When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


I've used more than "1/2 thimble" with no harm to the engine. I've
flooded truck carbs with fuel. Its not something you do all the time.

When the plug is out, bring the piston to top-dead-center. You can
measure with a pencil, but not necessary. At TDC pressure will blow
your thumb off the plug hole (loosely held). You don't not need to be
entirely accurate on TDC, just close.

A shot glass of fuel is fine.

--
Swamp Billy stuck in the woods Redneck

On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 4:08:53 PM UTC-5, wrote:
When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so

It would take a lot more than that wee little shot
to hydrolock it. You'd have to fill it up with enough
liquid, little air that it couldn't compress it. And
catch it at the right part of the cycle too.




I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark

Sure it can, but that small amount, just at start up, I
would think it would take so many starts for it to have any
real effect, the motor would have died from something else first.
Starting ether serves the same purpose, with the same possible
side effects. I only use it though on the rare occasion an
engine won't start, not for routine start attempts.

Mark,

I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine
in any way. Have you tried starter fluid?

Dave M.

On 01/25/2015 03:08 PM, wrote:
When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark






It would only be harmful if you did not start the engine and put it in
storage like that

On 1/25/2015 4:08 PM, wrote:
When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark



I can't commnt on gasoline,but I do remember
the time a "helpful" neighbor killed my Dad's
generator, with ether in the spark plug hole.

I can see how that would happen. Similar happened
to my Dad.

I've heard that gas in the spark hole trick from old
timers.

Being a young fellow, I take off the air filter, and
put a few drops in by the choke plate, into the air
flow. Some times I spray a quick bit of ether on to
the air filter.

-
..
Christopher Young Fellow
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:16 -0500, "David L. Martel"
wrote:


I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine
in any way. Have you tried starter fluid?

"...Contains an upper cylinder lubricant"

One example: Valvoline -

http://www.valvoline.com/products/brands/pyroil/starting-fluid/58

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:36:03 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


I've used more than "1/2 thimble" with no harm to the engine. I've
flooded truck carbs with fuel. Its not something you do all the time.

When the plug is out, bring the piston to top-dead-center. You can
measure with a pencil, but not necessary. At TDC pressure will blow
your thumb off the plug hole (loosely held). You don't not need to be
entirely accurate on TDC, just close.

A shot glass of fuel is fine.
I'd say a shot glass is way too much for a small engine. Clearance
volume on a 208 cc engine with 7:1 compression ratio is 36.66 cc,
which is only 3/4 of a shot glass (1.5 oz shot vs 1.17 oz).

If you are talking a 400cc engine (10hp, +/-) it is still too much. -
you will drown the spark plug.

A spoonfull of gas in the plug hole is more than enough to make it
fire. I generally put about the equivalent of a thimblefull in the
INTAKE - where you are safe to put more than in the plug hole. Too
much will wash the oil off the cyls too - but you would have to do it
a lot to do serious harm.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:16 -0500, "David L. Martel"
wrote:

Mark,

I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine
in any way. Have you tried starter fluid?

Dave M.

Using starting fluid requires restraint and finesse in order to not
cause a problem.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark

I've NEVER had to do that with any gas engine, 2 or 4 stroke.
You should learn how the fuel system works for your engine.
It's not rocket science.
You could wind up stripping the threads, especially with aluminum
heads.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


That sounds like a lot of trouble. No, it's not too much gas to
hydrolock it, and while it will wash off the oil from the cylinder
walls, it's not significant. But here is a better way. Get a pump oil
can. (Made to fill with oil and lubricate stuff, by pumping the
trigger). Put some gas in that can, and pump a few squirts into the
carburetor. (you have to remove the air cleaner cover, but that's
easier than taking out the spark plug). You dont have to replace the
air cleaner cover (YET), just try to get the engine to start. If it
wont start, spray a little more gas in the carb. Once the engine is
running, you should put the air cleaner cover back. Just be careful
doing that while th engine is running.

Dont leave gas in your pump oil can real long or it goes bad.

This is much better for the engine than using Starting Fluid, which can
damage engines.

On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 7:06:20 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


That sounds like a lot of trouble. No, it's not too much gas to
hydrolock it, and while it will wash off the oil from the cylinder
walls, it's not significant. But here is a better way. Get a pump oil
can. (Made to fill with oil and lubricate stuff, by pumping the
trigger). Put some gas in that can, and pump a few squirts into the
carburetor. (you have to remove the air cleaner cover, but that's
easier than taking out the spark plug). You dont have to replace the
air cleaner cover (YET), just try to get the engine to start. If it
wont start, spray a little more gas in the carb. Once the engine is
running, you should put the air cleaner cover back. Just be careful
doing that while th engine is running.

Dont leave gas in your pump oil can real long or it goes bad.

This is much better for the engine than using Starting Fluid, which can
damage engines.

