RCS1300
Flashlight Enthusiast
HDS UV light for the win AGAIN!
Used the HDS UV light today to locate the problem in a non-running, gas leaking, weed wacker. Photos below.
Broke out the Ryobi 705r weed wacker, purchased about 15 years ago, to trim some grass at the weekend house. It worked fine last year but did take a while to start up and get going. This year, it would start and run for about 20 seconds - i believe on the fuel from the fuel prime. So instead of running out to purchase a new one ($150+) I decide to use some dye in the fuel and the HDS UV light. What I found was amazing. The leak was coming from around the sides of the carburetor. So, I took the carburetor apart and cleaned all of the gaskets. In my cleaning process, I found dye all around the gasket between the carburetor and engine. That gasket had a high spot/ridge in it that I carefully removed with a box cutting knife. Put it all back together and the Ryobi 705r worked like it was brand new and no longer leaked gasoline. Cost $0!
Edit add: I did learn in this process that a HDS Rotary UV light may be superior to the Executive model. I had progressive lumen levels set on my Executive but while one lumen level was too dim, the next one seemed too bright and caused unwanted reflections from the shiny steel of the carburetor. It worked okay but more immediately accessible lumen level choices with a Rotary would have been perfect for this up close work.
(In post #123 in this thread I outline how the HDS UV light also helped locate a power steering leak on my Camry.)
Baseline photo of the carburetor and muffler:
Fuel leak from bottom of carburetor onto the muffler using HDS UV light:
Fuel leak as seen from the bottom of the carburetor using the HDS UV light:
Fuel leak source was the gasket between the carburetor, left, and the engine, right, using the HDS UV light:
Used the HDS UV light today to locate the problem in a non-running, gas leaking, weed wacker. Photos below.
Broke out the Ryobi 705r weed wacker, purchased about 15 years ago, to trim some grass at the weekend house. It worked fine last year but did take a while to start up and get going. This year, it would start and run for about 20 seconds - i believe on the fuel from the fuel prime. So instead of running out to purchase a new one ($150+) I decide to use some dye in the fuel and the HDS UV light. What I found was amazing. The leak was coming from around the sides of the carburetor. So, I took the carburetor apart and cleaned all of the gaskets. In my cleaning process, I found dye all around the gasket between the carburetor and engine. That gasket had a high spot/ridge in it that I carefully removed with a box cutting knife. Put it all back together and the Ryobi 705r worked like it was brand new and no longer leaked gasoline. Cost $0!
Edit add: I did learn in this process that a HDS Rotary UV light may be superior to the Executive model. I had progressive lumen levels set on my Executive but while one lumen level was too dim, the next one seemed too bright and caused unwanted reflections from the shiny steel of the carburetor. It worked okay but more immediately accessible lumen level choices with a Rotary would have been perfect for this up close work.
(In post #123 in this thread I outline how the HDS UV light also helped locate a power steering leak on my Camry.)
Baseline photo of the carburetor and muffler:
Fuel leak from bottom of carburetor onto the muffler using HDS UV light:
Fuel leak as seen from the bottom of the carburetor using the HDS UV light:
Fuel leak source was the gasket between the carburetor, left, and the engine, right, using the HDS UV light:
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. Early X-mas present is what I am telling myself...
