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Being in the southern hemisphere our NZ friends are heading into their summer now, about December through February, then around March or April they'll be talking about the cooler weather coming, peaking lows around June to July into August, especially down in the south island region. I'd like to visit there one of these days when I can pry Grandma away from the babies.
Roger; there's a bed and a beer here any time you're in the neighbourhood!Quote:
Originally Posted by rspears
You Americans treated us so well when we were over there, it would be nice to be able to reciprocate.
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It's cold as a mother-in-law's love here in southern California. Next year this time, Key West!!!!!!!
You dont need a haircut,JB,,you,sorry...ewe need shearing,,and not with ya neighbor,either...:LOL::LOL:Quote:
Originally Posted by johnboy
Yup,likewise Roger,,and any of you other dudes who want to escape your winter for a while..**)**) Johnboy and I are only several miles apart,,but it takes 45-50 minutes to grt from one side of the hill to the other..:LOL::LOL: and he's further up the slope than us...:DQuote:
Originally Posted by rspears
Plus,it RAINS...real long and hard some days...Thats why we live in one of the greenest parts of the country...
IC2, Good to hear from you. Your list of partially functioning equipment reminded me of an earlier October Head Cold here when I faced the "yard leaf" dilemma. I had two leaf blowers that would not start and I almost threw away the older one but I had saved a bottle of Marvel's Mystery Oil because my rebuilt SBC had set for almost seven years and I had the Marvel's Oil to put some in the plug holes before starting. I did not need that because the engine was freely turning when we finally started it this September. Anyway I took the plug out of the older (Craftsman) leaf blower and filled the entire two stroke engne with Marvel's Oil and let it soak for over an hour. Then with a new plug and draining the oil out it started on the second pull along with a cloud of blue smoke! I was so pleased to get the old engine running that I spent the next three hours "herding leaves" in a cloud of dust and leaf fragments which led to an amazing head cold which was later made worse by driving in the roadster without a top in late November. Still it was fun to get that old Craftsman running again even though it is barely larger than a model airplane two stroke. Why not try Marvel's in that diesel? Best wishes and Good luck for the New Year.
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/Teen Rodder
Hi Don.
You caught my moans and groans - but that's what winter does to me now that I no longer ski (too @#$% expensive).
Hopefully we wont get any really cold and snow until the diesel sump heater arrives - and Harbor Freight just relieved me of $99 plus 8% tax for a replacement engine for the walk behind blower - which will be installed shortly.
Leaf blowers/string trimmers - I've probably had about every brand made and so far the best are the current ECHO which cost a bit more, but have seemed to have lasted more then 2-3 years of the cheapies plus actually start easily. We have 13 huge oaks in the yard plus that many more in the woods at the lawn line and still on my property which means that come fall, several 4-6 hour days are spent blowing leaves and acorns. I don't think Marvel Mystery Oil would fix any that I have had as they either die from ignition failure or piston ring breakage. I use an oil mix at 30-40:1 vs the 50:1 that is spec'd so it isn't lack of lubrication for the rings. Another way some of these will quit - fuel intake is via reed valves which gum up. This sounds like what you had and the Marvel cleaned them good enough to again work. The ECHO IB even says that a regular cleaning should be done.
I'm all too well aware of a head cold, 2 weeks and counting for the current one - :CRY: - but did take the car out for a couple runs about Thanksgiving (low 30's) before it went to bed for the winter. I am happy to hear that you finally are driving yours - phew. 'Bout time:D. They are a 'blast'.
Off to install an engine
Man I miss Durran Eastman beach and my beach buddies.Five of us all over 60 yrs old with our canvas coolers on sand too hot to walk on just watching the water and another day going by.Folding lawn chairs is the norm.Three of them still raising hell chasing women in bars.LOL.And everyday is a lesson in life from guys with oh so different backgrounds telling their stories of things they have done.
Always miss the summers!
Dave,Quote:
Originally Posted by IC2
Visit your local Stihl dealer and get quality blowers, chain saws and string trimmers that will start easy and last many years. I quit buying the cheaper junk when we moved to the country and I needed stuff that would work when I needed it.
