Recent content by Jimbo

Hi folks, I have a Stihl FS-55C brushcutter that ended up with a banana-shaped conrod. On disassembly I noticed some light scoring of the barrel so to be safe I ordered a new barrel and piston (part no. 4140 020 1203) along with the new conrod. I'm starting to put everything back together and...

Hmmm, isn't Borax illegal in the UK? I can't see anywhere to buy it without some sort of license.

Hi folks, My lawn has had a couple of red ants nests in for several years now. I've tried boiling water, bait stations, various granules, baking soda mixed with caster sugar - you name it. Nothing seems to keep them down for more than a week, so my assumption is that the queen is still down...

Hi folks, Either I'm really rubbish at Googling, or nowhere on the internet does it say what the bevel angle on a Stanley #220 block plane should be. There are dozens of sites that can't wait to tell me what the bedding angle is, but not the bevel angle. I guess I'm supposed to just know what...

Nobody?

Hi folks, I have a uPVC door that faces West, towards the prevailing wind. Whenever I get lots of rain and wind, the door starts to leak into the house, through the bottom of the panel seals, as per the photo. I've felt along the bottom of the door and can't feel any drain holes - should there...

Thanks. Videos I watch are from all over really, but yes a fair few of them are from the US.

I see all sorts of videos on Youtube where people make workshop furniture out of birch ply. What they use seems to be immaculate, with zero voids or surface damage. I can't find good quality birch ply in the UK for less than about £100 for an 8' x 4' sheet. The stuff you get from Wickes and B&Q...

Can't see how to delete a post.

So quick update: Been getting on with other things the last couple of weeks. Just went to rebuild the brushcutter and discovered that the crankshaft I've been sent is the wrong one. It's the part I ordered, but the website simply lists the wrong part number for my machine. The conrod is too...

The oil seals are in superb condition, as is the head gasket (the only gasket affected). The piston and barrel are very clean. That said, I'm quite tempted to replace the piston and barrel anyway, in case there's been some deformation that isn't obvious. In which case for a few more pennies...

Yep. I already have that part in my basket. Trying to find advice on how to remove the crank bearing without damaging it, I don't have a bearing puller small enough but if it's quite robust, a pair of screwdrivers might do the trick... Update: bearing puller fit after all! Onwards and upwards!

Ok so I have a banana-shaped conrod. Replaceable but I can't understand why the cylinder would have been full of fuel unless the carb is faulty, and the carb was relatively recently replaced with a genuine Stihl part. I don't want to rebuild only for this to happen again - any clues why a...

Hi folks, I replaced the perished fuel hoses on my FS-55 brush cutter at the weekend. On pulling the cord to start there was a metalling slapping noise and the engine locked immediately. It never actually started Stripping away the housing, I can get a socket on the pull start mechanism and...

Hi folks, Can anyone advise on the best (national) merchant to get exterior ply from? Wickes/B&Q etc. don't indicate whether their ply is WBP, so I assume it isn't. I think I'm looking for EN636-3 and can't seem to find it. I can find marine ply, but that's twice the price so not an option...