LEMONS!

[scoutcub]

I do work for 3 guys who do lawn and garden type care. Mainly own mowing business but also have equipment ranging from mowers, saws, dump trucks, diesel pickups, BobCats, Bull Dozer, Back Hoe, ect. Anyway, they run nothing but Stihl but are done with them.

The Stihl stuff of the last 4 years or so is nothing compared to the older stuff. Pressed parts instead of bolts and studs, cheap plastics, ect. One guy has a Poulan Pro that has outlasted his last Stihl saw. They are all going Husky or Efco. The new Efco stuff is not cheap but is about 1/3 the weight and more HP per saw.

Chris

I've been very lucky in the tractor and vehicle depts, no real lemons.
However, this past spring when my no-name weedwhipper of 15 years quit, and I was gone, the wife was coerced by the BIL (who loves to spend my money) to buy a new Stihl weedwhipper. Once I got home I looked it over with a frown, and decided to give it a run. First of all it wouldn't start, then some kind of compression release was kicking in and out, then once I finally got it running I ran out of line 1/2 way thru my job....what kind of alien scientist mind designed the refill, cause I couldn't figure it out. Probably the same mind who designed the gas cap, cause after it ran out of fuel it took me 20 minutes to put the cap back on with this screwy twist lock system that keeps getting stuck halfway to lock???
Granted maybe I should have looked at the owners manual first, but c'mon.....a weedwhipper????
The cherry on top......this thing cost over 300 bucks..... :thumbdown::shocked: !!!!!

Now the wife says she will never buy anything without me again cause i always give her grief about the stihl.....

 

[Dargo]

That shows that any company can have bad units. I probably have 10-12 different Stihl products and I've never had any fail, ever. My oldest Stihl trimmer was bought at auction from our county highway department at auction. They only dump their stuff when they feel it's worn out. That was back when I had a mowing business and used it every day for hours just like they did. It still runs just fine to this day. It was one of the first FS108 models made.

I was hesitant to buy their new 4 cycle stuff that runs on pre-mix, but it's been great. I toasted a different pole trimmer (little chain saw on a pole) before I bought my Stihl. It too was a 4 cycle, but a normal 4 cycle. I never thought about the angles I'd hold it when using it and roasted it by running it sideways. With the Stihl, that isn't an issue. You do have to follow the starting instructions on all the new Stihl 4 cycle stuff when starting them or they seem hard to start. However, if you do what it says on the label, I've never had any starting issues at all, and I have at least 5 of their 4 strokes.

 

[PA hayseed]

I own a troy built rear tine tiller, I use it after i have my plants in for between the rows (I use the 6' to get the whole garden first). Troy built was bought out a couple of years ago, and since that time their products have taken a turn for the worse...
Looked it up, MTD bought them out. MTD Corporate :: About MTD Products

The MTD family of brands includes Cub Cadet, Cub Cadet Commercial, Cub Cadet Yanmar, Troy-Bilt, White Outdoor, Yard-Man, Yard Machines, Bolens, Arnold, GardenWay, MTD Pro and MTD Gold. MTD products can be found in all channels of distribution such as home improvement stores, hardware stores, mass retailers, independent dealers and farm supply stores.

 

[PA hayseed]

GM's bond holders and the U.S. Gov determined what would happen with the old common shares. China may only own "x%" of the stock, but I wonder how much preferred or bonds they hold.

My first chey was a cavalier, beat it unmercifully, 6 years later I sold it to someone else who put another 60k on it before it died. I put about 150k on it. Not bad for a 13k car new. Can't say I have had the same experience with my chevy trucks. My first S10 I put about 140k on it before i traded it in. The second one had about 140k on it before I traded it in too. The first 1500 I had found a deer in the middle of the road at about 65 mph and didn't run right after that. My current 2500 isn't the best truck I have ever owned and likely won't buy one again.

I have my own issues with GM after they bailed on the common shares. Thank goodness I was more invested in Ford at the time.

 

[Builder]

I thought China bought the rolling blow job called Hummer to get a foot into the USA market for their crappy cars.

The Chinese bought Volvo after Ford sucked them dry and spit them out.

China’s Geely to Buy Ford’s Volvo in Record Deal (Update1) - BusinessWeek

I bet you everyone on this website owns 100 American branded items in their house that are either made in China or part chinese owned.

