Think your right on there Bill. I went thru a half dozen weed whackers over the past 30 years, or since
they came out with them. They wouldn't start from one time till the next (only trimmed a couple times a
year, I hate mowing the lawn). Got to be to much trouble pulling them apart to clean the carbs and they
don't have a shut off. Same problem with them before the gas became alcoholic. My (big old wife)
finally got tired of knee deep weeds around the edges and brought home a Black & Decker 18v with a
couple of extra batteries so she could trim. Now a days that's me favorite lawn tool.
On a little larger scale, I've got a 10hp Ariens snow blower that I've had for 29 years. It sits two or three
years sometimes without being fired up (like this year). I always run it dry after every use, never change
the fuel (E-10) so it may have fuel in it that’s could be considered vintage. I do give it a good dose of
Stabil when I top it off though. Never tuned it up but that engine is so reliable that three pumps on the
primer bulb and she fires up on the first pull every time without fail.
That said, it sure can’t hurt to run any engine on a regular schedule Scott. Although some winters
Bluebelle has to sit for a spell, I just taint gonna put her thru anymore Midwest winter driving. I’ve never
had a problem with her starting in the spring and I’m not particular about how full the tank is when I
shut her down. I don’t have to worry about running the carb dry, the Carter W-1 takes care of that on
short order all by itself. If she sits more than a week or two I gotta pump her full of petrol before she
fires off. I carry what I call, Bluebelle’s fill-up flask all year round which is a cocktail that consists of
3oz of Stabil and 6oz of MMOil. Don’t know for sure if it really makes a difference but one thing for
sure, it don’t hurt nothing, cept my pocket book.
Soy, all I got to say is, you one lucky guy.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
