Gas

[Connemmara]

I bought a gas strimmer some yonks ago and did not have the strength to pull the start string and so my neighbour took it - I was asking him - he said Conne they are too much trouble etc.

I myself, is asking the question why when making the gas strimmer, mower etc why is there not a PUSH button to start it. making it even for these puny people myself included.

[Baldric]

I would suggest including a battery would make it considerably heavier.

[tonyav]

And a starter motor of some kind.

[Connemmara]

well when you turn the engine on your car you just use A KEY

[Baldric]

Which uses a battery and starter motor to fire up the engine

[Old_Geezer]

I have a weed wacker/strimmer, petrol driven, and that has a start button (pullstring for when battery is flat). I guess it's considered an unnecessary expense on smaller models though. As for mine, it's a B to get started and going without stalling, and I've yet to work out how to remove the strimmer head and put the wacker one on in it's stead.

[Old_Geezer]

Err... yes and it's heavy, needs the strap to go over the shoulder as one could not lift it by arm strength alone for long.

[Connemmara]

sorry - they say gas in America - but I meant petrol. so am reading

[Connemmara]

why then old geezer - we have come far down with new things - why shouldn't there be a push button.

[Baldric]

We knew what you meant cone,
a push button still involves a battery and starter motor, both very heavy

[Baldric]

oops...typo....conne not cone!

[Connemmara]

baldric are you still saying - you still have to pull that blasted cord along with all that. thank you

[tonyav]

Yes, afraid so, Conne.

[Baldric]

Unless you want to hump a battery and starter motor about, yes.

[Connemmara]

I think it is ridic in modern times. It just should be a KEY and turn pronto!!!

[tonyav]

Yes Conne but that would make it a lot heavier and more expensive to buy.

[Clanad]

Besides the extra weight and complexity, almost no two stroke engine can easily be equipped with a starter due to the relatively high torque produced by such engines which an electric starter would need to over come. (This is the problem Connemmara has to overcome with the string or rope pll start).

Years ago, I operated diesel powered Catepillar D-8 dozers which had an enormous diesel engines (520 horsepower) which were started by a very large (20 horse power) gasoline (petrol) powered 'pony' engines... again, due to the high torque produced by the diesel which needed to be overcome to start it...

[Old_Geezer]

Can be done though.
Touchstart
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ryobi-RBC-30SET-Petrol-Cutter-TouchStart/dp/B001W6947G

[Clanad]

Attempted to be done is a better description, O.G. At least according to these reviews:

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

Could be the reason it's no longer avialble, I suppose?

[Clanad]

Well... that worked well... select the reviews to make my point...

[Old_Geezer]

As it is the one I have I can say that it is no worse at starting than any other petrol driven tool. I find whatever is in the tank from last time has "gone off" and one needs to mix new 2 stoke to get it going again. But the switch works fine. It is a little 'finicky' over whether it keeps going once started though. Woe betide you if not keeping full throttle. Sometimes it'll behave, but at others, not.