Fuel shutoff & cheap battery savers

[Forest Road 594]

I have a 314 h and 522xi loader at the vacation home. They make our property maintenance much easier. What used to be an issue is no more. Stale gas in the carb and dead batteries.

 

After having to clean out a few carbs I chose to take the easy road. These tractors don't see more than 20 hours a year. The gas would often go bad in the carb and leave me with more to do. 

 

The easy way around this is to shut off the fuel and let the carb run dry. Starting it up the next time could be an issue. 

 

I started by replacing all of the fuel line. Used a simple 1/4 turn inline valve, an inline marine fuel pump, and a fuel filter. 

 

Now i I turn the fuel off and let em

run dry. When it's time to start a few 

pumps of the hand pump and they fire right up. No more waiting for the mechanical fuel pumps to pull fuel.

 

Also started using solar chargers on the batteries. Haven't had a dead battery in 5 years. 

 

http://m.harborfreight.com/15-watt-solar-battery-charger-68692.html?utm_referrer=direct%2Fnot providedm

 

Edited July 20, 2016 by Forest Road

[SylvanLakeWH 26,145]

11 minutes ago, Forest Road said:

I started by replacing all of the fuel line. Used a simple 1/4 turn inline valve, an inline marine fuel pump, and a fuel filter. 

 

Now i I turn the fuel off and let em

run dry. When it's time to start a few 

pumps of the hand pump and they fire right up. No more waiting for the mechanical fuel pumps to pull fuel.

 

Also started using solar chargers on the batteries. Haven't had a dead battery in 5 years. 

 

 

Great idea!

 

I've used the solar charger on my boat for years - works like a charm!

[Achto 27,908]

Awesome ideas!! Only thing extra I would do is add some Sea Foam to you gas. Stabilizes the gas and cleans the system while the engine runs.

[Forest Road 594]

There's no real stabilizing of ethanol. It's like a turd in clean water. Once it's there you're stuck w it. 

 

Fortunately we can now purchase E-free at the pump. OHHHH happy days are here again! 

[r356c 375]

Wawa fuel stations expanded into Florida a few years ago and offer ethanol free fuel. 

 

Years of rebuilding carbs every season on my string trimmers, kids string trimmers and mowers are a thing of the past again.

 

Ethanol free fuel is well worth the drive time and a little extra money. I will only use ethanol free in my small engines.  No carb rebuilds on anything required for years. Seldom used equipment like my pressure washer fires up without fail, even with months old fuel in the tank.

 

The sub sandwiches at Wawa are not bad either.

Edited August 28, 2016 by r356c

[tunahead72 2,448]

17 hours ago, r356c said:

... Wawa fuel stations expanded into Florida a few years ago and offer ethanol free fuel. 

 

The sub sandwiches at Wawa are not bad either.

 

So now Florida is blessed with Wawa, congratulations!

 

Just to clarify, SOME Wawa stations offer ethanol-free gas.

 

A really good friend of my son's went through their management training program up here in Pennsylvania, and eventually moved down to Florida to run one of their stores there, maybe a year or so ago.  Next time you grab something from their deli, take a look at the photograph of the store manager.  If you see the name Allan M., get back to me and we can have some fun!

 

And yes, their sandwiches and pretty much all their food are excellent!

 

[r356c 375]

Pennsylvania can chalk up a win with the Wawa chain. They opened their first ones down here when things had pretty well ground to a halt, business wise.  They looked crazy. Crazy like a fox!  It looks like their gamble is paying off for them. Every time I drive by one they look busy to the point of being crowded.