I received a call from a local repair shop that had my Husqvarna 128LD string trimmer. He said that he had to replace the carburetor, fuel lines, plug and fuel filter. I gave the required $20 deposit, and he said that the bill I owed was $138 totaling $158. Is this a normal charge? I thought it was a little high.
$158 repair bill?
cutman2000
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i had a honda carb replaced and a few plastic parts. it was $200.
they called and asked me if i wanted them to do the repair or not. i told them to do it. i should have told them not to do it and bought a new trimmer. i ended up buying a new one a year or so later anyways. :laugh:
i guess you live and learn or at least we live i dunno if we ever learn anything.
they called and asked me if i wanted them to do the repair or not. i told them to do it. i should have told them not to do it and bought a new trimmer. i ended up buying a new one a year or so later anyways. :laugh:
i guess you live and learn or at least we live i dunno if we ever learn anything.
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What lifespan do you attribute to trimmers?
How long do you account for replacement in your overhead?
For sub $500 tools I expect overhead to replace them yearly. If I get two years out of them I'm well ahead in the game to just buy a new one.
How long do you account for replacement in your overhead?
For sub $500 tools I expect overhead to replace them yearly. If I get two years out of them I'm well ahead in the game to just buy a new one.
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If you've got a $400 trimmer that needs $200 in repairs don't toss it in the trash, email me and I'll pay for shipping. :laugh:
It's easy to say learn to repair them but some people just don't have the required interest or aptitude. I think the little engines are fascinating, especially the 4-mixes.
If you are interested though they are incredibly easy, physically. There aren't really any special tools you need, a decent mechanics tool set from the hardware store and some other common items and you can do it all.
I think I'm also lucky to have a good Stihl dealer with employees that don't mind customers who fix their own. They know I'm learning this on an as needed basis and I often face a line of questioning when I order parts to make sure I've gone over everything I should have. They actually care about whether or not I succeed. I have failed a few times and had to bring it in.
They also keep a good inventory and will sell me anything but specialty tools, and anything not on hand I generally get within a week.
It's easy to say learn to repair them but some people just don't have the required interest or aptitude. I think the little engines are fascinating, especially the 4-mixes.
If you are interested though they are incredibly easy, physically. There aren't really any special tools you need, a decent mechanics tool set from the hardware store and some other common items and you can do it all.
I think I'm also lucky to have a good Stihl dealer with employees that don't mind customers who fix their own. They know I'm learning this on an as needed basis and I often face a line of questioning when I order parts to make sure I've gone over everything I should have. They actually care about whether or not I succeed. I have failed a few times and had to bring it in.
They also keep a good inventory and will sell me anything but specialty tools, and anything not on hand I generally get within a week.
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This is an excellent question and think it is both.
My rule has been if it costs more than 50% of what the thing is worth to fix it, time for a new one.
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359 Posts
I order most of my parts from Jacks Small Engines online. Can even apply for a commercial account and they give you a discount. Have exploded part views for machines and can get about anything. In this business I think you should have the ability to do minor repairs or just change parts yourself, just my opinion, from a business standpoint it's just smart. If you cant change a carb there are tons of vids on YouTube, go learn your equipment.
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Yep. I bought a new carb for a Stihl HS 45z hedge trimmer a few years ago (the only piece of stihl equipment that I actually liked and hung on to) and I think it was $30-35 from the dealer.
Cheap carbs didn't make me like stihl more than Shindaiwa or Echo, but it was nice. Stihl has Echo/shindaiwa beat on hedge trimmers and saws, in my opinion. I like Echo/Shindy for everything else. I have some redmac stuff that I really like but I think they're owned by husqvarna.
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I used to use Echo and had the old SRM260 trimmers and edgers. I think that was the models I used. I found I like Stihl better personally. Never used Shindaiwa, but I hear they have some good stuff.
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Isn’t shindig or red max echo now?
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Shindaiwa is owned by Echo. RedMax is owned by Husqvarna
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i have a honda trimmer that's still running perfectly after 15 years. it's never had any trouble at all. still on original spark plug and everything. i had the fuel lines and primer bulb replaced after 12 years and a new air filter. that's all i've ever had to do to it.
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Yeah that's what I will do I guess. I like my Exmark dealer. I like the Scag dealer too, but they are newer and I have not dealt with them too much. I just hate to leave Exmark since I have had very little problems with them. I have had 6 Exmark mowers over my career and very little issue. they are just getting a little to proud of them lol
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i paid $200 but most of that is just the parts. the labor is cheap like $30 or something. it's not like you are saving a ton of money doing it yourself. in my experience a good trimmer never has any issues. i have a honda trimmer that's 15 years old still on original spark plug and works perfectly. i changed the fuel lines, primer bulb, and got a new air filter after 12 years. it's never needed to be "worked on"
the trimmers that need to be worked on are usually better off being thrown in the trash. once they are worked on they never run right again and don't last long after being worked on. honestly there is no reason to ever need to change out a carb unless you leave gas sitting in there all winter without fuel stabilizer in it. all 2 stroke oils have stabilizer in them so you should never have any problems with a carb.
i dropped one of mine and that's what tore up the carb but apparently it tore up a lot more than that as the trimmer was never the same and didn't last very long after the repair. i should have just tossed it in the trash and started over with a new one. it was a 4 stroke husqvarna with the honda engine. that one only lasted about 3-4 years. it's funny because it has the same engine as the 15 year old one i have that has been perfect. i guess the drop killed it that's all i can figure. if you want a trimmer to last don't drop it or let it fall off of something and land on the carb.
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only 3 years? i must be spoiled. i have a honda that is 15 years old and still going strong. it's never had any issues.
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I'm still on my first trimmer going on 6 years now. Had to replace the pull rope once but nothing else.
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$30? I'm surprised you have any mechanics in your town.i paid $200 but most of that is just the parts. the labor is cheap like $30 or something. it's not like you are saving a ton of money doing it yourself. in my experience a good trimmer never has any issues. i have a honda trimmer that's 15 years old still on original spark plug and works perfectly. i changed the fuel lines, primer bulb, and got a new air filter after 12 years. it's never needed to be "worked on"
the trimmers that need to be worked on are usually better off being thrown in the trash. once they are worked on they never run right again and don't last long after being worked on. honestly there is no reason to ever need to change out a carb unless you leave gas sitting in there all winter without fuel stabilizer in it. all 2 stroke oils have stabilizer in them so you should never have any problems with a carb.
i dropped one of mine and that's what tore up the carb but apparently it tore up a lot more than that as the trimmer was never the same and didn't last very long after the repair. i should have just tossed it in the trash and started over with a new one. it was a 4 stroke husqvarna with the honda engine. that one only lasted about 3-4 years. it's funny because it has the same engine as the 15 year old one i have that has been perfect. i guess the drop killed it that's all i can figure. if you want a trimmer to last don't drop it or let it fall off of something and land on the carb.
Shop rate around here is $69-79/hr.
Bad falls are horrible for carbs, that's for sure. I've replaced 3 in the past year on blowers because guys put them on a high shelf unsecured and .. well, they fell and landed carb side down.
We don't replace plastic unless it's functional, if we did the maintenance cost of our handhelds would triple due to abuse.
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