Do you grease/maintain borrowed equipment?

[gsganzer]

I don't normally lend things. I have the philosophy that "the operator comes with the equipment" and will perform the task for a neighbor with my equipment, if they ask.

Recently, I let a neighbor borrow my backhoe to bury a horse, because I was going to be out of town when they put the horse down. No real issue, I know the neighbors well and I know they'd make everything right in spades, if anything was damaged during their use.

I noticed when I got the backhoe back, that they had greased all the pivot points. (I greased it before I gave it to them) It was nice of them to do that, but it was a different grease from what I use. It's not a big deal if the grease was incompatible, because it's just pivot points and I can push the other grease out. Bearings would probably be a different issue.

But it got me to wondering how much "maintenance" people would do on borrowed equipment? I have most of my own stuff, so I rarely borrow things. But I do check all fluids on anything I use or rent. If I use someone's chainsaw, I'll usually sharpen it for them (I used to be a logger).

Do any of you do maintenance on equipment you borrow?

 

[ArlyA]

yes.

 

[MMC]

I don't normally lend things. I have the philosophy that "the operator comes with the equipment" and will perform the task for a neighbor with my equipment, if they ask.

Recently, I let a neighbor borrow my backhoe to bury a horse, because I was going to be out of town when they put the horse down. No real issue, I know the neighbors well and I know they'd make everything right in spades, if anything was damaged during their use.

I noticed when I got the backhoe back, that they had greased all the pivot points. (I greased it before I gave it to them) It was nice of them to do that, but it was a different grease from what I use. It's not a big deal if the grease was incompatible, because it's just pivot points and I can push the other grease out. Bearings would probably be a different issue.

But it got me to wondering how much "maintenance" people would do on borrowed equipment? I have most of my own stuff, so I rarely borrow things. But I do check all fluids on anything I use or rent. If I use someone's chainsaw, I'll usually sharpen it for them (I used to be a logger).

Do any of you do maintenance on equipment you borrow?

Absolutely. I might want to borrow it again...

 

[EddieWalker]

I borrowed a friends Deere 450G dozer before I bought mine, and I greased it every time I used it. I also topped off the hydraulics and checked the oil. When the alternator went out, I bought and installed a new one. I only used it a couple times and put a dozen hours on it, but since I was using it when it broke, I fixed it.

My neigbhor borrowed my riding trencher for a project on his place, and when he returned it, had had fixed the safety switch for starting it. I told him the trick to get it started, but since it wasn't how it's supposed to be, he spent the time making it work properly.

 

[edgarrian]

thats a good rule of thumb but sadly thats few and far between. I have a buddy that I loaned my tractor to. I left my trailer on his property. His dog at some wiring and pulled 2 running lights. To my surprised my main lights all still worked as well as my trailer brakes. He paid me more than was necessary and gave us another surprise. So in my head space it wasn't a big deal.

My closest neighbor I have let him use it but I was there watching. He is really new to operating and all that. So I wouldn't loan him my tractor. He has purchased one in the last year. So he's having fun with that.

My college buddies I would never let them borrow it b/c I wouldn't trust them to not hurt themselves. They would make any damage right but Id worry about them.

So there is really a select few id let borrow it

 

[RjCorazza]

Uhmmm. I guess it all depends. If I borrowed a neglected piece of equipment I think I would grease it, but likely not if the owner was the regular maintenance type.
I would not want my stuff to receive routine service IF I loaned it out (which I generally don't do).
I do occasionally loan out my chainsaw, and it comes with fuel, bar oil, sharpened chain, sharpening tools, and a lesson on how to sharpen the chain. The last time I loaned it out it came back perfect and WITH a set of new chaps.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've had people ask to borrow tools, and I've replied that I'd let them borrow them if they gave me the cash amount to buy a new one if it's destroyed or disappears. So far, nobody has agreed to this.

 

[gsganzer]

Uhmmm. I guess it all depends. If I borrowed a neglected piece of equipment I think I would grease it, but likely not if the owner was the regular maintenance type.
I would not want my stuff to receive routine service IF I loaned it out (which I generally don't do).
I do occasionally loan out my chainsaw, and it comes with fuel, bar oil, sharpened chain, sharpening tools, and a lesson on how to sharpen the chain. The last time I loaned it out it came back perfect and WITH a set of new chaps.

I agree on providing the fuel, especially on 2-strokes. Nothing ruins equipment faster than bad fuel or wrong/cheap mix.

