There have been many questions and misconceptions regarding the mixing of 2-Cycle Fuel that is used in most chain saws, trimmers, and other small handheld equipment. I am hoping that I can clarify some of these issues. Two-cycle engines require the mixing of oil with fuel. This oil is needed for internal lubrication of the engine. Unfortunately this oil is not good for the combustion process. This is one of the inherent issues with two-cycle engines is the poor emission quality. The EPA has been strong in its regulation on how much emissions these units can produce. These regulations have been causing manufacturers to create leaner and leaner running engines. Lean engines have less oil in the fuel mixture that what there were in the past. I remember seeing fuel ratios of 16:1 and 24:1 years ago. A 16:1 ratio translates to 8oz of oil to every gallon of fuel. Now, most manufacturers are running 40:1 or even 50:1. This is 2.6oz of oil to every gallon of fuel.
Where some of the problems are now arising is having to retrain the users of the older equipment. It was no issue to add a little extra oil to the fuel in the older models. This would just help in increased lubrication. The engines at that time had larger orifaces in the carburetors, larger exhaust ports, and the manufacturers tolerances inside the engine were not at tight.
Now, these newer engines are running ALOT leaner, the orifaces in the carburetor are smaller, and exhaust ports are smaller. The addition of extra oil causes many problems. This oil does not burn properly, causing the unit to smoke. Continued use of a rich mixture will cause carbon buildup within the exhaust port. As the piston moves up & down past the port, this buildup can break off & fall back into the combustion chamber. If this carbon gets between the cylinder wall & piston, it will score the cylinder walls & exhaust face of the piston. After continued use, compression is lost and the engine will no longer operate. This damage can occur very quickly if not caught.
Ok, after hearing all this, one might think to use a little less oil. NO NO NO. Now, there is not enough adequate lubrication, the engine heats up more that normal, metal expands more than it should & you begin to cause damage throughout the cylinder.
The best advise I can give is to follow the manufactures recommendations that are listed in the owners manual & mix the proper ratio that your unit requires. There are some companies that have actually gone and done the work for you and you can purchase pre-mixed fuel. This is great, because you will be using the correct ratio fuel, and these fuels are usually ETHANOL-FREE!!! Ethanol is a whole other problem that we will try to address in another post.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Unsettled Weather...
Well, its late summer in the Northern Neck & the weather is performing as usual. Hot humid days & strong pop-up thunder storms. These storms come out of nowhere sometimes & pack strong winds, lightning, hail, & heavy rains.
As soon as you are aware of these storms, begin to take action. Secure anything outside that can become airborne in the winds. Disconnect any expensive electronics. Make sure you have your flashlights ready. Listen to the radio to keep updated on the storms progress.
Do you have a generator in case the power goes out??? The power in King George is notorious for going out if a toothpick falls onto a power line. Gateway Power carries a wide variety of generators in stock to keep your lights on!!!
How about that tree that fell down across the driveway? Do you have a chain saw to cut the tree into manageable pieces to get it out of the way?? Stihl has the saw for every need, & Gateway Power is a Stihl Elite Dealer!!!
Do you remember September 18, 2003??? That is the day that Hurricane Isabel came thru Virginia & decimated the state. Here in King George, power was out for some for over 6 days.
Let us assist you in beinig prepared for that next storm.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Big Box vs. Independent Retailers
We have often been asked why should we buy from you and not from Lowes, Home Depot, or Wal-Mart. Here is some information that I compiled to help you in answering this question.
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Have you ever really heard the answer to these controversial advertisements? The rise of the Big Box Stores has had a major impact on the outdoor power equipment business. The retailer is often the focus when companies like Lowe's and Home Depot setup shop right down the road for your local mower shop. However now that the dust has settled it appears as if these stores maybe sending many new customers back to local mom and pop shops. Box stores have an admitted problem when it comes to providing knowledgeable sales and service. There is also a disturbing trend concerning the quality of the heavily cost reduced products that they sell.
Recommending the right product for the customer is no easy chore. When it comes to something as simple as a chainsaw there are literally dozens of models to choose from. It's hard enough to get Joe in isle 4 to come get you an air filter from the top shelf. Try getting his attention for all the time needed to explain the proper sizing, use and safety features of a very dangerous tool. All too often all you have is a 3x5 product card filled with marketing lingo and a price to help you make a decision. This self serve business model is part of the way that box stores try to keep costs to a minimum. Lowe's and Home Depot both print in their quarterly stock reports that one of their biggest threats is the lack of service provided by their own personal.
Service after the sale is also a big struggle. It’s safe to assume that even the best product will need serviced and maintained at some point. Box stores simply do not have a service department. When establishing a new product line vendors usually link each box store to a local full service vender to handle their service issues. These vendors send personnel, not only to the manufacturers for official training, but they are required to go to annual updates to keep abreast of changes and service issues. When something breaks you’re referred to the vendor that is actually knowledgeable about the product. A recent Home Depot model was the subject of some uproar when owners where sent notifications that there was a safety issue with the chainsaw that they had purchased and they should discontinue using it. The saw was made in China and had no local parts or service support to correct the issue. The customer was left with the option to either dispose of the product, or keep using it under unsafe conditions.
