Mowing ..

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

You can re-use a crush seal on a spark plug a few times, I think it’s NGK who have guidance on their site for the difference in how you torque it down.

The person making these comments was a builder of modified high-performance chainsaws, where tight tolerances would be more critical. I don't know how practical it would be for most people though.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I might just wait to see the response from the company in question before I take this further. But yes, certainly an option I'm thinking about.

Ok, I got this response at 12.36am this morning.........

"Hi #####,

Do you have some photos of this issue or can you please bring the machine back so we can inspect it for ourselves. If there are any issues we can then rectify.

Thanks,........."

What do you guys think of this initial response?

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Ok, I got this response at 12.36am this morning.........

"Hi #####,

Do you have some photos of this issue or can you please bring the machine back so we can inspect it for ourselves. If there are any issues we can then rectify.

Thanks,........."

What do you guys think of this initial response?

Something polite to start with, followed by how greatly you appreciate the midnight response, then something worded along the lines of attached is a photo as requested?
Im joking clearly.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Something polite to start with, followed by how greatly you appreciate the midnight response, then something worded along the lines of attached is a photo as requested?
Im joking clearly.

Firstly, the midnight response caught my eye, I mean really, how professional. And how valid am I supposed to take a response sent through at 12.36 am on a Sunday morning?

Secondly, no words to apologize for the inconvenience or concern that a mistake was made.

Thirdly, redirecting the blame back to me in asking for proof that they screwed up was a tactical error. I mean really? I went to the effort to write an elaborate and factually presented email blaming them for ruining my machine just for something to do?

And yes, I did take photos of all this. They don't know who they are dealing with here do they.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Firstly, the midnight response caught my eye, I mean really, how professional. And how valid am I supposed to take a response sent through at 12.36 am on a Sunday morning?

Secondly, no words to apologize for the inconvenience or concern that a mistake was made.

Thirdly, redirecting the blame back to me in asking for proof that they screwed up was a tactical error. I mean really? I went to the effort to write an elaborate and factually presented email blaming them for ruining my machine just for something to do?

And yes, I did take photos of all this. They don't know who they are dealing with here do they.

So how would your sentiment be if say they appologised for the stuff up and refunded the cost?
Granted that does not account for down time for the equipment.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So how would your sentiment be if say they appologised for the stuff up and refunded the cost?
Granted that does not account for down time for the equipment.

That would ultimately be the very most they could do in this situation. The very least they can do is acknowledge that a mistake was made.

Despite my rage yesterday, my email to them was carefully constructed, backed up by information and an understanding of how busy they are. I have been on the end of unreasonable customers myself and know it's a hard thing to deal with. The last thing I wanted to do was to just attack them without a reasoned explanation as to why I was not happy with their service.

Likewise, my response for the requested images was a carefully composed reply with clear, labeled images and a copy of the Victa Owners Manual about the correct procedure. Again, I'm not just throwing mud, I have the information and evidence to support for complaint.

From another angle, they had the mower 4 weeks. I got it back yesterday and spent more than hour diagnosing and repairing the machine. Then another 45 - 60 min typing emails and compiling images. I'm more than likely going to need to add another hour or so to replace the belt again when it inevitably breaks again due to the cut sustained due to the incorrect installation.



I also found that the gearbox speed control cable had been incorrectly installed on the pivoting arm, which needed to be rectified also.



So yes, the down time on this mower is adding up, and I don't get paid to do this work. In fact, I paid someone else to do it remember?

[DFB FGXR6]

Just so I'm clear, I'm not challenging your responses .:4:., I value the input from anyone who has commented so far on this issue. I have to say this problem has been equal parts frustration and sheer amusement.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That would ultimately be the very most they could do in this situation. The very least they can do is acknowledge that a mistake was made.

Despite my rage yesterday, my email to them was carefully constructed, backed up by information and an understanding of how busy they are. I have been on the end of unreasonable customers myself and know it's a hard thing to deal with. The last thing I wanted to do was to just attack them without a reasoned explanation as to why I was not happy with their service.

Likewise, my response for the requested images was a carefully composed reply with clear, labeled images and a copy of the Victa Owners Manual about the correct procedure. Again, I'm not just throwing mud, I have the information and evidence to support for complaint.

