OT: Mowed the lawn, whch involved starting the mower first time after winter

[J Tiers]

Before attempting tp start, I looked, and discovered that I did not drain the gas tank last fall, as I usually do. But, I tried starting it anyway.

What do you suppose happened? (Hint: It was different than what happens typically when I do drain it.)

[lakeside53]

It ran. Just like mine did.

[SLK001]

Uhhh, it fired right up?

[BCRider]

Maybe I've been lucky but mine has fired up in the Spring with no more than one extra pump of the primer bulb and a couple of extra pulls for many years now. It's been about 13 years that I've had it and I should likely show it some love by washing it one of these years.

Oil change every other year and it still comes out looking not much dirtier than it went in. Sharpen the blade once a year.

Big secret is to feed it gasoline without any alky in it. So it actually gets fed better than my motorcycles.

[J Tiers]

Yep, the sumbeach started on the first pull. I figured it was going to need the carb cleaned, which is usual for when I have drained the tank and let it run dry.

Regular alky gas, too.

[Willy]

All of the alcohol is being used for hand sanitizers....and booze for those who are staying home to self-distance.

[lakeside53]

Mine's ethyl gas too. Pressure washer started right up, so did the woodchipper and generator.

[danlb]

I start my generators monthly. I missed about 4 months in a row when out of town. With my old generator I used to give the rope a few pulls to "prime it" before using the electric start. Both of my new generators surprised me by starting on the second slow pull. Both had gas treated with sta-bil.

[BCRider]

I just started up the Kawasaki you see in my avatar late this afternoon after it had been sitting since around Sept or Oct 2017. It uses 91 octane so still alky in the gas. I do fill it before winter storage though to avoid condensation and rusting of the tank. It sat this long because the last couple of years I insured and rode the Moto Guzzi instead.

I spun it for about 3/4 of a second the first time got a couple of pops but no start. Tried again and it was running almost before I could tap and release the starter button..... .Gotta LOVE fuel injection ! ! ! ! ! That's even better than your lawn mower ! ! ! !

It's been like this after layoffs the whole time I've owned it. Never any trouble starting with that one. The Suzuki DR350 with kick only though... that's being a real bear of a thing. I think it figured out that I want to sell it to a buddy......

Insurance tomorrow and go riding. A solo ride is one of the few fun things to do which totally embraces social distancing.

[OaklandGB]

Hey you guys, one of the benefits to living in a northern state is winter. My tractor gets only one month's rest, sometimes less, between late fall last mowing, leaf clean ups, and the first snow plowing of winter. The gas is never more than half a dozen weeks old any time of year. Plowed snow in February, and between spring fit out and a steering gear repair done yesterday, the machine is running every month of the year.

Now, my Yamaha 360 powered generator, gets started monthly and run for an hour with fresh gas added. Shut off is always by gas valve and let run dry. I really don't need it to clog up when the power is off and cold, wet, ice is caking up on my head as I try to start it.

So, you guys in AZ, CA, FL, TX etc., just need to move back to a snow belt state, then you won't have gummed up gas tanks. Makes sense right?

[BCRider]

So, you guys in AZ, CA, FL, TX etc., just need to move back to a snow belt state, then you won't have gummed up gas tanks. Makes sense right?

Hell, why not just move to Alaska ! ! ! ! Home of 10 months of winter and two months of bad snow mobiling ! ! !

[OaklandGB]

BC, ya, but then you gotta buy bear spray, moose repellent, a plane, more stuff to take up garage space. And, heck, a trip to Walmart is an overnighter.....but then, nobody to bug you either. Hmmmmm......

[Ohio Mike]

I never drain gas from anything. However every gallon of gas I pump for any small engine or the old tractor gets Sta-Bil. I actually put it in the cans before going to the gas station so I don't forget. If the gas in the cans sits to long (more than 6 months) then I dump it in the truck and go get fresh gas.

[barracudajoe]

Both of my generators and my lawnmower all have fuel shut off valves. I shut the valves and let them run until they quit. I never drain the tanks, use regular pump gas and haven't had a problem.
I mowed my lawn yesterday for the first time this season and after sitting all winter with 1/2 tank of fuel it started with one pull. With my chainsaw & brushcutter, after every use, I pour unused fuel back into the gas can and start them back up and run them until they die.

[Corbettprime]

I too use Sta-bil in my gas can. Have a 2 1/2 gal. can I use for the lawnmower and the snowblower. Every spring, before my first mowing, I empty the can into my truck, fill it and add Sta-bil. The lawnmower starts on the second pull, the snowblower is electric start and starts almost immediately. Love that Sta-bil.