Some guys here think Chinese stuff is the best made stuff in the world. I recall a post where a guy said his Jinma tractor was better than all the comparable size tractors made by all the major name brands.

I forget who said that though.........

 

[mjncad]

I knew the Chinese bought Volvo, which pissed me off. But I also thought they bought Hummer, or did that deal fall through leaving Hummer to go limp?

Didn't India's Tata or Mahindra buy Jaguar?

 

[BethesdaEC]

I knew the Chinese bought Volvo, which pissed me off. But I also thought they bought Hummer, or did that deal fall through leaving Hummer to go limp?

Didn't India's Tata or Mahindra buy Jaguar?

China's Geely bought Volvo, and India's Tata bought JLR Jaguar/Land Rover. These three brands were the brands that comprised Ford's Premier Auto Group PAG which has been completely disassembled. They were great trophies, but honestly they were bleeding Ford. Alan Mulally moves to turn around Ford have been brilliant, he has taken Ford from a daily fleet queen to a manufacture who can demand a premium without the heavy reliance on rebates that have heavily driven the US industry in the past. In the last two years or so, Ford's market shares has risen about 2%, partly due to quality and product line and also due to huge quality drops of Toyota and the sheer ugliness of the Honda line up.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Woodpile:

Only thing I buy from Husqvarna is their chain saws. I'm on my third saw from them. First one had a bad block casting and blew the piston after an hour's use. Apparently it was a well known problem. They replaced it, no questions asked, which put them in good light with me.

The second saw worked perfectly for a year until I dropped a 50 foot pine on top of it. I'd been cutting and pinched the blade, trapping it in the tree. Took a wedge and a hammer to the cut to break the tree loose. Tree started down, released the chainsaw, which promptly rolled down the stump and under the falling tree. Go ahead and laugh. Expensive way to learn to unbolt the engine from the blade before proceeding to release it.

Third saw has lasted 5 years and still goign strong with nothing but regular cleaning, and making sure the fluid levels are topped up.

 

[Joe H]

Husky isn't all it seems either. I have one that stripped the gear that drives the oil pump. Cheesey plastic gear. Also have a Poulon wildthing I think with the same gear and an old crapsman someone gave me for parts same gear.

When I had the Husky apart I tried all the pieces from the other saws. Cases fit, make 3 multi-colored saws with all the Chinees bits. S

So your Husky may not be what you think it is.

Also have an 034AV Stihl that always runs, and a smaller Stihl that always runs.

Joe H

 

[Dargo]

The Chinese bought Volvo after Ford sucked them dry and spit them out.

China’s Geely to Buy Ford’s Volvo in Record Deal (Update1) - BusinessWeek

I bet you everyone on this website owns 100 American branded items in their house that are either made in China or part chinese owned.

Some guys here think Chinese stuff is the best made stuff in the world. I recall a post where a guy said his Jinma tractor was better than all the comparable size tractors made by all the major name brands.

I forget who said that though.........

I don't think I'd offend you if I said I wouldn't want a Volvo. One of my best friends owns a Volvo dealership and I was looking to buy a S80 from him and he had me buy an Acura TL from him instead. I'll say I think the Volvo looked really cool, but in 2 years and 65k miles, the Acura has been perfect.

 

[rumproast]

10 yrs ago bought a husky 55 rancher. After a 1 hour round trip drive, got home, went to start it up and the choke slide knob broke in my hand. You could see blow holes in the plastic (it was so obvious -who would assemble?) . Drove it back and ask for my money back. He told me I was the first one to return a Husky. sure. Went to a new Dolmar dealer 20 mins away and bought a 540. It has done more than I ever expected without a hiccup.

CARS: bought a Chevy Z28 new in 1985 that constantly broke down traded it EVEN for a brand new 88 Suzuki Samurai 4x4 (they were only $5995 brand new hard top $6995 for soft top because Consumer Reports said they were total crap that year). Beat the snot out it and got about 180,000 low maintenance miles..go figure... still sitting out in my "trophy"field. Replaced it with 2000 Chevy tracker (Suzuki) ...STD trans blow Twice before 100,000...nothing but problems. Had a ford 4x4 pu that totally sucked - died at 85,000 and a Chevy pu that gave me 190,000 great miles.

My point is that you find lemons in almost all forms of manufacturing. Great established companies sometimes stop paying attention to basic details. Meanwhile some others pleasantly or unexpectedly hit one out of the park.

