Smaller engine

[bikersmurf]

I’ve been trying to find ways to work smarter. A problem we have is that the Ponderosa Pine tree in our front yard is constantly killing our lawn. Raking the needles constantly to keep them from smothering the lawn isn’t something I can keep up.

So... I decided to buy a used backpack blower off UsedVic. $50 and the add said it worked well and it started first pull. There was no pick and no info so I asked a couple questions. The seller answered my questions and offered it to me for $25. For that price I felt it was worth a shot to see if it’d work to clear out the needles, and it does.

The picture below is for reference. Consider it an ‘after’ picture. The shoulder straps are trashed, but nothing that can’t be reinvented with a sewing machine.

So why post up here. The air cleaner housing is broken/missing. A new housing is about $50 if it comes to that, but that’d triple my investment in this experiment.

Here’s a picture of what the missing cover looks like.

And the other brands that use the same housing.

If I can’t find a used housing, I’m thinking I’ll adapt some kind of filter to do the job. The only complication is that the choke is a part of the housing.

So my thought is to find a foam filter to cover the backing plate and then hold it on with a ‘sock’ or drawstring breathable bag.

Anyone have different ideas?

The carb has a 1/2” intake hole and it’s held on by two bolts about 1.5” apart. The choke is a small plate that slides over the carb throat that has a 1/16” hole in it.

Any small cheap air filters that come to mind?

Don’t worry @seapotato, you title for the most small engine tools isn’t in jeopardy. This brings my count to 6.

 

[stevebradford]

Looks like a giant gas powered strap on

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

This might fix your back:





Or make a hovercraft for the kids:

 

[bikersmurf]

It’s a shame we live in such a throw away society. A new harness and an air cleaner is half the cost of the machine... and as much as a long block for it. Equipment shouldn’t be thrown away because a cloth strap wears out.

Looks like a giant gas powered strap on

An F’ing scary one. 150 mph, 500 cfm... it’d blow up a new friend in about 3 seconds flat.

 

[bikersmurf]

Unfortunately I accidentally hit post without the message so only the pictures were seen first. Fixed it now

 

[seapotato]

Don’t worry @seapotato, you title for the most small engine tools isn’t in jeopardy. This brings my count to 6.

It's not really a title I enjoy...

Currently,

2 ride on mowers
3 weed eaters
2 pressure washers
2 leaf blowers
2 generators
walk behind brush cutter
fire pump
chainsaw

And I feel like I'm forgetting something...


One of the pressure washers is a karcher with a briggs, filter doesn't look that different. The carbs are all pretty similar.

I kinda hate the freakin' thing, tempted to put it at the end of the driveway, it's always a bitch to start after a couple weeks. Fuel stabilizer doesn't help. The other one is first pull regardless of how long it sits.


But that's in nanaimo. If it were me, I'd get a chunk of foam filter and cut out some coroplast or something like that to hold it on .

 

[bikersmurf]

It's not really a title I enjoy...

Currently,

2 ride on mowers
3 weed eaters
2 pressure washers
2 leaf blowers
2 generators
walk behind brush cutter
fire pump
chainsaw

And I feel like I'm forgetting something...


One of the pressure washers is a karcher with a briggs, filter doesn't look that different. The carbs are all pretty similar.

I kinda hate the freakin' thing, tempted to put it at the end of the driveway, it's always a bitch to start after a couple weeks. Fuel stabilizer doesn't help. The other one is first pull regardless of how long it sits.


But that's in nanaimo. If it were me, I'd get a chunk of foam filter and cut out some coroplast or something like that to hold it on .

Forgot the chainsaw... 7.

I was leaning towards the chunk of foam. Plastic is a good thought. I’ve got some I can Heat and shape. If I wanted to get really creative I’d vacuum form something. I’ll likely run by the local Repair shop that has a couple old timers working there. They’ll have a foam filter or something else as a starting point. Or something in their bone yard... last time they just gave me the part I needed.

 

[bikersmurf]

I could use a gas pressure washer

 

[seapotato]

Well, it ain't much of a pressure washer, always a bitch to start, and it doesn't have a hose.

Taking the carb bowl off every single time I wanted to use it got old fast...

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

I managed to score a commercial 11hp Honda pressure washer with an oil lubricated inline pump a few years ago for $100. Looked like hell because the guy stored it outside in the rain. But he actually maintained it well otherwise. Makes it less likely to get stolen, so I see it as a benefit, LOL. Starts first pull everytime, and it's a beast. Blows me off ladders and eats concrete if I'm not careful. I did have to repair the pressure adjust doo dad, and had to come up with my own hose and wand. Still a good deal tho.

 

[seapotato]

I managed to score a commercial 11hp Honda pressure washer with an oil lubricated inline pump a few years ago for $100. Looked like hell because the guy stored it outside in the rain. But he actually maintained it well otherwise. Makes it less likely to get stolen, so I see it as a benefit, LOL. Starts first pull everytime, and it's a beast. Blows me off ladders and eats concrete if I'm not careful. I did have to repair the pressure adjust doo dad, and had to come up with my own hose and wand. Still a good deal tho.

Yeah given a choice I'd always pick Honda first.

Might get the Honda version of the Kombi head at some point so I can get rid of a couple Stihls.

Just a question of whether the weight is too crazy. Always the complaint with Honda outboards...

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Yeah given a choice I'd always pick Honda first.

Might get the Honda version of the Kombi head at some point so I can get rid of a couple Stihls.

Just a question of whether the weight is too crazy. Always the complaint with Honda outboards...

Only downside is all the neighbors caught wind of it shortly after I got it going. So my use is probably only 25% of the hours that get put on it....haha. Ah well. Like an inline diesel injection pump, those oil lubricated in-line washer pumps last about 10 times as long or more than the rotary ones do.

 

[bikersmurf]

Hey Neighbor.

 

[bikersmurf]

Picked up a free parts weed eater. It seemed to be all there. At least it was until I claimed the foam donut filter for the backpack blower

Next came a prototype filter cover. Not pretty... quiet red neck, but it works.

I used the angle grinder to shorten a can.

 

[bikersmurf]

I

Picked up a free parts weed eater. It seemed to be all there. At least it was until I claimed the foam donut filter for the backpack blower

View attachment 2417346

Next came a prototype filter cover. Not pretty... quiet red neck, but it works.

View attachment 2417347
I used the angle grinder to shorten a can.

I bought and installed a cheapy Stihl filter housing to replace this… only to later have someone down the road tossing out a broken RYOBI line trimmer. Oh well.