[SOLVED] petrol ageing ? Solved

They really are crap engines but do seem to go on, I have never had the magnet problem. I did leave one out in a garden unintentionally over last winter. fuel tank and sump got water in (through cracked air cleaner cover I think). New oil and petrol and away it went.

Okay, why do you call them ?crap engines?? Seems to me they do what they?re designed to do very well.

Tim

So what's the situation with a motor car that's been stood unused for a few weeks/months ?

I reckon with modern electronic ignition (not to mention better mixture control) there's no practical time limit assuming "reasonable" storage conditions. Provided the fuel has not completely evaporated of course. I could imagine that decades in a tropical rain forest might leave the air filter blocked with bacteria / yeast / fungus, maybe the HT side adversely affected too.

A matter of opinion I suppose, I have 3 B&S 3.5 engines and their performance and economy is worse then the two (Honda and Mountfield) OHV engines. I mostly use them for shredding and cutting very rough stuff.

I have the beginnings of a plan to convert one with a centrifugal fan to shift course sawdust out of my way.