skip to main content

LB 32:1 fuel in the 2-stroke Suzuki/Toro?

18 years ago

What is the collective experience on the practice of using a richer fuel mixture recommended for the 32:1 LB in the Suzuki/Toro which calls for a 50:1 mixture with Toro oil? I remember reading a post asking this question some months ago but cannot find it now.

Comments (21)

canguy
18 years ago
It will keep the skeeters at bay and probably foul the plug more often. I just moved from a rental property and had to leave a 2 stroke Zuki/Toro behind. Did the last cut yesterday. That is a dang good mower and I will miss it.
two_cycle_nut
18 years ago
I run lawn boy 32:1 all the time in my zuki's no problems so far.
Related Discussions
Old Toros with the 2-cycle Suzuki engines
Q
Comments (74)
The "slop" may be either a loose blade (tighten the blade retaining bolt) or a loose/sheared woodruff key in the crank adapter that the blade bolts to (replace the 1/4" key). The crank itself wallowing around in its lower bearing support indicates bigger problems and the need to tear it down for inspection/rebuild. If you do have the Suzuki 47PZ2, you have a rare bird indeed. This was the first year of this engine series (1983) and the only year to use mechanical points triggered ignition. The following years 1984-2003, the 47P used solid state ignition, which used a small transistor mounted in the coil casing to fire the ignition ..which was prone to heat/vibration fatigue and often failed - see other threads on here & elsewhere about expensive 47P coil replacement and attempts to save them by heating them in an oven ..all thanks to that dime sized transistor that you don't have to worry about.
...See More
Toro, Suzuki Two Stroke
Q
Comments (5)
Yes, and these engines are one of the best built, longest lasting engines available in my opinion. Whenever I come across one I buy it no matter the condition because chances are I'll be able to fix it and get either a nice return (profit) or use it for myself. Many landscapers and mowing service providers used Toro commercials with these engines on them because of these reasons. The cast iron sleeve improves the life of the engine by leaps and bounds in a two stroke. Any good commercial grade engine will have a cast iron sleeve. One note to you, If you are considering buying a Toro w/suzuki you need to be aware that these engines are no longer made and parts can become very expensive. Neal
...See More
Toro Suzuki 2-cycle repair or replace
Q
Comments (24)
I've had my Toro Model 20684 GTS (Suzuki 2-stroke) Mower new since 1988 and I never even changed the spark plug until yesterday. I am loosing power when it needs it and I can't understand why. It still starts in 2 or 3 pulls, the compression seems ok by the way it feels when I pull the starter rope, no scoring observed thru the intake port, (I have not checked the exhaust port yet), I rebuilt the carb yesterday because the inside diameter of the fuel line was grossly deteriorated, causing particles of rubber to clog the inlet to the carb. Interestingly the manual states no ethanol should be used because damage to the fuel system can result, I wonder if this was the cause for the grossly deteriorated fuel line? (All the gas around here states up to 10% ethanol!). The only issue with the rebuild is the governor setting, I need to figure out how to set that so the idle is back to low rpm as normal, not it seems to be left to cut speed if you know what I mean. My mistake was not to mark the relative position between the governor shaft and the governor arm, (any help anyone?). Well it looses power when it needs it, higher grass, and it is so frustrating, It runs great under no load. I believe the lower crank bearing is going because I can hear a knock of late that is not normal, like the knock you may hear when the bag gets full and the blade is hammering away at a grass clog, but it knocks when it is clear. I wonder if there can be an air leak by the lower bearing that cause its lose of power, but I also believe an air leak will likely cause it to seize up, so I am stumped. Is there anyone out there who can help me out? It's been a great unit but I refuse to believe it has reached the end of its service life! Help!!!!!!!!!!
...See More
2 stroke Lawn boy
Q
Comments (20)
"...and as far as the Toro 2 cycle being so much better, why do we not hear anything about 30 - 40 year old ones or hear of hardly any for that matter." Each individual mower on one of my trucks cut an average of 50 lawns a week. A homeowner will cut his lawn an average of 28x a year. Obviously a few more in the deep south. Based on those stats, each one of my machines see an equivalent of 1.8 years of residentail service A WEEK. In one year each machine amasses almost 59 years of equivalent residential service each year with no engine related problems. You don't hear about them because they are commercial machines. When they were still being imported prices ranged from 700-800 dollars. After EPA limited sales to existing stock on hand and capped new imports prices were $1,300.00 or more. A smart man will never even attempt to justify to his wife to spend 800 dollars less alone 1300 on a 21" wb. Everyone opts for the $299.00 units. You also don't hear about them because typically the guys that run this equipment know more about repair than the dealers' mechanic. In my case, my parts inventory for these machines is more extensive than what my dealer keeps on hand. And lastly you don't hear about them often because their down time is minimal. A machine like this will last a homeowner two lifetimes if he gives the grease fittings on the trans a regular pump of grease. I jumped over here from one of the other forums I was visiting. It is not something I will be doing many times in the future. I'm beyond thinking it is "okay" to pour gas into any part of the mower other than the gas tank and I surely will not debate such a stupidly dangerous act with people that do. The primary problem identified in this post was fuel delivery with some other minor concerns. If fuel is reaching the carb but not the cylinder then either the main jet is clogged or the float is bad. A two stroke with a worn crankshaft seal will have a lean fuel/air mixture. This will make it difficult starting but once started it will run the rpms close to 6000+, eventually overheat, wear the rings and score the cylinder in very short order. None of which was identified as a problem in the post. Three conditions must be met for combustion: fuel, air and a source of ignition. Two of these three are already present.
...See More
mtgrs737
18 years ago
I have run 32 to 1 in all my two-cycle engines that call for 50 to 1 with excellent results. I believe that 50 to 1 mix ratios in air cooled equiptment is a product of EPA mandates. I also beleive that even though most engines that the manufacture recomends 50 to 1 may live a decent life the engines will live longer and have more power at 32 to 1. I think that todays two cycle oil is better by far than the oil of 20 years ago and that is the reason for the ability to survive at 50 to 1 especially if you use the ultra trick synthetic Mobil One Racing 2T oil. I have been using 28 to 1 in my LB Duraforce during the high heat of summer and will be switching to 32 to 1 now that I have rejetted it to a richer air fuel ratio. Oil is you engines best friend.
andyma_gw
18 years ago
just adding my 2cents. My 'zuki runs fine on 32:1 . i have not had any plug fouling yet
montesa_vr
18 years ago
I ran Optimal at 32:1 in mine, and I never had problems with plug fouling, exhaust port carbon buildup, or any other supposed disadvantage of the heavier oil ratio.
rangers_275
18 years ago
remember mix according to the oil, not necessarily the engine. if your oil is muli-ratio (which i don't usually care for) then that is different. but if i have a bottle of 50:1 oil, i mix 50:1. if the oil i have is a 32:1 oil, i mix at 32:1. you get the idea. i am running optimol (single packet) at its native 78:1 even in my older D engine and my DuraForce and all is well. better oil can mix at higher ratios and be fine. if i had a bottle or Toro oil specified at 50:1, i would mix it at 50:1. if i want 32:1, i use Lawn-Boy oil

