Home of Folly Lane Allotment Group
Tool Loans
We have a range of tools our members can borrow at their own risk.
How to borrow our tools
Brian Songhurst [plot 22N] & Joe Horner [plot 45S] look after the site tools and organise repairs as needed. FLAG owns mowers and strimmers. Any FLAG member can use them.
We have 2 mowers and 2 strimmers - please ensure you use the correct fuel.
The mowers are 4-strokes and use straight premium grade petrol in the green cans.
The strimmers are 2 -strokes and use 2-stroke petrol/oil mix Aspen 2.
Also please wear safety glasses and suitable clothing e.g. the strimmers can flick stones.
For your first time please email Brian or Joe who will provide access and explain the equipment to you.
For subsequent uses please contact one of the key holders as per the phone list below.
Brian and Joe ask "If anything goes wrong with a tool, do let one of us know and we can get something done about it. Please don’t just leave it for someone else to find out!"
Key holders:
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Brian Songhurst (22N) 07914 145293
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Joe Horner (45S) 07713 687878
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Richard Cloutman (32) 07790 343909
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Kevin Withers (28) 07990 075535
Please use the FLAG petrol-driven tools carefully and read the safety instructions in the manuals. FLAG members use the tools at their own risk. Manuals are kept in the steel shed and web links below for pre-reading.
If you do break one or can’t get it working, please contact Brian [plot 22N] or one of the key holders. We don’t criticize but we need to know so we can get them working again and help you use them more effectively.
We have 2 mowers:
A Weibang 18” cut and a EFCO 16” cut. They both have 4-stroke engines and use straight petrol from the green can.
The Weibang is self-propelled and the EFCO is push along.
The mowers are easy to start. Just pull the top lever towards you and pull the starter cord. No priming or ignition switches.
After use;
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please empty the collection box and clear the underneath and cut grass hole that feeds the box with a stick - do not put your hands inside the blade area. A brush is provided in the shed.
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Please don't refill the mowers as the petrol evaporates a bit and makes starting harder.
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If you do kindly refill a green can please buy premium 97/99 grade petrol as regular 95 has 10% ethanol which does not store well and causes difficult starting.
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Please also use the mowers on a high setting on our rough ground to save damaging the blade when hitting the high spots.
We have 2 strimmers:
Both are newly purchased Maruyama MX223s.
They are 2-strokes so use Aspen 2 a synthetic 2-stroke fuel which avoids the use of 2-stroke oil in a normal mix which separates out clogging the carburettor jets and causing starting problems.
The Aspen fuel is kept in clearly marked 5 litre plastic bottles simiar to the illustration below.
The strimmers have EFCO bump heads where the pre-installed line extends by tapping the head on the ground. They use 2.4mm line which is in the steel shed. Please do not use thicker line as it overloads the engine.
Click here for a short video on how to load a new line. The bump head will take 4m of 2.4mm line, so cut off 4m length and load it as shown.
Do not vigorously pull the starter cord the full length as it can jam the recoil mechanism – just half to two thirds.
When finished please remove any grass or string etc that has would around the head and give a brush down. A brush is in the steel shed.
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Please contact Brian [plot 22N] iif we need more Aspen 2 two stroke fuel.
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Do not fill the strimmer tank after use. The petrol will partially evaporate increasing the oil concentration and make starting difficult next time.
