auxilary fuel priming just to get going. Generally, I have to take out the spark plug and pour gas directly in there just to get it to fire. Once going, it'll stay going until I shut it off, but even warm, it won't restart without more priming. Neither I, nor a small engine repair guy, have ever been able to get the carburator adjusted to take care of that major annoyance. I think it's due to putting the carb. on top of the gas tank, and gravity feed doesn't do well going up and through some radical tubing turns. Oh well.

The other annoyance with that equipment is that it has no freewheeling capability. That means that to move it, the engine has to be running and engaging the wheels and tines. Trying to start it in a small shed and back it out into the yard, with those tines spinning is really disconcerting. Don't ever buy a rototiller that doesn't have a clutch to allow the wheels to be disengaged from the transmission for easier movement around the yard!!!!

But, all these complaints not withstanding, it's great to be out working in the yard, again. I used to hate yardwork, but this time of year is exciting in the Northern hemisphere.

Mike Swaim

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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others