Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Equipment Shed => Topic started by: Contadino on December 02, 2007, 11:30

Title: Ethanol & 2-stroke motors...
Post by: Contadino on December 02, 2007, 11:30
Does anyone here run garden tools on ethanol?  I'm thinking about 2-stroke chainsaws, brushcutters, rotavators, etc..

What sort of changes are needed to the engines?  Is it easy or hard to do?  Is it reliable?

...and any pointers into making ethanol whouldn't go amiss either.  It's not a project I intend to get underway until the summer (solar still) but I'd like to start getting up to speed on it all now.

Many thanks.
Title: Ethanol & 2-stroke motors...
Post by: WG. on December 02, 2007, 11:46
At last - a good use for grappa :!:  :wink:  :lol:

Interesting idea, I know the Brazilians are really into it (from sugar cane residue) but I know nothing about the engine mods needed.

What are you planning to use as a sugar source?

Your major difficulty will be getting rid of the water from your own distillate.
Title: Ethanol & 2-stroke motors...
Post by: mushroom on December 02, 2007, 17:09
ethanol fuel as it pertains to boats - there is a section about 2-stroke engines:

http://www.wmi.org/www/boating/boatboard/T27616.htm

as it pertains to motorbike engines:

http://dirtrider.net/forums3/text/topic/133172-1.html

From what I've read so far, I don't think ethanol can be used (as 100%) without some modification. These links talk about using petrol/ethanol mixtures. Ethanol burns a bit differently and will alter the engines power characteristics. There is less energy in a gallon of ethanol than a gallon of petrol. Ethanol is highly hygroscopic (it will attract water).

Do some more research if you don't want to knacker the engine!
Title: Ethanol & 2-stroke motors...
Post by: Contadino on December 02, 2007, 17:37
Well growing sugar beet may be an option for me as I think the climate here is right.  However, nobody else grows it - and there's usually a reason for that, so maybe something like kudzu or even corn may be options.