Do you always stick to OEM replacements for your equipment, or do you buy aftermarket parts to save a few bucks?
Chop Stuff Up
Has anyone had any luck with J-Thomas belts. Thinking about getting an extra set to keep on hand and wasn't sure about the quality. I've had good luck with their blades.
Not sure about j-thomas but I usually order stens off the internet pretty cheap and I've only replaced them when the mice get into my deck
One thing you have to keep in mind, Exmark, Scag, Hustler, Toro, JD, and all the others do NOT make belts. They do not make PTO switches. They do not make blades, They do not make clutches. They do not make wheels, They do not make bearings,. They do not make wheels. they do not make tires. they do not make oil filters. They do not make air filters, and they do not make ANY of the parts for any of their engines. So,...what are you really buying? In most cases, you are paying a whole lot of money for a dealer to handle it, or for a stamp with a name on it.
To answer the belt question...I have used the J.Thomas belts plenty of times, and they work just fine. You just have to make sure you get the right application of belt for the right purpose. For instance, you have to make sure the mule drive belt is a w/w belt (wrapped and wound).
To answer the belt question...I have used the J.Thomas belts plenty of times, and they work just fine. You just have to make sure you get the right application of belt for the right purpose. For instance, you have to make sure the mule drive belt is a w/w belt (wrapped and wound).
My ZD has only one belt - it is a very wide/thick double-v belt for the blades.
Does J-Thomas carry these? It is the original one - three + years. :usflag:
Does J-Thomas carry these? It is the original one - three + years. :usflag:
I only use OEM Oil filters, Fuel filters, Air filters, and Spark plugs....But all the rest i'll use after market..
One thing I have noticed about air filters that are not oem, they don;t seem to seal as well. Meaning dust seems to get in around the edges of the air filters into the housing. That's my observation. Other than that, I have gotten other things at Jthomas.
I always use OEM, always. My machine manufacturer has gone thru and found the best suppliers for it components, and that is what I use and trust. The manufacturer doesn't make its bearing and such but there is a big difference from brand to brand. Same with my vehicles.
Like you guys depending on a client to pay you more than it would cost them to do a yard, your dealer relies on you to support them and buy their products.
Like you guys depending on a client to pay you more than it would cost them to do a yard, your dealer relies on you to support them and buy their products.
Air and Oil filters I would stick to OEM as much as possible. Or at least a good name brand aftermarket like WIX.
The Stens and Oregon(Silver Streak) air filters that I have seen are hit or miss. Some of them you can hold next to an OEM one and see/fell the difference. And some of them appear to be just as good as OEM.
The most notable one I can remember is seeing some aftermarket air filters for Honda GX engines. You could definitely feel a difference in weight and just see that the aftermarket ones looked more cheaply made.
Belts can be a bit of a PITA. When you can find an aftermarket replacement it is usually gonna work just as well as the original...sometimes its a challenge to find them though because alot of OEM's have belts made to their specs(special length).
The Stens and Oregon(Silver Streak) air filters that I have seen are hit or miss. Some of them you can hold next to an OEM one and see/fell the difference. And some of them appear to be just as good as OEM.
The most notable one I can remember is seeing some aftermarket air filters for Honda GX engines. You could definitely feel a difference in weight and just see that the aftermarket ones looked more cheaply made.
Belts can be a bit of a PITA. When you can find an aftermarket replacement it is usually gonna work just as well as the original...sometimes its a challenge to find them though because alot of OEM's have belts made to their specs(special length).
I have to agree that manufacturers of equipment do NOT make most of the individual parts.
Toro does NOT make the Kohler engine, for example, nor do they make the Tecumseh transmission OR the belts OR the blades OR the bearings OR any of the little knick knack clips and fuses and grommets and spacers and bushings and switches and clicks and crap.
They don't even make the oil filter or the air filter, sure as heck not the spark plug.
So, is the Champion RJ-12YC the best plug for the Kohler?
NO! The autolite double platinum plug is way better (but YOU have to cross-x it, and buy at the autoparts store).
But the Autolite is no more aftermarket than Champion, they're both OEM for that matter.
What I would consider aftermarket is cheap / replacement parts that don't stand up to the test.
This much I learned when, after getting tired not only of paying $1 / grommet for rubber grommets for my Toro but never being able to get more than 2-3 at a time (these things break all day long, you really need at least 50-100 for some peace) and the folks never would sell me more than a few...
So, I did the research and found the right rubber grommet and ordered 100 (minimum order lol) from a big rubber products mfg (now that's OEM) for around 40 cents each or so.
They're at least as good as the original, they also last anywhere from 10 minutes to a week or three.
So, why not?
You save money, get at least as good of a product, and usually you go through less hassle once you're past the educational experience.
Then, if you have stock built up (100 grommets lasts 2-3 years), no more trips to the store for that one stupid thing you need just right this minute equals more time saved (+fuel + wear + tear).
Research is the key here.
It doesn't pay the first or second time, you spend HOURS doing research to save a few lousy bucks...
And you will make some mistakes, so start by buying a test-size sample (if you can, order only 1 or 2 to test), then if it works out, order BIG.
So over the years, you keep doing your research and remember what you've learned, that's how it pays for itself in the long run.
It's like paying yourself to become educated, experience helps.
Toro does NOT make the Kohler engine, for example, nor do they make the Tecumseh transmission OR the belts OR the blades OR the bearings OR any of the little knick knack clips and fuses and grommets and spacers and bushings and switches and clicks and crap.
They don't even make the oil filter or the air filter, sure as heck not the spark plug.
So, is the Champion RJ-12YC the best plug for the Kohler?
NO! The autolite double platinum plug is way better (but YOU have to cross-x it, and buy at the autoparts store).
But the Autolite is no more aftermarket than Champion, they're both OEM for that matter.
What I would consider aftermarket is cheap / replacement parts that don't stand up to the test.
This much I learned when, after getting tired not only of paying $1 / grommet for rubber grommets for my Toro but never being able to get more than 2-3 at a time (these things break all day long, you really need at least 50-100 for some peace) and the folks never would sell me more than a few...
So, I did the research and found the right rubber grommet and ordered 100 (minimum order lol) from a big rubber products mfg (now that's OEM) for around 40 cents each or so.
They're at least as good as the original, they also last anywhere from 10 minutes to a week or three.
So, why not?
You save money, get at least as good of a product, and usually you go through less hassle once you're past the educational experience.
Then, if you have stock built up (100 grommets lasts 2-3 years), no more trips to the store for that one stupid thing you need just right this minute equals more time saved (+fuel + wear + tear).
Research is the key here.
It doesn't pay the first or second time, you spend HOURS doing research to save a few lousy bucks...
And you will make some mistakes, so start by buying a test-size sample (if you can, order only 1 or 2 to test), then if it works out, order BIG.
So over the years, you keep doing your research and remember what you've learned, that's how it pays for itself in the long run.
It's like paying yourself to become educated, experience helps.
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