Could a 2 stroke be green?

[jamesqf]

I've been using a rechargable electric lawn mower for years. Also electric weed whacker & chainsaw - running a couple hundred feet of extension cord is a lot less hassle than mixing 2-cycle gas, trying to get the damn things to start, etc.

All I need now is to get the electric chain saw to work off DC. Then I've got a spare Insight battery pack that I could charge up and take out to the woods to cut firewood.

[SuperTrooper]

Between my dad and myself we've owned Black & Decker corded electric mowers since 1969. You get used to planning for the cord.

I've tried electric snowblowers, but they don't work well in the heavy, wet snow we often get in the late winter.

[95badbird]

Screw dragging cords everywhere.....hell all my lawn equipment is gas...1 pull for everything, and they start right up.

[Funny]

As a side note, a couple hundred feet is not the recommended length for corded trimmers and chainsaws. 100Ft Maximum/14 Gauge Minumum, anything else and you run the risk of burning out the tool you're using. Just my $0.02. I used to work at SEARS in the repairs department and you wouldn't believe the number of burnouts we had because people would connect 2 100Ft cords together and roast the motors.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by SuperTrooper

I've tried electric snowblowers, but they don't work well in the heavy, wet snow we often get in the late winter.

Err... There's this new device called a "snow shovel". Runs on biofuel, so it doesn't need gas or electricity.

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted by 95badbird

Screw dragging cords everywhere.....hell all my lawn equipment is gas...1 pull for everything, and they start right up.

If you live on a 40'x80' lot then electric stuff makes alot of sense, it also seems that its hard to find quality electic equipment. I guess I could use a corded mower but then I'd have to mow the lawn 3 times as often just so I wouldn't kill it in tall thick grass...

Jamesqf, Stihl does make a good electric saw, I think they are $300 new but a used one might be found. Also how many kilowatt hours are in an insight battery? When I'm doing firewood I'd use about 1.75 KWH per hour with a 5hp chainsaw, maybe more like 1.5KWH/hour if I have to move around for each cut.

I can't say I'm totally opposed to electric equipment but it always seems like the batteries can't be charged after awhile, batteries overheat easily too if you run things too hard, and cords get cut and tangled. I find for my rougher carpentry projects my small gas chainsaw is handier than a circular saw. Take about the same time to pick and use and it can do cuts that a circular saw can't.

Ian

[dremd]

I've ridden a Bobardier Jet Ski with a Rotax motor that I could have sworn was a 4 stroke.

So much so that I filed the oil tank with Fuel :-( I Fixed the problem before I started it though.

Overall not a bad powerplant Burnt 1/3 the fuel that the smaller, slower 2 stroke Jet ski did. Smells Clean, not that it counts for much.

[rmay635703]

When I first read the title, first thing to mind.

Old diesels. 2 Stroke diesels for many years were considered to be more powerfull and fuel efficient than the 4 stroke variations. Reason, they are blown so exhaust does not appreciably mix with the clean air, and they still have the higher compression ratios diesels like best. (they were the mainstay from very early on up through the late 70's in buses and semi's)

The military still uses detroit 2 strokes, on one unit called a HET, 23000lbs empty the thing gets 10-12mpg on pavement. Not bad for 8wd all the time, redlines at 46mph though.

I would think if the design for the diesel 2 stroke was applied to the gasoline 2 stroke we would eliminate oil in the fuel, richer than necessary fuel mixtures, and improve compression and combustion.

I believe some snowmobiles have gone this route, at least they alluded to it 10 years ago.

Also of note the car I would most like to have at the moment is a 2 stroke, the Subaru 360 and it gets 50-60mpg easily. But yes it does pollute but probably less than a 2 stroke lawnmower given it has oil injection.

Most of the Jap and Chinese Kei cars are all 2 strokes, some are quite modern and do offer pollution controls. If anyone reads japanese or chinese worth looking into.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by IndyIan

Stihl does make a good electric saw, I think they are $300 new but a used one might be found.

I think mine's a Remington, and about $50. The blade's a bit short, but it handles most of what I need to do.

When I'm doing firewood I'd use about 1.75 KWH per hour with a 5hp chainsaw, maybe more like 1.5KWH/hour if I have to move around for each cut.

I do mine differently: usually the places I get it have been logged or thinned, so I don't need to do much cutting out in the field - just to trim some of the logs to pickup lengths. Most of the time is spent loading, then I cut them to fireplace size at home with the electric, which is quiet enough that it doesn't bother the neighbors.

[dremd]

As a side note; I own the following in addition to 2 gas chainsaws.

http://www.remingtonchainsaw.com/ima...9-01-large.jpg
Works great; used lots until we got
Amazon.com: Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Electric Chain Saw #CCS818: Home Improvement Works nearly as well, no cord!