Finally, Return of the Chipper

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Yep, got it back today. The guy went to start it and it banged and pinged badly. His helper just replaced the broken parts, but didn't line up the deflector plates and hammers. The guy said he should have ordered several other parts instead of hammering them straight again. <br /><br />So I sorta pushed him out of the way, used his tools and got everything back in alignment. Now when you pull the starter rope, it is quiet!<br /><br />Then it was time to load up and go home. That is when he told me that MTD wouldn't honor the warranty. I didn't get mad at him, just asked how much I owed him. He said he felt bad since he has had it for 8 weeks and then it wasn't right when I picked it up. So he just charged me 35 bucks for the part. I gave him a 50 and said thanks. He went to get change and I told him no. You need something at least for your time.<br /><br />I never depend on a warranty. I usually repair broken parts myself, and I guess I will continue to do so. Plus, I will never buy anything, anymore made by MTD!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Finally, Return of the Chipper

Sadly....MTD is making everyones garbage and it is just being branded with differant names.<br /><br />Bob

 

[jimr]

Re: Finally, Return of the Chipper

i looked at the new troy bilt chippers at lowes a couple a weeks ago and they look like junk compared to mine. glad i got a new motor for mine instead of buying a new model. it has worked great and for the $320 bucks i got in it I can't complain.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Finally, Return of the Chipper

I just hauled the carcas of a K-mart branded lawn tractor to the curb for garbage pickup. Bought it new in fall of 1995. It had a Briggs 12 hp, with 42" cut and 5 speed transaxle. Ran fine and was used both as lawn mower (2+ acres of lawn) and tractor, pulling trailers, dragging tree stumps, what ever that little machine could manage. It's ultimate downfall was that the chasis gave out due to stress cracking. But I had replaced both rear trans mounts twice(cracked), both mower deck spindles(bearing failure), front wheel bushings (replaced with bearings) and various nuts and bolts that worked loose and fell out. So it did need maintenance to keep it running. <br /><br />The engine, trans, steering, wire harness, gas tank, wheels and tires I salvaged and will use to build an new toy. That machine would have lasted a lot longer if they had just built the chasis, front beam axle and mower deck out of heavier guage steel. The drive train was in good condition. <br /><br />I think it was actually manufactured by RBI, but uses all the same hardware as Murray, Sears, etc. Paid about $600 as season leftover in '95, sold new for $800. After 9 years of abusive service, I think I got my monies worth out of it. For three times the price, I could have got a John Deere or similar that would still be here. It's sort of a coin toss; new machine every 9 years, or a heavy duty one once?