repairing my ECHO backpack leafblower
Posted: Sat Sep 07, 2024 8:34 am
It may seem offtopic but...
My leaf blower's throttle control cable had seized and was making operation a challenge. Rather than continue using it the way it was I decided to dissemble it a refresh the cable and other things that it needed. So, at the end of the process where you have a cable that sortta works and an internet supply chain that says a replacement will ship in 3-5 days and maybe arrive before the next equinox, I thought I'd try to clean it and lubricate it. A month back I attempted to lubricate my boxer throttles, but never really worked well.. Hanging them up and dripping oil down them, progressing at such a glacial rate that I never had the patience to get oil to make the whole trip. I never had much success with those screw on cable lubricators and never like having to use a spray lube that had an evaporative carrier that left I don't know what behind. So I wandered around the shop for a few minutes when I had an idea; could I take a piece of 3/8" id(large enough to go over the barrel BUT maybe shrink part of it onto the cable outer? Well it worked and was oil tight. I now had an inch long 3/8" funnel with an oil tight connection to the cable, I could use whatever fluid I liked to solve my problem. First penetrating oil to gather up the rust and deposit it in my glass cup, then some 5-30 synthetic until if came out clear. At that point i was Happy, and proceeded to carefully cut off the shrunk 1/2" off my cable. I know I now have a new and effective way to lube cables, especially since I do a lot of wiring and always have shrink wrap around. I'd like to think I invented that, but won't be surprised if not. PICs below
My leaf blower's throttle control cable had seized and was making operation a challenge. Rather than continue using it the way it was I decided to dissemble it a refresh the cable and other things that it needed. So, at the end of the process where you have a cable that sortta works and an internet supply chain that says a replacement will ship in 3-5 days and maybe arrive before the next equinox, I thought I'd try to clean it and lubricate it. A month back I attempted to lubricate my boxer throttles, but never really worked well.. Hanging them up and dripping oil down them, progressing at such a glacial rate that I never had the patience to get oil to make the whole trip. I never had much success with those screw on cable lubricators and never like having to use a spray lube that had an evaporative carrier that left I don't know what behind. So I wandered around the shop for a few minutes when I had an idea; could I take a piece of 3/8" id(large enough to go over the barrel BUT maybe shrink part of it onto the cable outer? Well it worked and was oil tight. I now had an inch long 3/8" funnel with an oil tight connection to the cable, I could use whatever fluid I liked to solve my problem. First penetrating oil to gather up the rust and deposit it in my glass cup, then some 5-30 synthetic until if came out clear. At that point i was Happy, and proceeded to carefully cut off the shrunk 1/2" off my cable. I know I now have a new and effective way to lube cables, especially since I do a lot of wiring and always have shrink wrap around. I'd like to think I invented that, but won't be surprised if not. PICs below