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Low-emission, gas-powered hand-held tools: lighter and less intimidating chippers/shredders; sleeker, simpler-to-operate mulching mowers; even a solar-powered lawn-maintenance device, are among the latest advances in outdoor appliances designed to save consumers time, while helping to save the environment.
All could be seen at the International Lawn, Garden & Power Equipment Expo 93 held in July in Louisville.
A Briggs & Stratton survey of 807 randomly selected mower owners shows that 71 percent would pay more for environmentally friendly outdoor appliances. The Milwaukee-based firm is looking to cut emissions from its line of walk-behind mower engines by 70 percent for 1995 models vs. 1990 models.
Emission-cutting efforts are hot topics among outdoor-appliance OEMs and their engine suppliers. California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards that regulate emissions from small utility engines are scheduled to go into effect in 1995. Phase 2 standards will follow in 1999
FIRST FOR 4-CYCLE
While makers of lawn mowers and their engine suppliers appear to be well on their way to meeting CARB standards, makers of gas-powered, hand-held tools are finding the challenge more difficult.
Gas engines that power these products are typically 2-cycle engines that burn a mixture of gas and oil and lack the fuel efficiency of 4-cycle engines. But because the small 4-cycle engines typically weigh about 40 lbs., they are not found on handheld applications.
Ryobi America Corp., Anderson S.C., is changing that, however, with its introduction of Pro4MorTM OHV (overhead valve) 4-cycle engine. Weighing just 8 lbs., the 26cc engine features an all-position diaphragm carburetor and a roller-bearing-equipped connecting rod that allows the engine to run at any angle, making it suitable for string-trimmer applications.
The engine emits 24 g HC (hydrocarbons), 113 g CO (carbon monoxide) and less than 4 g of NOx (oxides of nitrogen). A "standard" 30cc 2-cycle engine for string trimmers produces 220 g HC, 515 g CO, and less than 1 g NOx. NOx emissions are higher with the Ryobi offering because more efficient engines burn hotter, thereby producing more NOx.
CARB's 1995 standards for such hand-held engines are 180 g HC, 600 g CO and 4 g NOx. The 1999 standards are 50 g HC, 130 g CO, and 4 g NOx.
The engines will be found on Ryobi's 1994 3-model...