Hello,

I have a Ryobi BP42 leaf blower. i put gas in and ran it for about 15 mins and it suddenly stopped. As soon as that happened i realized what i did. I used gas with no oil. I took out all the gas and put the right stuff in. the cord pulls ok but it wont start. Any suggestion how to get it running or is it scrap?

thank you

 

I'm afraid there's a good chance it's scrap. A good place to start would be a compression check or pull off the muffler and check the inside of the cylinder for scoring. That is usually the first damage from no oil. If you have scoring or very low compression, it's probably done.

 

Empty the gas/oil from the tank. Try removing the spark plug and pouring in about a tablespoon of oil. Then pull the chain to get everything (hopefully) lubricated. Return the gas/oil to the tank, replace the spark plug and have a go.

 

Tony P are you serious ???? This guy is out of over 150 bux and you cracking jokes about pulling on a chain and emptying a tank of fuel mixture and filling it back up again.

Bob do what Marjobi said and pop the muff off. I am sure the piston is scored also. It's toasted. but that's the good thing on high end chainsaws and such. A top end kit will get you back up and running.

Your model it not worth a rebuild I don't think unless you do it yourself. It is not a hard rebuild but....

 

Just one of several reasons/excuses why I refuse to own any two-cycle gasoline engines.

 

Actually, I was serious but I don't think it'll work. He'll probably end up replacing the blower but trying to lub it only takes 5 minutes and costs virtually nothing.

 

I agree with Tony. What have you got to lose?

Furd, I don't understand your dislike for a two cycle engine on a small appliance. If a "gas" engine blower, weed wacker or similar is needed (as opposed to an electric) what is your objection? Straight gas engines that small are not available on most appliance. Cost and maintenance is minimal. Just add the gas oil mixture and you're good to go. I have several 2 cycle appliances and I never have maintenance problems. But straight gasoline mowers and the like require a lot more TLC. I wish my riding mower and snowblower were 2 cycle. And regardless of 2 or 4 cycle you still need to treat the gas for ethanol. But the nice thing about a 2 cycle is no yearly oil change. Saves a lot of time and dealing with waste oil.

 

Norm, you may have missed that I wrote reasons/excuses. What are "reasons" to me may be only "excuses" for others. I have never been in a situation where I was more than about 150 feet from electrical power and I have what some might call "super duty" extension cords as they are 10-3 copper. My electric power tools are every bit as effective as any two-cycle gasoline models I have seen. IF I were ever in a situation where I needed a power tool where there was no electricity I would use my generator.

My daddy bought a string trimmer that had a two-cycle engine, it was the stupidest thing in the world for him as he lived on a standard five thousand square foot (50' x 100') city lot. He paid in excess of $150 for it and after ONE use he had to spend at least another $100 in repairs to get it to even run. It could not do anything more than my $50 electric Weedeater model 509. It stank, it was noisy, it was hard to start, it required storing gasoline, it took more maintenance and it was just plain a pain in the neck compared to my electric trimmer.

I thoroughly dislike gasoline power tools for many reasons and/or excuses. I have owned two gasoline riding mowers and disliked the noise, stink, routine maintenance on them as well as the necessity of storing gasoline. If I HAD to have a gasoline mower (I've used electric mowers almost exclusively for more than twenty years) I would convert it to use propane as I consider it to be a far better fuel than gasoline.

BUT, my reasons are not valid for everyone. I freely admit that there are a few places or situations where gasoline, and yes, even two-cycle gasoline, engines do make sense, but not for this kid and in my opinion not for the majority of people that live in a city or even semi-suburban area.


And my feelings on the subject also include chain saws. I have had trees fall in my yard and I had no trouble cutting them up with my 16 inch ELECTRIC chain saw. No stink, far less noise, no problem starting and no gasoline. I've cut trees at least 24 inches in diameter with my little saw. It may have taken me a bit longer than Joe Lumberjack but it went as fast I was able to keep up so no problem for me.

 

Well, i understand your reasons. And I will agree on the chain saw since i have a small electric one and only one medium tree that needs trimming every fall.

 

Several yrs ago my wife bought me a 4 cycle weedeater and blower. I wouldn't have bought them [prefer 2 cycle] but I've been pleasantly surprised at how well they've done and wouldn't be afraid to purchase them again.

I agree an electric weed eater makes more sense IF you never wander far from the power supply. Electric can be a lot less hassle BUT for folks like me, electric isn't much of an option. I have an electric chainsaw that I inherited and was surprised at how much power it has but it doesn't get used every year while my gas saws get used more months than not.

 

My biggest problem with electric is the cord cleanup when done using it. With gas units just put it away when done (I usually hose off all my equipment when done using them). Many years ago I had an electric mower. Ran that cord over several times. But as Marksr said the length is the biggest determining factor. Anything over 50-60 feet and you need heavy gauge cord just as Furd says. And that can be expensive. And that cord can get heavy just in it's self. Then if you have fencing or sheds to work around the cord just gets to be cumbersome. But Furd makes a good case about gas engines being unfriendly to the environment. My biggest problem with gas engines is the noise. I use ear muffs to help deaden the noise. BUT, I also added headphones with an iTouch to listen to music or podcast while I mow. So that kind of cancels out the hearing safety issue with me.

 

On the gas / electric debate, there really is no debate at all except at the margins. For most homeowners with under 1/2 acre to maintain, electric equipment is fine except, perhaps, a mower. Electric is cheaper to buy and maintain, quieter, lighter, and easier to operate.

For someone with larger and more difficult property, some mix of equipment makes sense. Eventually gas is the only option.

I have a few acres (mostly wooded) and for me, most everything is gas except a hedge trimmer. BTW, mistakes can happen with electric as well as gas. I once cut my cord with that trimmer and I'd bet that happens all the time.