What Happened to being able to get small parts?

[Shenandoah MF1760]

I've had a rash of these things happening to me lately.

The picture shows a hydraulic diverter valve on the tractor, I was clearing some brush and the plastic screw cap came off that keeps the solenoid on the bottom coil from falling off.

Not a major issue, I popped the solenoid back on and used the screw cap from the top one to keep it in place. I reasoned that gravity would keep the top one where it belonged.

So... I try and buy a new screw cap. Can't be done. The dealer is willing to sell me a complete 3rd assembly for $700+, but they did show me who made the diverter valve.

However, the manufacturer only sells complete units for ~$150.

So, I get out the thread gauge, figure out what I need, and order a nut from McMaster-Carr.

The next one was my portable generator.

It had a CPS carburetor where a flimsy plastic post broke off that kept the idle spring in place. No way to repair it that lasted. Get new carb for $100+. 3 months later idle spring rusts out and breaks. Can I get a new spring? No, you have to buy the entire carb if you want one.

I now have a box of assorted springs I got from Amazon for $10, to replace what is probably a ten-cent part.

There are other examples but I won't go into them.

It seems like replace, instead of repair, is the way things are done now.

I don't like it.

 

[Mike1955]

I agree. Should be against the law to sell something and not provide parts for several years. The computer and Amazon are our only friend

 

[akguy09]

I doubt a dealer would/could afford to stock every screw or bolt for multiple machines....it doesnt make financial sense, they would have to source those parts from a third party just like the consumer. McMaster-Carr is your friend

 

[YLee Kioti]

I doubt a dealer would/could afford to stock every screw or bolt for multiple machines....it doesnt make financial sense, they would have to source those parts from a third party just like the consumer. McMaster-Carr is your friend

All this being true, skips one point, the dealer.
For the dealer NOT to work with one of his customers and make him happy and loyal, by helping him find the part to order (at least give him a hint to mfg. so part finding can be made easier), but no, he chose to sell him a new assy.
Folks with that attitude I used to tell'm to pound sand.
The older I've gotten the sharper my sarcastic quip has become on the way out the door.

 

[jyoutz]

I’ve run into similar situations at times. I’ve found that often if you call the manufacturer and talk to a person in customer service, they will send you the small part, and sometimes gratis. Even if they don’t show that part on their website as being sold separately.

 

[YLee Kioti]

I’ve run into similar situations at times. I’ve found that often if you call the manufacturer and talk to a person in customer service, they will send you the small part, and sometimes gratis. Even if they don’t show that part on their website as being sold separately.

Indeed...I had bought a Ag 15 gallon spray tank from Ful-O-Pep.
Left it outdoors with handle.
This year discovered the handle had split open.
Empty tank does not equal empty spray system...DUH!!!
I openly confessed my ignorance and the lady at the company had a good laugh and sent me a new spray handle, now a spare.

I had gone back to the Co-Op and discovered they sold some spare parts and got a heavy duty sprayer.
But now will go to the Ag Spray company for future items thanks to their customer support.

 

[JasperFrank]

Lately I've been losing faith in brick and mortar stores. I 'll have a list of little parts I need. And when in town, I look for these in what should be the usual places. Lately I've been batting zero. And these are not, to my mind, unusual items. Yet no one has any in stock. A recent eye opener was trying to find a mini, recessed incandescent lamp. A very common stock item 5 years ago. Ordered on line. Another was garage door bottom seals and window seals. Had to order online. Tires for my car, only online. Temp regulator for small stand up freezer. Online only. Local Yamaha dealer no longer carries any parts for my motorcycle. Car part stores carry near nothing for my 1993 car. Even a four pack AA battery holder, not found in the local hobby shops or elsewhere. 5 inch plastic ducts for portable A/Cs..... nope, had to order online.
Maybe its a generational thing, that folks just don't fix their stuff anymore. So why stock any parts for it? Or, what I think is a huge shift, that you are told you have to go through a parts store to get a part. Which they mark up, when you could do that your self. Or attempt to make the little part your self using the old part as a template.

 

[RandyT]

As a small engine dealer owner/service tech the dealerships have the same issues as their customers when it comes to parts. New engines that only repair parts offered are the muffler, carb complete, air filter with housing complete and the recoil starter assembly complete. Can't get the ignition module if you loose spark. Can't get a rewind spring if it breaks, can't get the oil fill cap if the customer looses one. Can't get the air filter without the housing..

Part diagram will show a greyed out engine with a generic picture of the muffler, carb, air filter, and starter with item numbers 1-4. That is the complete parts list offered to the dealer. Aftermarket parts catalogs that were 2500 pages 2 years ago are not 1500 pages. Then they will show new items in the catalog but if you try to order one of those new parts they will say NLA.

Some OEM's tell their dealers to locally source nuts and bolts for repairs. And talking about having parts available for so many years after sale. I run into cases where the OEM will stop making a product and will remove all parts and parts diagrams from not only their websites, but can't even be found when doing internet searches. They will treat it as if it was never made.

 

[Shenandoah MF1760]

I think, and this is my opinion only. That a lot of this was due to a decision by Congress years back to tax inventory.

This made for a very short influx of funds before companies eliminated warehousing or sent it out of reach of the inventory tax by placing it outside the country.

Now the only things that are stocked are high-turnover items constantly being sold and replaced, or specialty items that are accordingly priced to offset the inevitable tax.

Yet another thing to prevent items from being made here.

 

[ultrarunner]

When I was restoring Model A Ford's in the 1980's my local Ford Dealer was still able to get parts for me... after 50-60 years.

Points and Condenser USA made... no problem.

Need a new Model A carburetor... again no problem...

1957 Ford with broken taillight lens... no problem.

All those longtime family dealerships no longer exist... replaced by super stores outside town.

When I worked at the Tool and Machine we always had folks coming in with part in hand...

Lots of times we could help them out even if the cost seemed high because the alternative sometimes would be new costing thousands of dollars.

A Boiler Castings with a corroded fitting snapped off might cost $1500 vs. an hour of shop time to renew.