After I got home, I started searching the Internet for information on this rototiller. It was a Ryobi® 410R tiller. I found a YouTube® video from a guy who was trying to get this tiller to start and run. A perfect video for my purpose. As I was sitting by the dinette table watching the video, Efiwym, my wife, walked in and asked, “Are you watching your TikTok® videos again?” Yes, there are times I watch TikTok® videos, but not this time. I watched with excitement as this guy walked through the same problems I could have. I took mental notes and bookmarked the video. I wanted to purchase a new spark plug and 2-cycle oil first.
I went to the store with the friendly hardware folks. I found the exact plug I required and some 2-cycle oil. I had what I needed to get this tiller started. At least I thought I did…
I replaced the spark plug when I got home and mixed up the gas and oil in a water bottle. I noticed that a gas line was out of place. The line went nowhere. There was a hole on the side of the gas tank. Is that where it goes? No connection, just a hole. I looked back at the video I saved. Yup, that line just goes into the hole in the tank. As I tried to put the line into the hole, the hose broke. Well, that was not part of the plan. As I tried to pull on the line so the remaining hose could reach the hole, the hose broke again. Okay, I needed to buy some gas line. I removed the plastic carburetor cover and pulled the remaining line off. I needed it as a sample.
I returned to the store with the friendly hardware folks. I always had success with their service counter getting things like gas lines. And they did not disappoint. I only needed 12 inches, but I should have ordered more. So, two dollars later, I headed back home.
I had now put about ten dollars into this 15 dollar investment. When I returned home, I started to replace the gas line. However, as I worked the line around, the other gas lines started to break. Suddenly I had to replace all the gas lines. I thought I had enough hose to replace all the gas lines. I then tried to remove the gas line from the gas filter, and I broke off the connecting end of the filter. Now I needed a new gas filter. I now officially had a debacle on my hands.
Efiwym let me know she would not have time to plant her vegetable plants today, so I got a reprieve. I needed to order a gas filter. But Efiwym believed I should stop working on the tiller and return it. She said the lady mentioned if the tiller did not run, she would take it back and refund us the money. I just invested in a spark plug, oil and gas line plus I busted the gas filter. Nope, I felt terrible returning it. The only way I would return it unless it was exactly as I received it, and that was not possible. Efiwym DM’ed the lady and again she said she was willing to take it back, but Efiwym let her know I had not given up on it yet.
I perused the Internet to find a gas filter for this tiller. I found a few online stores that had it, but fortunately, Amazon® was one of them. My daughter has Prime®, so I asked her to order it so I could receive it tomorrow. I now have put $18.00 into this $15.00 investment. I put the tiller away for the day and cleaned up my mess. I went into the house for supper and looked at the video I had saved.
I started and stopped the video as I ate. I discovered things that might help me. But in the end, the guy could not get his tiller to stay running. Gas was spraying out of the muffler. The engine was toast. I did not know if I was watching what could be my demise. I hoped not!