From another angle, they had the mower 4 weeks. I got it back yesterday and spent more than hour diagnosing and repairing the machine. Then another 45 - 60 min typing emails and compiling images. I'm more than likely going to need to add another hour or so to replace the belt again when it inevitably breaks again due to the cut sustained due to the incorrect installation.

image

I also found that the gearbox speed control cable had been incorrectly installed on the pivoting arm, which needed to be rectified also.

image

So yes, the down time on this mower is adding up, and I don't get paid to do this work. In fact, I paid someone else to do it remember?

So stuff up and new belt shagged?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So stuff up and new belt shagged?

Correct, you couldn't script this........

[DFB FGXR6]

I have been buying garden equipment for 22 years now, which means a lot of owners manuals..............



I actually found three more after I took that image.

Some of these are for machines I no longer have, mainly the Masport, Honda and John Deere mowers that have long since been traded. However, you would be surprised how useful keeping these can be, yesterday trying to fix my Mulchmaster for example. For those 22 years, I just threw them into an old shoe box downstairs.

Today I decided to put them in a more readily accessible format.............





I didn't have enough pockets for each and every user's manual, so some have been segmented into tool type; Blowers, Hedgers ect. I now have this resource in a convenient location in the garage for quick access when required.

[.:4:.]

Something completely random, many years ago at a high end restaraunt i copped a cold meal. Sent it back and the waiter asked why? I asked to speak to the chef. Waiter came back with a new meal but i asked why i couldnt speak to the chef. He came back saying he was busy. So me being a persistant fool, i asked the waiter to ask the chef if he did his apprenticeship at McDonald's. They waived the bill. Never went back, pretty sure i wouldnt be welcome, but seriously, choriso pasta for $60. I wouldnt have noticed had their microwave worked. But still frozen in the middle.....

[.:4:.]

There should be a warrenty towards parts and labour. Only exeption is if you supply said parts.

[DFB FGXR6]

Cutting like a champion today..........





Becasue the grass was nice and dry today with modest length, it meant I could use the Mulchmaster exclusively. I LOVE this mower!

Latest word from the mower shop after me supplying clear images of the damage to the belt and incorrect installation is that want the machine back to rectify.

Am I right in thinking that I do not want the machine back in their shop?

[Peter B - CV8]

^^ Yep - I wouldn't let them touch it again. However, a replacement belt is in order though..

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Am I right in thinking that I do not want the machine back in their shop?

Depends. Whats the lead time on a new belt?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Depends. Whats the lead time on a new belt?

I am not prepared to wait another four weeks for a job that I now know how to do myself. Also, the belt would need to be ordered, so at least two days, then we are getting real close to the Christmas shut down.

Originally Posted by Peter B - CV8

^^ Yep - I wouldn't let them touch it again. However, a replacement belt is in order though..

My thoughts too, just send me a belt and I'll deal with it myself.

[Citroënbender]

Mower shop deserves nothing, their attitude is why moreso than their (in)competence.

Re the midnight email, I draft plenty in the small hours. Then at opening time you load them up and send. It’s equally efficient.

[DFB FGXR6]

This is the latest email I recieved from them -

"Yes, I understand the frustration. Had you have returned the mower straight away I would have attended to immediately. Nobody sets out to muck you around and like the rest of Australia I am having trouble getting staff at the moment."

Not once has there been acknowledgement or an apology for the inconvenience.

The mower was not returned immediately because it was Saturday afternoon, and I needed the machine for jobs over the weekend.

Blaming a lack of staff is a copout, because clearly, they had a staff member who worked on it anyway.

I asked for them to at least refund me the price of the belt and I will call it done. Otherwise, every one of my colleagues and contacts will not be giving them business, Victa will be contacted and poor review on Google will be his result.

[hayseed]

Me being Me.. I wouldn't bother with an Email..!!

I'd go & look Him Straight in the eye & tell him Exactly what I think about the whole saga..
Best way of finding what sort of Bloke He Is..

Just my 2 cents worth...

[Citroënbender]

15 minutes into my lawn pre-mowing tidy and Jihadi Bee has a crack. Luckily I managed to brush him away just as he’s attempting maximum insertion of the sting, so it didn’t actually lodge in - just a minor swelling and soreness. They’re riled up today as a lot of full frames were taken yesterday afternoon.

