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Shady Dealer?

#1

M

Mission

So, I dropped my fs 74 for a tuneup. It had been running alright(bogging a bit), but I left gas in it over the winter and figured it was time for a service. My dealer said that they replaced plug and fuel filter(I had replaced last year and had less than an hour of use), but it wouldn't fire up for them. Which is strange because I had it fire up on the old gas after two pulls before dropping it off. They looked at cylinder and said it is scored and offered to sell me a new one and recycle it for me. I asked what the compression was and they said that they don't check compression, just a visual inspection of the cylinder either through intake or exhaust. Should I be finding a new dealer? Seems a bit shady to me. Any opinions?


#2

BlazNT

BlazNT

New dealer. Don't let them know you are coming to get it just show up and pay diag fee and take your stuff and lesson learned.


#3

M

Mission

Thanks. Not very happy. Was running when I dropped it off, now nothing....


#4

reynoldston

reynoldston

Get your mower and run from that dealer. Just how do you inspect a cylinder through the intake or exhaust? I never heard such a BS story. How nice of them to recycle your old mower? resell it? I don't know what why will charge you but its a complete rip off what ever it will be. A :thumbdown: on that dealer.


#5

B

bertsmobile1

NAME THE DEALER
The only way to get rid of this sort behaviour is to name and shame.
A lot of posters here work for reputable dealers and object to having public perceptions of dealers diminished.
Just remember the defamation laes apply to what you post as much as to what you print so make sure the facts are correct.

And no I am a independant repair workshop.

As to your equipment.
When a custome brings one in the get told to "show me".
Got caught once too often with a piece of kit that was buggered and the owner tried to claim I had damaged it during service.
when I get one in the owner can not start I don't even try to start it .
First off there is about 10 minutes worth of tests that will tell me if the unit is worth repairing.
If it fails it goes back to the owner ( no charge)
If it passes then another 10 minutes worth of test which includes trying to start


#6

primerbulb120

primerbulb120

BlazNT said:
New dealer. Don't let them know you are coming to get it just show up and pay diag fee and take your stuff and lesson learned.
Click to expand...

I completely agree with this. Get it back from the dealer ASAP! :thumbsup:

You could take it to another dealer, or you could fix it yourself with the help of us here at LMF... :smile:


#7

M

Mission

Got it back. $45 later. While I was there, they were offering to recycle another person's equipment. I won't shame the dealer quite yet.

I should have fixed it myself, but I needed it for the weekend and I just didn't have the time.

Didn't notice until I got home that they had removed the new plug and fuel filter they had installed(at least they didn't charge me for it), but they never gave me the basically new old ones back. Did compression test - 110psi. I may have misspoke earlier, I guess they told me on the phone the piston was scored, not the cylinder. They did show me through the exhaust where the piston was scored. Should it still run, or does it need a top end? Are parts still available for the fs74? I will find the old plug and filter that I replaced and see if it will fire up.


#8

B

bertsmobile1

There is no profit from most hand held repairs.
The "Glass Fronts" down here use the workshop as an aid to the sales department.
If they are a member of a big group then they are obliged to destroy the gear they have "recycled" as the aim is to sell as much new gear as possible.

If you want your gear fixed, pick a shop that does not sell new gear or at least has a smaller showroom than service room.


#9

primerbulb120

primerbulb120

Mission said:
Got it back. $45 later. While I was there, they were offering to recycle another person's equipment. I won't shame the dealer quite yet.

I should have fixed it myself, but I needed it for the weekend and I just didn't have the time.

Didn't notice until I got home that they had removed the new plug and fuel filter they had installed(at least they didn't charge me for it), but they never gave me the basically new old ones back. Did compression test - 110psi. I may have misspoke earlier, I guess they told me on the phone the piston was scored, not the cylinder. They did show me through the exhaust where the piston was scored. Should it still run, or does it need a top end? Are parts still available for the fs74? I will find the old plug and filter that I replaced and see if it will fire up.
Click to expand...

I don't know how an engine can have 110 psi of compression with a scored anything. Post a picture of the scoring so we can see it, it's most likely not a problem with the kind of compression you've got.


#10

M

Mission

FullSizeRender.jpgFullSizeRender.jpgI think I have attached the photo of the piston.

I am ready to shame the dealer now - Prospect Equipment in Mission, BC. It is there policy to not repair anything that has scoring, as it might only last a few minutes and they may look bad. But, charging $45 for doing nothing and when I brought it home and put the old plug in it fired on the first pull. I guess in their opinion that doesn't make them look bad. I had the choke on when I did the compression test, compression is actually 115psi.

It still isn't running great, I think the carb needs cleaning, which is what I took it to them in the first place for. Are there any links to cleaning the carb, or is it pretty straight forward?

Thanks again guys. Wish I would've found this site first.


#11

B

bertsmobile1

Mission said:
View attachment 28429View attachment 28429I think I have attached the photo of the piston.

I am ready to shame the dealer now - Prospect Equipment in Mission, BC. It is there policy to not repair anything that has scoring, as it might only last a few minutes and they may look bad. But, charging $45 for doing nothing and when I brought it home and put the old plug in it fired on the first pull. I guess in their opinion that doesn't make them look bad. I had the choke on when I did the compression test, compression is actually 115psi.

It still isn't running great, I think the carb needs cleaning, which is what I took it to them in the first place for. Are there any links to cleaning the carb, or is it pretty straight forward?

