Alpina Strimmers advice

topmanamillion

Hi all,
Bought a strimmers today for the first time.

Bit clueless to say the least and while I've an idea about a few of these questions/I know I should read the manual (what I read so far is gobildy gook, had to watch a you tube video to show me how to change from chord head to a blade). I'd be greatful for a few general pointers.

Anyone have an Alpina Strimmers? How have you found it?

Do I need a mixture of petrol and engine oil? If so do I need it every time I refuel? How much?

The strimmers is set at an angle i.e if I hold the handles straight the head it is at an angle,is this how it should be? (had it assembled in shop)

Before anyone says, I did ask the lads In the shop and they were very helpful. But there'll always be questions you only think of when you start to use it.
Thanks.

stoneill

2 stroke mix with petrol 50ml to 5 litres.
The head should be parallel to the ground.

_Brian

http://youtu.be/ubJOSiTIzXo

CJhaughey

stoneill wrote: »

2 stroke mix with petrol 50ml to 5 litres.
The head should be parallel to the ground.

STOP
50ml to 5 litres is 100:1 ratio which is far too lean an oil mix for these engines and will result in seizure and a big repair bill or a scrapped strimmer.
100ml to 5 litres is 50:1 which is usually what used to be recommended for small strimmers, personally I mix at 120ml to 5 litres which is 40:1 and in 30 years of running premix two stroke engines has never failed me yet.

OP go and buy a litre pack of good quality two stroke oil with a specification on the pack.
Some decent quality packs come with a premix bottle attached that you squeeze and the little container that measures the oil fills and you tip that into the bottle that you use for petrol and shake it to mix.
Withams Qualube has a bottle that does that but there are others.
I'd recommend getting a small 5 litre jerry can for the mixed fuel and making sure that you always mix the fuel as you buy it.
Its very common for people to buy petrol and forget to mix the oil into it, and this will seize the engine in a short time.
Write on the drum mixed fuel and the ratio 40:1 and shake the drum if its sat for a while as the oil can separate out.

tabby aspreme

CJhaughey wrote: »

STOP
50ml to 5 litres is 100:1 ratio which is far too lean an oil mix for these engines and will result in seizure and a big repair bill or a scrapped strimmer.
100ml to 5 litres is 50:1 which is usually what used to be recommended for small strimmers, personally I mix at 120ml to 5 litres which is 40:1 and in 30 years of running premix two stroke engines has never failed me yet.

OP go and buy a litre pack of good quality two stroke oil with a specification on the pack.
Some decent quality packs come with a premix bottle attached that you squeeze and the little container that measures the oil fills and you tip that into the bottle that you use for petrol and shake it to mix.
Withams Qualube has a bottle that does that but there are others.
I'd recommend getting a small 5 litre jerry can for the mixed fuel and making sure that you always mix the fuel as you buy it.
Its very common for people to buy petrol and forget to mix the oil into it, and this will seize the engine in a short time.
Write on the drum mixed fuel and the ratio 40:1 and shake the drum if its sat for a while as the oil can separate out.

+ 1 , if the lads in the shop didn't explain about mixing two stroke oil and the importance of it they need a slap, a two stroke engine will will run for about 10 seconds without the correct mix before it seizes for good.

topmanamillion

Thanks everyone.
Tried the manual again and it's a 50 to 1 mix. I can't get over how unuser friendly the manual is (referring to diagrams that are no where in sight!)
The lads In the shop didn't say anything about the oil. They actually had a jerry can and poured some petrol in and started it up for me. Maybe there was a mix in it but I didn't see anything going in.
Looks like I'll have to adjust the head too.

CJhaughey

topmanamillion wrote: »

Thanks everyone.
Tried the manual again and it's a 50 to 1 mix. I can't get over how unuser friendly the manual is (referring to diagrams that are no where in sight!)
The lads In the shop didn't say anything about the oil. They actually had a jerry can and poured some petrol in and started it up for me. Maybe there was a mix in it but I didn't see anything going in.
Looks like I'll have to adjust the head too.

I know the manuals all say 50:1 but this has been troublesome in a lot of machines and the new ones have gone back to 40:1 in many cases.
It won't hurt the engine to run at 40:1 but you'll have a little more oil in the mix which means better lubrication especially at higher revs.
Good oil should have a decent dye in it to show you that its a mix, if you get a red or blue colour you can easily see if its a mix or straight petrol.
The head is easily adjusted by undoing the pinch bolt and swivelling the head to the correct position, you may find that its better at a certain degree away from 12 oclock for your preference.

Calahonda52

goggles, earmuffs, gloves, and decent boots.

fepper

CJhaughey wrote: »

STOP
50ml to 5 litres is 100:1 ratio which is far too lean an oil mix for these engines and will result in seizure and a big repair bill or a scrapped strimmer.
100ml to 5 litres is 50:1 which is usually what used to be recommended for small strimmers, personally I mix at 120ml to 5 litres which is 40:1 and in 30 years of running premix two stroke engines has never failed me yet.

OP go and buy a litre pack of good quality two stroke oil with a specification on the pack.
Some decent quality packs come with a premix bottle attached that you squeeze and the little container that measures the oil fills and you tip that into the bottle that you use for petrol and shake it to mix.
Withams Qualube has a bottle that does that but there are others.
I'd recommend getting a small 5 litre jerry can for the mixed fuel and making sure that you always mix the fuel as you buy it.
Its very common for people to buy petrol and forget to mix the oil into it, and this will seize the engine in a short time.
Write on the drum mixed fuel and the ratio 40:1 and shake the drum if its sat for a while as the oil can separate out.

What brand would you recommend for 2 stroke oil without being ripped off by usual brand names CJ

CJhaughey

fepper wrote: »

What brand would you recommend for 2 stroke oil without being ripped off by usual brand names CJ

Decent two stroke is usually semi synthetic or Full synthetic, if it is rated JASO FB or higher( FC, FD) it will be fine.
Brand names I have used that were good value are Bercoline, Fuchs Criss Crossing, Active. Withams Qualube, Rock oil PP2, Oleomac Pro-sint

I buy mine in 5 litre bottles as they are usually much better value than the tiny bottles.Average €35 per 5 litres
Most litre bottles are around 10-15 per litre.

fepper

Cheers CJ,good selection there,thnx

topmanamillion

CJhaughey wrote: »

The head is easily adjusted by undoing the pinch bolt and swivelling the head to the correct position, you may find that its better at a certain degree away from 12 oclock for your preference.

Ya, I think it may well have been set up to the lad in the shops preference. I can see how an angle might be useful but what I found today was that when I came to a weed with a thicker stem it was pealing the side of it rather than cutting through it.

tabby aspreme

One litre of stihl oil with built-in dispenser 10€ , enough for 50 litres of petrol