Do it Yourself: Re: Update Re: [DIY] Lawn mower starting

21 September 2013

Re: Update Re: [DIY] Lawn mower starting

Carb cleaner is pretty strong stuff, while starter fluid is nothing more than ether and has been used for years to start diesel and gas engines in cold weather.
Look on the carb cleaner can to see what it contains, some of those cleaning chemicals will eat metal or at the least degrade it, but usually only if the parts are left to soak in the cleaner for a prolonged period of time. Large doses of ether can indeed harm an engine because of the intensity of the explosive combustion which can over stress rods and crank shafts but the conservative squirt needed to get a balky engine started in most cases will not hurt a good solid engine. Chain saws are known for being hard to start in very cold weather and I used ether on all of mine for years, they all died from normal use and wear after many years of hard service. We fortunately are able to still buy alcohol free fuel but who can say for how long.

Dale in the Flatlands. "Why waste time learning when ignorance is instantaneous."

Terry Sullivan wrote:

Update:

I read elsewhere on the web that regular starter fluid is too strong
for lawn mowers and that you should use a special small engine
starting fluid instead. I went to the local lawn mower dealer/repair
place and the guy there said they don't stock or use starter fluid,
but that spray carburetor cleaner would work. I bought some and
after spraying a little in my mower's air intake it did start up
without a problem.

However, the directions on the can say the carburetor cleaner should
only be used on metal carburetor parts after the carburetor has been
"disassembled by a qualified technician, separating the metal
components from the elastomers (diaphragm, gaskets, check valve disc,
o-rings, etc)." The directions also say that "STIHL Carburetor and
Choke Cleaner contains ingredients that degrade certain elastomers
(rubber-like substances. i.e. polyvinyls)."

So I'm wondering if the carburetor cleaner (when used instead of
starting fluid) may do more harm than starting fluid. Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Terry

At 11:08 AM 9/20/2013, I wrote:
>
>
>E-10 fuel is the only fuel available around here
>(upstate New York). Even the higher octane fuels
>have ethanol. I have used Sta-Bil in fresh gas
>and installed a clean air filter, but that didn't
>seem to help. The engine is only three years
>old. But thanks to those of you who've said that
>you've started your engines with starter fluid
>for years without problems -- that's good to
>hear. And I will try putting some liquid carburetor cleaner into the tank.
>
>Terry