[FTE217]

Pesky buggas CB.
I have been raiding wasp nests around my property.
Sorry fellas I can't have you building nests left right and centre where I frequent and then try to sting me !
There's plenty of room build your homes away from my paths and work areas
I dislike with passion having to clean up their mud mess on my render, bloody extra work.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Pesky buggas CB.
I have been raiding wasp nests around my property.
Sorry fellas I can't have you building nests left right and centre where I frequent and then try to sting me !
There's plenty of room build your homes away from my paths and work areas
I dislike with passion having to clean up their mud mess on my render, bloody extra work.

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

15 minutes into my lawn pre-mowing tidy and Jihadi Bee has a crack. Luckily I managed to brush him away just as he’s attempting maximum insertion of the sting, so it didn’t actually lodge in - just a minor swelling and soreness. They’re riled up today as a lot of full frames were taken yesterday afternoon.

We might need to change the name of this thread............Mowing.....and Bee Stings!

[DFB FGXR6]

Mulchmaster Update - The owner of the business has agreed to refund the cost of the belt, which settles it for me at this stage. He expressed desire to do business in the future but I think that ship has sailed. Two screw ups within a couple of weeks is enough for me.

Some parts arrived for the Rover today, which I installed before heading out to do two jobs.





Cutting and catching very well, as always.

Over the last couple of days, I have been compiling general service part numbers for all my machines for online ordering from this point forward. And bricks and mortar businesses wonder why they are losing ground. At least with online ordering, I don't have to deal with arrogant, clueless humans.

[.:4:.]

So the refund on the belt is fair. Did you get any form of apology?
Im going to assume you aren't an ambulance chaser. I learnt that term from my legal people. It means people who try to get blood out of a stone for something trivial, like tripping over their own shadow, blaming it on a tree then going the council. My legal peoples dont waste there time on that crap.

[Tassie f100]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So the refund on the belt is fair. Did you get any form of apology?
Im going to assume you aren't an ambulance chaser. I learnt that term from my legal people. It means people who try to get blood out of a stone for something trivial, like tripping over their own shadow, blaming it on a tree then going the council. My legal peoples dont waste there time on that crap.

You are not quite right there.Ambulance chasers are solicitors and lawyers who encourage people to sue over trivial incidents such as tripping over something in a shop( that most sensible people would see and avoid)etc

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

So the refund on the belt is fair. Did you get any form of apology?
Im going to assume you aren't an ambulance chaser. I learnt that term from my legal people. It means people who try to get blood out of a stone for something trivial, like tripping over their own shadow, blaming it on a tree then going the council. My legal peoples dont waste there time on that crap.

No direct apology so far. This was the last email from him at 11.03pm last night -

"Hi ####

Sure, I’ll arrange a new belt or refund. The guy doing the job has a heap of experience but everyone under the pump and mistakes happen. I appreciate the feedback and would much rather know about the issues. I hope we can do business again in the future.

Let me know what suits you best as I would need to order the belt.
Cheers........"


Ambulance chaser, I don't think so. In this case, I don't want the machine returning to their "care", so I'm fine with them just refunding the cost of the belt, you have to know your point has been made and when to stop. The reality is, they had to be informed that they screwed up, how else would they improve for the next guy if they didn't get the feedback.

I have to say though, it doesn't take much to set me off, I do not tolerate fools gladly, so when you cross me, you will know about it. Having said that, perhaps I went a little hard on them, probably compounded by COVID fog. From my perspective though, I paid for something to be done and it wasn't done, a valid complaint.

[Citroënbender]

Slightly daft question.

The pull cord on my top-mount starter Briggs is close to letting go (it’s down to the central filament only). Are there any “gotchas” on replacing this? It would honestly be more than 40 years since I did one.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Slightly daft question.

The pull cord on my top-mount starter Briggs is close to letting go (it’s down to the central filament only). Are there any “gotchas” on replacing this? It would honestly be more than 40 years since I did one.

Which engine series?

Old 148cc - 158cc side valve engines
Old 190cc side valves engines
New OHV engines.

[Citroënbender]

148cc, ye olde side valve.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

148cc, ye olde side valve.

This is for the 190cc series but the smaller engines use the same system -