361 dual dog debacle

[IchWarriorMkII]

So after posting the 441 vs. 361 dual dog kit thread I went about ording the kit through my local stihl dealer.

At first, he didn't even know there was a kit specific to the 361, so we look it up. No big deal.

He orders in the kit, and half of it arrives. So they ship in parts that did arrive vs. sending me the right missing items (I didnt inspect them at this time, I was just told half the parts arrived)

So I wait longer, then all the parts arrive. Turns out the inside dog is missing. Great, so we order that. More waiting.

Finally get most of the kit, sans the two bolts to hold the outside dog on...

He's closed, and Im out of town tomorrow... so I guess Im up the creek without a paddle. Im not really angry about the ordeal, but Im a little scared to think about how long I would be out if I needed a part critical to making my saw run....

 

[BIGBORE577]

I know the feeling. It takes me longer to get some parts for chain saws, no matter what brand, than it does to find parts to repair a 100 year old Winchester. I guess it's the nature of the beast. I realize it's not feasible for dealers to stock all parts for all machines whether they are current production or not. This is just an observation. Also, there is Murphy's Law, all the parts that needed to be special ordered will come in except for the one you really need to get the machine running.

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

What size of bolt will it be by the way?

I might be able to hit a Home Depot and find the right part....

 

[Peacock]

I've never needed a part of any kind from my dealer that wasn't either in stock or here the next day.

 

[GASoline71]

I believe it all depends on what type of "cuttin'" your dealer supports. My dealers exist for the PNW Logging Operations... so they have tons of bars and chains... lots of parts... and guys behind the counter that know what the hell you are talkin' about.

Not pickin' on Lawn and Garden guys here... but I don't frequent them because I hate to have to dig through the IPL's myself to show them the parts i need. They don't move as many saws or Parts... so they tend to not be "in the know" on basic stuff.

My dealer sold over 95,000 feet of chain last year... so they can also offer chain for less as well. Bars are cheaper too... simple supply and demand is what it all boils down to.

When I ordered the same MS361 chain catcher kit from my dealer... it all came together, and no worries when I asked them to look it up. They knew exactly where to look and what it was.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I'm spoiled rotten by my Stihl dealer.

Gary

 

[Knotdodger]

I got the the duel spikes on my 361 too. After doing some reading here .
The dealer ordered them and charged me 6 dollars or something like that. I seen here that people were paying around 30 dollars or so. So I went back to the dealer, and told him it was too cheap for some reason. " I didnt want to insult him " Then he found he ordered the wrong part. Cool.. I didnt want to wait a week and be let down.. The whole thing took like 2 weeks because of back order and all.. Normaly it takes about 2 days too get ordered parts here. Very pleased though, the duel's are very nice.. My stump cuts are actually strait now.hehe

 

[Gologit]

I believe it all depends on what type of "cuttin'" your dealer supports. My dealers exist for the PNW Logging Operations... so they have tons of bars and chains... lots of parts... and guys behind the counter that know what the hell you are talkin' about.

Not pickin' on Lawn and Garden guys here... but I don't frequent them because I hate to have to dig through the IPL's myself to show them the parts i need. They don't move as many saws or Parts... so they tend to not be "in the know" on basic stuff.

My dealer sold over 95,000 feet of chain last year... so they can also offer chain for less as well. Bars are cheaper too... simple supply and demand is what it all boils down to.

When I ordered the same MS361 chain catcher kit from my dealer... it all came together, and no worries when I asked them to look it up. They knew exactly where to look and what it was.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I'm spoiled rotten by my Stihl dealer.

Gary

Good post. It underlines the fact that there are "dealers" and there are "saw shops". The saw shops are the only ones I'll deal with and when I find a good one ( real luck...we have two in my area) I tend to spend most of my money there. When I got the 441 bar studs (thanks Lake) to change over the 066s I told the saw shop guy what I was doing. He ordered a bunch of them and sold out every one. He's going to advise everybody to change over. That's a saw shop.

 

[XJWoody]

M5 x 12

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=42682

The Stihl bolts are M5 x 12, with M5 locknuts...

I doubt that's an 'easy to find' length at a hardware, maybe find M5 x 15mm and use those for now. If you can't find locknuts, I'd use a dab of threadlock and/or maybe 'double nut' them to use up that extra 3mm.

 

[CaseyForrest]

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=42682

The Stihl bolts are M5 x 12, with M5 locknuts...

