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Lawnmower and small gasoline engine advice and tips needed
self | 4 16 2018 | self

Posted on 04/16/2018 7:50:15 AM PDT by dennisw

I want to keep this new Troy Bilt lawnmower running great. It is the TB230 with 163cc* Briggs & Stratton® 725EXi Series engine     http://www.troybilt.com/equipment/troybilt/troy-bilt-tb320-walk-behind-mower-12avb2a3711 

My questions are:

  1. Do you use synthetic oil? What brand and what weigh?
  2. Or do you use regular oil? What brand? What weight?
  3. Both of the above are climate dependent    You will use different oil if you live in New Mexico compared to Minnesota
  4. How often do you change your lawnmower oil?
  5. -
  6. Is it OK to use 94 octane premium gasoline right from the beginning? As soon as I start using this new lawnmower?
  7. Will using 94 octane gasoline stress out the Briggs Stratton engine? Make it run too hot?
  8. Is it worth the effort to buy gasoline with ZERO ethanol in it? My closest place is ten miles away so I would have to buy a few gallons to make it worthwhile....and add stabilizer or not?
  9. -
  10. What is a good additive for the 10% ethanol gasoline that we find everywhere. Additive For small engine use with this 10% ethanol gasoline
  11.  
  12. How much hotter do small air cooled lawnmower engines get compared to water cooled automobile engines
  13. Is there a superior gasoline filter I should buy and install on the Briggs and Stratton


TOPICS: Hobbies; Miscellaneous; Science
KEYWORDS: anotherstupidvanity; thisisapoliticalsite
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To: wally_bert
I bought a push lawnmower off Amazon for about 80 bucks. My yard isn’t that big but I had enough tall grass. It did way better than I expected. If I can get a season out of it, I’m happy.

It should last far longer than that, though for about 90.00 you could get a 14'' 12amp electric lawn mower.though you should use at least 14/3 cord with it.

141 posted on 04/17/2018 5:29:59 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
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To: daniel1212

I did the corded mower once.

Overall, it did an OK job.

I’d would have gone with a higher end battery one but the budget said no. Gas powered is fine but I have enough to maintain.

I recently dug out a towed pressure washing with a Briggs Stratton that had been stored for a decade or more.

The carb is naturally junk. I gave it some fresh ethanol free down the throat after cleaning the plug.

It started after a few pulls. I need to get a replacement. Darned engine number is blocked by tank.


142 posted on 04/17/2018 5:37:08 AM PDT by wally_bert (I didn't get where I am today by selling ice cream tasting of bookends, pumice stone & West Germany)
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To: Revel

Things change so quickly these days. Thanks for the info.


143 posted on 04/18/2018 3:45:53 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: editor-surveyor

Guess I just haven’t kept up with the latest in oil tech. It USED to be that way (detergent vs. non-detergent). I guess it’s been a long time since I read the fine print on a bottle of SAE30.

: )


144 posted on 04/18/2018 3:49:03 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (Lost my tagline on Flight MH370. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: UCANSEE2

.
They all have to be SG rated.

The straight single weight oils are superior without question unless you have freezing issues. Viscosity improvers do not clean or lubricate, they just take up space like the plastic peanuts you use in packages.


145 posted on 04/18/2018 4:25:12 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

Then why not use straight 30 weight in your automobiles? People use 10-40 in cars because the 10 weight component gets up into the pistons quicker to lubricate when starting your engine. Any type engine be it on a lawnmower or automobile.


146 posted on 04/18/2018 5:23:33 PM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: Senator_Blutarski

I am getting sta-bil because getting ethanol free gasoline is a hassle and I know I will not be able to do it often. Plus I buy 10% ethanol gasoline in small amounts for my lawnmower....so no water is drawn in to ef it up.


147 posted on 04/18/2018 5:25:50 PM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: dennisw

.
You must work for the “Ad Council.”

I’ve run numerous vehicles beyond 350K miles on SAE 30 with no problem. I’ve also seen cars with less than 20K fail catastrophically on synthetic.

Rings do not need oil normally, and it is failure of the oil wiper rings that causes carbon contamination that jams the compression rings.
.


