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This subject has been debated on other forums, but I would like to share a first hand personal experience and get the Tractor Forum member's thoughts and comments.
First, for some reason, 2 cycle engines do not like me. The refuse to start easily and run right. I don't know why, but that is the way it has been.
Now as most of you know, I recently purchased a Stihl MS250C chainsaw. The manual states:
"Use mid-grade unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 89 (R+M/2). If the octane rating of the mid-grade gasoline in your area is lower, use premium unleaded fuel" (I am assuming 92 octane).
When I first got the saw, sure enough I had a hell of a time getting it to start. I had fresh fuel (89 octane) with the right mixture of top grade 2 cycle oil. I thought it was just that it was new and not "broken in" yet. I read and re-read the starting instructions in the manual. I watched the video at the Stihl website. Yes, I could finally get it started after about 20 pulls and 30 minutes of hard work. I talked to other people, took it back to the dealer and when they tried it, it started right away. Yep, I was not loved. Finally I rolled all the advice together and got to the point I could start the saw after about 10 pulls. I thought I had reached a new plateau of success and had broken the jinx. I should have stopped there....
I heard, on other forums, that higher octane gas would burn cooler, and I assumed increase the reliability and life of the engine. The Stihl manual even said to use it if necessary. So last week, when I needed more gas, I took my 2 1/2 gal tank to the local gas station, filled with exactly 2 gallons of fresh premium (92 octane) gas, mixed the exact amount of oil, filled the saw's tank and was ready to tackle the logs....
I pulled....
and I pulled...
and pulled...
10 times...20 times...30 times...over about an hours time. I smelled gas (flooded) so I took out the plug, dried it and put it back in.
I pulled...
and I pulled...
and pulled...
I actually got 2 water blisters and 1 blood blister from pulling (with leather gloves on)! Once the starter handle flew back into the saw and clipped my thumb, pinching a nerve. It's still a little numb.
Dog gone it!.......was not what came out of my mouth!
Sooooo...back to the dealer. I talked to my salesman and the service manager. The manager said he sends out all the small engine equipment they sell, not with 89 but with 87 octane gas. He said he would NOT at all recommend premium!
Back to the house, dump the full tank of 92 into my car, and filled up with exactly 2 gallons of 87 octane gas, exact mixture of oil. I dumped the saws gas tank, pumped the primer bulb to flush out the carb, filled the tank with the 87 mix and primed it. I put band-aids on my fingers under my gloves.
Full choke...1 pull...2 pulls, the engine fired once.
Half choke...1 pull...2 pulls, the engine started.
I was born again!!!!
From that time on, I can start that saw fresh with less than 5 pulls, EVERY time! If the saw is warm...2 pulls max!
OK, I am wearing out the leather on my gloves around the knuckle area every time I get ready to saw wood again. I am focusing on making longer pulls on the cord, as opposed to faster, shorter pulls. But I really have to believe the change in octane is my main salvation. I am a sawyer again! (Jason.. (service manager)...who luvs ya?)
Now that's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...I swear! (at least I used to).
So what do you guys think?
Greg
First, for some reason, 2 cycle engines do not like me. The refuse to start easily and run right. I don't know why, but that is the way it has been.
Now as most of you know, I recently purchased a Stihl MS250C chainsaw. The manual states:
"Use mid-grade unleaded gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 89 (R+M/2). If the octane rating of the mid-grade gasoline in your area is lower, use premium unleaded fuel" (I am assuming 92 octane).
When I first got the saw, sure enough I had a hell of a time getting it to start. I had fresh fuel (89 octane) with the right mixture of top grade 2 cycle oil. I thought it was just that it was new and not "broken in" yet. I read and re-read the starting instructions in the manual. I watched the video at the Stihl website. Yes, I could finally get it started after about 20 pulls and 30 minutes of hard work. I talked to other people, took it back to the dealer and when they tried it, it started right away. Yep, I was not loved. Finally I rolled all the advice together and got to the point I could start the saw after about 10 pulls. I thought I had reached a new plateau of success and had broken the jinx. I should have stopped there....
I heard, on other forums, that higher octane gas would burn cooler, and I assumed increase the reliability and life of the engine. The Stihl manual even said to use it if necessary. So last week, when I needed more gas, I took my 2 1/2 gal tank to the local gas station, filled with exactly 2 gallons of fresh premium (92 octane) gas, mixed the exact amount of oil, filled the saw's tank and was ready to tackle the logs....
I pulled....
and I pulled...
and pulled...
10 times...20 times...30 times...over about an hours time. I smelled gas (flooded) so I took out the plug, dried it and put it back in.
I pulled...
and I pulled...
and pulled...
I actually got 2 water blisters and 1 blood blister from pulling (with leather gloves on)! Once the starter handle flew back into the saw and clipped my thumb, pinching a nerve. It's still a little numb.
Dog gone it!.......was not what came out of my mouth!
Sooooo...back to the dealer. I talked to my salesman and the service manager. The manager said he sends out all the small engine equipment they sell, not with 89 but with 87 octane gas. He said he would NOT at all recommend premium!
Back to the house, dump the full tank of 92 into my car, and filled up with exactly 2 gallons of 87 octane gas, exact mixture of oil. I dumped the saws gas tank, pumped the primer bulb to flush out the carb, filled the tank with the 87 mix and primed it. I put band-aids on my fingers under my gloves.
Full choke...1 pull...2 pulls, the engine fired once.
Half choke...1 pull...2 pulls, the engine started.
I was born again!!!!
From that time on, I can start that saw fresh with less than 5 pulls, EVERY time! If the saw is warm...2 pulls max!
OK, I am wearing out the leather on my gloves around the knuckle area every time I get ready to saw wood again. I am focusing on making longer pulls on the cord, as opposed to faster, shorter pulls. But I really have to believe the change in octane is my main salvation. I am a sawyer again! (Jason.. (service manager)...who luvs ya?)
Now that's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...I swear! (at least I used to).
So what do you guys think?
Greg