Remember when WD-40 was the bee's tits for starting engines? Light lube and propane propellant...now they use CO2, phuk!

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 19:06:40 -0800 (PST), bob_villa
wrote:

On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 7:06:20 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


That sounds like a lot of trouble. No, it's not too much gas to
hydrolock it, and while it will wash off the oil from the cylinder
walls, it's not significant. But here is a better way. Get a pump oil
can. (Made to fill with oil and lubricate stuff, by pumping the
trigger). Put some gas in that can, and pump a few squirts into the
carburetor. (you have to remove the air cleaner cover, but that's
easier than taking out the spark plug). You dont have to replace the
air cleaner cover (YET), just try to get the engine to start. If it
wont start, spray a little more gas in the carb. Once the engine is
running, you should put the air cleaner cover back. Just be careful
doing that while th engine is running.

Dont leave gas in your pump oil can real long or it goes bad.

This is much better for the engine than using Starting Fluid, which can
damage engines.

Remember when WD-40 was the bee's tits for starting engines? Light lube
and propane propellant...now they use CO2, phuk!

Yep, I did that. I also have used an unlit (turned on) propane torch
held above a carburetor on older car engines that would not run, and
appeared to be due to a lack of fuel. If the engine ran with the
propane, then I knew for sure that the problem was not ignition, and was
definitely fuel related. This also assisted an engine that kept killing
because of partial or poor gas delivery (usually a partly plugged carb
or fuel filter).
I could keep the engine running, while adjusting the carb, and not have
to keep restarting the engine. If it could not be adjusted, then I had
to check other things, like the filter, fuel pump, etc.

There was a trick to doing that, which was to shield the torch tip, so
the propane was getting sucked into the carb, while still allowing air
to enter the engine. Just a slight move of the torch would make a huge
difference in how it ran, (or quit running).

I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and
was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the
hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly
drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the
shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was
about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood
up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it
worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25
times!

(We later found it was nothing but a clogged fuel filter).

I dont know if this would work on modern fuel injected engines????

It might work on a lawn mower, I have never tried it!!! (HINT HINT for
the OP).

On Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 6:31:00 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:36:03 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


I've used more than "1/2 thimble" with no harm to the engine. I've
flooded truck carbs with fuel. Its not something you do all the time.

When the plug is out, bring the piston to top-dead-center. You can
measure with a pencil, but not necessary. At TDC pressure will blow
your thumb off the plug hole (loosely held). You don't not need to be
entirely accurate on TDC, just close.

A shot glass of fuel is fine.
I'd say a shot glass is way too much for a small engine. Clearance
volume on a 208 cc engine with 7:1 compression ratio is 36.66 cc,
which is only 3/4 of a shot glass (1.5 oz shot vs 1.17 oz).

If you are talking a 400cc engine (10hp, +/-) it is still too much. -
you will drown the spark plug.

A spoonfull of gas in the plug hole is more than enough to make it
fire. I generally put about the equivalent of a thimblefull in the
INTAKE - where you are safe to put more than in the plug hole. Too
much will wash the oil off the cyls too - but you would have to do it
a lot to do serious harm.

I agree. OP said half a thimble and that sounds about right. A
shot glass is way too much. Personally, I just use ether. Very
easy too, just spray some in from the can that lasts 10 years.

Per :
I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and
was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the
hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly
drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the
shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was
about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood
up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it
worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25
times!

I remember doing something like that driving home through the back
streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender
well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor.

Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically
stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....".
--
Pete Cresswell

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Per :
I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and
was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the
hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly
drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the
shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was
about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood
up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it
worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25
times!

I remember doing something like that driving home through the back
streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender
well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor.

Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically
stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....".
My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get
an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb
from a can or cup while a student cranked it over.
2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of
commision for over 9 months.

An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer
than an open can or cup!!!!

Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!!

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Per :
I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and
was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the
hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly
drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the
shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was
about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood
up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it
worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25
times!

I remember doing something like that driving home through the back
streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender
well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor.

Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically
stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....".

When necessity calls, we become creative! But then there is the safety
factor which is too often overlooked....

My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get
an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb
from a can or cup while a student cranked it over.
2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of
commision for over 9 months.

An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer
than an open can or cup!!!!

Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!!

I agree about not POURING gas into an engine (carb or intake), while
it's running. At least not in any large amount. (A one ounce shot
glass would probably be ok).

While I'm the one who mentioned using an pump oil can for /priming/ a
small engine or even a car, and mentioned using a propane torch. I
never really thought about using a /Gasoline blow torch/. I suppose
that could work and work quite well.

But that got me thinking......
I winder how one of those pressurized tanks from the old gasoline
Coleman camping stoves would work? JUST A THOUGHT!!!!
Heck, that could even be injected into the intake via a vacuum hose....
(Of course, only for engine testing, NOT DRIVING).....

I might just have to try that sometime!!!!

