Ok, you be the judge

[Simonizer]

Most interesting!

Simon, do you judge all Stihl warranty claims? Is there a handbook containing guidelines for this?

In your words, I can be a nice little old man. However, because of the treatment I receive at my local Stihl dealer, I might be considered a miserable pr**ck.

Just wondering where I might stand.

Old man and miserable pr**ck,

Joat

The relationship a dealer has with a supplier, Stihl or Husqvarna for example, is based on sales and integrity. We sell about 2000 saws a year, 200-300 modified. We are also a pipeline to Germany and Sweden for technical evaluations and product failures. Because of our symbiotic relationship in this regard, we are allowed considerable leeway in as far as warranty claims. If for example I have a falling contractor that buys 50 saws a year from us, and he has a failure that is regarded as "questionable", I do not play around and nickle and dime him. I first approach the manufacturing company and we usually come to some agreement as to who eats the parts and or labour. Sometimes it's me. I try to look at the big picture and customer satisfaction always pays dividends as repeat business and sales. I like to be treated in a polite fashion as does anyone else. If you come into my shop with an attitude, you can F**k-off. If you are nice, respectful and honest, you can expect top-notch treatment from me. That's just the way I work.

 

[Fish]

Good to hear from you Simon.

Just to add, the customer was forceful, and held his ground. He is very
meticulous about his saw care, in such that he has a different jug for each
piece of equipment that calls for a different oil ratio, which is why he
was likely using last feb. fuel. The saw looked like new, when was sold,
a new gas jug, a six pack of Stihl oil {with stabilizer as the salesman told
him, the salesman remembers him}, a case, files etc.
When he brought in this saw, he brought in his 031, which looked like
almost new, and I put in points and cond., so he could use while I fixed
the 310.
So even if it was last Feb. gas, the stabilizer in the Stihl mix did not help.
So what can you say to the guy, his 25 year old saw is running strong,
his 6 month old saw is a smelly pile of debris. Those closer tolerances
must be real hard on saws? The stabilizer in Stihl oil is only good for 5 and
3/4 months?
This guy is genuine in his side of the story, I feel sure, I am an excellant judge of people.

 

[Fish]

I have always been a poo-poo er skeptic of all of the miracle claims of
the stabilizer zealots, and this bolsters my opinion, and if someone says that a synthetic mix would have prevented this, I would be doubtful as well.

I started this thread to get your alls gut reaction, as well as your placing yourself on all sides involved.
We all know the official factory stance.

What about the tech's view of the situation, as well as the consumer's.

Is it the fuel provider's fault? Hoping a lot of people will see this and think anyway.................

 

[joatmon]

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL, I can't resist this, this is worth coming out of retirement. Here goes. Joat I'll be the dayummm judge of whether your a sweet little ole man or a miserable pr-ck, only Judge Roy Hall knows for sure,LOLOLOLOL

Ok back to the island drinking ta ta's, have fun boys.

Well, don't expect me to kiss up to you. The last 3 nearly new Stihls I've purchased in the last 2 months have been via private party because I really don't care for my Stihl dealer or his "I can't be bothered" attitide.

'Course, that's just me, the old man and miserable pr**ck,

Joat

 

[joatmon]

The relationship a dealer has with a supplier, Stihl or Husqvarna for example, is based on sales and integrity. We sell about 2000 saws a year, 200-300 modified. We are also a pipeline to Germany and Sweden for technical evaluations and product failures. Because of our symbiotic relationship in this regard, we are allowed considerable leeway in as far as warranty claims. If for example I have a falling contractor that buys 50 saws a year from us, and he has a failure that is regarded as "questionable", I do not play around and nickle and dime him. I first approach the manufacturing company and we usually come to some agreement as to who eats the parts and or labour. Sometimes it's me. I try to look at the big picture and customer satisfaction always pays dividends as repeat business and sales. I like to be treated in a polite fashion as does anyone else. If you come into my shop with an attitude, you can F**k-off. If you are nice, respectful and honest, you can expect top-notch treatment from me. That's just the way I work.

Thanks for your reply. Well, I usually don't walk into a dealer with an attitude. But, it's pretty easy to develop one in a hurry. Just that same, I've had plenty of good luck buying Stihl from the internet and Husky from the internet and one really good dealer that is a sponsor here.

You seem like a decent fellow and I think that if I walked into your place of business, money in hand, to buy a saw, we'd get the job done without creating an adversarial relationship.

'Course, you never know because I'm an old man and miserable pr**ck,

Joat

 

[windthrown]

Amusing all this. I have a smattering of 2-stroke brands here, and they all get the same gas/oil. Super (no ethanol) gas and 45:1 Castrol 2T oil. I use that stuff, becasue it is available for cheap at auto parts stores, comes in quarts, and it is rated FB. Even Echo only has FC rated oil now... along with a lot of others. I no longer use Stihl or Husky oil, 'casue they do not certify them to any standard. So there is no knowing what's in there.

I also add gas stabilizer, but we use all these tools so aften there is no reason to. I have a Homelite blower that I bought 20 years ago and stored (empty; light oil coating in the cylinder) for 15 years, and after all that time it fired right up. The Stihl FS85 weedeater tends to sit for months, and runs fine on old or new stabilized gas. The Echo chainsaw is the same. That thing should have died 4 years ago. But it is still going.

All this being said, this looks like a straight gas issue. We have a 290 that is the little brother to the 310. It gets abused, and Stihl runs like a top. I have bought many a 2-stroke engine part on Ebay that were scored. You should see the motor on the 250 I just got. Deeply etched... I will have to post some pix here. O/w it is a $300 near new saw. The seller admitted it was straight gas in the tank. Too easy to mess up mixing gas, and kids and wives mess things up. I have 2 one gallon containers here that are the ONLY ones that are used to fill all the 2-smokes with. I mix them myself. We have like 5 types of gas here on the farm.

