From: michael.trew@att.net   
      
   On 12/18/2021 22:23, fos wrote:   
   > On 2021-12-15, Michael Trew  wrote:   
   >> On 12/15/2021 8:14, fos wrote:   
   >   
   >>> i have a 1985 Ford snow blower. and just picked up a late 70's Sears   
   >>> chipper shredder off craigslist that needed a carb rebuild and now runs   
   >>> great. both still have many years left in them.   
   >   
   >> Yes, the old stuff just goes on and on.  I have a 70's JcPenney brand   
   >> (Penncraft?) 1100 watt generator that I paid $40 for from Craigslist,   
   >> and it works well to keep the fridge, DSL modem, and a light on if the   
   >> power goes out.   
   >   
   >> I picked up a Gilson late 60's front tine tiller from the original owner   
   >> (with original manual) last spring for a similar price to turn over a   
   >> small plot of soil.  I had to pick the soil first, but that's a really   
   >> nice little machine.   
   >   
   > Ha. We can do this all week it seems. I forgot the 1980 Ariens front   
   > tine tiller I picked up a couple years ago from a retired guy who bought   
   > it new. Came with the manuals and original sales receipt. I've worked   
   > the hell out it tearing up several hundred square feet of sod and dug   
   > down at least a foot, in rocky soil, for garden beds and it doesn't skip   
   > a beat. Local power equipment dealer told me Ariens is great at keeping   
   > track of parts for old equipment like that and getting any common wear   
   > components for it are available.   
      
   I was surprised that the owner of my tiller made some custom tines that   
   replaced a few of the original ones.  It's belt driven, but doesn't seem   
   to have issue.   
      
   > Everything else is much newer. Generator, Briggs, bought new in 2006.   
   > Rarely use it but don't want to be without it. Change the oil, and drain   
   > &  replace the fuel annually, and it always starts on the first or second   
   > pull. Push mower, Exmark commercial mower, Kawasaki engine, 2010. Weed   
   > eater, sidewalk edger, leaf blower, and chainsaw, Stihl, all the lower   
   > end models of the pro series, not the homeowner series, 1 per year for   
   > the last 4 years.   
      
   I'm fortunate that my old Generator sat for 1.5 years and fired RIGHT up   
   when I filled the fuel.  The prior owner installed a shut-off valve to   
   the carburetor.  Turn the shut-off valve, and wait for the bowl to run   
   out of fuel.  I very rarely use it, but I'm sure it's time for an oil   
   change.   
      
   > People, don't piss away good money on department or big box store power   
   > equipment.   
      
   I agree, buy the right tools to last.  That being said, in a pinch, I   
   bought a $69 weed eater at Home Depot 4 years ago (I think I forgot my   
   check book, and only had cash to buy that one).  I can't believe that   
   cheap unit is running strong all of this time later.  Keep in mind I   
   only mow a couple of small city residential lots, nothing high demand.   
   I think ethanol free fuel keeps this weed eater running well.   
      
   I can't recall the brand of the old 70's/80's 22" push mower that I   
   picked up for $50, but the guy said it was his father's, and he had put   
   a brand new briggs/stratton engine on it a year prior.  Nice higher   
   horse engine.  He moved to a big lot and decided he no longer needed the   
   mower.  It was unusual in the fact that it has a VERY heavy duty   
   aluminum deck.  It'll never rust out!  I bet I'll have this thing for a   
   life time.   
      
   SIDE NOTE: I do NOT put ethanol fuel into ANY of these small engines.   
   Not even into my cheap spare power mower that gets used for a rocky part   
   of the lawn and thrown into the truck to be taken elsewhere.  I drive an   
   hour away to buy at least 5 gallons of ethanol free 90 octane fuel twice   
   per season for all of the small engines.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)