Maintenance time once again...

[USMC615]

I know most of you folks live geographically well north of mid-Ga...still dealing with feet of snow, burning plenty of wood, whether in the NE, Midwest, Pacific NW, Canada, etc. Seen the last few days here in the low 80's, still rather cool in the nighttime, pretty much no more fireplace burnin, nothing compared to you folks though...Time to look at other equipment other than saws to get ready for their action, at least here for now...riding mower, push mower, weed-eater, edger, etc, etc. I do my best to maintain my stuff...blades, oil changes, plug change if necessary, generally hit them with a steel brush in gas, good gap he goes right back in, air filter blown out from the inside out, belts, etc. We all repeat this and been there and done this crap.

Seems like these basic maintenance needs cost a helluva lot more than they used to. Certainly beats the replacement costs of the same machine, hands down and then some. This thread folks...just a little reminder to all to check their stuff, keep it running like a top...I know I've been ridden like a 'pack mule' trying to explain/justify a replacement piece of equipment, through literally zero fault of my own maintenance-wise, with my 'ball and chain'...a time or two. When they need/want ****, there's no negotiation...funny we gotta get council approval...I'm sure 99% get the gist of what I just said, no doubt, Lol. Keep your stuff running well guys, it's the only way it'll be there to perform for you when you need it. Best to all and your equipment.

 

[svk]

My 2 Snapper mowers always seem to run well. I've got 4 Homelite string trimmers in various states of repair (side note why do string trimmers seem to be the least reliable piece of ope ever invented?).

My Mac saw needs a recoil, converting Johnny from .250 to 3/8 lo profile, and Husky is getting a new 77 cc p+c eventually. I've got lots of softwood to cut so not sure if I'll tear her down sooner or later.

 

[Cerran]

My 2 Snapper mowers always seem to run well. I've got 4 Homelite string trimmers in various states of repair (side note why do string trimmers seem to be the least reliable piece of ope ever invented?).

My Mac saw needs a recoil, converting Johnny from .250 to 3/8 lo profile, and Husky is getting a new 77 cc p+c eventually. I've got lots of softwood to cut so not sure if I'll tear her down sooner or later.

Funny thing is I have an old MTD Bolens curved shaft string trimmer that is 11 years old and just won't die. I run seafoam through it on occasion but other than that it's been reliable.

 

[CTYank]

You want to see some antiques still running like new? Work 'em hard and put 'em away dry. Stop by if you're passing on I-95.

No pressure on keeping them singing either- RIP ball & chain. (Echo trimmer/brushcutter and saw are from late '70s- good genes help.)

 

[Marine5068]

I still use an old Sears Craftsman riding mower that has to be at least 35 years old now.
Briggs & Stratton 14hp engine runs good still.

 

[USMC615]

My 2 Snapper mowers always seem to run well. I've got 4 Homelite string trimmers in various states of repair (side note why do string trimmers seem to be the least reliable piece of ope ever invented?).

My Mac saw needs a recoil, converting Johnny from .250 to 3/8 lo profile, and Husky is getting a new 77 cc p+c eventually. I've got lots of softwood to cut so not sure if I'll tear her down sooner or later.

I've had my share of aggravating weed-eaters as well as other stuff in the past years. Some just had a mind of their own. I got lucky I guess about 15 yrs ago and bought a John Deere straight shaft weed-eater and the thing still runs like new. I think the only thing I've replaced a couple of times over these years is the bottom bump/line advance cap. It still runs the edger attachment, brush cutting attachment, etc just fine.

 

[Whitespider]

I dedicate a weekend every spring and every fall for maintenance/service of everything... get the stuff I've been using ready for seasonal storage, and get the stuff I'm gonna' be using out'a storage and ready for use. I also dedicate a mid-summer/mid-winter Saturday for a mid-season abbreviated maintenance/service... some of my "stuff" is over 50 years old.

The stuff I use year 'round gets checked over and the oil changed 4 times a year... seasonal stuff 2 or 3 times depending on what it's used for/how it's used.
Even with the cost increase of "servicing"... it's still a ton cheaper than "fixing" or worse, "replacing".
*

 

[zogger]

My 2 Snapper mowers always seem to run well. I've got 4 Homelite string trimmers in various states of repair (side note why do string trimmers seem to be the least reliable piece of ope ever invented?).

My Mac saw needs a recoil, converting Johnny from .250 to 3/8 lo profile, and Husky is getting a new 77 cc p+c eventually. I've got lots of softwood to cut so not sure if I'll tear her down sooner or later.

I got sick of cheap trimmers some years ago and bought a tanaka commercial grade trimmer. I went into the local shop and asked the wrench, which trimmers DON'T come in for repairs, the ones the local landscape pros use. He pointed at one that wasn't the most expensive, still up there though at the time, 250 beans, but had a really big gear knuckle on the cutting end. He said that's the secret, more steel where it's needed. FWIW, not sure on new models, but sort of what to look for.

cheap, lightweight or strong, pick one.

