Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
I wouldn't worry. Sounds normal. Every Stihl machine I've had - blowers and chainsaws, have all been bought new and they all benefit from a running in period. I bank on 12 tanks of fuel to see it loosen up, 20 to really see it really fly. I'd also run it on aspen from day one to protect the fuel system seals.
Thanks for that, I never knew about Aspens. Will look around for some, trouble is I live in France lol
A bought a Stihl BG86 blower a while back which didn't rev up as high as my other one that I'd had for a few years............ the dealer was quite happy to do a quick adjustment on the carb to get it up to speed..... something I couldn't easily do myself due to the "limiter caps" on the adjustment screws.
Aspen could be useful in some machines but if Stihl didn't want us to use ordinary fuel, I'm sure they'd tell us. Its extremely expensive and having taken/reassembled quite a few Stihl carbs, there really aren't any seals that need protecting. I'm sure most of us just use ordinary fuel with no problems.....I certainly have been for years.
That said my hedge cutting days are coming to an end. I'm going to be a ladder holder from now on! My shoulder can't stand it anymore. I will do small li wish ones but the big tall ones no way!
Stihl dealers are now recommending that you use stihl mototmix on new machines which they reckon is their version of aspen. The issue with normal unleaded 2 stroke mix is that it degrades the seals and diaphragms, but it also swells them and then when it runs dry/empty the seals etc. shrink. The problem is the benzenes in normal fuel. But if you never let them dry out you probably would be okay. We, like a lot of others, only noticed the problem when we switched over to aspen, 6 out of the 9 saws needed new carb diaphragms - but they're only a few quid.
Now we run Aspen in all new kit. It is more expensive but what price health? and it stores in the can, and it can stay in the machine without going off or gumming it up, indefinitely. Got sick of fuel primer bulbs going dark brown and cracking.
Another big thing as well - you can guarantee the mix is spot on every time. It only take a few percent too much oil each time (which I see loads of people do) and the saw runs too hot and eventually dismantles itself. When I've got lads working for me I only let them use aspen in the machines for that reason. Lots of tree guys use it now. The machines do seem to be happier, fewer starting issues etc. They needed a touch tweaking on the H screw but that was all.
My thinking is if you buy premium top dollar kit, then put the best fuel in it you can. The fuel system on the saws are now squeaky clean. Wish I could saw the same for the rest of them.
Stihl would say that as they make money from it:)
The other issue for me is availability it's miles to get some!
So true... at roughly 3 times the price of ordinary fuel, they must be making a good profit on it. Perhaps I'm lucky but never had a problem with the ordinary fuel though maybe my lungs will pack up in a few years:) I think you'll find that the Stihl 2 stroke also has a "stabilizer" in it to prolong life
I always keep the 2-stroke oil in one of those 1 litre bottles with the measure built in...... just refill it from the 5 litre container...... you can't really go wrong with getting the mix right.