Any time is the perfect time to have Gano's professional service staff service your equipment so it is ready to go when you want it to.  Give us a call at (860) 537-3431 or  us  your request to us and we will pick up and service your machine.

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Ethanol Fuel:  Many areas of the country now have mandates in effect for oxygenated gasoline and are introducing gasoline that contains 10% ethanol, sometimes referred to as "E-10 gasoline".  Users of any 2-cycle equipment are concerned that these fuels will damage their equipments engine, and without proper care they will.  With a minor amount of preventative maintenance, gasoline containing 10% ethanol can be used in 2-cycle equipment.  Oxygenated and E-10 gasoline is designed to burn cleaner and reduce air pollutants.  These fuels have been available in regional areas of the country for many years and are becoming more common throughout the United States and New England.  If proper precautions are taken, gasoline containing a 10% quantity of ethanol should not generally cause a problem.

• Make sure the carburetor is adjusted properly for the fuel that is being used.  Oxygenated gasloine and gasoline containing ethanol has a tendancy to "lean out: the carburetor mixture when compared to standard fuels.  A slight carburetor adjustment may be necessary and should only be performed by a qualified technician with a tachometer to set the proper engine speed.
• Use only a good quality 2-cycle oil in the gas/oil mix.  All Stihl 2-cycle mix oils are compatible and readily mix with gasoline containing 10% ethanol.  Stihl HP Ultra synthetic mix oil is especially suitable for mixing with E-10 gasoline.
• Keep your fuel fresh.  Buy only enough gasoline that you will use up in a two month time period.
• Shake your gas can well before using.  This will keep the oil well mixed up with the fuel.
• Properly store your equipment if it is not going to be used for 60 days or more. (see below for storage information)
• Water or condensation in a fuel storage can or the machine's fuel tank can cause ethanol to seperate from the gasoline/oil mix.  If this occurs, the ethanol will settle to the bottom of the tank and will have little or no lubrication mixed with it.  Using this seperate mixture will cause over heating, engine running problems, piston seizures, or other major engine damage.  It is important to keep a fresh mixture and to avoid getting water in the gasoline.  If this occurs, the fuel should not be used.

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Productivity Chart
Ever try to figure out how many acres you can mow a day?

Riding mowers based on 6mph average cutting speed.
Walk-Behinds based on 4mph average cutting speed.

The dictionary defines "productivity" as " producing abundantly " and " yielding favorable or useful results ". We see it like you do; it's all about doing more in less time. In short, increasing your bottom line and strengthening your business. We build productivity 
into every mower that leaves our factory. For example: the Velocity Plus cutter deck that allows you to mow taller grass faster, 
with a beautiful finished cut. The special baffling, airflow and ultra-high blade tip speeds get the grass cut and discharged out of the deck in a big hurry. Engines with high horsepower and torque ratings keep everything up to speed, even in heavy conditions. High output hydraulic systems enable our mowers to cover a lot of ground quickly, getting the job done faster. Comfort items such as high back adjustable seats, large foot plates, steering control dampers, and EZ-Grip hand controls keep fatigue to a minimum, ensuring that the operator is able to perform safely and at their best, all day long.  Let's not forget about reliability and dependability. These are two very important elements in the productivity formula. If your mower goes down, your productivity goes down! Using 
anything other than the best quality parts and manufacturing procedures can increase the likelihood of downtime. That's why 
we use nothing but the best when creating a Scag mower. Anything less would be unproductive. 

Storing Your Equipment:
Whenever you store power equipment for thirty days or more, there are certain steps that should be taken to make sure it starts and runs properly when it is taken out of storage.  There are two schools of thought when it comes to equipment storage.  Both are acceptable, depending on the application.

1. Drain the system:  This method is good if the equipment is going to be stored in a regulated environment, such as a heated or attached garage.  The idea here is to get all of the fuel and fuel vapors out of the machine so there are no remnants to turn stale and varnish the inside of the carburetor.  This does, however, create the possibility of other problems.  The fuel system is now exposed to the atmosphere of the storage facility.  If  it becomes humid or a place of rapid and frequent temperature changes, water vapors can get inside the fuel system and cause more problems.  A metal tank might start to rust which will get into the fuel and carburetor, causing the motor not to run.  Water vapor might get into the carburetor and cause the internal parts to seize.  Severe dryness might cause the rubber seals and diaphragms to crack and rot.  In a heated garage, this method should work fine.  The best way to make sure all of the gas gets out of the system is to empty the fuel tank by draining or running dry.  Once there is no gas in the tank, turn the choke on and try to start the machine.  It might pop over but won’t stay running.  Do this until there are no more signs of starting.  This way, you can be sure there is no gas left in the carb.

2. Stabilize the fuel:  This method is currently what most engine manufacturers are suggesting.   Start off with a good quality gasoline.  Make sure it is at least 89 octane.  Mix the proper ratio of fuel stabilizer (such as STA-BIL, or Briggs and Stratton Fuel Additive) to the gas and pour into the tank.  Run the machine for at least ten minutes to make sure the stabilizer gets into the carburetor.  After the unit is shut off, top off the fuel tank.  This way, there is no room in the tank for water or vapor to do any damage.  The worst thing to do is to do nothing.  Leaving untreated gas in an engine is a sure way to have problems later on.