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[Sloppy_Snood]

All Dolmar labeled equipment will soon only be available in teal color with the Makita labeling on their products.  Also a 4-stroke chainsaw in development!  WOOT‼️

LINK:  Makita Announces Shift Away from Dolmar Brand (Click Here)

[yotehunter66]

I have a Makita  chainsaw and love it. A four stroke would be sweet as long as you can get the torque out of the same size motor.I wonder what the price will be on it.

[Sloppy_Snood]

Makita says 4-stroke chainsaw will be equal to its 2-stroke chainsaw counterpart with more torque and HP.  I expect it to cost more than a 2-stroke by around $100

[mlappin]

Wonder how it’s going to compare far as weight?

Personally if both are maintained equally as well I’ve found two strokes to be more reliable.

[Sloppy_Snood]

Wonder how it’s going to compare far as weight?

Personally if both are maintained equally as well I’ve found two strokes to be more reliable.

Sorry Marty,,, my previous post was intended to state "equal weight."  As a chemist, I can already tell they lightened the 4-stroke weight with a magnesium alloy.  Lighter but the actual metal costs more and is reflected in the price.

My experiences with small 2-strokes and 4-strokes has been just the opposite with reliability and fuel economy heavily favoring 4-strokes.

[mlappin]

Still stick by my original statement, if we have a small engine that won’t run it’s always been a small (10hp and under) four stroke that’s being a pain in the ass. Chainsaws, weedeaters, leaf blower, etc always seem to pop right off and run when I need em.

I will give Stihl some credit, their Kombi uses a hybrid four stroke, still uses pre mix but starts every time by the second pull. I have one of those with all kinds of attachments including a pole saw, edger, hedge clipper and the power broom.

[Sloppy_Snood]

Glad to hear you're having good experiences with small 2-strokes.  I always have trouble starting them and despise mixing oil/gas.

No worries for me as I know Makita will get their MM4 Makita Mini 4-stroke lines going fine.  I have a couple engineering buddies that work on design and I can assuredly say there is a specific design reason why Makitas cost more. 😉

If it means anything to anyone else, the best weed eater on the market is a 4-stroke Honda.  They are really beginning to embrace their ultra-reliable small 4-strokes in their lawn and garden and commercial equipment offerings.  2-strokes will be gone in next 10 years so keep yours maintained well (as I know you do). 

[mlappin]

I use the larger Stihl bottles of oil, one bottle to two gallons of gas, not a real big deal. More annoying to drive into town just to buy two gallons of mid grade or premium.

[Sloppy_Snood]

Hey Marty,,, when you mix up 2-cycle fuel, do you use the highest octane grade gasoline you can find (no E85 or ethanol-containing gasolines)?

[mlappin]

Have had good luck using mid grade, 89 octane.

[WoodMOJoe]

...I always have trouble starting them and despise mixing oil/gas...

A chemist that hates mixing liquids?   

Just kidding Mr. Snood...please don't ban me!   

[Sloppy_Snood]

A chemist that hates mixing liquids?   

Just kidding Mr. Snood...please don't ban me!   

LOL!  I'm not the banning type moderator.

I guess that does seem weird when I think about it.  I just always manage to get oil on the garage floor from the silly foil "safety seal" they put over the spout on the bottle (under the cap).  Pet peeve thing for me I guess. 

[yotehunter66]

If you can find ethonol free gas for your two strokes use it. The ethonol plays hell on the diaphragms after a few years.

[mlappin]

If you can find ethonol free gas for your two strokes use it. The ethonol plays hell on the diaphragms after a few years.

I’ve gone to using premium (92-93 octane) and Stabil has a marine version of their product thats supposed to neutralize any ethanol, I also run the Stihl oil which is also supposed to neutralize ethanol.