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#1771 | ||
B1 - J & D Services
![]() Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brim, Victoria
Posts: 1,632
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I would have said that you have a 'new' pricing structure. Then offer to do a clean up for a set price, you said triple, then to only do it as a regular job, at your normal sensible price. Or, as a $400+ 'one off' call in price. Then also offered the alternatives, that will be even more! Ha ha.
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Mr. Brett Johnstone. ![]() 2002 Ford Laser 2000 Ford Falcon Wagon Egas 1999 Subaru Imprezza Sportwagon 1998 Holden Suburban 2500 1995 Land Rover Discovery TDI 1994 XG XR6 Longreach 1983 Holden Rodeo 1975 Datsun 120Y wagon 1970 MG Midget 1967 Rover 2000TC Soon: Model T. |
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#1772 | |||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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Quote:
To be honest, I screwed up with the quoting of this job and broke a number of my own rules, I must have been tired that day. I learnt 15 years ago to never take on "walkups", they are ALWAYS more trouble than they are worth. Aim high on price and never compromise, the price is the price or goodby. And never take on a job because you feel sorry for the person, it only ends up being you who gets walked on. Because I have 9-5 job 4 days a week, I don't need to be chasing customers and have a set group that I have been servicing for 17 years now. Any time I have taken on walkups or additions to my schedule that I don't know beforehand, they have always been trouble. I have one now who has been trying to get hold of me, being in hospital and then two weeks of flood activity meant I was not available anyway. While the town was under water, she wanted me to come around and clean her pond filter because she didn't like getting her hands wet, suggesting that "it's daylight till 8pm and that I could surely come around after work". ![]()
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#1773 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Went in to pick up my old BG 86C this morning. At first, I thought it wasn't mine as the unit had the model badge on the recoil housing, mine having lost that a long time ago. Then I spotted the tech screws holding the tube on and realized what they did.
![]() A secondhand recoil housing costing me all of $30. I actually went looking for something similar online, but none were available for sane money or in the country. Importantly, there will be NO MORE TOOL LENDING! Whilst I was in the Stihl shop, I bought my two-year-old cousin a chainsaw....... ![]() The little guy is just too cute pushing his toy lawn mower around the yard, exactly like I did at that age. I joke to his mother that he will be a gardener one day and that I will be offering him a job soon! Apparently, he loves anything that makes a noise or go's vrooooom. I think I'm going to have to start influencing him with Mustang's and XR8's........
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#1774 | ||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
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#1775 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,868
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One for your mate Schlemiel (the starter cord buster). I’ll wager he can injure himself or another with that rubber chain.
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#1776 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,296
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Noticed the deck on the Victa was cracking, due to stress and rust.
![]() Removing the handle bars revealed it was a lot worse than it looked. ![]() Thought it might be time for a new mower - or maybe not. ![]() Put some additional bolts in to secure the handle bars, as just having the original two had it feeling a little wobbly. ![]() Still seems to work okay - at least for the time being: ![]() |
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#1777 | ||
B1 - J & D Services
![]() Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Brim, Victoria
Posts: 1,632
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A common issue. Its not hard to find another deck, however your repair is probably good enough for another decade anyway! Ha ha.
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Mr. Brett Johnstone. ![]() 2002 Ford Laser 2000 Ford Falcon Wagon Egas 1999 Subaru Imprezza Sportwagon 1998 Holden Suburban 2500 1995 Land Rover Discovery TDI 1994 XG XR6 Longreach 1983 Holden Rodeo 1975 Datsun 120Y wagon 1970 MG Midget 1967 Rover 2000TC Soon: Model T. |
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#1778 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Quote:
I'm so glad you made the effort to repair it though. The two-stroke engine on yours would be one of the last, NOTHING cuts grass like a two-stroke!
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#1779 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Put in a full day attempting to catch up! My business was sidelined during the floods and last week while running the nursery. Some jobs I had not visited in a month. Raining every day is not helping the cause.
I sort of knew I was going to be dealing with thick, tall grass. Normally, I grab my two-stroke Victa Mustang for these conditions, but I'm tired and didn't feel like pushing a mower all day. My Bushranger struggles in this sort of grass, the half chute not dealing with thick and wet grass. The only choice then was to resurrect my old Rover. Except, there was a problem. Last time I went to use this machine it would not start, so it was put away in some frustration and left ever since. We are talking about 18 months here. I kind of knew it was most likely due to stale fuel, so that was the very first thing I did before even pulling the cord, emptying and refueling with fresh unleaded. I then removed the air filter and sprayed some WD-40 down the carburetor throat and pulled the cord, the engine coughed. I repeated with some more WD-40 and the engine fired and died. At this stage, I knew we had spark and that this was a fueling issue. Even so, I wanted to remove the plug and promptly snapped the ceramic insulator trying to do so. ![]() So with each restart, the bowl of the carb was slowly getting filled with fresh fuel to the point where the engine would continue to run. In a technical sense, I should have removed the bowl of the carburetor and drained away the stale fuel, this would have negated the need for the WD-40 as a starting fluid. I started and stopped the engine a few times to make sure it was going to be a reliable workhorse today. I had forgotten what a great mower this is. I still hate that engine though, it needs more torque and has always been harder to spin over compared to every other mower engine I have used. ![]() It's such a shame Rover no longer make commercial grade mowers, they really had a fantastic workhorse with this model. The robust alloy base on mine is still in great condition, making me want to replace the engine with a Briggs 850 and put the thing back into service. I floated that idea before I bought the Bushranger but was told not to bother. But the way it cuts and catches in ALL conditions is unbeatable.
