Chain Saw Long Term Storage

[wbrian63]

I have a consumer-grade Poulan chain saw. It gets used once every 2 or 3 years.

Each time I've stored it away, I've run the tank completely empty, then opened the fuel cap and shook and dumped all the remaining fuel I could out into a pan.

After finishing tasks requiring the saw a few weeks ago, I went through the run-it-dry, shake to fully drain dance. The weighted filter gizmo fell out of the tank into the pan.

Fished the hose out of the tank and attempted to reattach the filter - the hose is rotten.

I'm thinking this is courtesy of the ethanol in the fuel. I'm sure the rest of the hoses and the primer bulb are in the same state. I've ordered replacement items for the entire fuel system, but I'm wondering how to store the unit in the future.

Obviously, there's enough residual fuel in the tank to cause this degradation. I don't think a fuel stabilizer will be good enough for a 1-2 year idle period.

Or am I wrong?

What do others do for situations like this?

 

[Davefr]

Try this:

Also try not to use Ethanol gas. You can usually find non ethanol gas or use airplane gas (AVGAS 100LL).

 

[Wakefield]

I think ideally you would get some stabilized non ethanol gas like the expensive Stihl pre mix fuel and run a little bit of it through,then dump what's left.
I don't do that but dump/ run out the old fuel and bring the saw indoors into a dry environment.
The hoses might end up being a consumable item. Also the carburetor diaphragms. Even when you are using the thing the ethanol gas is probably doing harm.
I wonder if storage with the fancy Stihl fuel left in would be OK-obviously you don't want fuel inside the house.

 

[SouthCoastMudder]

You won't be able to find non-ethanol fuel in Harris county or any neighboring counties, ask me how I know. Easiest thing to do would find somewhere that sells the VP fuels pre-mix 2-stroke fuel, I buy it at the same place I buy my lawn equipment. It is ethanol free and has stabilizers for storage in it.

 

[Wakefield]

I believe I have heard that WalMart or somewhere sells a cheaper premix fuel but I would suspect that it might not be as good as the expensive Stihl stuff.

 

[TwoInch]

i tend to store the consumer grade saws behind the garage in the barrel....



all kidding aside, the poster above got you covered. you can run it out totally dry, which is very common, or use fuel treatments and leave it wet. i have done both and had no issues.

local marinas usually have non-ethanol gas too, and its usually pretty good quality stuff. cost a ton though, not that you need much.

 

[wbrian63]

Thanks - I'll check with the place where I bought my lawn equipment.

Appreciate the feedback.

Regards

 

[thebeekeeper1]

It is no doubt the ethanol. I use the bottled stuff called "50 Fuel." It is half the price of the Stihl brand and works as well. I still run my tools dry after every use.

 

[plinker]

If you store the saw for a long time without running it, be sure to "fog" the cylinder with somthing like marvel mystery oil to prevent the rings from seizing to the cylinder walls.

 

[u118224]

Most quality chainsaw oils have fuel stabilizer in them. I store my saw without running the carb dry and I don't have any problems.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a consumer-grade Poulan chain saw. It gets used once every 2 or 3 years.
.
.
,
I'm thinking this is courtesy of the ethanol in the fuel. I'm sure the rest of the hoses and the primer bulb are in the same state. I've ordered replacement items for the entire fuel system, but I'm wondering how to store the unit in the future.

What is the age of the saw ? 5 years, 10 ? Personally, I don't think etanhol had a lot to do with it.

It seems that none on the original fuel delivery components do NOT hold up for a long time. Unless there are "special" preformed hoses, I would NOT use OEM replacements. Use Tygon fuel line where ever possible.

 

[firebox40dash5]

Most quality chainsaw oils have fuel stabilizer in them. I store my saw without running the carb dry and I don't have any problems.

I used to get away with that too, I thought everyone having all these ethanol problems was just nuts. Then a few years ago that stopped working. My MS260 wouldn't fire worth **** on 3 week old fuel, but would fire right up with fresh fuel. I starting mixing about half a gallon at a time unless I had a big job, whatever was left in the 5 gallon at the end went in the truck.

Honestly if you're using it ever 2-3 years, I'd store it on Craigslist... sell it, buy a used one in 2 years, and sell that when done.

