Ever have one of those weeks?

[Ducke]

Well it started on Monday my Stihl Weed Whacker would not start so into the shop it went, Luckily I have a cheap Weed-eater FS25 that I can use in a jamb.
I get on my first lawn Late and my Toro won't stop surging and leaking gas around the carb. So its back to the shop to get my Mastercraft back up.
I get my four jobs done 220,000 Sq Ft of lawn with a push mower no self propelled mower for the day.Monday night I take Toro carb apart and find the seal it shot so Tuesday I order Carb kit, Dealer tells me it will be 10 days for delivery so I,m off to do my days work with my back up gear.
Wednesday man am I soar my legs my arms, Good new my Stihl is ready $85.00 to clean it up and replace a Carb kit in it.
Thursday I put away the mowers and weed whacker's and pull out the hedge trimmers and the ladders It's a beautiful day for trimming a hedge.
Friday I get a surprise my Toro carb kit is in early so off I go to get it, I take a hour in the morning to install it and get my trusted Toro going again.
Life is as it should be Sun is shining the wind is light and I have all my gear back and running, What could possibly go wrong now, I go to firer up my Stihl weed whacker on my last lawn of the day and "POP" "CLUNK" "ZING" SPOINK" the pull cord is hanging out three feet and won't go back in
Thank God its Friday .
I can't wait till Monday just to see how Mister Murphy is going to top this week.

[mark123]

Yeah, this is a rough business when your equipment starts to fight you. I'm taking my circa 2001 blown up Toro into the local repair shop tomorrow to see how much it'll cost to bring her back to life. I really, really, really need it for a backup. My new less than 1 year old mower went down recently and they weren't going to fix it. I guess I complained enough that they got me going just to get rid of me.

If I had the backup I wouldn't care so much if they had it for a week.

Here's to a better week for you next week!

[Hedgemaster]

I've had "one of those weeks" for two weeks now.

Thankfully, it was all "scheduling" issues and playing catch up, and not equipment related.

That said, my Craps-man (Craftsman) blower started choking out on me last week. One job I was running the mower out onto the wide sidewalk to turn around at the end of every pass - clippings EVERYWHERE. No big deal, I just blow them down onto the driveway, and over the hill into an area suitable for such debris. Well, it's no big deal when your blower is WORKING!
Pull cord. Pull cord. Pull cord - sputter... Pull cord - sputter... Pull cord - "whhaaa-uuhhhh-uhhh-uhh-ungh." (stalls)
"MOTHERF#$@&#%!!!"

Pull cord. Pull cord. Pull cord... curse. Pull cord. Pull cord... wipe sweat from brow. Curse more...

Out came the broom. Sigh.
It started up again later, but it was hit or miss all week. Sometimes it would start, other times it would not.

I bought a new Stihl blower today - that Craftsman is going back to Sears for repair or replacement and then I'll use it as a backup.

Note to self: Buy backups BEFORE you need them!

[Steve]

Do you find that as you are in business longer, your ability to make it through such situations gets better?

[wandfsmall]

I bought a new Stihl blower today - that Craftsman is going back to Sears for repair or replacement and then I'll use it as a backup.

Buy some Mechanic in a Bottle and run that threw your blower it should fix it.

[wandfsmall]

Good new my Stihl is ready $85.00 to clean it up and replace a Carb kit in it.

Next time you take it in for a carb problem ask about a carb replacement. a lot of times it will save you money.

[Ducke]

Do you find that as you are in business longer, your ability to make it through such situations gets better?

The big thing is not to panic, Don't let your customer see you freaking out or jumping up and down on your non-working tool.
Act cool calm and go get the back up and show your prepared for anything that might happen. Your customer will be impressed at your professionalism.
You will learn from experience that you need to back up everything major and minor. be it back up pens in your truck to a back up ride on at the shop be a good Boy Scout and "Be Prepared"

[Ducke]

Next time you take it in for a carb problem ask about a carb replacement. a lot of times it will save you money.

My Stihl guy charges $60.00 hour minimum of one hour.
So $60.00 for labor and $25.00 for parts is not to bad.

[wandfsmall]

My Stihl guy charges $60.00 hour minimum of one hour.
So $60.00 for labor and $25.00 for parts is not to bad.

yeah I guess I was just trying to save you money as I only charge $10 to replace the carb.

[wandfsmall]

yeah I guess I was just trying to save you money as I only charge $10 to replace the carb.

also look up the carb by the zama numbers and the kits are a lot cheaper

[Ducke]

yeah I guess I was just trying to save you money as I only charge $10 to replace the carb.

wow were are you located and why don't you have a branch office here?
Man up here most guys charge $40.00 to $60.00 just to look at your problem and they have lineup to get service.
I am starting to think I'm in the wrong end of this business.