Big Box stores have broad appeal because of convenience and an image of a lower price. The drive to keep prices down and profit margins high has a direct impact on product quality. As a vendor committing to sell at a super store you also commit to their mantra of a lower cost every year. These companies become slaves to the box stores because they either have to meet their low cost demands or risk losing their business and having major production capacity go unused. The end result is that product quality is chipped away at every year until a quality product is reduced to cheap junk. The best example of this trend is Homelite chainsaws. In their prime Homelite controlled near 60% of the U.S. chainsaw market. Wal-mart took on the product line and pressed Homelite to deliver a cheaper product or face being replaced by a competitor. Just recently Homelite was sold to a Chinese company for a fraction of the market value that they had 30 years ago.
Vendors do recognize the cost reduction problem that I've described. To avoid alienating existing dealers and please the wants of the box stores many lines have created specific low-cost product for the box stores. John Deere and Cub Cadet are both prime examples. Both companies offer a line of value tractors that are specifically engineered to meet the required price points of mass merchants. These models are of far lesser quality than the core product that these companies built their reputation on. Independent dealers still sell the better, longer lasting product in addition to the price point tractors.
Recommending the right product for the customer is no easy chore. When it comes to something as simple as a chainsaw there are literally dozens of models to choose from. It's hard enough to get Joe in isle 4 to come get you an air filter from the top shelf. Try getting his attention for all the time needed to explain the proper sizing, use and safety features of a very dangerous tool. All too often all you have is a 3x5 product card filled with marketing lingo and a price to help you make a decision. This self serve business model is part of the way that box stores try to keep costs to a minimum. Lowe's and Home Depot both print in their quarterly stock reports that one of their biggest threats is the lack of service provided by their own personal.
Service after the sale is also a big struggle. It’s safe to assume that even the best product will need serviced and maintained at some point. Box stores simply do not have a service department. When establishing a new product line vendors usually link each box store to a local full service vender to handle their service issues. These vendors send personnel, not only to the manufacturers for official training, but they are required to go to annual updates to keep abreast of changes and service issues. When something breaks you’re referred to the vendor that is actually knowledgeable about the product. A recent Home Depot model was the subject of some uproar when owners where sent notifications that there was a safety issue with the chainsaw that they had purchased and they should discontinue using it. The saw was made in China and had no local parts or service support to correct the issue. The customer was left with the option to either dispose of the product, or keep using it under unsafe conditions.
Big Box stores have broad appeal because of convenience and an image of a lower price. The drive to keep prices down and profit margins high has a direct impact on product quality. As a vendor committing to sell at a super store you also commit to their mantra of a lower cost every year. These companies become slaves to the box stores because they either have to meet their low cost demands or risk losing their business and having major production capacity go unused. The end result is that product quality is chipped away at every year until a quality product is reduced to cheap junk. The best example of this trend is Homelite chainsaws. In their prime Homelite controlled near 60% of the U.S. chainsaw market. Wal-mart took on the product line and pressed Homelite to deliver a cheaper product or face being replaced by a competitor. Just recently Homelite was sold to a Chinese company for a fraction of the market value that they had 30 years ago.
Vendors do recognize the cost reduction problem that I've described. To avoid alienating existing dealers and please the wants of the box stores many lines have created specific low-cost product for the box stores. John Deere and Cub Cadet are both prime examples. Both companies offer a line of value tractors that are specifically engineered to meet the required price points of mass merchants. These models are of far lesser quality than the core product that these companies built their reputation on. Independent dealers still sell the better, longer lasting product in addition to the price point tractors.
One common myth is that because of their size the box stores are selling at lower prices. In most cases this is not true. Independent dealers sell both the quality models, and the inexpensive tractors at the same price points as the super stores. In fact you’re more likely to get a deal at an independent dealer because many do not charge any setup or delivery fees which are levied by all box stores.
Below is a chart showing the main differences between a big box & independent retailer.
BIG BOX STORES | INDEPENDENT RETAILERS | |
Pricing | Assumed cheaper pricing | Usually same price |
Set-up | Either in box or partially set-up | Completely Set-up & most of time fuel & tested at time of purchase |
Model Line-up | Select models of basic units | Full Line Dealers of most or all models |
Service | None or sent out from store | On site ( Some even are the ones that are the repair centers for the big box stores) |
Parts | Basic Availability, you have to read packaging or shelf labels to find correct part | More variety & availability will also help in making sure you get the CORRECT part the first time. |
Training | None or limited | Factory Trained & updated annually. |
· This chart assumes identical brands & models
Thank You Trooper Bowen
On June 24, 2011, Virginia State Trooper Adam Bowen was killed in a violent automobile accident while responding to assist a VSP Special Agent. Trooper Bowen was well known & respected here in King George & around the area. He will be missed.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year!!!
Well, 2010 has come and gone, and what a year!!! For our first full year here at Gateway Power we have seen many changes. We became an authorized dealer for both Toro and Honda Power Equipment.
We said goodbye to one of our part-time staff, Mat Giles, as he went off to Parris Island to become a Marine. He completed his training in December and graduated. He will be leaving again this week for further training. Good Luck Mat!
Another one of our staff, Wayland Carter, who is also a firefighter with Port Royal Volunteer Fire Department, took time along with another firefighter, to drive 800+ miles one way to Nicol, AL to deliver an ambulance that PRVFD donated to a very needy department.
What will 2011 bring???
Well, in the first quarter, we will be renovating & moving into our very own building!!! We have purchased the building that was formerly occupied by Rankins True Value. This facility will give us another 4000 sq. ft. under roof, along with a secured outside storage yard. This will allow us to keep more of our inventory inside in the showroom to better assist you.
We are also looking into a line of go-karts and possible ATV's to expand our offerings. Rental equipment is another department that we are considering for 2011. Let us know what you may be looking for so we can see if would fit our rental plans.
Hope to hear from you.
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