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#1780 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Apparently Honda will not be making lawn mowers for much longer. I'm not sure if this is a USA only thing, but a pretty big decision to make considering the market share they hold in the mower space.
https://www.rurallifestyledealer.com...n-mower-market
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#1781 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,868
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I’ve seen the needle valve on those carbs get sticky with disuse, particularly with lower grades of fuel. It’s one of the things which sold me on fuel stabiliser.
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#1782 | |||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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Quote:
I only use non-ethanol 91 octane in my equipment. I see no reason for 95 or 98 ron fuels in these small air-cooled engines. I have read some suggestion that premium fuels cause small engines to run hotter.
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#1783 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Pt Lincoln far side South Oz
Posts: 5,766
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is WD-40 betterer than 'Start Ya Bustad' love that name and what it does to old car engines.
its damn good as a fire starter too.
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Dont p i s s off older people. At our age the term Life in Prison is not a deterrent |
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#1784 | |||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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Quote:
I only had WD-40 on hand and it has started engines for me before. Having said that, I don't know how safe or otherwise it is to use.
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#1785 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Continuing to catch up today with lawns that had been delayed by rain several weeks in a row. This is easily my worst spring on record in terms of cashflow, it just won't stop raining.
![]() My last job of the day was the worst. I knew it was going to bad, but not as bad as it turned out to be. The grass was so tall that I had to double cut it, well it was actually triple cut in some places. Expanding on that a little further, I always start with edges. In this case, I also doubled back and slashed down the worst of the tall stuff. Cut one. With the Rover on the tallest setting, I ploughed through entire lawn, cut two then. I then lowered the height down to a more appropriate length and re-cut the lawn again, cut three. This is a large yard so mowing it twice was not a quick exercise. Doing it this way has a couple of benefits though. Firstly, it's easier on the machine as it's not straining to cut and process the clippings into the catcher. This means you keep moving and don't have to empty a packed catcher as often. It will also keep the engine spinning at full speed for longer, which increases airflow and therefore catching efficiency. On a self-propelled machine like the Rover, it also keeps the walking speed up. It's also less messy cutting like this, the mower not struggling to catch as it bogs down and then leaving a trail of grass behind. Once the first cut is done and the deck lowered, you are then moving quicker and cleaning up the finish as you go. This method is more time consuming but less frustrating in my experience. I HATE a clogging mower and the mess it leaves behind. I also HATE emptying an overfilled and heavy catcher. Yes, you are covering the same ground twice, but it's easier on the machine and easier on your body. I was once told that what I do is "not rocket science". This shows there is more to mowing that just cutting grass. There are times when skill, technique and experience are involved, especially when dealing with situations like today.
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#1786 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,868
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I think of a lot of garden care/curation as artisanal work. People imparting elements of their own preferences/ideas within a working brief. A general lack of respect for arts is manifested in where people put their dollars and backsides, even if they say otherwise.
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#1787 | ||
Cabover nut
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Onsite Eastcoast
Posts: 10,827
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Often referred to as "Cosby Sauce" in the US.
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heritagestonemason.com/Fordlouisvillerestoration In order that the labour of centuries past may not be in vain during the centuries to come...... D. Diderot 1752
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#1788 | ||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Lord help me, I am having very unnatural urges to buy a chainsaw! And not a toy one either! One that's not going to leave me wanting.
Thanks Rallye Sport for the tips.
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#1789 | ||
DIY Tragic
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Sydney, more than not. I hate it.
Posts: 21,868
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How many cc? Or electric?
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#1790 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 575
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Hyundai Getz: unusual tow vehicle for a lawn-mowing man (towing a standard size box trailer) seen this morning.
