Saw shop requirements

[breezmister]

Whats the Shop Rate at your place?

Is that the same Muffler Setup as on a Exmark Lazer Z with a 22hp Kohler Horizontal?

Best freinds dad blew the side off his muffler and Ive got to take it off and either fix it, or replace it. Weirdest thing, TI wasnt rusted out, it wasnt cut, it just popped the end off.

Hi Red It's 55 dollars an hour. As for the set up on a 22 hp Kohler
I would say it would be similar. Only reason I repaired it was he is a good Tanaka customer, and the local Exmark dealer is 65 dollars an hour
The flange on the muffler on the right side was broken at the weld and I didn't want to weld it on the machine This is not the first time I've had a Kohler come in like this. if the 22 is anything like this one, you will need an 8, 10 and 12 MM shallow universal socket and some long wobble extenions, 1/4 drive. Snap On sells a great set for just over 300 bucks, Or you could unbolt the back of the frame by the electric clutch It's not an easy repair.......

 

[Mr.]

When the drug tests play out in the "corporate" level, of course the
playing field is not usually "even".

The white collar "employees" usually do not have to worry about their white powder habits, or liquid lunches, for whatever reasons.

The injustice of the drug tests on the "blue" collar force is still there,
and no matter what the social status, the drug tests are still wrong...

HAHAHAHA. I'm allowed two alcoholic beverages for lunch. Was told we never have a drug test past the first one also.

You might be onto something Fish.

Fred

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Hi Red It's 55 dollars an hour. As for the set up on a 22 hp Kohler
I would say it would be similar. Only reason I repaired it was he is a good Tanaka customer, and the local Exmark dealer is 65 dollars an hour
The flange on the muffler on the right side was broken at the weld and I didn't want to weld it on the machine This is not the first time I've had a Kohler come in like this. if the 22 is anything like this one, you will need an 8, 10 and 12 MM shallow universal socket and some long wobble extenions, 1/4 drive. Snap On sells a great set for just over 300 bucks, Or you could unbolt the back of the frame by the electric clutch It's not an easy repair.......

okay, Ive already got all that, so I wont need anymore tools.

The only "hard" repairs Ive had so far was doing ALL the cables on a John Deere JX75 Push mower.

Shifter cable
Drive clutch cable
Kill cable
BBC cable

Required some creative maneuvering to get a few of the calbes run..also, had to do a belt, which required either taking off the blade and BBC, OR unbolting the engine and getting creative. Well, all the blade and BBC bolts were seized...I ended up unbolting the engine. That job ended up taking 2 hours, from removing the old rusted cables, and belt, to putting the new cables and belt on. What a pain that was.

Yall see many Wheel Horses up that way?

 

[breezmister]

The only "hard" repairs Ive had so far was doing ALL the cables on a John Deere

Yall see many Wheel Horses up that way?

I haven't seem Toro stuff since I was working for TrueGreen Landcare. And that was one of those giant GroundMasters ? Had 3 decks, one on each side and out front, I think it had a 12 foot cut. That machine was a joke ! it spent more time in the shop then out cutting. There are only 2 or 3 Toro dealers in this area of South Jersey, just like there is only one Stihl dealer around here that I know of.

 

[breezmister]

The other thread discussing resume`s brings a valid question to mind.
How many saw/mower shops require resume`s, job apps, drug tests?
Just curious if any of the northern shops have any of these hiring practices.

Getting back to your question Fish.....Up here in the Northern States, where the sky is yellow and the people are as smart as the plants, every shop requires a app and if possible, a work history.That is if you are not known by the shop owner. But I don't know of any that requires preemployment drug test. But a good small engine mechanic is HARD to fine around here. I would say that there are maybe 20 shops within 20 miles of where I live and I know maybe 15 of them from when I was working for different landscapers, and we all talk like little ?????es Alot of the landscapers that have more then 6 trucks have a full time mechanic, and some have more. Some shops do have dress codes and require a uniform, at the shops expense, some are smoke free. But I do know that a few will require a drug test if you get hurt on the job, and that has to do with the insurance companies policies. So no, the grass isn't any greener up here

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Hey Breezemister, are yall seeing alot of Burnt up 31 Series Briggs Vertical AVS/ELS engines?