Consumer Reports does not always get it right.
Funny CR story... signed up for CR online on aprox the 24th of one month for$9.99+/mo. One week later there is another $9.99+ charge on my credit card. I call up and ask why is there another charge and they tell me its a new month and charges are automatic. So I sheepishly say its my fault- I didn't read the fine print, cancel me at the end of the month. They cut me off the next day...so I therefore paid $20+. for aprox 8 days of CR..what a deal.. THEN they have the BALLS to email me saying WE WANT YOU BACK. I emailed them back saying I'll come back when CR DOES A STORY ON CONSUMERS BEING RIPPED OFF BY CR....still waiting.

I didn't say it was a short story ...sorry for the rant

 

[mjncad]

China's Geely bought Volvo, and India's Tata bought JLR Jaguar/Land Rover. These three brands were the brands that comprised Ford's Premier Auto Group PAG which has been completely disassembled.

Don't forget that Ford also had Aston-Martin as their PAG's flagship brand. I believe Aston is now back in private hands...again.

 

[BethesdaEC]

Don't forget that Ford also had Aston-Martin as their PAG's flagship brand. I believe Aston is now back in private hands...again.

I forgot about that one, Aston was the first to go. If I remember correctly it was purchased by some Saudi investors.

 

[Builder]

Sorry Pal, but I'll take the hundreds of thousands of repair statistics I have over your personal opinion. As I continue to say, and continues to fly over your head, I rely on actual facts and statistics rather than opinions and emotions. If you take it as a personal attack that I opt for science rather than your opinion, that's something you'll have to work out with yourself.

True, CR uses those statistics and fills out those cute little circles with 1/2 or full black spots. They may be usefull in depicting previous years reliability on used equipment. I guess if I were buying last years' model toaster that might help a little.You go ahead and buy your equipment based on those circles. :laughing:

I still can't help laughing picturing the career lumberjack running down to the store to buy a copy of C/R so he can figure out what brand of chainsaw is best. I mean..... C/R,,,, ORRRR consult fellow lumberjacks with 20-40 years experience with chainsaws on which brand to buy?????

DUHHHH!!!!! CONSUMER REPORTS OF COURSE!!!! What WAS I thinking???:laughing::laughing:

What would a lumberjack with 20-40 years experience know about CHAIN SAWS when I could buy one based on lab test by CR??? :thumbsup::laughing:

Keep 'em coming. I'll keep flying 'em over your head.

 

[seymojo536]

Two experiences;

In 1974 I bought a brand new Vega.... At 51k the engine melted. No it didn't just quit, it melted. Took about 3 months with numerous converations to get a replacement motor. Ended up having to dump it on somebody because I just couldn't bring myself to get in and drive it.

In 2000 bought a brand new Tacoma. Put just shy of 200k on it. Hauled and towed way more stuff with it than was smart. Basically treated it like a farm truck. When the frame recall was announced, spent some time under it with a screwdriver and a hammer and didn't find anything wrong. 9 months later, was replacing rear shocks and noticed a dime size hole in frame above the hanger. Only hole I could find in the entire frame. Took it in to dealer, 1 week later had a check for $12,500 (150% of the blue book value for a "cherry" tacoma, mine was a prune).

Moral of this, guess which company gets my business from now on?

 

[Ford tractor]

Meanwhile back at the ranch. LOL I found nothing wrong with Pintos as long as you had two of them, like I did. One to drive while the other one was being repaired, and vise versa. LOL zman :thumbsup:

Let's see, a Pinto had a 4 cyl engine, manual transmission, manual windows, no AC, no PS, no real power sucking options -- and it weighed about 2100 pounds. Must have gotten GREAT mileage, right?

Car and Driver magazine ecomods a Pinto: MPG up +25% - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

Read the story and see what 35 years of progress brings!


On the bright side, even the pinto had free wheeling engines so when the timing belt broke with clockwork precision at 80,000 miles the engine wasn't damaged.

 

[HiTechTed]

I had a Pinto (can't remember the exact year) that had a 2.3L 4 cylinder in it, 4 speed stick. I honestly liked it, plus it would smoke the tires like mad if you put your foot in it. I kind of wish I had it now, it was a fun car to drive around.

