Just to clarify, the Briggs product should be mixed with "pump fresh" and not added to existing fuel. I add it to my cans before going to the garage to fill up.
You are fortunate in having a quality customer base where you can get the rate for the job . Many of my former contractor customers seemed to struggle to get a decent rate but perhaps that's what they wanted me to think!
Yes, I am lucky as a lot of my customers want a trained gardener to look after thier gardens properly such as pruning, plant division, planting out and creating a garden of thier dreams and as such there are very few of us around who can garden professionally.
More to the point, thanks for pointing out pump fresh fuel regarding the Briggs product.
Very interesting feedback and views concerning Aspen and their competitors. As I said earlier I have not experienced any problems using it and as it's alkylate based I find I can work longer without feeling tired compared to ordinary fuel.
When I use my machinery I charge for the fuel and the use of my kit which amply covers the cost of fuel used.
I am interested in George's (The Fife Ploorman) use of Stihl petrol and Wristpin's use of Briggs Fuel Fresh. As part of my business I also service my customers' lawn mowers and I have put fuel stabiliser in the petrol tanks after the service. I encouraged my customers to fill up their 5l fuel cans halfway and then they can again top it up with fresh fuel a few months later so as to reduce the use of stale fuel.
I am looking for a working vintage/ classic B&S 5hp vertical engine to replace the modern MTD electric start engine on my forthcoming Bolens Lawn Keeper as I am keen to replace the modern one with a more appropriate engine.
Aspen 2 is around £19 for 5 litre. You can get 1 litre as well but do not know the price. Yes it is more than unleaded petrol (especially now that fuel is lower than it was a few months ago!). If I used my machinery week in and out I would probably use ordinary unleaded plus the oil mixture BUT having used Aspen2 on tree work and hedge cutting I don't smell the fumes and I don't feel tired etc. Crucially, the machine runs better as the plug isn't fouled up nor is the air filter or the carb. Efficiency is the key word here I think from the operator and the machine.
On the subject of tranmission oil in another thread I thought I would raise this topic.
Some of you may know that I run a bespoke gardening business in South Devon. As many of you know, modern unleaded fuel goes off quickly and can cause some headache when you need to use your mower or in this case, your tractors/ ride ons after being unused over the winter.
I don't use a lot of machinery as my business is garden design, writing articles for gardening magazines and carrying out the more techical aspect of horticulture. From time to time I am asked to cut hedges, strim grass and fell trees; jobs I enjoy doing. As I don't use my 2 strokes equipment a lot, I have gone down the route of using Aspen 2 which is specially formulated for two strokes engines. Apart from being better for the environment and for the operator (the Aspen fuel is ethanol free and consists of approximately 12 chemicals while unleaded plus the 2 stroke oil consist of over approximately 50 chemicals) the fuel can stay in the tank for 5 years without going off. Modern fuel goes off after 2 or 3 months (if the fuel is yellow then it's stale and is difficult to ignite.)
I have not used Aspen 4 which is for 4 stroke engines but It it has the same principles as Aspen 2. I can honestly say that using this product have made life easier for me and that all my 2 stroke machinery fires up first or second time after a period of unused. For example, my Husqvarna chainsaw was last used in March '14 and it fired up first time in November. As I use my cylinder and rotory mower throughout the season, I use ordinary unleaded petrol. In the winter, I will run it on Aspen 4 so to start up easier when the mowing season begin
I am going to use Aspen 4 on my Bolens. I read somewhere that the company is manufacturing petrol for classic cars for the very same reason (I have a Morris Minor LCV van).
The downside is the price but for less hassle, less damage to the environment, better for the machine and more importantly, better for the operator, I would consider this.
I am the same too on my BOlens; I use SAE 30 lawn mower oil as they are air cooled engines and as I have approximately 10l of EP90 left over from my Land Rover days for the transmission.
Unbelievably, there was a complete but non running Bolens Estate Keeper on the Bay a few days ago and was promptly snapped up. It was sold for £150. I narrowly missed out by a few seconds. It was in Taunton, Somerset.......
I have not yet had a chance to collect my latest Bolens due to my illness over the Christmas Period but hope to get it organised shortly. In the meantime I taken some photographs of my Bolens catalogue showing examples of a Lawn Keeper plus some details. I watched several videos on these models and the articulation on these are incredible.
The magazine sounds very tempting, but also sounds like its given you the itch to extend you collection Andrew
Sometime I wish I never came across this forum or the the ones in the States!
Actually, it's a very interesting magazine and a lot of the owners have large gardens with storage to boot; the joys of living in a vast continent compared to us Brits living in confined spaces.....
I had a look at my Bolens brochures collection and I have several Howard Bolens brochures showing TF and several LF namely 1477 and 1886 models from the late 60s to the 70s. I will be adding to my collection as when they come available. If I come across anything on the HT models I will let you know. Sorry I can't be of help.
There's a great photo of a 1886 in action in the Howard Bolens brochure at might be of interest to Chris?
In the woods today
in Pedestrian Operated Machines
Posted
George,
That's superb landscaping there and I am very impressed with the Gutbrod tractor earning its keep. I might have to look into the Gutbrod myself.