Questions regarding CA internal combustion engine ban

[MtnHaul]

Yup…and, that’s just to get started…

I doubt much more will get banned anytime soon. Battery technology is nowhere near the point of replacing 50cc+ commercial level tools,and many of the items that were scheduled to be banned were not. Log splitters and brush mowers were on the naughty list but the local stores have plenty of 'em. I have to say that at least as far as commercial use goes the battery 25cc-35cc equivalents are fantastic. I have a KM94 Kombi power head that just gathers dust because the KMA 135 R battery Kombi powerhead is much, much nicer to use--tons of power, run time, and much less noise when I'm working in town. Most yards in town are tiny and even a single battery Makita 18v blower is adequate but I still see guys using backpack blowers on these little postage stamp lots. The Stihl AP series of battery tools has been very reliable and battery run time is good except for the blowers. Obviously when I'm out in the woods I don't care to bring a bunch of batteries, and technology is a long ways away from a battery equivalent to a 462 or 261--that MSA300 is a POS.

 

[MtnHaul]

They're actively planning to ban more soon? Or just the reasoning of once they start they'll keep going?

I think/hope "they" realize that you can only squeeze so hard before you get a strong negative reaction. We'll see. "Slippery slope" arguments are illogical but so is the human species.

 

[hacskaroly]

Was interesting during fog season.

One eye looking straight ahead for tail lights and the other watching the striped lines on the road, window rolled down to listen for screeching tires for someone slamming on their breaks!

 

[singinwoodwackr]

One eye looking straight ahead for tail lights and the other watching the striped lines on the road, window rolled down to listen for screeching tires for someone slamming on their breaks!

I would pull onto hwy 99 at around 25mph and wait for a semi to fly by. Then, follow…far enough back to just barely see his tail lights. I was working in a bakery so travel started around 3am. Some of the daytime wrecks were epic when the fog stayed down at ground level.
When I was a kid, I’d watch my dad drive with the window down so he could see the line…couldn’t see past the hood sometimes.
Interesting times…

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I think/hope "they" realize that you can only squeeze so hard before you get a strong negative reaction. We'll see. "Slippery slope" arguments are illogical but so is the human species.

“They” who are running things are radical nutcase ideologues who have no sense or ability to see reason or understand logic. Good luck with the hope.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I doubt much more will get banned anytime soon. Battery technology is nowhere near the point of replacing 50cc+ commercial level tools,and many of the items that were scheduled to be banned were not. Log splitters and brush mowers were on the naughty list but the local stores have plenty of 'em. I have to say that at least as far as commercial use goes the battery 25cc-35cc equivalents are fantastic. I have a KM94 Kombi power head that just gathers dust because the KMA 135 R battery Kombi powerhead is much, much nicer to use--tons of power, run time, and much less noise when I'm working in town. Most yards in town are tiny and even a single battery Makita 18v blower is adequate but I still see guys using backpack blowers on these little postage stamp lots. The Stihl AP series of battery tools has been very reliable and battery run time is good except for the blowers. Obviously when I'm out in the woods I don't care to bring a bunch of batteries, and technology is a long ways away from a battery equivalent to a 462 or 261--that MSA300 is a POS.

That's what I figure. They've moved on to the next issue. All I use on our postage stamp in town is battery except for the push mower. If it ever dies I'll get a battery powered. String trimmer and hedge trimmer go a long time on 36V. Blower on medium drains batteries in about 10 minutes. On high about 5 minutes but it'll roll a pile of leaves. If I needed a small chainsaw I'd go battery.

 

[Jusgunn3]

I use my battery powered husky blower for the decks and around the house. I get the backpack blower out when I need to do the driveway and road down to the barn.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I would pull onto hwy 99 at around 25mph and wait for a semi to fly by. Then, follow…far enough back to just barely see his tail lights. I was working in a bakery so travel started around 3am. Some of the daytime wrecks were epic when the fog stayed down at ground level.
When I was a kid, I’d watch my dad drive with the window down so he could see the line…couldn’t see past the hood sometimes.
Interesting times…

Craziest driving experience I've had anywhere was on that section of 99. It was pretty busy and there was a north to south strong wind blowing tumbleweeds straight down the highway. Lots of them. Many 3 to 5 foot diameter. Everybody kept hauling ass weaving shoulder to shoulder dodging tumbleweeds. Went on for 5 or 10 miles.

A service van punting a 55 gallon drum off the highway over the top of 3 lanes of morning rush hour traffic in Denver, CO is a close second.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I use my battery powered husky blower for the decks and around the house. I get the backpack blower out when I need to do the driveway and road down to the barn.