Ive had a few recently, 2 had the throttle plate screws come loose and make there way into the top of the piston, when the 2nd one comes loose it jams behind the intake valve, killing the motor. In the mean time, the 1st screw has destroyed the head, piston, etc...

One, Im not sure what happened, man said it was running fine, suddenly started smoking and just slowed down. Leakdown showed no drop through the rings, or valves. Breather was fine..You could start it, and it would run fine, then warm up, and have so much oil running into the cylinder that it would bridge the plug. I put in a new plug, new headgasket, set the lash, changed the oil and filter, cleaned the breather and put on a used head I had off of a blown engine. It worked as best I can tell, ran fine, so I guess it was in the head. Oh well...Customer was happy, thats all that matters.

I saw a real anomaly last week.

MTD push mower with Tecumseh 6hp engine. Governor had been bumped up to 3600 according to the owner. He said his son was pushing it and it came to a sudden stop. Pulled the rope and it wouldnt move.

I flipped it over and found the blade was bent, but not in a way Ive ever seen. It was not bent down, it was bent BACK.

I pulled the covers, and went to take the flywheel off, and found the nut was not tight...because the crank was broken flush with the bottom of the nut. Seems the flywheel kept on moving and spun around possibly one or more full revolutions. The nut was so tight it tightened it down more, and broke the crank.

Shame, the mower wasnt that old.

I saw a 3.5 tecusmeh pushmower that hit something so hard it broke the bottom of the block out, in fact that mower belonged to the youngest son of my freind who owns a big shop in town.

 

[breezmister]

Hey Breezemister, are yall seeing alot of Burnt up 31 Series Briggs Vertical AVS/ELS engines?
Ive had a few recently, 2 had the throttle plate screws come loose and make there way into the top of the piston, when the 2nd one comes loose it jams behind the intake valve, killing the motor. In the mean time, the 1st screw has destroyed the head, piston, etc...
One, Im not sure what happened, man said it was running fine, suddenly started smoking and just slowed down. Leakdown showed no drop through the rings, or valves. Breather was fine..You could start it, and it would run fine, then warm up, and have so much oil running into the cylinder that it would bridge the plug. I put in a new plug, new headgasket, set the lash, changed the oil and filter, cleaned the breather and put on a used head I had off of a blown engine. It worked as best I can tell, ran fine, so I guess it was in the head. Oh well...Customer was happy, thats all that matters.
I saw a real anomaly last week.
MTD push mower with Tecumseh 6hp engine. Governor had been bumped up to 3600 according to the owner. He said his son was pushing it and it came to a sudden stop. Pulled the rope and it wouldnt move.
I flipped it over and found the blade was bent, but not in a way Ive ever seen. It was not bent down, it was bent BACK.
I pulled the covers, and went to take the flywheel off, and found the nut was not tight...because the crank was broken flush with the bottom of the nut. Seems the flywheel kept on moving and spun around possibly one or more full revolutions. The nut was so tight it tightened it down more, and broke the crank.
Shame, the mower wasnt that old.
I saw a 3.5 tecusmeh pushmower that hit something so hard it broke the bottom of the block out, in fact that mower belonged to the youngest son of my freind who owns a big shop in town.

Briggs are the biggest :censored: :censored: junk out there. 2 stories for you
Back in 84 when Bobcats where just coming out, the landscaper I was working for bought one, he had the choice of the Briggs or a Kaw FB460. Second week the bobcat was out it started to leak at the splite between the lower and upper crankcase. Dealer warranted the engine. 2 weeks later, same
problem, this time Briggs would not cover the warranty, in fact, Briggs went so far as to blame the guy that changed the oil, said it was contamitated, that happened to be my boss There was never another Briggs bought by that landscaper.
Couple weeks back, LawnBoy comes in to the shop, has a Briggs on it. It's been in maybe 3 or 4 times in the last 2 years, some one drops something on the carb or what ever, ever part from the aircleaner to the cross over pipe that crosses over the cylinder has been replace atlease once, it's a cheap plastic and stamped steel set up. The old LawnBoys where better. but a Briggs, what where they thinking.......
Couple of years back, had a guy come in for a blade for a Hustler out front mower with a 72 inch deck, He hit a 1/2 thick rebar that was used to hold a parking bumper in place, didn't hurt the spindle, but broke the blade about 6 inches in from the tip, the scary part is, he showed me where the blade tip went through the deck ........