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote:

My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get
an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb
from a can or cup while a student cranked it over.
2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of
commision for over 9 months.

I never cranked engines while I poured gas in the carb, let is settle
in the engine, have a towel ready if there was backfire. Toss over the
carb is it did flame up.

An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer
than an open can or cup!!!!

Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!!

What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you
run fast?

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:19:22 -0600, wrote:

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 09:27:46 -0500, "(PeteCresswell)"
wrote:

Per :
I still remember, probably 30 years ago, when my car quit running and
was blocking traffic. I had a buddy sitting on the fender, with the
hood open, and he was holding the torch over the carb while I slowly
drove the car over to the shoulder. But since it got the car to the
shoulder, we decided to see if we could drive it to his house, which was
about 1/2 mile away. Of course I could not see the road with the hood
up, so he had to tell me what to do. That was pretty insane, but it
worked, even though I must have had to restart the engine at least 25
times!

I remember doing something like that driving home through the back
streets of Waikiki - only it was Yours Truly laying across the fender
well pouring gasoline into the throat of the carburetor.

Now, when I read about some kid doing something that seems psychotically
stupid, I think back to that day and say to myself "Oh well....".

When necessity calls, we become creative! But then there is the safety
factor which is too often overlooked....

My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get
an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb
from a can or cup while a student cranked it over.
2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of
commision for over 9 months.

An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer
than an open can or cup!!!!

Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!!

I agree about not POURING gas into an engine (carb or intake), while
it's running. At least not in any large amount. (A one ounce shot
glass would probably be ok).

While I'm the one who mentioned using an pump oil can for /priming/ a
small engine or even a car, and mentioned using a propane torch. I
never really thought about using a /Gasoline blow torch/. I suppose
that could work and work quite well.

But that got me thinking......
I winder how one of those pressurized tanks from the old gasoline
Coleman camping stoves would work? JUST A THOUGHT!!!!
Heck, that could even be injected into the intake via a vacuum hose....
(Of course, only for engine testing, NOT DRIVING).....

I might just have to try that sometime!!!!

I made my living as a mechanic for about 25 years, staring in the late
sixties, and an old gasoline blowtorch got a lot of use for starting
stubborn engines. It was always in the back of the '43 power wagon tow
truck on service calls.

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:34:52 -0800, Oren wrote:

On Mon, 26 Jan 2015 13:57:08 -0500, wrote:

My first teaching job was filling in for the idiot that tried to get
an old bus engine in the shop running by pouring gas down the carb
from a can or cup while a student cranked it over.
2nd and 3rd degree burns on arm, chest, face and groin - out of
commision for over 9 months.

I never cranked engines while I poured gas in the carb, let is settle
in the engine, have a towel ready if there was backfire. Toss over the
carb is it did flame up.

An old gasoline blowtorch - or even a pump oil can - is a LOT safer
than an open can or cup!!!!

Don't even THINK about dribbling it out the vent of a gas-can!!!!!!

What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you
run fast?
If the engine backfires into the intake and you get a carb fire, just
pray the battery doesn't die, and suck the flame in!!.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:08:49 -0800 (PST), wrote:

When i haven't used a tool in a few months and it is hard to start, i find that
Taking out the spark plug, and putting a few drops of gas in there, and replacing the
Plug, helps get it started.
The question is, can this do long term damage?
It less than 1/2 a thimble i put in.

I know too much gas could hydrolock which would be bad so
I keep it too a very small amount.

Can the gas wash the oil off the cylinder walls and cause
Excess wear? I don't see how that could happen.

Mark


I usually put a petrol-soaked rag in the carby mouth with the choke
full on (at least initially). (Btw a big rag, you don't want it sucked
into the engine.) The rag chokes the engine as well as providing a
rich mixture.

Ross

On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote:

What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you
run fast?


Frog with no legs is deaf :-)

--
"Christianity peoples the earth with demons, hell with men, and heaven
with slaves." -- Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

On 1/27/2015 1:24 PM, hah wrote:
On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote:

What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you
run fast?


Frog with no legs is deaf :-)

Fly with no wings.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

On Tue, 27 Jan 2015 17:50:28 -0500, Stormin Mormon
wrote:

On 1/27/2015 1:24 PM, hah wrote:
On 01/26/2015 05:34 PM, Oren wrote:

What lesson did these students learn from this "idiot". FIRE makes you
run fast?


Frog with no legs is deaf :-)

Fly with no wings.


If a frog had wings he wouldn't bump its ass

posted for all of us...



On Sun, 25 Jan 2015 17:39:16 -0500, "David L. Martel"
wrote:

Mark,

I doubt that the small amount of gas you are using will damage the engine
in any way. Have you tried starter fluid?

Dave M.

Using starting fluid requires restraint and finesse in order to not
cause a problem.

Fire in the hole! just like after a spicy peeper sandwich.

--
Tekkie *Please post a follow-up*