Those small cordless blowers have a really annoying whine to them . A couple of neighbors have them and the sound cuts right through the walls…unlike the gas blowers the landscapers use. My corded Toro blower isn’t bad at all.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Those small cordless blowers have a really annoying whine to them . A couple of neighbors have them and the sound cuts right through the walls…unlike the gas blowers the landscapers use. My corded Toro blower isn’t bad at all.

Neighbor's Greenworks blower has that annoying whine. My Makita ain't so bad. I don't doubt they make them like that thinking it makes them sound powerful.

 

[Jusgunn3]

Those small cordless blowers have a really annoying whine to them . A couple of neighbors have them and the sound cuts right through the walls…unlike the gas blowers the landscapers use. My corded Toro blower isn’t bad at all.

Mine isn’t that bad of a noise but its really not that quite, not sure if that’s a marketing thing but you could probably use ear pro with it if you were smarter than me…

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Neighbor's Greenworks blower has that annoying whine. My Makita ain't so bad. I don't doubt they make them like that thinking it makes them sound powerful.

I was looking at the 18v Makita since I have a bunch of that line already. How does it perform?

 

[MtnHaul]

I was looking at the 18v Makita since I have a bunch of that line already. How does it perform?

It's a small blower and if I recall correctly the 5 amp hour battery would last about 10-12 minutes depending on how much "throttle" I gave it.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

It's a small blower and if I recall correctly the 5 amp hour battery would last about 10-12 minutes depending on how much "throttle" I gave it.

That should be sufficient for most quick jobs, thanks.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Mine's a 36v with a 1-5 indexed power level dial and variable speed trigger. It stays on 3 mostly and runs for 10 to 15 minutes with 5 amp hr batteries. On 5 it's got a heap of power but not for long.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Mine's a 36v with a 1-5 indexed power level dial and variable speed trigger. It stays on 3 mostly and runs for 10 to 15 minutes with 5 amp hr batteries. On 5 it's got a heap of power but not for long.

I have their 36v hedge trimmer. It is a bit heavy but cuts through 1/2” stuff with no issues. I was thinking just an 18v blower for small jobs. Big stuff I just pull out the Toro.

 

[Wilhelm]

Some of You guys mentioning Makita battery equipment triggered this post of mine.

Have any of You guys had "cold battery" issues?
As in significant loss of capacity or even a battery pack not providing any power at all and just displaying an error blink in its LED charge bar.

I encountered both issues a couple days ago.
The "slow charger" battery packs without the yellow tab wouldn't run at all, while the "fast charger" battery packs with the yellow tab "depleted" in under 10 cuts (old dry boards for a fire).
Yet the next day after warming up in the house to room temperature, when plugged into their dedicated chargers the slow charge batteries claimed "full" and the fast charge batteries claimed 80%.




I tend to use them in the summer on my brushed top handle chainsaw for small jobs and the battery packs are healthy featuring similar performance.
The only difference the other day was sub freezing temperatures.




Yeah, I do not want to rely solely on battery power to stay warm!



P.S.:
I also had a revelation where a (local) popular supermarket brands batteries wouldn't charge outside in the shop.
3 battery packs, 2 chargers - no go, just an error blink on the chargers.
Apparently the chargers will not charge batteries under 10°C.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Some of You guys mentioning Makita battery equipment triggered this post of mine.

Have any of You guys had "cold battery" issues?
As in significant loss of capacity or even a battery pack not providing any power at all and just displaying an error blink in its LED charge bar.

I encountered both issues a couple days ago.
The "slow charger" battery packs without the yellow tab wouldn't run at all, while the "fast charger" battery packs with the yellow tab "depleted" in under 10 cuts (old dry boards for a fire).
Yet the next day after warming up in the house to room temperature, when plugged into their dedicated chargers the slow charge batteries claimed "full" and the fast charge batteries claimed 80%.

View attachment 479498
View attachment 479499

I tend to use them in the summer on my brushed top handle chainsaw for small jobs and the battery packs are healthy featuring similar performance.
The only difference the other day was sub freezing temperatures.

View attachment 479512
View attachment 479513

Yeah, I do not want to rely solely on battery power to stay warm!

View attachment 479514

P.S.:
I also had a revelation where a (local) popular supermarket brands batteries wouldn't charge outside in the shop.
3 battery packs, 2 chargers - no go, just an error blink on the chargers.
Apparently the chargers will not charge batteries under 10°C.

That's how it's always been with my Makita batteries. There's a limit on what temperature they've gotta be to take a charge. My Senco finish nailer batteries are the same way.

 

[MtnHaul]

The Stihl AP batteries won't charge if it's too cold. 40F is too cold for them to charge but they will function just fine. I've always wondered how electric vehicles perform or charge in very cold conditions--seems like it would be a problem.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

One thing about moving TO Cali at the moment...I think U-Haul will pay you to move