 

[Al Smith]

Well Red you have a start on some tools for a small shop.I have just a tad more than what you listed most likely by a factor of at least ten but who's counting.

What ever you feel about drug testing your employees is just ducky with me.

The one thing that kind of sets me aback though is anyone who would voluntarily welcome the local law enfocement to ransack their house and property.What is wrong with this picture?Can you imagine,snooping through Mrs Reds unmentionables and such,if there is a Mrs. Red.I know Mrs Smith would throw a grand fit if they tried that nonsense on her and I let them .Remember,hell hath no fury...

Do what you want with your rights but as for me,I think I'll keep mine,thank you very much.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Briggs are the biggest :censored: :censored: junk out there. 2 stories for you
Back in 84 when Bobcats where just coming out, the landscaper I was working for bought one, he had the choice of the Briggs or a Kaw FB460. Second week the bobcat was out it started to leak at the splite between the lower and upper crankcase. Dealer warranted the engine. 2 weeks later, same
problem, this time Briggs would not cover the warranty, in fact, Briggs went so far as to blame the guy that changed the oil, said it was contamitated, that happened to be my boss There was never another Briggs bought by that landscaper.
Couple weeks back, LawnBoy comes in to the shop, has a Briggs on it. It's been in maybe 3 or 4 times in the last 2 years, some one drops something on the carb or what ever, ever part from the aircleaner to the cross over pipe that crosses over the cylinder has been replace atlease once, it's a cheap plastic and stamped steel set up. The old LawnBoys where better. but a Briggs, what where they thinking.......
Couple of years back, had a guy come in for a blade for a Hustler out front mower with a 72 inch deck, He hit a 1/2 thick rebar that was used to hold a parking bumper in place, didn't hurt the spindle, but broke the blade about 6 inches in from the tip, the scary part is, he showed me where the blade tip went through the deck ........

nah, biggest peice of crap out there right now is the HONDA GC and GCV engines...I get a couple a week, some thing, choke wont work, carb is messed up, recoil broke...self propelled (only on the honda frames) wont work anymore...I get so tired of pulling those carbs off, they got what...6 gaskets?

Actually its a tie between the Honda GC/GCV motors and any Ryobi Reed Valve style Trimmer EVER made.

I like the small briggs, well designed engines that run and run and run...Id rather have a briggs than a Vertical Tecumseh, thats for darn sure.

Kawasaki is good, Ive got a 13hp (I think) that a guy gave me last week, its all set up to run on propane...never worked on one before, learning experience..hopefully I wont die..:jester:

Had a 20hp L/C Kawasaki on a JD 425, then had a 22hp Fuel Injected Kawasaki on a JD 445...The 445 was sold with over 1300 hours on it, and it still ran, and looked like new.

Id still go with a Briggs VANGUARD Over a Kohler or Kawasaki though..its just a great motor, Especially the 3/LC model...wow

------
Side note, When did LAwn Boy EVER go with briggs? I thought they went with Tecumseh?

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Well Red you have a start on some tools for a small shop.I have just a tad more than what you listed most likely by a factor of at least ten but who's counting.

What ever you feel about drug testing your employees is just ducky with me.

The one thing that kind of sets me aback though is anyone who would voluntarily welcome the local law enfocement to ransack their house and property.What is wrong with this picture?Can you imagine,snooping through Mrs Reds unmentionables and such,if there is a Mrs. Red.I know Mrs Smith would throw a grand fit if they tried that nonsense on her and I let them .Remember,hell hath no fury...

Do what you want with your rights but as for me,I think I'll keep mine,thank you very much.