Thanks again guys. Wish I would've found this site first.
Click to expand...

Not the best photo but from what I can see you do have scoriing and significant blow by.
So if it was in my shop you would be up for piston & rings or I would not take on the repair.
Again it is the warrantee problem.
Down here if I fixed it , any proble it came back with I would be obliged to repair and I can leagally only charge for parts on a warrantee job.
Don't know what sort of consummer protection legislation you have over there.

There are heaps of U-tube videos out there on cleaning cube carbs.
Taryl fixes All
Donny Boy
E-fix it
Joe Pace ( Husqvarna service school )

Are all recommended.

Just remember because some idiot with no idea what they are doing but a massive ego got shown by a monkey how to video himself and load it onto U - Tube does not mean you should follow his advice.
99% of what is out there is ego fodder for the ignorant.
Anything linked to an omline retailer is usually good as they have a real business and reputation to protect.
Any one who prattles on about checking pop off pressures is best avoided.
Any one who looks at a gasket and says "that looks OK so it can go back in is a hillbilly and best avoided.

get the gasket kit, not the full rebuild kit as they cost near the replacement cost of the carb.
If you know some one with an ultrasonic cleaner they are about to become your second best friend.
A jewelry one more than good enough for a carb.

Finally they are made is a surgically sterile factory because the tiniest bit of dust can cause big problems.
So clean , clean clean is the magic word.
If you have to leave the carb make sure you cover it or place it is a clean container with a lid.

Most times there will be no more crud in there other than what you see on the internal filter.
Varnish blockages are the only thing that requires a full strip down . but a dip in ultrasonic cleaner will generally fix it.

My success rate is only about 75% so don't worry if you can not fix it.

Before you tear into the carb do all the tests that Joe Pace shows you.
you can do a lot of damage fixing problems that were never there in the first place.


#12

reynoldston

reynoldston

bertsmobile1 said:
NAME THE DEALER
The only way to get rid of this sort behaviour is to name and shame.


You will find this is a no no on this forum :thumbdown:
Click to expand...


#13

B

bertsmobile1

Shall not do it again.


#14

M

Mission

I would remove the name, but I can't see where I can edit posts. The fact of the matter is, I took in a running machine and was given something back that didn't run and told that it wouldn't run for them and was told it was garbage. It then started first pull when I got it home.


#15

M

Mission

I popped off the carb, sprayed it with carb cleaner, topped off fuel, quick tune and now it runs fine. I'm not expecting another 20 years out of it, but that is what I expected the dealer to do.

Oddly enough, the customer in front of me was also offered to have his equipment recycled.


#16

primerbulb120

primerbulb120

Mission said:
I popped off the carb, sprayed it with carb cleaner, topped off fuel, quick tune and now it runs fine. I'm not expecting another 20 years out of it, but that is what I expected the dealer to do.

Oddly enough, the customer in front of me was also offered to have his equipment recycled.
Click to expand...

Great! I'm glad to hear that!:thumbsup:


#17

Supalazy

Supalazy

reynoldston said:
Get your mower and run from that dealer. Just how do you inspect a cylinder through the intake or exhaust? I never heard such a BS story. How nice of them to recycle your old mower? resell it? I don't know what why will charge you but its a complete rip off what ever it will be. A :thumbdown: on that dealer.
Click to expand...


My father took a chain saw in and he got the same B.S that you did from our friendly Stihl Dealer. They didn't return the saw to him and just basically told him it was junk, not worth fixing. I went back to the dealer about a week later to retrieve the broken/junk saw that they kept and they wanted to know why I wanted it, what was I going to do with. Geez man some/a lot of these dealers will rip you off without a secound thought. After speaking with my father about his experience, lol they tried their hardest to sell him a new one and luckily he was in a cheap mood that day! Not to crap on Dealers, but I've been burnt more than once by Elite Stihl Dealers. Old thread but hopefully it may save someone some money and hassle one day. Hope it worked out for you!


#18

J

jp1961

I wonder why you can't name the business on this forum?

I understand there are probably lots of legitimate, reputable business that can not please a customer no matter what, but there is probably an equal number of scumbags too (This dealer definitely sounded like a scumbag).

Another recourse in the Better Business Bureau and local TV news stations usually take on customer complaints (if legitimate).

Regards

Jeff


#19

D

Darryl G

Nobody cares about the BBB anymore; their rankings are pretty much useless these days. I've had customers and even neighbors of customers threaten to report me to the BBB. One was a neighbor of a customer this summer because she claimed I was breaking the law eating my lunch in my truck with it idling and I refused to turn it off. :laughing:

In any case it's hard to say whether a dealer is trying to rip you off or giving and honest opinion on whether it's time to scrap a machine. "Not worth fixing" is a judgement call. They don't make much on small equipment... on the order of 20%...they usually stand to make more on parts and service.


#20

R

Rivets

There is a very simple way to handle these dealers. Contact Stihl directly with your problem, and let them know you will be contacting the local TV investigators who love these type of situations, if they don’t get back to you. It is against the law for the dealer not to return your equipment back to you, although it may be in a basket, due to tear down to find a problem. If the dealer does as you said, yours will not be the first time they have heard a complaint. These guys give all dealers, no matter the brand a bad name, even though the only make up 5% of the industry. Complaining here will sooth you nerves, but really never solves the problem.


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