Parts aren’t cheap, some dealers make a little off having them stocked. I don’t think it was too much,the carb could of been 40-50. You should be able to make that back fast since it’s fixed

 

Considering a new one cost $200 I would expect the shop to contact you before doing expensive repairs.
I just bought a back up carb for my 128 to have on hand. Cost $22 and takes about ten min. to install.
For the parts you identified, the cost would be around $40.

 

I agree with you. Im going to pay this and learn from my mistake.

 

I like to support my dealers, recently the carbs got higher-priced, at least here($75 for last one I got for a hedge trimmer) so I buy oem carbs online

 

I disagree with you and not sure why you are speaking from the perspective of the repair shop, unless you are a mechanic or shop owner and taking this personally. I am a business owner also, and one of my jobs is to make intelligent decisions, from the smallest cost to the highest. I support my local shops, but I'm not going to throw away my profits to do it. Ill pay what the market consider is fair.
Ztman provided numbers which tells that he made an intelligent decision. I thought this all along, I guess I just wanted to hear it from another.

 

I called the shop to see if they had started, so I could cancel. But I asked again about the charge, and she said, "Wait a second that's not right, it's actually $111.65, not $158." So I told them to go ahead and do it.

 

i made that mistake before. i had a $400 trimmer and spent $200 on repairs. the trimmer didn't last maybe a year longer then totally crapped out. this trimmer was pretty new only a few years old. it was dropped and it had to get a new carb and air breather plastic parts and such.

honestly if a repair is gonna cost half as much or more as a new trimmer just throw it in the trash and buy a new one.

 

An oem carb for a 128ld is $22. China knock off is $11.

 

It sounds high. I too think if it was going to be that expensive, they should have contacted you. I am always on the fence with repairs on equipment over 3 or 4 years old. I am lucky that I know a good repair guy that works on the side, but the only problem is he won't get it done as fast as the dealer. But he is way cheaper.
I had 2 blowers for instance and both are older. Both still seemed to have life left in them but I got tired of one small issue after another with them. So, I just purchased another one. My repair guy was able to fix the others for pretty cheap but still, I didn't want to keep putting much into them. Those other 2 blowers are getting to that age that these are probably the last repairs I will make to them.
That being said though I still have a lot of old half way running small equipment. All my Stihl stuff just won't die. I still have 3 FS80R trimmers ROFL..They all 3 still work but I just got tired of something happening to them every few months. Only had one piece ever just totally crap out on me and it was an old Echo edger. Which was a surprise because the blade edgers don't get near the use as the string trimmers. Expensive repair bills suck though. The dealer will really get you on these repair costs.

 

Shop rates aren’t cheap. If you don’t want to pay it, fix it yourself. I was a firefighter/paramedic full time and mowed 35 lawns a week “part-time”. I usually worked about 90 hrs per week not including maintenance, bookkeeping, billing, and taxes. I’m sure that if you don’t like the shop rate you can find time to fix it. :dancing:

Stihl carbs are cheap from the dealer but Shindy and Echo stuff was expensive. I had to replace a carb on a Shindy backpack blower that my helper managed to break the throttle lever off of. It was over $100 from the dealer. I found the same carb with hi/lo adjustment screws online for like $25. It was for a model airplane but identical other than the Hi/lo screws.

 

Shop rates aren't cheap. If you don't want to pay it, fix it yourself. I was a firefighter/paramedic full time and mowed 35 lawns a week "part-time". I usually worked about 90 hrs per week not including maintenance, bookkeeping, billing, and taxes. I'm sure that if you don't like the shop rate you can find time to fix it. :dancing:

Stihl carbs are cheap from the dealer but Shindy and Echo stuff was expensive. I had to replace a carb on a Shindy backpack blower that my helper managed to break the throttle lever off of. It was over $100 from the dealer. I found the same carb with hi/lo adjustment screws online for like $25. It was for a model airplane but identical other than the Hi/lo screws.

Another reason I stay with Stihl. they bought out Zamba carbs and it slashed the cost of the carbs in half. You can get some stihl carbs for a little more than $30 at the dealer.

 

You bought a bottom of the barrel trimmer and then took it to a dealer to be repaired. What we don’t know here is what was said in the conversation that took place between the service writer at the shop and the customer. I’m guessing it was something like “tune up and get it running” since they replaced the air filter.

Tune up parts and a carb are easily $75. Add a hour labor and you are at $158.

 

You bought a bottom of the barrel trimmer and then took it to a dealer to be repaired. What we don't know here is what was said in the conversation that took place between the service writer at the shop and the customer. I'm guessing it was something like "tune up and get it running" since they replaced the air filter.

Tune up parts and a carb are easily $75. Add a hour labor and you are at $158.

I don't think the dealer did anything wrong by any means. Still I would just sort of be like ummm you know that can get this repair cost over $150 if you're not careful. A new on isn't much more. But I am sure they make way more profit on repair and parts than selling a new one.

 

Is it the repairman job to educate the customer on repair cost or buy new? Or is it the customers fault for not knowing?

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

I don't have many power tools but if I bring an old blower or something in they will take a quick look and let me know if it should of scrapped or do the repair

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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.

 

I throw headwaters away too when something major goes wrong with it. Tell the shop to call me if it is something major. The again, I but my Weed eaters at home cheapo

 

Isn’t shindig or red max echo now?

 

Isn't shindig or red max echo now?

Shindaiwa is owned by Echo. RedMax is owned by Husqvarna

 

I get around 3 years out of home cheapo echo weedeater before the piston goes. I have the 230 now for 2 years . We shall see....

 

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.

 

^What he said

 

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

 

If it breaks after warranty is up and it’s not a simple fix u can do yourself junk it. Buy a new one. Just my 2 cents

 

Depends on how much the battery replacement cost.

 

Same old tightasses as always. You always say that's half the price of a brand new one, id just throw it away and buy a $450 new one.bNo you wouldn't you'll keep on throwing 5 dollar bills at it and gripe the whole Way. Then at the your yard sale you'll talk at length about how the guy that bought the POS for $150 really bs tewdx you. STFU and spend some money. Dishwashers make 15 an hour. Your all the same people that sell the ladders and step stools that almost hurt you last summer.

 

Same old tightasses as always. You always say that's half the price of a brand new one, id just throw it away and buy a $450 new one.bNo you wouldn't you'll keep on throwing 5 dollar bills at it and gripe the whole Way. Then at the your yard sale you'll talk at length about how the guy that bought the POS for $150 really bs tewdx you. STFU and spend some money. Dishwashers make 15 an hour. Your all the same people that sell the ladders and step stools that almost hurt you last summer. Ya jerkoffz.

Welcome to LS!
You know they sell Decaf right?

 

Sounds more like from banned camp

 

Or a cigarette break at AA...