If The government thinks Ive got Drugs, They will ransack my home regardless of what I do...Its best just to let them go at it, and not delay the inevitable. If I refuse, Ill likely get beat on, then they will get a warrant and search anyways.

Like getting pulled over..you dont HAVE to take a Breath Test or other FST, but if you refuse, you get to go downtown and do it anyways...except now your car has been impounded, and this is ALL on file.

 

[RED-85-Z51]

Well Red you have a start on some tools for a small shop.I have just a tad more than what you listed most likely by a factor of at least ten but who's counting.

What ever you feel about drug testing your employees is just ducky with me.

The one thing that kind of sets me aback though is anyone who would voluntarily welcome the local law enfocement to ransack their house and property.What is wrong with this picture?Can you imagine,snooping through Mrs Reds unmentionables and such,if there is a Mrs. Red.I know Mrs Smith would throw a grand fit if they tried that nonsense on her and I let them .Remember,hell hath no fury...

Do what you want with your rights but as for me,I think I'll keep mine,thank you very much.

Sure...whatever

Freinds shop has 4 guys working full time, They only have 3 boxes of tools, and some on random benches.

No sense in having 8 boxes of tools, you are only going to use 1 or 2 at a time...Why have 5-6 copies of the same tool, or tools you will never use?

Ive been going full time for 3 years now and with my apparently "inadequate" tool collection, Ive NEVER run across a situation where I needed a tool I didnt have.


Ive turned wrenches on everything from a Diesel Bobcat to a Weedeater brand hedge trimmer. Only problem on the bobcat was space...when working on the engines...there is none!

 

[Fish]

If The government thinks Ive got Drugs, They will ransack my home regardless of what I do...Its best just to let them go at it, and not delay the inevitable. If I refuse, Ill likely get beat on, then they will get a warrant and search anyways.

Red that is Florida, U.S.A., where you live?

 

[Fish]

My customers love me, never had one say anything negative about my work.

Wow.

 

[Fish]

In my shop now, Ive got probably 8000-10,000 in tools alone, including but not limited too:


Radial Arm Saw
14" Chop Saw
4" Band Saw
Mig Welder
O/A Outfit
(2) 3 Tier Boxes packed iwth various tools
2 1 tier boxes full of tools
A 9 cu/ft Chest full of Drills, Sawzalls, Circular saws, Jig Saws, Nail guns...I could go on
Ive got a Air nibble, Air Ratchet, Impact Wrench, Body saw, Die Grinder, Air Chisel, D/A sander, Plane Sander and 2 Air Brad/nailers
2 BIG vices
Bench mounted Grinder

Plus a mess of other goodies.

You mean your shop doesn't have a Hobart Meat Slicer???!!!

You use the circular saw to split crankcases, and the nailgun to put them
back together?


I am just teasing you a tad bit, but you need it.

 

[Gravely Grinch]

nah, biggest peice of crap out there right now is the HONDA GC and GCV engines...I get a couple a week, some thing, choke wont work, carb is messed up, recoil broke...self propelled (only on the honda frames) wont work anymore...I get so tired of pulling those carbs off, they got what...6 gaskets?

Actually its a tie between the Honda GC/GCV motors and any Ryobi Reed Valve style Trimmer EVER made.

I like the small briggs, well designed engines that run and run and run...Id rather have a briggs than a Vertical Tecumseh, thats for darn sure.

Kawasaki is good, Ive got a 13hp (I think) that a guy gave me last week, its all set up to run on propane...never worked on one before, learning experience..hopefully I wont die..:jester:

Had a 20hp L/C Kawasaki on a JD 425, then had a 22hp Fuel Injected Kawasaki on a JD 445...The 445 was sold with over 1300 hours on it, and it still ran, and looked like new.

Id still go with a Briggs VANGUARD Over a Kohler or Kawasaki though..its just a great motor, Especially the 3/LC model...wow

------
Side note, When did LAwn Boy EVER go with briggs? I thought they went with Tecumseh?

