StaBil is a miracle elixer. However, I don't know how old your Lawn Boy, etc is. It could be they were built after the widespread introduction of ethanol in the fuel pipeline, or it could be they have been "updated" prior to you acquiring them.

I have the same chainsaw (and trimmer and tiller) I had in 1975. All of them and countless of my friends' equipment, have suffered failed fuel lines, carb floats, pump diaphragms, etc due to the detrimental effects of alcohols on older rubber parts.Updated parts have cured every one of them, but, absent the alcohol in the fuel, there would have been no problems in the first place.

Of course, with the chain saw, you never know it's got a problem until you really need it!

 

 

I run 93 octane here if I am riding from here to there, but when I put it up for the winter, I use 90 octane with no corn crap in it. My bike runs great with 90 octane, just can't get it everywhere.

 

This is also called "Recreational 90" or "Rec 90", and is sold nationwide for marine use. It's not easy to find at gas stations, but many marinas sell it. Marine applications are a bit more critical because boats often sit longer with partially filled tanks, and the ethanol in E10 absorbs atmospheric H2O, over time which can destroy, if used, in an older marine engine.

NB: Using E10 for general automotive use should not be a problem in anything less than 15+ years old. Keep your octane rating in the correct range and you're good to go,

One more thing: butanol. also from biologic sources, not a problem with octane or water retention...you'll see more of this as an alternative fuel in the near future.

 

For fuel lines I buy a hose called "Barricade". Its impervious to alcohol etc. About 3 ft will easily do the cross over line and tank to carb. Genuine Auto parts will have it.

 

Unfortunately, it seems that when this issue does present itself, the damage hits hardest with certain seals, o-rings, gaskets, etc... As those items deteriorate, they leave residue everywhere downstream...

 

Tangentially...

2-Cycle (2-stroke) Lawnboy?

If so...




.

 

Yep, an old 2 stroke Lawnboy, I bought it new sometime around '92-'93. I have done nothing to it other than replace the coil, clean the air filter, and give it a bath a few times. Hell I think it still has the original sparkplug in it. I have always made it a point in any 2 stroke engine I've owned to mix the oil a bit heavy, maybe an ounce or so. The thing just purrs away...

When I bought it there was a paper that came with it that stated, if I owned the mower for 25 years and it was still running, Lawnboy would give me a new mower. Sadly, that never happened since Lawnboy was gobbled up by Toro I believe. Today a Lawnboy is a Lawnboy in name only, heck I think the new one's have a 4 stroke engine on them.