Chainsaw storage

[crosstalk]

What is the best way to store a chainsaw (or other 2 stroke)? I figured y'all would have some good advice on this because I'm sure many of you have multiple saws that you want to store and run without more carb work when you want them.

I have been using ethanol shield fuel stabilizer in the mix (E10 gasoline and Echo power blend 2 stroke oil) and storing wet with whatever is left in the tank. Generally this has worked pretty well for the carb and the fuel lines (knockoff tygon). I did have a problem recently with a blower that I got out to blow some snow off the car. It had been stored wet and had a stiff metering diaphragm.

Is there a better way? Thank you.

[kevinm1980]

Honestly here in Canada I use Esso or shell 91 with no ethanol and red armor, on collection saws I'll drain the fuel, but on the 5 homelites I regularly use I just leave fuel in them, usually all winter and never have an issue, red armor has fuel stabilizer in it, I know I should probaly drain them, but even if I have an issue I work on these old saws so often can fix fuel system issues with ease

[edju1958]

I think the main key to storing a 2 cycle device is to use ethanol free fuel,that's first & foremost.The other tyhing that I do is add a fuel stabilizer to the fuel yr.round.I was using Lucas gas treatment,then I switched over to StarTron.The Lucas worked well for me,but I was advised that the StarTron was better for long term storage - up to 2 yrs.

[MI Old Saw]

I use non-ethanol in everything except the wife's car.  We have it a mile from the house, and it runs about 60 cents per gallon more than reg 87 octane (10% corn).  I have seen significant improvement and reduced carb maintainance in all my equipment (I keep roughly 20-25 tractors, and now the same number of saws, plus an outboard EFI marine motor).  I do not drain tractors, ever.  I keep the tanks full, without stabilizer, and that helps fend off mpistuire and tank rust.   I have seen as much as 3-4 ounces of straight water come from a half filled garden tractor gas tank, with reg pump gas in it, and removed jello molds from carb bowls.  

I do drain saws if I know I won't fire one up for a few weeks or more.  Granted, I haven't really owned any of my saws long enough to justrify draining any of them.  The Poulan saw and Troy bilt trimmer I used for housework prior to my new addiction always used non-ethanol, and haven't had a dry tank in over a decade, each.  The Poulan is just now giving me some carb issues at idle.  

Here is a vid clip of a tractor carb I inheritted from a corn gas user:
 studio.youtube.com/video/jKLkjpp-Jvk/edit


As far as physical storage goes, I threw together some quickie shelves to get teh saws up and out of the way, that works with my tractor storage, and is easily removable for when those tractors come out to play.

[tangobravo]

Protecting the fuel systems on these presents long term storage challenges and staying away from ethanol blended gasoline is a good idea. Stabilizing fuel is a good idea and running the engine occasionally is also good.

I think a bigger problem for some here is how to stack all the saws like cord-wood! 

[sparky]

Wow good job putting all that iron in a tight configuration lol!

[w30bob]

Hi crosstalk,

The answer depends on a couple things.....but mainly how long the engine will be sitting between runnings. Newer stuff is designed to handle Ethanol fuels just fine.....never had a problem with storing my Huskys or Echo saws wet. Some have sat a year or two between starts.....and they fire right up and don't leak. If you take a carb apart that sat for a year or so you'll find all the fuel has evaporated and the oil remains. That oil over all the fuel wetted parts is what protects them, unlike 4-strokes that are stored wet and dry out. If you let the engine sit so long that the oil evaporates, then things get stiff and hard. I can't speak to how well the older stuff deals with Ethanol, but from what I'm reading probably not so well. Stabilizers only stabilize for so long, and then break down.......so again the clock is not your friend.

The "by the book" way to preserve 2-strokes is to use a fogging oil sprayed in the intake before you shut your two-stroke down for the last time between seasons. Fogging oil does the same thing the 2-stroke oil does, but it's designed to stick to everything and stay for awhile. You can get it almost anywhere......Walmart has it for a few bucks a can. You just need to remember to use it.......or it'll sit on the shelf looking pretty and unused, like mine does.

;0)
bob