I do lots of the GC series carbs, they're cheap enough that they're not worth rebuilding.....I just R&R them. There's a trick to doing the gasket/intake stack, it takes me about 30 seconds. Put 2 trimmer head stop rods through the AF housing and the rest of the intake components and put them in the holes in the cyl. Push the stack tight against the cyl and pull 1 of the rods out.....wiggle one of the bolts in and start thread it. Repeat for the other bolt and tighten. Quick, simple and easy. Biggest problem I see with these engines (besides the autochoke) is the rocker pillars wearing out, this requires replacing the upper case half/cyl combo....a death sentence for these cheapo engines.

That being said, I disagree with drug testing. Telling somebody that is applying for a job that they have to flush their Constitutional rights (that our forefathers fought and died for) before you will hire them is blackmail, there is no other way to put it. If you continue to surrender rights that don't affect you, sooner or later something you *DO* care about will be yanked from you. At this time you'll ponder "how did this happen"? It happened because you let it happen and in your case applied it. (stepping off of soap box)

Lawnboy used a few Briggs flat head quantum engines on some of their gold series units in the `90s, I can't recall the model#s. Briggs has taken over production and replacement parts manufacturing for the Duraforce and R-tek Toro snowthrower engines.

 

[spacemule]

I agree with a lot that's been said here, but I'm curious as to what constitutional rights employer required drug testing is violating.
Anyone?

 

[GASoline71]

I agree with a lot that's been said here, but I'm curious as to what constitutional rights employer required drug testing is violating.
Anyone?

Usually... the only people that are worried about "constitutional rights" when it comes to drug testing... have something to hide.

Gary

 

[RED-85-Z51]

You mean your shop doesn't have a Hobart Meat Slicer???!!!

You use the circular saw to split crankcases, and the nailgun to put them
back together?


I am just teasing you a tad bit, but you need it.

Honestly, you never know when yo uare going to have to get creative and build something out of wood, or at least cut wood, I HATE cutting wood with the Chop saw as it makes a TON of smoke, and ot makes everything smell like its burnt.

 

[spacemule]

I don't agree that only those who are worried about constitutional rights have something to hide. Many people, myself included, feel that no rights should be surrendered whether you have something to hide or not.

About drug testing, I imagine it would fall under amendment 4:

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This is no doubt speaking of residences, but I think drug testing could easily be considered a "search." The issue, as I see it, does not apply to employer testing, however. Government testing necessarily must follow different standards. Of course, I'm talking out my ass here. :jester:

 

[Al Smith]

Sure...whatever

Freinds shop has 4 guys working full time, They only have 3 boxes of tools, and some on random benches.

No sense in having 8 boxes of tools, you are only going to use 1 or 2 at a time...Why have 5-6 copies of the same tool, or tools you will never use?

Ive been going full time for 3 years now and with my apparently "inadequate" tool collection, Ive NEVER run across a situation where I needed a tool I didnt have.


Ive turned wrenches on everything from a Diesel Bobcat to a Weedeater brand hedge trimmer. Only problem on the bobcat was space...when working on the engines...there is none!

Well I certainly was not making sport of your tools.I just pointed out that you are not the only one that has a large collection of hardware.In my case,I was always at the right place at the right time with a little jingle in my pocket or good trading stock.

You keep alluding to illegal drugs and their implication.Perhaps we are not on the same page about this.My comment was the erosion of our constitutionaly protected rights .The search for alledged contraban may or may not play a part in the equation.

Here is a little diversion of the law for you.If the law enforcement agencies suspects there may be some illegal contraban in a motor vehicle,they often times call a member of the wildlife authority to preform a random search instead of waiting for a search warrent.The game warden does not need a search warrent in the State of Ohio,little known fact.

Now this contraban I was refering to does not neccessarily mean illegal narcotics it could be fireworks among other things,firarms,perhaps or even Cuban cigars of all things.

I might add in all this discussion that at least 95 percent of all law officers are a credit to those who serve the public safety.Their job is neccessary and often times taken for granted,I commend them.However of the other 5 percent,there are slackers and con men who hid behind the power of that badge of authority.Most likely there is less than 2 percent that are actually rotten to the core but unfortunately these give the rest a blemish.The percentage of good law officers is likely higher than most other groups if a true study could be conducted .