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(More customer reviews)I have owned the big skeetervac for about 3 seasons. The first tank it worked great. Then it ran out and I hooked up tank #2. It would not ignite. After reading about this problem and not finding a suitable solution, I decided to just take it apart and see what was inside.
At the gas line end point is the restrictor nozzle. It is a solid cylinder of aluminum about as big as a 35 mm file canister. Inside it is a plastic insert with a tiny outlet where the propane passes through and into the burn chamber. This outlet is about the width of 3 human hairs. I put a few drops of brake cleaner in the nozzle and blew it through with my mouth.
It took a little force, but a tiny chick of rust came out. Then it ran clean with a fine mist spray pattern.
I reassembled and the unit worked perfectly.
This has happened one every tank of fuel. The unit should come with a fuel gauge and a clear warning to NOT run the tank empty. There should also be a very accessible pre-filter. What were they thinking? They had to know this would happen.
I have had to do this procedure each time I ran a tank dry, which is twice per season in Florida.
The next issue was the insulation on the black wire from the spark electrode had partially melted and the spark was jumping out of the wire before reaching the burn chamber. They sypmtom was gas flowing good but no ignition, until a large enough volume of gas accumulated, then K A - B O O M !!! Nothing was damaged but it was scary, though not scary enough to keep me from doing it 3 more times.
So I replaced the spark electrode, covered the wire in some heat wrap, and the unit is perfect yet again.
Well, actually not perfect because the circuit board on top of the unit is wired with ferrous connectors to the LEDs and they have rotted out. The snap connector is wired with aluminum and it is spotless. I am fairly certain that there are other ferrous connection that I can't see. The unit will effective be dead when they rot out which seems like 3 years is about the limit. But this has not happened so I am not sure.
Why was ferrous material used on the LEDs? Again, bad design. Any outdoor unit should be completely free of ferrous metal, except if it is zinced. This is engineering 101.
Overall, if you are thinking of buying this, follow the recommendation of not letting it run dry. If it runs dry, be prepared to send it in or repair it.
But when it works, it does an excellent job. That is the only reason I spend so much time fooling with it. I live in Tampa on the bay and the bugs here are ferocious. In the summer, without bug spray, I will literally have 20 bugs on my legs within a minute or two.
But the unit, amazingly, obviates the need for spray of any kind. It takes a few weeks to break the reproduction cycle.
On the lighter side, looking inside the full trap is an interesting study in biology. One time, I found this bug in there, it looked like a cross between a mosquito and a horse fly, It was literally, no exaggerations, 3 inches long. I have no idea what it was but when I saw it it was like "O god NOOOOOOO!!!" The stuff of nightmares, and more motivation to keep this bizarre contraption running.
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Blue Rhino SkeeterVac SV5100 Mosquito Eliminator, 1+-Acre CoverageDon't let pesky mosquitoes and other insects ruin your backyard parties, picnics, and barbecues. The Blue Rhino SkeeterVac Mosquito Eliminator's FineTune baiting system transforms clean-burning propane into CO2 to attract mosquitoes into its trap. Turn the FineTune dial to set the attractant to match the insect species indigenous to your neighborhood. Once the bugs are attracted, the Vac&Tac trapping system utilizes a powerful vacuum and sticky paper traps to securely capture them.Just place the SkeeterVac Mosquito Eliminator in a shady spot, secure it in place using the included security spikes, and use the electronic ignition to ensure fast, easy, safe starts. Propane tank sold separately. Use the rain cover to protect the SkeeterVac from the elements and from children. Assembly and maintenance take only minutes, and no tools are necessary. The included wheeled cart with handle allows you to easily transport the SkeeterVac almost anywhere
Within 4 to 6 weeks of operating the SkeeterVac around the clock, you will notice a great insect reduction within more than 1 acre of your yard. The CPSV5100 covers more than the area of a football field-the largest coverage available anywhere. The Motion Lighting feature attracts a broader range of insects to increase your capture rate. The SkeeterVac measures 24.5 x 15 x 19 inches and weighs 21 pounds. It's quiet, odorless, child-safe, and presents no pesky cords to trip over or get in the way of the lawn mower. A 1-year limited warranty is included.
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