 

[therealwormey]

just because you dont need to use it doesnt mean you cant crank it and let it run a bit every couple months. all my 2 strokes use the same mix so i keep some fresh fairly regular. my leafblower gets used about 1 month in the fall but i crank it more than that just to keep it goin. a good rainy day good for nothing else gets all my 2 strokes their monthly/bi monthly crank/warmup time. when i need em they dont give me a hard time

 

[TDLMOMOWERS]

I store all my small engine equipment with the fuel tanks full. I run Stabil all year long in all my 4 cycle and 2 cycle engines. When I go get gas, I mix 2 ounces of Stabil with 5 gallons of gas, and I have never had a fuel related problem with any of my equipment. I repair small engines, part time and I have seen first hand what ethanol does to these small engines. I have 3 old Lawnboy 2 cycle mowers from the early 70s, and they will start with 3 pulls of the starter in the spring after sitting in my unheated barn. I have never been a big additive fan, but Stabil is one product that has worked for me.

 

[Arbybe]

Use stabil and run dry. After engine quits, pull choke full out and crank the last bit out.
Ask for tygon fuel line ....lasts longer stays flexible .
Two years is about max on storage without carb tear down . I have spare carb ready to
Go to avoid aggravation when tool is difficult. Not new just used ebay with kit.
Alcohol has proven to be the small engine mechanics best friend since breaker points.
IMHO.
P.S. I filled 6 gal tank 100% full to store over winter. Was carefully SEALED.
opened in spring and found 8 ounces water in bottom (looks like Mercury).

 

[wbrian63]

I've got Stabil for my pressure washer. I'll use it with the saw.

The kit I got to refresh the lines has Tygon tubing - I did notice that was an option and selected it.

This saw was a Home Depot Black Friday special. Probably $100 or so total. Just spent 25% of the value of the saw on the repair kit...

Thanks for all the feedback.

Regards

 

[scaron]

depends on where you are storing them. i keep my three mopeds and my lawn mower in the garage. what i do, like a poster above is actually keep the tanks full up, then run them all once or twice a month for a few minutes. i find that keeping premix in the tanks prevents the buildup of rust in them. if you have a plastic tank and/or you're keeping indoors in a temperature-stable dry area, probably best to empty the tank out and run till the carb bowl is empty, imo.

 

[oilslick]

I run av gas with lead in it, it has no elkyhal in it. Smells kick *** when making wood.

 

[SMKS]

The hoses you use as replacements should be the kind that are more resistant to ethanol. Other than that, your routine sounds OK to me.

 

[jpickar]

I use Stihl two stroke oil and NON ethonal gas and I leave the gas in the system and tank. I have four saws and one gets used about once every two or three years. It is used for cutting stump roots. It starts and runs everytime I use it. This tank of gas has been in it about 5 or 6 years now.

Having fuel in the tank helps prevent rust in the tank. The two stroke oil is a gas stabilizer. Ethonal is EVIL! Never use it in anything but your car and then not in your car if you have a choice.

I have done this in two of my saws for over 20 years and have NEVER done anything except change the spark plug and air filter in them.

John

 

[SMKS]

Having fuel in the tank helps prevent rust in the tank.

Most saws made in recent years will have a plastic tank. I have a pretty old Craftsman and it has a plastic tank.

 

[jpickar]

Most saws made in recent years will have a plastic tank. I have a pretty old Craftsman and it has a plastic tank.

Ahhh, yes that is true. My Stihls have plastic tanks. I was thinking of my Grandpas 1960's Homelite. The root cutter, it is all metal. Sorry.

John

 

[Skin]

Just run it until it conks out. The diaphragm carburetors are very good at running essentially all the fuel out of themselves.

Stabil is probably the worst of the fuel stabilizer brands. They even came out with a Marine version specifically meant for ethanol fuels because of how ineffective their old formula was. Briggs Advanced Fuel Stabilizer or Star Tron are two I like and recommend. The Briggs formula brags about 12-18 month lifespans and Star Tron is likewise 12 months.

Old fuel eats rubber. Its not caused directly by the ethanol although ethanol can do some very nasty things when exposed to poor quality fuel line not designed for it. I've encountered the disintegrating line before in saws and blowers and in my humble opinion its caused by the actual oil used in the mix. I've never seen a 4 stroke application do that to rubber fuel line where the stuff breaks apart at the slightest touch.