I've been working a bit here and there making a gas powered blender. I grabbed one of my better looking engines out of the pile; a Homelite 25cc that I had no plans to use on an airplane, and made the blender. The engine was complete, clean, and nice looking. Air Filter was clean, very little carbon in the exhaust, good compression when pulled through, etc.

When I got the machine done, I cleaned and gapped the plug, checked the spark, and mixed up some fresh fuel for it. Then I tried to start it. I pulled the starter cord several times and it only popped once. I then stopped, and pulled the plug. It was wet, and the engine was flooded. I cleaned the plug and pulled the motor through several times with the plug out and the throttle open to clear the flood. I replaced the plug and tried again, without choking or priming, and it just flooded again, as evidenced by the plug getting all soaked again. So, after verifying spark, air cleaner, and choke operation again, I realized I had a carb problem.

I removed the carb, and just as I suspected, the regulator diaphragm was stiff and holding the regulator needle valve open. I cleaned the carb out with carb cleaner spray, put in a new diaphragm, added new fuel lines while I was there, and reassembled. It started on the second pull and ran perfectly. I thought to myself, "I wonder how many people would have pulled the starter cord until it broke, or have twisted away like crazy, (and futilely), at the mixture needles in trying to get this engine to start?"

So, I decided to write this, hoping it would help someone....

I really recommend when you go to do an engine conversion, that you first try to start the engine in it's original machine. That will tell you a lot about the condition of the motor, etc. before getting into the conversion, and you will know if it runs before you get it all mounted up with a prop. If it doesn't run, fix it and make it run BEFORE you convert it. Remember all the basics first. If an engine has spark, fuel, and compression, all at the proper times and amounts, it WILL run. Always get an engine running nicely in stock form before you go modifying it. All the modifications in the world won't help an engine that is "sick" to begin with. I check the bearings and seals, put in a new ring(s), a new spark plug, and rebuild the carb on every used engine conversion I do just as a matter of standard operating procedure. Then I know I am working with a "fresh" engine, and any modifications I make will have a good basis to start with. I really wonder how many people have wasted hours, twisting away at the mixture needles and trying to start or tune an engine before deciding the carb, (or engine) was no good and tossing it. If you don't feel comfortable rebuilding a carb, then buy a new one or take yours to a small engine shop and have it rebuilt if your engine is more than a few months old! Those diaphragms can get trashed easily from sitting without gas after being exposed once, or if the carb had gas in it that turned bad, etc. That diaphragm must be about as supple as a piece of tissure paper, and the carb must be clean internally.

Well ok, off my soap box and back to those frozen Margaritas and Strawberry Daiquiris.... Yes, the Homelite Super Blender works great!! Pics later....

AV8TOR

av8tor

Don't spread the word on why these engines won't run.(lol)
This is how I get ryobi engines for next to nothing because people get frustrated with them and want to throw them away thats where I come in.
Only wish they would do it with the 4stroke models.

Cheers Adrian.

Humm Homelite blender... 1) 3 gallons mescal or tequila , 2) one branch of limon tree (with leaves and fruit), 3) one 10 lb block of ice Put all of above in 10 gallon milk can and blend. Set animal salt lick in central location for guest to use as needed.

Looking forward to the pictures. May need to borrow it for drinks at the L.P. 1st Annual Serrano Chile Eating Contest!

Adrian.... I did think about that negative aspect of my post when I wrote it..... Oh well, I don't think many homeowners read this forum!

Mike.... "Serrano Chile Eating Contest???" OOWWWCH. [:@] (And I like my food "chilosa".)

Just hope the post helps someone. So many people are scared to death of carburetors, AND don't understand the importance of "Basics First"....

AV8TOR

The Homelite Super Blender works great. I've made "several" batches of Margaritas and Strawberry Daquiris...



Here's a pic...

AV8TOR

Needs a tuned pipe and a twist grip throttle.

Terry! And here I thought nobody cared.....

AV8TOR

Where is everybody lately...must be bad weather hits everywhere? Or Fall and cold weather has a lot to do with it!!!!!!!!! I sure have been trying to get ready for fall & winter. Capt,n[:@]

thats AWESOME! i love it

Just thought i'd let you know i do the same thing, i check my local and not so local pawn shops and small engine shops regulary, I just got a poulan 3500 3.7ci chain saw with a 20 inch bar and two chains for next to nonthing, ( under $35.00) the shop owner took it in and found it to have a rattle when he shook it, He told me it was blown up and would need rebuilt but said it had good compression, Didn't make a lot of sense so i checked it out there and bought it. i brought it home and listened real close to it and it sounded like the noise came from the muffler, i pulled the muffler off and it has two long screws from the outside holding it and one short one inside the muffler. the short one inside had came lose and was floating around making all the noise. I put it back togeather and it started right up and is a real strong runner, it's also a 60 cc enging but now i don't want to convert it because it is so strong. the only kink is it does have the magneto mounted to the case instead of the enging. I know i can make a mount for the mag but the saw is almost cherry anyway so i think i'll keep it to cut with. I have found a few cases like that and for awhile i was loseing them because i was telling the owners what was wrong with them. i have been a mechanic most of my life then went self employed as a gunsmith and i set up my own machine shop so i can make or do most anything i want. I just quit telling the pawn shop owners what was wrong with the engines.



Airplanes are like jello... there's always room for one more......

Yeah, that's cool. I've got a bunch of engines flying, and a whole box of engines stocked up, and I got nearly all of them all for either a nominal fee or for free. One time I got a dirty old weedeater from a repair shop for free. I was thinking it might be good for parts if nothing else. It was laying on the floor in the garage with stinky old rotten smelling gas in it. My brother showed up slowly pulled it through to check the compression, and it started up!! They are definitely out there to be had cheap if a fellow goes looking around.

AV8TOR