OK. The weedeater started on the third pull on what was left of last year’s gas mix it still had in the tank. I did hit the primer bulb about 15 times.
The pressure washer was a little more stubborn, 14 pulls. I replaced the carb last spring but never turned off the fuel valve or ran it dry. The gas in that was also left over from last year.
Either way, I find nothing unusual about having to pull a starter cord 10-15 times after 6 months sitting.
I keep a can of “Quick Start” either around so I do not have to audition for a Heart Attack…
I imagine that if you’re that close to a heart attack you shouldn’t be doing any yardwork at all.
I suppose in the previous century perhaps people had heart attacks caused by trying to hand crank their cars.
Well, I guess you are not in any of the demographics listed below…
For men under 40, they suffer about 20% of all heart attacks
For men between 40 and 49, they suffer between 4% to 10% of all heart attacks
For men between 50–59, they suffer approximately 27% of all heart attacks
For men between 60–69, 26% they suffer approximately of all heart attacks
For men 70 and older, 36% they suffer approximately of all heart attacks
And since I saw 70 years ago, I keep a can of “Quick Start” in my shop…
I hope you decide to do so too…
That adds up to a total of 113%, the odds are against me.
Some people might fear that next time it will require 28 pulls.
Fresh gasoline is a good cleaning agent, but that would take business away from the yard equipment repairman.
I’m in that demographic. The way I see it, one way to try to reduce the risk of having another one is to stay active enough to pull a lawnmower cord. Heart disease is so common in my family that when I was 51 and called my mother to say I needed bypass surgery, she said “Yeah you’re at the right age.” Dad had 3 heart attacks over 30 years, grandma and uncle Lou died suddenly of heart attack. A cousin, fit and trim, 22 years as a firefighter, soccer player and coach, had 5-way bypass in his early 50’s as well.
I’ll still be working at 70, at a job and on the lawn. Maybe by then they will have outlawed gas lawnmowers! 
I decided to run the pressure washer until it stalled, to make sure absolutely none of the old gas in the tank got mixed with any of the old gas from the gas can that has also been in the shed since last year.
No, you are misreading the information… the first line
Is just an overall estimate… for all men under 40 years old,
The real numbers , (4 to 10) + 27 + 26 + 36 Equals About 93% to 99% and this just based on statistics, as not all heart attacks are reported and sometime the age of the man might not be known or accurate…
Being able to yank a starter cord 15-times and having the sweat pouring off your brow and then being too exhausted to now use the weed eater is a sure way to keep the grandkids from having too many memories of Grandpa…
Don’t be that Guy…
We’re in the process of selling my in-laws home. I’ve been cutting the grass using a self-propelled “push” mower using up all the old gas they had in their shed. Some of that stuff could be carbon dated for age. Summed up in one word- varnish. Can’t tell the difference with it running except the exhaust smell. He also had some left over 3+ year old TruFuel and that smells like the day it was opened.
My previous mower, with a Kohler two cylinder engine, was always a difficult to start. Always used non-ethanol gas. With a shot of starting fluid, would start immediately. Each time I had it at the shop they did not follow my advice about the starting fluid, would rebuild the carb. I had to add a fuel cutoff valve, if fuel not shut off, fuel would drain from the tank, flood the crankcase, and hydro lock the engine. This particular mower had been highly rated in a number of different sources. It was a very good mower, except for the engine.
I watched an ag show this morning and when discussing crop prices they stressed that corn belt voters should stress their state representatives include a 15% ethanol fuel measure in the DOD bill.
I still say that “corn-likker” should be in jugs for personal consumption, not added to gasoline
Well all new engines are suspect including Koehler, Briggs, etc. depends on the model. There is a fuel shutoff solenoid on the carb, bottom of the bowl, that shuts the fuel off. Listen for the click. or disable it and use a shut
My new mower, with green paint, has a Briggs, 15 hours on it so far, no (knock on wood) problems so far.
Yep!
I guess if you have too much, that’s where you’re going 
I’ve got mostly Briggs. Watch for cam shaft and compression release issues. Plastic. Now and often out of stock. Head gaskets, valve adjustments, and rocker rods. My Briggs on my blower had to be replaced with less than 20 hours. Took 11 months and only got an explanation of improper heat treating in China. Change oil.
I have a habit of keeping a complete gasket set on hand and a carb kit. Comes in handy sometimes.