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#1791 | |||
RS The Faster Fords
![]() Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Westralia
Posts: 1,691
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Quote:
![]() I've been slashing the firebreaks this week on a machine you don't see used much anymore, a Flail mower. ![]() Underneath is a drum with a series of individual blades hung by shackles. ![]() They're a bit of a one trick pony but they do that one trick like no other, slashing the toughest and longest of grasses aswell as grinding the odd stump if they happen to get in the way ![]() Theres some pro's and cons to this type of machine. As I said it'll cut anything, but is also works really well on uneven ground. The blade setup gives it deflection and unlike fixed blade mowers it won't jam or bottom out on uneven surfaces. Being able to replace blades individually is alot more cost effective if they are damaged. Downsides are it is loud, noisy and dangerous. Its a front discharge and has the ability to pick up and sling rocks, sticks even bricks for quite some distance. I find the odd golf ball in the long grass and it drives them like a pro. You also need to be prepared for things to ricochet back at you from trees and fences. I got through unscathed this week and was glad to put it back in the shed until next year.
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Escort RS2000 Restored factory a/c and alloys. TD Cortina Unrestored 35 000km 6cyl manual. Mk1 GT Cortina Project. FG XR50 Daily. |
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#1792 | ||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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That will have been what industry calls a "beer Bob".
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#1793 | |||
Donating Member
![]() Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,182
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Quote:
![]() I also have an old Stihl 009L that has done a lot of work cutting firewood and the like. They are a weird saw with a completely different layout to other Stihl saws. Despite the compact shape, they had a decent bar on them and a 40.8cc engine. Most small saws have a 30 something cc engine, so the 009L had great power to weight. ![]() I want POWER with my next saw. Something I can grab with confidence and know it's going to get through what I have in front of me. I'm not considering anything other than a Stihl for this purchase, despite wavering here and there, I'm a Stihl boy to the core and grey up in awe of my neighbors big Stihl chainsaw. I was all set to buy a 45.6cc MS 251 until Rallye Sport suggested the 50.2cc MS 271 for just that little bit more. Both will be more than enough for what I have in mind, but I think it's clear I don't do things by halves. MS 251 - https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...72/MS-251.aspx ![]() MS 271 - https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...72/MS-271.aspx ![]() I need to go in and get my hands on both to get a feel for the weight difference between the 251 and 271. I also want the Stihl carry case so that the saw will always be ready to go when required and with everything needed kept together. https://www.stihl.com.au/STIHL-Produ...arry-Case.aspx ![]() There is just something so satisfying about the scream of a lusty chainsaw.............excuse me, I think I need to visit the bathroom...........
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#1794 | |||
Donating Member
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Quote:
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#1795 | ||
T3/Sprint8
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,356
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I'm with you DFB on Stihl, brilliant brand and delivers.
Only one wish, as much as I can do, someone else sharpen the chain when needed ![]()
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#1796 | ||
Donating Member
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Posts: 12,182
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I have a client who just buys a new chain, can't be bothered sharpening it.
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#1797 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,532
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So my mate, not my inept mate who is a retard with power tools, asked me a few days about borrowing my chainsaw. I also have a pole saw. So nothing more then a refresher, as in chainsaw takes 6 primes and has a 3 stage choke, pole saw takes 10 primes and has a 2 stage choke. Simples. This mate knows, hit the dirt chain is pretty well stuffed. If its flapping about, chain needs tensioning. If it friction burns through stuff, again chains stuffed. I do always have a spare chain.
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#1798 | |||
RS The Faster Fords
![]() Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Westralia
Posts: 1,691
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Quote:
![]() I've always sharpened by hand, had plenty of practice and thought I was pretty good at it. That was until I found one of these in the workshop of my new shed. ![]() I knew they existed but always scoffed at them thinking it was the lazy way out. Man was I wrong, they give perfect angles, depth and pitch every time. I thought my saws were sharp before but these things are next level and all done sitting in comfort on my milk crate at the work bench, taking half the time it did before.
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Escort RS2000 Restored factory a/c and alloys. TD Cortina Unrestored 35 000km 6cyl manual. Mk1 GT Cortina Project. FG XR50 Daily. |
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#1799 | ||
Kicking back
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Western sydney
Posts: 8,532
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The original tree my mate wanted to fell was only a small unit. Reason being the flowers agrivate his mums allergies. So my crappy 37cc 16 inch bar chainsaw, chain was ok, it did that. Then me mates mum sticks her head out and asks if the taller tree beside the one felled could be done. So nothing more then a quick planning meeting. Because of the proximity of the fence, carport and house it was simple. Pole saw with extention to lop the high branches, then the top.
Ive only tested the polesaw attachment for my whipper snipper, never had to use it properly. So my mate doing it for his mum, i was just lending equipment and giving a hand. So righto, 10 inch bar pole saw with a new chain. Granted this things 51.7cc. My mate did the bulk of the work. For a crappy piece of equipment, it ****ed. For the high stuff yeah the extention was on, but for the main trunk it was extention of and my mate preffered using that over the chainsaw. |
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#1800 | |||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,878
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