The Citizen, 1993-05-05, Page 212 Versus 4 Cycle Engines for Lawn and
Garden Power Equipment Use
If you're thinking about buying a new power
lawn mower, or other piece of outdoor power
equipment this spring, look beyond the bright
paint and decals at the engine, which forms
the heart of all power equipment. Gasoline
engines are either two-cycle or four-cycle;
many consumers and equipment dealers have
strong feelings about which Is better.
Actually, both two-cycle and four-cycle
systems have their respective benefits,
according to David H. O'Connell, vice
president of marketing for Tecumseh Products
Company's Engine and Transmission Group.
Tecumseh Is a major North American
manufacturer and exporter of two-cycle and
four-cycle gasoline engines for lawn and
garden equipment.
"The two-cycle engine Initially was the
standard lawn mower engine for many years,"
O'Connell explained. "Then we watched the
four-cycle achieve a dominant popularity with
consumers, while the two-cycle became
almost universal in commercial applications.
To most consumers, the only difference is that
if you have a two-cycle engine, you mix oil in
the gasoline. If you have s four-cycle, you
don't."
In a two-cycle engine, the spark plug fires
each time the piston comes to the top of its
stroke, or every lour cycles. Two-cycle
engines used In lawn and garden equipment
are generally limited to the lower power
ranges. Among the largest of these are
Tecumseh's 840 Series, developing four
horsepower.
"In four-cycle engines the oil Is in the
crankcase, and not mixed In the gasoline,"
O'Connell pointed out. "Many consumers see
this as a convenience."
"On the other hand, • four-cycle engine needs
the oil level checked frequently and changed
regularly. Two-cycle engines, with the oil
properly mixed in the fuel, never run low on
oil, and never require an oil change."
Commercial mowing concerns prefer two-
cycle power for their walk-behind lawn
mowers and hand-held equipment O'Connell
noted. Advantages offered by the two-cycle
design Include fewer moving parts, lighter
weight, the assurance of clean lubrication, no
crankcase oil to check and change, no danger
of oil starvation when mowing on slopes, end
somewhat easier starting and longer engine
life.
O'Connell advises consumers that, properly
maintained, either a four-cycle or two-cycle
engine will perform satisfactorily and provide
good value - long life on outdoor power
equipment "Interest is growing on the two-
cycle because of its commercial appeal,"
O'Connell said, "but it's really a matter of
personal choice. If the consumer has other
equipment (such as a chain saw, snow
thrower, or flex-line trimmer) that requires an
oil-gasoline mixture, he or she will probably
find another two-cycle engine very desirable."
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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993. PAGE 21.
Home & Garden 1993
Share wonderful memories with your child
Continued from page 20
of nature and ecology. The garden
is an excellent place to reinforce
what they have heard and learned
and a great place to encourage their
creativity and self discipline. They
will be exposed to the beauty of
Nature, a beauty they will help
nurture, and through growing
vegetables they may learn a degree
of self sufficiency. It may sound a
little corny, but Nature's future is in
the hands of the present generation.
Obviously, we can't all run out
and plant a rain forest in our back
yards to replenish the Earth's carbon
dioxide needs, but a childhood start
on understanding and respecting the
environment plants the "seeds" for
future responsibilities. We all know
it needs to be done, so let's do it
with fun.
Lions and Dragons
Did you ever "snap" the jaws of a
snapdragon, or "see" fantastic faces
in pansies, or savor the tangy
aroma of fresh mint when you
crushed some leaves in your hands
when you were a child? Whether
you did or you didn't, think of the
wonderful memories you can share
with your child. These are all
rewarding learning experiences for
the senses, including the sense of
creativity.
There are numerous plants that
provide their own extra-special
sense of fun and learning. Below
are a few suggestions. Maybe you
have some childhood memories to
add.
Starter Suggestions
A small garden, perhaps no more
than 4 feet by 4 feet and planted
with a mix of flowers and
vegetables, can instill not only an
appreciation of Nature, but also
provide a place for these fun
learning activities. Although there
is the chance that a child's garden
might not be as neatly tended as a
parent's, give the choicest garden
spot you can to the child. Lots of
sun and good soil will aid in
success. A section of your garden
or a separate child's garden next to
yours can make the garden chores a
family affair.
Let your child help prepare the
garden soil. Dirt can be turned over
with a small shovel or trowel, and
clumps broken up by hand or by
"stomping" on them. Kids love
dirt!
Choose easy-to-grow plants and
as many different ones as you can
get into the small space. Carrots,
radishes and tomatoes are good
vegetable choices. If you have
room for the vines, maybe a giant
Jack O'Lantern or a mini-pumpkin
can make the garden experience
last a little longer.
For flowers, choose at least some
that can be used as cut flowers or
decorations for the dinner table or
for special "gifts" for Mom, like
Torget-Me-Nots.' Zinnias, mari-
golds, salvia, and snapdragons are a
few other recommendations. For
something spectacular to a child,
plant a few sunflowers, which can
range from two feet to 10 feet-tall.
The seeds can be toasted and eaten
for a healthy snack, or saved to be
put out to feed squirrels and other
animals.
Starting from seed is a good
learning experience, and starting
early indoors in a sunny spot will
provide daily "excitement" as
child watches the growth. Small
children will find large seeds such
as corn, beans and sunflowers easy
to handle and plant. Bedding
plants, too, are an excellent choice
for getting started and are good
choices for selections such as
geraniums, petunias, begonias and
many vegetable plants.
Recycling
Recycling is an important part of
our planet's future, and few
activities lend themselves to this as
well as gardening does. To grow up
to 12 plants you can use a clean egg
carton as a seed starter kit. Be sure
to punch holes in the bottom of
each section for drainage, and use a
soilless germinating mix.
Outdoors, small plants can be
protected from the weather and
hungry animals by cutting the
bottom or side out of a milk carton
and covering tender plants.
Grass clippings, shredded leaves
and vegetable matter can be put
into a composting bin to be
recycled into composted soil that is
very nutritious for plants.
Many communities have active
recycling programs on a drop-off
basis, or as part of their garbage
pickup. Instead of just separating
recyclable materials for some far-
off re-use, using the materials in
gardening demonstrates the true
meaning of active recycling and
may instill the idea of recycling in
other ways as well. Less garbage in
landfills means more land left for
nature.
Garden Anywhere
Don't despair if you don't have an
outdoor garden plot. Vegetables
and flowers can be successfully
grown in pots and containers. There
are books available (check your
library) on container growing, and
many general gardening books
cover the topic as well. A container
garden on a balcony, patio or deck
can produce a lot of flowers and
vegetables, and it often makes the
task of wedding simpler.
Getting Personal
Children love something to be
their "very own". Keep your child
interested and aware of his or her
garden by putting a sign in it that
says "Mary's Garden" (or whatever
name is appropriate). For real
personalization, make up plant
stakes or labels that say "Mary's
beans," "John's zinnias," etc. If
more than one child has plants
growing in the same garden, this
can minimize disputes over whose
plants are whose.
If you start from seed, you can
use the seed packet stapled to a
stake with the child's name written
on it. Bedding plants usually come
with a plant tag you might use.
Colourful pictures help children
Continued on page 22