I doubt that's an 'easy to find' length at a hardware, maybe find M5 x 15mm and use those for now. If you can't find locknuts, I'd use a dab of threadlock and/or maybe 'double nut' them to use up that extra 3mm.

ACE Hardware. Im pretty sure theyd have them.

 

[GASoline71]

Wait to get the proper nuts and bolts...

...then again, it's your saw.

Gary

 

[RiverRat2]

+1

Good post. It underlines the fact that there are "dealers" and there are "saw shops". The saw shops are the only ones I'll deal with and when I find a good one ( real luck...we have two in my area) I tend to spend most of my money there. When I got the 441 bar studs (thanks Lake) to change over the 066s I told the saw shop guy what I was doing. He ordered a bunch of them and sold out every one. He's going to advise everybody to change over. That's a saw shop.

Tha guys in town are good dudes but they cater to selling tha big end ZTR mowers weed wackers, tillers and such,,, And I understand that,,pure economics,,,,

My place is about seven miles out of town,,,,,, if ya go about 10 more miles NW you will be settin at a real good saw shop,,, and their sign dont say nuttin about a lawn or a garden,,, it says M_ _ _ _ _ L L'S Saw and Supply/ We Make Hydraulic Hoses

If I really need a big saw... MS650 class & up or a part for one that class its worth the extra 3 or 4 miles for me cause I Know they will normally have it,,,,,, If ya want something in that class from the OPE specialist if ya have to order it an can wait,,, sometimes its there the very next day,,,most of tha time its about two days

but Im usually in a hurry and Ive already called Ron,,, let him know & by the time you or whoever gets there its settin on the counter in a brown paper bag with mine or one my bros name on it!!!!!!!

 

[BIGBORE577]

I believe it all depends on what type of "cuttin'" your dealer supports. My dealers exist for the PNW Logging Operations... so they have tons of bars and chains... lots of parts... and guys behind the counter that know what the hell you are talkin' about.

Not pickin' on Lawn and Garden guys here... but I don't frequent them because I hate to have to dig through the IPL's myself to show them the parts i need. They don't move as many saws or Parts... so they tend to not be "in the know" on basic stuff.

My dealer sold over 95,000 feet of chain last year... so they can also offer chain for less as well. Bars are cheaper too... simple supply and demand is what it all boils down to.

When I ordered the same MS361 chain catcher kit from my dealer... it all came together, and no worries when I asked them to look it up. They knew exactly where to look and what it was.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... I'm spoiled rotten by my Stihl dealer.

Gary

I often forget I live in an area that could not support a shop dedicated to saws alone. Therefore, I have to rely on the Lawn and Garden types. I didn't think you were knocking them at all, it is what it is. However, on our next road trip I will mistakenly venture into an area that does have dedicated saw shops just to check them out. Unfortunately, I don't think the wife will understand why I drove 1000 miles before directions!

 

[IchWarriorMkII]

Wait to get the proper nuts and bolts...

...then again, it's your saw.

Gary

I have the nuts, just not the bolts.

And I plan on shopping for the correct size...

I didn't think this bolt would be like hens teeth...

 

[GASoline71]

I have the nuts, just not the bolts.

And I plan on shopping for the correct size...

I didn't think this bolt would be like hens teeth...

They aren't... but to get them the correct length, you will have to grind them down.

If you have the nuts from Stihl, that is good... because regular nyloc nuts will come loose... where the Stihl "deformed" nuts won't.

Gary

 

[Just Mow]

Tha guys in town are good dudes but they cater to selling tha big end ZTR mowers weed wackers, tillers and such,,, And I understand that,,pure economics,,,,

My place is about seven miles out of town,,,,,, if ya go about 10 more miles NW you will be settin at a real good saw shop,,, and their sign dont say nuttin about a lawn or a garden,,, it says M_ _ _ _ _ L L'S Saw and Supply/ We Make Hydraulic Hoses

If I really need a big saw... MS650 class & up or a part for one that class its worth the extra 3 or 4 miles for me cause I Know they will normally have it,,,,,, If ya want something in that class from the OPE specialist if ya have to order it an can wait,,, sometimes its there the very next day,,,most of tha time its about two days

but Im usually in a hurry and Ive already called Ron,,, let him know & by the time you or whoever gets there its settin on the counter in a brown paper bag with mine or one my bros name on it!!!!!!!

Sounds like great service to me.

 

[manual]

Funny how everybody is getting down on the Dealer when the chain catcher comes as a Kit in a sealed bag from Stihl.
Of course thats how my lawn mowing Stihl dealer spoiled me.