Friend broke my GC1710

[shovelmike]

I am in the, "Don't lend, don't borrow" category. I had a Homelite string trimmer that had a brush cutter attachment (a saw blade), the engine was getting a little cantankerous to start, but came in handy. I got it out one day, and the cable inside would slip when I tried to cut with it, ah well....finally wore out. My wife, much later, let me know that the next door neighbor had borrowed it and ruined it. The same neighbor borrowed out 3 wheeler from my wife (unbeknownst to me, I was at work) to do some chores, and brought it back with the shifter shaft broken off flush with the case. Fortunately, I was able to drop the engine, remove the side cover, and replace the related parts. Not once did the neighbor apologize or offer to pay anything. I didn't fuss at my wife, but she learned her lesson about lending.

 

[Budweiser John]

I知 not in any way suggesting more government regulation or involvement in our lives but find it interesting that before one can drive an automobile the prerequisite is Some sort of driving instruction and a license.
On the other hand, virtually anyone can buy a tractor and drive it in any manor any where.
The only one who drives my iron is me. If a neighbor has a tractor project, i知 More than happy to land a hand but, I drive.

B. John

 

[LouNY]

I知 not in any way suggesting more government regulation or involvement in our lives but find it interesting that before one can drive an automobile the prerequisite is Some sort of driving instruction and a license.
On the other hand, virtually anyone can buy a tractor and drive it in any manor any where.
The only one who drives my iron is me. If a neighbor has a tractor project, i知 More than happy to land a hand but, I drive.

B. John

Only if you are going to legally drive on public property.

 

[plowhog]

Thank you for the suggestions about how to approach a repair. That was what I inquired about. I will contact a couple of local body shops re: repair. Instead of buying an expensive new hood. One question-- someone mentioned getting a new headlight / bezel from Jacks. What is Jacks?

Regarding the friendship, I have not asked my friend for any money. I'm not even sure if anything is "owed" since he was helping me and I did let him use the equipment. I don't know. I see it as his choice "if" he wants to offer, not up to me to ask. But what has stalled me from doing anything is that he did ask for the name(s) of local dealers so he could inquire about a repair. It would have been really weird if I quickly repaired it, only to have him later show up with a new hood. That is why I have waited.

So I have a direction now regarding the repair. Now I need to think about how to handle the next visit, and the next inquiry of "can I hop on the tractor and help out?"

 

[Doofy]

Thank you for the suggestions about how to approach a repair. That was what I inquired about. I will contact a couple of local body shops re: repair. Instead of buying an expensive new hood. One question-- someone mentioned getting a new headlight / bezel from Jacks. What is Jacks?

Regarding the friendship, I have not asked my friend for any money. I'm not even sure if anything is "owed" since he was helping me and I did let him use the equipment. I don't know. I see it as his choice "if" he wants to offer, not up to me to ask. But what has stalled me from doing anything is that he did ask for the name(s) of local dealers so he could inquire about a repair. It would have been really weird if I quickly repaired it, only to have him later show up with a new hood. That is why I have waited.

So I have a direction now regarding the repair. Now I need to think about how to handle the next visit, and the next inquiry of "can I hop on the tractor and help out?"

Your next reply to your friend wanting to drive your tractor again would be: "You have got to be kidding" and "Not only No but **** No"!

 

[David Wayne]

"Good friend" "Helping me" I would fix the light, maybe try to pop the dent and put some paint on it. Its a tractor, not a show car, I wouldnt ask for money and wouldnt take any if offered under the circumstance of him helping. But thats just me.

David

 

[MF RED in MT]

#1 If it were me, I'd first take a few photos of the damage and take the pics to a few body shops for a "ballpark verbal estimate + $ -".

#2 Then I would get the replacement prices from my MF dealer for the damaged parts.

#3 I would also watch some you tube videos about "DIY" body repairs and check online the cost of the tools I would need from HF.

#4 I would then assess my list of "friends" I want to help me and start a list of friends I do not want to help me.

#5 I would then make a decision on which way to proceed with the repairs.

Good luck, KC

 

[3Ts]

I had a situation similar to yours. What I found is that the dealer only replaces parts and does not repair them. So, like others have suggested, check with an auto body shop. It will be much cheaper than the dealer and get done a lot faster too.

 

[ray66v]

Fixing that hood properly, isn't going to be a couple hundred dollars.

If you want it to look like it used to, you need to repair both sides, and paint both sides.

A 1/2 pint of red in a quality product is well over $100 by it's self. And, you need a lot more materials than that to do this job.

If you use quality materials, have overhead, and experienced techs, you are below cost, at a couple of hundred dollars.

Yes, there are guys out there with no overhead, and inexperienced workers, who could give you blitz job, throwing some red they have left over on it, with little to no prep, using low end products, leaving the inside rough, for a "cheap" price. When the paint fades, sand scratches start shrinking up, and all starts peeling, or rusts, that's where the difference in the price is.

However, some people would still be perfectly happy that.

That being said, we did occasionally do jobs like this cheap, as good will, if the person who needed it was a regular customer.

 

[Doofy]

That paint on your hood looks to be in rough shape anyway. I doubt if any paint will ever be a perfect match. Tractors are Tools and are meant to be used. Dents and scrapes happen.