Rangers
snuffyinatl
18 years ago
I run Echo ProMix at 32-1 in my Husqvarna 372xp chainsaw with no problems. I can't bring myself to run it like I do at 50-1 like it calls for...that engine may run pretty much nonstop for hours on end, and I like the idea of just a tad more oil in it.
Don't see where 32-1 could hurt the zuki.
lawnmowerdan
18 years ago
i use a democratic mix of 40/1 in all my 2 cycle stuff. some calls for 50/1 and my older stuff calls for 32/1 so i split the diff. i use a very high quality oil -mercury quicksilver . my suzuki,s run fine on 40/1
peoriamurph
18 years ago
Just for grins.. I seem to remember seeing a decal on an old brick-top model not mentioning LB oil at all -- instead it said to mix in a certain amount of 30w oil into the gas.

Is this "the way it used to be?"

KCM
rangers_275
18 years ago
yes, that is the way it used to be. 16:1 ratios and if back far enough, two-stroke oil was not around yet. so just pour in 30 wt. talk about a super smoker. but i guess if you mowed your lawn before a picnic, no bugs would get you!!!

Rangers
mtgrs737
18 years ago
Back in the bad old days, that was it stright 30 weight and shake like crazy to get it to mix well. Smoke? Lots of carbon build up? Plug Fouling? Engine Wear? YES to all! We really have it good now! I use 32 to 1 in all my two-cycles and it works great!
rangers_275
18 years ago
i got an old saw asking for 10:1... i have not had the heart to run that ratio through it. i would never cut a gallon worth of gas and hate to mix that sludge up. 10:1? wow. what a while ago that ratio was. i thin kthey just poured straight crude into a gallon of gas for that... lol. wow.

Rangers
HZR03
18 years ago
Sounds to me like rangers has these oil ratio's all figured out. I agree!
Larry
rangers_275
18 years ago
i don't know if i have it ALL figured out, but i do love two storkes and collecting them. i try to run older stuff native, but some of the ratios are crazy. have an old can of Piopneer oil (empty) that has the ratios on the back and there is an 8:1 ratio on it. i think that gives it just enough gas to start and burn. i am glad we have better oil now. could you imagine mowing or sawying all day to that. i love em. curse the EPA, the new 2 strokes are really amazing. the technology seems to just be starting to come into play then the EPA came into play...

Rangers
HZR03
18 years ago
It's a little like Model T's to Camry's. 32:1 to 80:1 synethic will win out!
tarheelman
18 years ago
All I can say is that I'm glad we live in the age of synthetic 2-cycle oil and modern (32:1 & up) mix ratios.
hapesjr
18 years ago
I have a 3.5hp 148cc Toro Delux, and have been using 40:1, bbut I think it can run better. Should I go 50:1 or 32:1?
akrenz02
17 years ago
I use Mobil MX2T at a 2% ratio in my 1987 Toro CCR2000E snowthrower with a suzuki engine. A suzuki 2 stroke does not need a 3.1% mix ratio... Unless stated in the owners manual.
shawnlb
17 years ago
Well, I know someone will say something , but since my c series Lawn boy uses 16:1 , I use that in all my 2 strokes and they run good with not too much carbon build up.
montesa_vr
17 years ago
My brother always ran 16:1 in his Husqvarna 125WR. It ran for 15 years on the original piston ring and you could still see the hone marks in the cylinder. I think the main disadvantage to 16:1 is the cost of the oil.
roadbike
17 years ago
Below is my collective response to your question about:

"What is the collective experience on the practice of using a richer fuel mixture recommended for the 32:1 LB in the Suzuki/Toro which calls for a 50:1 mixture with Toro oil?"

What specifically are you trying to accomplish by changing from the manufacturers recommended oil/fuel mix. I would equate that to someone asking whether they should vary from the recommended 20 ounces of oil in their Briggs motor.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

FUN HOUZZ 10 Things People Really Don’t Want in Their Homes

By Mitchell Parker

No love lost over fluorescent lights? No shocker there. But some of these other hated items may surprise you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Fall into Cleanliness: Join the Discussion on Fall Cleaning Services

0

can anyone identify these bugs?

1

Custom zero turn mower bag attachment

0

Looking for cordless walk behind trimmer

2

Looking for edger with blade

0