Craftsman OPE = garbage!

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: Jeepster_nut
Originally Posted By: exranger06
I know, I've had the same Echo SRM-210 trimmer for the past 10 years and it still runs like brand new and is fantastic quality. I had a gift card to Sears and needed a blower, so I bought this thing. It was a bad mistake, but a learned lesson. I'm leaning towards a Stihl BG-86 as a replacement.


I just picked up the Stihl BG-86 and love it. The vibration is so much less than my old Echo PB200. And more cfm too.


I have the BG-86C that my Uncle gave me. What does the "C" stand for. I can't find it on the Stihl website.

 

[boraticus]

Possibly "C" for catalytic converter?

I know that some Echo products come with a cat/con.

 

[Cujet]

The engines may have very low end piston rings (cheap). I would not be a bit surprised if they were plain cast iron, with no chrome plating.

Regardless, I've been preaching the 32 to 1 oil ratio for years. Mobil 1 was great, but there are other, very high quality oils. Stay away from outboard oils in your air cooled equipment.

 

[Chris B.]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
The engines may have very low end piston rings (cheap). I would not be a bit surprised if they were plain cast iron, with no chrome plating.

Regardless, I've been preaching the 32 to 1 oil ratio for years. Mobil 1 was great, but there are other, very high quality oils. Stay away from outboard oils in your air cooled equipment.


So you think I'd be better off running 32:1 instead of 50:1 or 40:1? Should I do this in all my 2 stroke engines?

 

[exranger06]

I've never used any outboard oils. Like I said, my Echo trimmer has been running fine for the past 10 years on a 50:1 ratio. If the manufacturer recommends a certain ratio, I should be able to use that ratio without problems. Using more oil than necessary is not a valid fix IMO. It's like using premium gas in an engine to prevent pinging, even though the engine was designed for regular gas. If the manufacturer is under the gun from the EPA or whoever to reduce emissions and they're forced to lean out the oil/fuel ratio, they should do some engineering and make piston rings that can handle it. Stihl and Echo have no problem accomplishing that with 50:1, why can't Craftsman do it with a richer 40:1 ratio?

 

[exranger06]

Just sold my Craftsman on eBay for $30. Of course I disclosed that it isn't working. A guy who apparently owns a small engine shop bought it. I'm also throwing in the vacuum kit and the owner's manual. Oh well at least I made my money back on that new carb I bought for it.

 

[boraticus]

Or.....

Just buy a better quality machine. Echo, Stihl, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Tanaka and Maruyama. Just to mention a few.

I'd buy any one of the above manufacturer's products used before buying the new disposable stuff being sold these days.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: boraticus
Or.....

Just buy a better quality machine. Echo, Stihl, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Tanaka and Maruyama. Just to mention a few.

I'd buy any one of the above manufacturer's products used before buying the new disposable stuff being sold these days.

Umm yeah, I SAID that that's exactly what I'm going to do. Already learned my lesson. Thanks though.

 

[Errtt]

I haven't any good luck with Craftsman & Troy Built.
About 3 or so years ago I replaced all my OPE.
Lawn mower - Honda HRX
Chain saw - Echo & Stihl
Back pack blower - Echo
Weed Whacker - Echo

So far after 3 or so years, they still start & run. No frustrating issues. (x-ing my fingers)
My neighbor bought a new Craftsman lawn mower this last spring. It died on him before he got his first cut done. He spent a couple days tinkering with it, took it back and came home with a different Craftsman model. It ran all this season no problem. I don't know what's up with that.
My other neighbor had problems with his one year old Craftsman chainsaw. It ran fine last year, but wouldn't stay running this year. I gave him my old Homelite.
Cross the street neighbor Toro did her good for a couple years. About a month ago before she got done cutting the lawn, it all of sudden turned into a massive smoke chugging generator machine. It chugged smoke real bad. Everything on it checked fine - so something internal. A couple weeks ago I saw her outside pulling and pulling because her new Craftsman suddenly died. It had spark & fuel - I dunno.
This morning I saw other neighbor kids cutting her lawn & sucking up leaves with their MTD - lol
Sometimes I think of having a landscape service - only those days when I have to do it all because my kid will forget and be gone when it's do - funny how that works.