148 posted on 04/18/2018 9:33:20 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

I can see using straight 30 weight in a Nevada type climate or North Carolina. Please don’t tell me you would use straight 30 weight in cars and small engines in Minnesota??? You will be harming your engines at your cold start ups.

#2 -—If straight 30 weight oil is the best for cars and small engines like in my lawnmower, then why do we have 10-40 and 20-50 and 5-30 and all these other multi-viscosity combinations for conventional motor oil? What is going on here? It’s just a money making gimmick?


149 posted on 04/19/2018 7:29:18 AM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: dennisw

I use 5w 30 in my 26 hp LB rider. No problemos after 10 years.


150 posted on 04/19/2018 7:35:02 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
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To: dennisw

.
You obviously have not read my comments.

Multi-weight oils are a compromise for starting conditions in freezing climates.

If your starts are always above 40 degrees, SAE 30 provides the best protection for your crankshaft, including in cars that call for light synthetic oils if they are past the break-in period. (but the synthetic may give a fuel economy advantage)
.


151 posted on 04/19/2018 1:38:48 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

sending you freepmail


152 posted on 04/19/2018 5:40:16 PM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: central_va

Walmart has inexpensive 100% 5-30 synthetic under their super-tech name. It is supposed to be as good as any synthetic oil.


153 posted on 04/19/2018 5:46:16 PM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: central_va; editor-surveyor

look at this video

Multiple Viscosity Motor Oil vs Straight Weight oil
Just how thick is 30 weight oil in the winter.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=30+weight+oil&search=Search


154 posted on 04/20/2018 7:57:21 AM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: dennisw; central_va

.
Its easy to over-simplify the issues.

How cold is cold?

How long has the engine been setting?

Thinking helps.


155 posted on 04/20/2018 9:01:17 AM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

Got the lawnmower today shipped via UPS. This way I paid no taxes/ shipping was free. Much better deal than what others had locally such as HD and Lowes. I knew it would come with some straight 30 weight oil to put in. And it did. I will try to get around to posting/ uploading a photo of the oil container. I am not saying it’s any special kind of 30 weight oil. The WalMart 30 weight looks like just what I should use.

Its Troy Bilt with Briggs Stratton engine


156 posted on 04/20/2018 12:37:24 PM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: dennisw

.
Troy is the same as MTD

They all have Briggs engines now because briggs has a carb that always starts on the first pull.

Honda is no longer competitive because of this.

Just do not store it full of gas or it may never run again.
The orifice in the carb is no longer bronze, its plastic, and may swell shut from the alcohol in the gas.
.


157 posted on 04/20/2018 1:15:42 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: editor-surveyor

This new Troy Bilt— No fuel filter on it. I just ordered a shut off valve to install to cut off the gasoline. The plan is to turn this valve off and run the mower until it shuts off. Done when I am finished mowing for the day. This way no 10% ethanol gasoline in carburetor to swell the nozzles and deposit crap.

I will be using straight 30 weight oil, same as what was included with the mower. Will get it at Walmart today. Hopefully mine stocks it.

Meanwhile it turns out there is a station— A Wawa-— that is not far from me that carries zero ethanol gasoline. Station list>>> https://www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp


158 posted on 04/22/2018 9:59:53 AM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: editor-surveyor

yes MTD makes Troy Bilt which I did not know...and my Briggs started on first or second pull when I tried a few times.

I like Troy Bilt having bought one of their rototillers in the 1980s.

MTD makes yard machines lawn mowers...found in Home Depot they use Chinese engines. You tube advice says to run these Chinese Honda engine clones for ten minutes then empty out oil and lots of metal filings. Repeat this. Then the Chinese engine is good to go and good as Honda


159 posted on 04/22/2018 10:04:58 AM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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To: editor-surveyor

About the filings found after running Chinese lawnmower engine...actually I read this in the you tube reviews of this Harbor Freight Predator small engine
http://blog.harborfreight.com/gasengine_4222015/6903/

https://www.harborfreight.com/55-hp-173cc-ohv-vertical-shaft-gas-engine-carb-69731.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=gasengine_4222015

I get Harbor Freight 20% off coupons all the time. They are on-line too, to print out. So this Predator engine real price is $100 plus some tax.


160 posted on 04/22/2018 10:09:46 AM PDT by dennisw (The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong)
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