 

[svk]

I got sick of cheap trimmers some years ago and bought a tanaka commercial grade trimmer. I went into the local shop and asked the wrench, which trimmers DON'T come in for repairs, the ones the local landscape pros use. He pointed at one that wasn't the most expensive, still up there though at the time, 250 beans, but had a really big gear knuckle on the cutting end. He said that's the secret, more steel where it's needed. FWIW, not sure on new models, but sort of what to look for.

cheap, lightweight or strong, pick one.

My dad had two Toro gas trimmers from the 70's. smaller but much more powerful than anything I've used since. Parts finally went obsolete in early 90's and we started buying Homelites. I like Homelite in general but man have these things been temperamental and problematic.

 

[Cerran]

I think if I buy another string trimmer after this one dies it will be a Echo, have several friends with them and they're happy.

 

[USMC615]

I dedicate a weekend every spring and every fall for maintenance/service of everything... get the stuff I've been using ready for seasonal storage, and get the stuff I'm gonna' be using out'a storage and ready for use. I also dedicate a mid-summer/mid-winter Saturday for a mid-season abbreviated maintenance/service... some of my "stuff" is over 50 years old.

The stuff I use year 'round gets checked over and the oil changed 4 times a year... seasonal stuff 2 or 3 times depending on what it's used for/how it's used.
Even with the cost increase of "servicing"... it's still a ton cheaper than "fixing" or worse, "replacing".
*

Spider, I run a very similar annual plan myself. I'll change oil twice a year though on the constant use stuff.

 

[stihly dan]

Man I agree Zog. Never had luck with cheap any sort of motorized machine, especially 2 strokes. Never happier when I replaced the mac timber bear for a husky 350 and the weed whacker for a stihl. As I get older I tend to procrastinate more, and do less maintenance. The snow blower bit me in the butt this year because I hadn't gotten around to it before I needed it.

 

[zogger]

Man I agree Zog. Never had luck with cheap any sort of motorized machine, especially 2 strokes. Never happier when I replaced the mac timber bear for a husky 350 and the weed whacker for a stihl. As I get older I tend to procrastinate more, and do less maintenance. The snow blower bit me in the butt this year because I hadn't gotten around to it before I needed it.

Ya, used junk as opposed to new. I know it is used junk, so look for you suck deals and know you are gonna be putting in tear down cleaning and rebuild with most likely new parts. New stuff though, pay a bit more get quality the first time and not have to dork around with it other than normal maintenance in advance. It's not that bad, two smokes is just clean good fuel for the most part and air compressor cleaning. Four stroke small engine..that's why they make cheap rotella by the gallon.

Geez..used truck roller projects, eeek! I have two of them, that means double eek! heheh. Ones rocking though, got the new tires for the front ordered, I won't be askeered of driving it off the farm now. Running out of busted stuff on that one *finally*. The other truck though, hmmm..wonder when I'll get to it...

small engine stuff is a little cheaper and easier.. hahahahahah

Talk about more maintenance..my boss accumulated a couple dozen planes, then geezerhood forced him out of flying, so they sat and sat and then..tornado! I think it helped him out a lot to be able to sell a bunch off for parts.

I think moral of story is, as you get older and slower, start thinning the herd to the good stuff and take care of it. Reduced quantities leads to better quality.

 

[zogger]

I think if I buy another string trimmer after this one dies it will be a Echo, have several friends with them and they're happy.

Echo makes good stuff as long as you richen the carbs up and open the mufflers. Well, the saws, don't know on the trimmers but heard lotsa good mostly.

I think Japanese stuff in general is good.

 

[USMC615]

Ya, used junk as opposed to new. I know it is used junk, so look for you suck deals and know you are gonna be putting in tear down cleaning and rebuild with most likely new parts. New stuff though, pay a bit more get quality the first time and not have to dork around with it other than normal maintenance in advance. It's not that bad, two smokes is just clean good fuel for the most part and air compressor cleaning. Four stroke small engine..that's why they make cheap rotella by the gallon.

Geez..used truck roller projects, eeek! I have two of them, that means double eek! heheh. Ones rocking though, got the new tires for the front ordered, I won't be askeered of driving it off the farm now. Running out of busted stuff on that one *finally*. The other truck though, hmmm..wonder when I'll get to it...

small engine stuff is a little cheaper and easier.. hahahahahah

Talk about more maintenance..my boss accumulated a couple dozen planes, then geezerhood forced him out of flying, so they sat and sat and then..tornado! I think it helped him out a lot to be able to sell a bunch off for parts.

I think moral of story is, as you get older and slower, start thinning the herd to the good stuff and take care of it. Reduced quantities leads to better quality.

...last paragraph makes sense to me. And man do I have a hoarders dream...or nightmare, whichever poison you choose. Lol