 

[WinterDeere]

Yes, I will usually do some maintenance on any piece of borrowed equipment. But I always tell the owner what I'm going to do before I do it, in case they don't want me to.

 

[Torvy]

The thought is nice, but I'd rather do it myself.

 

[LHF2019]

Yes. And if possible try to return in better condition than how I received it

 

[WranglerX]

My dad always told me when returning something borrowed it was to be cleaned and in good working order (yes greased) ... IF I broke it I was to repair it, if it could not be repaired, replace it..... philosophy has always worked well for me....

 

[hodge]

I don't borrow, so it isn't a topic of discussion for me. However, if I did, I would discuss it with them prior to use. Would you like me to service it? What do you want me to use? If not (I understand and respect why someone would want to do it themselves), can I give you some money for the supplies? My goal would be to respect their perspective and their property.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I borrowed a tractor with backhoe once. Used 30 minutes, washed and returned. I'll never borrow again, unless he's operating. He borrowed my tractor, same time. I gave instructions on running, specfically the 3ph, as there is an issue if raised to max. It whines as pump is struggling to keep lifting. I showed him what it sounded like etc. Even put marks on panel for max height. Got it back and 3ph was all the way up and whining. He didn't hear it. Not sure that was the start of pump issues, but...
Borrowed another friends wood splitter, washed and changed oil. Next time I washed and changed hydraulic filter. I'll buy a new splitter for me next time.

 

[JasperFrank]

Yes, but it is always a strange conversation afterwards. Cause tire pressures were low, fluids were low, things were off, fasteners were loose or missing, etc. You don't want to be saying to the owner, of the thing you borrowed, that it was in a bad state. And really, if someone in lending equipment, its You, that is going to use it, so things have to be up to maintenance spec. So you look around and do maintenance stuff to it, before you use it. I don't borrow or lend out anything any more, or borrow. Too many crazy stories on that.

 

[duffer]

I try to be a good neighbor. I'll always help people out in times of need, even if they don't ask. But unfortunately, every time I loan a tool or equipment out, it costs me money. Last time I loaned my tractor to a neighbor who's Kubota tranny went out, and when he brought it back, he rammed my garage door with the ROPS and it came crashing down. Didn't even offer to pay for it. Cost me a grand.

Now...I won't loan out equipment to anybody but one guy who is the best mechanic I know and has more "stuff" than I do. And even then, I usually go down to his place and do it for him.

 

[RjCorazza]

...Last time I loaned my tractor to a neighbor who's Kubota tranny went out, and when he brought it back, he rammed my garage door with the ROPS and it came crashing down. Didn't even offer to pay for it. Cost me a grand.

Some people can break an anvil. I can see someone ramming a garage door with the rops, but not paying for the damage is real telling.

 

[AntiqueIron]

I do, so long as I know I'm not going to inadvertantly screw something up. (I'd probably inquire about grease beforehand, in this instance.) Way I see it- a person's property is an extension of themself. If you disrespect their stuff, you disrespect them.

Leave it better than you found it, is a motto I find good.

In the past when I've borrowed a brush hog, it went back with preexisting scratches touched up, greased, and clean.

I find it's easy to get permission to borrow stuff when the expectation is that they will be treated with the same care and respect I show my own.

Just my .02

 

[5030]

Only thing I borrow is my wife's Suburban but then I pay for it's upkeep anyway (at the dealer) because it's way too complex for my backyard mechanic's mentality.

I have borrowed my good friends Cat D6 dozer in the past but my 'borrower fee' was always a full service on it. She's a monster dozer. No cab however and it's a twin stick old gal. Problem is, when I borrow it, he has to have it delivered as I have no way to haul a 60,000 pound machine. Pony motor as well. Just the ticket for high level suburban renewal. He also has a midi-ex I've borrowed. Same deal.

I'm always touchy about loaning any of my equipment to anyone simply because mot people are very lax about how they treat equipment when it's not theirs.

He's borrowed my engine drive welder in the past and has brought projects over to the shop he wanted TIG welded and I let him do the welding himself. He's a certified nuclear welder so he can do it better than I could ever dream of doing. It's a joy to watch him at work. A true craftsman.

Hope everyone had a pleasant Memorial day. We did.

 

[5030]

The ONE thing I never loan out, no exceptions, are my guns. Don't even consider it.