I had a Ford Fiesta that had no rear brakes and a massive hole in the driver's floorboard that I covered with plywood. That car cost me $100 and I drove the crap out of it, and it never failed me. It was probably a bad accident waiting to happen but it was reliable.

I bought a 95 Ranger brand new and still own it. I've had the routine maintenance done but otherwise haven't had to replace anything other than the rear brakes and tires, and it has 200,000+ miles on it. The only thing that has gone bad is the odometer, it stopped working about 5 years ago. Oh, and I had to replace the factory battery 2 years ago (after 13 years of service, no less). It has started on the first crank for 15 years and I'd drive it across the country right now without hesitation.

The worst auto I have owned is my current one, an 08 Honda Element. I've had brake problems with it from the start. The dealership has replaced some kind of sensor in the antilock system twice, then it was recalled for the same sensor (it needed some kind of seal or something replaced). At 7,000 miles they had to replace all of the rear pads because they were defective. Then at 40k a rear caliper seized up and ate up the rotor, and I never even noticed it. No noise, and the brakes felt the same (as in weak and mushy, as usual). You have to apply the brakes quite well in advance because they never grab. The dealer says they are all like that but I have a hard time believing that. They fix whatever's wrong with it, and it has a great warranty but I can't stand the brakes. When you step on the pedal, it feels like the pads are made of cork. I have owned 3 other Hondas and loved them all, but this one has issues...

 

[Dargo]

True, CR uses those statistics and fills out those cute little circles with 1/2 or full black spots. They may be usefull in depicting previous years reliability on used equipment. I guess if I were buying last years' model toaster that might help a little.You go ahead and buy your equipment based on those circles. :laughing:

I still can't help laughing picturing the career lumberjack running down to the store to buy a copy of C/R so he can figure out what brand of chainsaw is best. I mean..... C/R,,,, ORRRR consult fellow lumberjacks with 20-40 years experience with chainsaws on which brand to buy?????

DUHHHH!!!!! CONSUMER REPORTS OF COURSE!!!! What WAS I thinking???:laughing::laughing:

What would a lumberjack with 20-40 years experience know about CHAIN SAWS when I could buy one based on lab test by CR??? :thumbsup::laughing:

Keep 'em coming. I'll keep flying 'em over your head.

Ya know, whenever I try to extend the proverbial 'olive branch' to you, you show your true side for everyone to see. I could play like you and state that, even though I'm not "A construction company OWNER", I probably own more construction equipment than you for the properties I personally own. That's besides the point here and has no relevance. Just like the total lack of relevance of your dogmatic statements on things you fail to understand.

You can continue to buy all of your equipment based on asking the crowd of county paid general laborers leaning on a shovel watching one person working as we see at every construction site. I'll continue with actual facts and databases of facts developed over the years from thousands of repair facilities on all makes and models. Maybe you're right and the shovel leaners know more than all the actuarials that even manufacturers use to improve their products.

Just like in any industry, past results are generally indicative of future results if all other factors remain the same. Manufacturers use this data to improve their products whether you believe it or not. You may notice that a heart surgeon has a wall full of books that tell them what happens given certain and specific instances. They use those "reference" books to help them in their work. They don't go down to the janitorial staff and ask their opinion. You keep doing things your way and I'll continue to use printed statistics and specific test data to make my decisions. I suppose of all else fails, I can use the equipment I have purchased for personal use and become a construction company owner just like you. :laughing:

Or, I suppose you also own a logging company too since you state that you "consult fellow lumberjacks". I suppose you are an experienced lumberjack as well and an expert in that field since you clearly indicate that you consider yourself a lumberjack? I have 5 chain saws for felling lumber on land I own. None have failed in the last 10 years. That must be amazing since I didn't stop and ask the guys leaning on their shovels what chain saw to purchase. I did my research based on statistics and the volume sold of specific models used for specific uses by what I consider quality companies. How silly of me...

 

[timswi]

I personally never pay attention to CR anymore. I've had no luck with their recommendations and have had great luck with the stuff they trashed.

I prefer to ask around. I don't trust anything that is assembled wholesale like that.

They say that they buy and test all of their products open the open market. How does a semi-limited publication come up with the money to road test Escalades and Benzes by payng retail and losing at least 15%-20% if they sell them in a few weeks....Just curious.

Nothing wrong with listening to them if you want...I just won't.

 

[TripleR]

I prefer not to limit my research to any one source whether it be publications or users.