Hey, maybe he ran it on diesel?

 

[Fish]

No, it wasn't diesel, and it had the same oil mix color that Stihl Mix has, but had that old gas smell.

But don't bother me now, I am still kissing Simon's backside, that smells a little like lighter fluid.................. Ooops, the wind blew out my hashpipe......

 

[Fish]

All this being said, this looks like a straight gas issue.
Hey, maybe he ran it on diesel?

No I will post a pic of straight gas, this one ain't it......

 

[THALL10326]

Well, don't expect me to kiss up to you. The last 3 nearly new Stihls I've purchased in the last 2 months have been via private party because I really don't care for my Stihl dealer or his "I can't be bothered" attitide.

'Course, that's just me, the old man and miserable pr**ck,

Joat

Dayumm Joat I wanted to slip in and slip outta here. Let me assure you I got all the time you need to make a purchase or to just shoot the bull. You might be a miserable ole pr-ck when you come in but you will go home a jolly ole feller, that I can assure you, they don't call me the "legend" for nothing ole boy,hehe

Now its back to ta ta's, come on by Joat, I'll fix ya up one.

 

[Austin1]

No I will post a pic of straight gas, this one ain't it......

I will add my 2 cents to this post Two much oil? Running say 25/1 rather than 50/1 plus the old gas.too much oil causing it to burn hot.

 

[windthrown]

No I will post a pic of straight gas, this one ain't it......

So if it is old gas... the problem would be with pre-ignition of having lower octane? Pre-ignition flare to one side of piston causing it to be shoved against the cylinder wall on the one side? Seems like the only thing that it could be...

 

[Fish]

The only metal/metal contact was the one in the pic, the physics behind the
phenonemom I will defer to Simon/sniff-lick, or my other physics majors
that are under my employ for the "MAGLEV" project..............

The residue was like a sweet smelling molasses funk, I immediately ask him about loaning the saw out, which he denied. I was guessing the milkjug
effect.................................

 

[Fish]

preignition would have shown some trouble on the piston top, eh?

 

[Uwharrie]

Fish, It has been stated bad fuel. The Stihl oil sold with it had stabilizer it shouldn't be bad. But it is, I would say the oil is the problem combined with an over revving lean running saw. I would say since the manufacturer of the product had their oil in it they should warranty it, don't hold your breath. In our shop we would offer to repair it and offer customer to pay only our cost of the piston and our store would pay the rest. If the customer refused we would then fix it for free.
If you've been in business long we've all had cases like these and every one must be dealt with. We had a problem getting a manufacturer ( can't say which) to pay for a similar problem and I gave the customer a new saw of his choice and he decided to try another brand and that manufacturer lost that logging customer for good. I sent the bad saw to the president of the company and he had his people call and ask me why I sent it to him, I replied that I had no need for it and he could have it since his company sad it was not under warranty. They then repaired it and sent it back to me. By now you guessed I had lost confidence in this manufacturer. We still sell alot of product for this company but we do all our warranty's and pay them ourselves. In business you have to make decisions that should let you sleep good at night. Tony

 

[Fish]

edjumacate me.............. why does bad things happen to good saws?????

 

[Fish]

Ok, MS310, not that good of a saw......................................................

 

[Fish]

Fish, It has been stated bad fuel. The Stihl oil sold with it had stabilizer it shouldn't be bad. But it is, I would say the oil is the problem combined with an over revving lean running saw. I would say since the manufacturer of the product had their oil in it they should warranty it, don't hold your breath. In our shop we would offer to repair it and offer customer to pay only our cost of the piston and our store would pay the rest. If the customer refused we would then fix it for free.
If you've been in business long we've all had cases like these and every one must be dealt with. We had a problem getting a manufacturer ( can't say which) to pay for a similar problem and I gave the customer a new saw of his choice and he decided to try another brand and that manufacturer lost that logging customer for good. I sent the bad saw to the president of the company and he had his people call and ask me why I sent it to him, I replied that I had no need for it and he could have it since his company sad it was not under warranty. They then repaired it and sent it back to me. By now you guessed I had lost confidence in this manufacturer. We still sell alot of product for this company but we do all our warranty's and pay them ourselves. In business you have to make decisions that should let you sleep good at night. Tony

I sleep fine, but that is the illegal drugs coursing through my veins.

 

[windthrown]

Ok, MS310, not that good of a saw......................................................

Nothing wrong with a 310! Design wise, if it is used right.

Operator error... DANGER Will Robinson!

 

[joatmon]

Dayumm Joat I wanted to slip in and slip outta here. Let me assure you I got all the time you need to make a purchase or to just shoot the bull. You might be a miserable ole pr-ck when you come in but you will go home a jolly ole feller, that I can assure you, they don't call me the "legend" for nothing ole boy,hehe

Now its back to ta ta's, come on by Joat, I'll fix ya up one.

Well, OK, maybe just a firm handshake.

No, I don't think a little kiss on the cheek is in order.

How much discount?

Well, I don't care if it's 100%, no kiss.

Back room? No way.

I've heard about that.

You've got what in there?

Folgers and an 880?

Tell me more. I mean, ah, no way.

Well, OK maybe just a little peek.

I'll be dayuuuuuuum. You got me. You're reeeeeeeeeeeeeeal good.

Joat

 

[Lakeside53]

Even Echo only has FC rated oil now... along with a lot of others. I no longer use Stihl or Husky oil, 'casue they do not certify them to any standard. So there is no knowing what's in there.
:

huh?