Roger - the local yard guys are using the Stihl or ECHO but mostly the back pack version blowers. I was tempted but ended up with the top of the line shaft drive trimmer and blower. The Stihl also tempted me at about the same price as I have one of their 20" Farm Boss chain saws which is 'only' about 25 years old and going as strong as it did new.Quote:
Originally Posted by rspears
And that replacement Harbor Freight snow blower engine - 45 minutes from dragging it into my basement shop to moving snow. Two pulls on brand new engine and it started and shut down only when I finished cleaning the walks. At $99 bucks, doesn't pay to even attempt to fix the broken one on December 31 tho will take it apart to see if it can be repaired - cheaply. Doesn't everyone need a spare 6-1/2 Hp gas engine? JIC:whacked::p Heck, both work(ed) better then the original 8Hp Tecumseh piece of junk that my FIL screwed up with MBTE loaded gas:eek:
I have one of the Stihl hand held blowers with extensions to blow gutters with, one of their extension chain saws that's 11' extended, but my favorite is the 18" chain saw with the recoil starter. Easy pull wraps the spring, and when it gets to the trip point it spins the engine. One spin to prime, one spin to start, and none of the shoulder strain from the hard pulls. Best option I ever bought!!
after 32 winters at 7000 feet in the colorado rockies.
i am kinda digging the weather here in new mexico.
it gets cold but nothing like at home (read -30f )
i installed at 28000BTU heater in the 27 chevy and drive year round with the windows down.
I used to do quite a bit of business with these guys and all you need is a tax number and your good to go.
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With the engine replacements you need to measure the diameter,length,key way,style of crank.With s/blowers 90% of the work is in carb rebuilds.
The better shaft drive string trimmers have a clutch drive making them easier to start.
Some of the better leaf blowers/string trimmers are 4 cycle so they start the same as any other 4 cycle lawn equipment and last longer not having the engine spin up as high and have alot more torque.
The backpack leaf blowers certainly have a better CFM rating than the hand held's and it is the CFM that is doing the work,not the mph. So as long as you don't care about the blower/vac feature that hand held's have and you have the type of property that needs heavy cleaning,the backpack blowers is the way to go.Here again 4 cycle options are available.
We drove home in the Jeep around 12:30am with light snow still falling and roads very slippery, but awoke this morning to a crystal clear sky and bright sunshine through the snow covered trees. Sure beats living in town!
Attachment 57095
Did city (Chicago) life for 50m years now you couldn't drag me back
Could be a bit uncomfortable sitting in that recliner right now,Charlie..:LOL::LOL: I think I'll stick to what we got..thanks anyway,guys..:D:D
Yeah but the drinks stay cool
The only ting that can be bad about country living is losing your power out there this time of year. We had this issue a lot when I was growing up. Back when we got real storms. LOL These lately are just a taste. Haha
BIG Generator in shop takes care of that
That an a pot belly franklin stove!
We've got a little generator; it's big enough to ensure that all fridges/deep freezers are kept cold.
For heating we've got a very efficient portable gas heater, and cooking is taken care of by a couple of camping-type gas stoves.
We have a little generator rather than a large one because our four freezers are in three different locations on the property; and I've got to be able to drag it around to them easily.
The last beast we killed was a tad over 900 lbs of prime Hereford beef...and I don't want to have that lot thaw out!
(And that weight was actual boned-out weight; not hook weight. He was a big-un!)
Although I agree with 40FordDeluxe...we don't get bashed about by the weather like we did fity years back!
:D :D :D
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Well it's just after 0700 and a 'rousing' -8.2*F this morning !! First time it's been this chilly for a couple years.
We bought a Chinese made replacement inverter style 3600 watt generator just before the 2011 hurricane Irene wandered through. Kept the reefer on as well as anything else needed for 3-4 days and was used last winter and kept everything necessary for comfort going. I originally bought it to haul around with the camper after we stayed a couple of places where they had voltage problems but hasn't been needed for that since.
Getting a bit of ice on the river already. Realy don't think we'll need the gen. for awhile the power company has been cutting trees around there wires. That was the bigest problem trees iceing up and falling on the lines.(keeping fingers crossed)
