PREP Where to find parts, haha

nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
So my precious DH is finding out that parts are hard to find. Not long ago he bought a craftsman electric chain saw, he has always considered that brand the gold standard in tools. I told him that they are no longer made in the USA, he would not believe me. Well his chain saw stopped working and he could not find the part to repair it. He did some research and found out that craftsman, at least partially if not completely is made in china. He is a creative fellow but this time I don't think he is going to be able to work around this particular problem. He's been using an electric chain saw (he buys them two at a time now) for at least a couple of years if not longer. He uses them for way more than they are made to do, like cutting down and cutting up trees for fire wood.

I asked him this morning if he had a saw that he could use to cut wood if he didn't have electricity and he said he can use his generator to which I asked him what if you didn't have fuel for the generator. He looked perplexed. Me, I always think grid down and that never occurs to him.

Anyway, as I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, be sure to have a good supply of extras.

One is none and two is one, I prefer to have a lot more than that.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
Dobbin

Dobbin

Faithful Steed
Not much is actually "made" in the US anymore. "Assembled" possibly, but very rare to find ANYTHING which is sourced, constructed, or even fixable in the US anymore.

Owner has spent a lifetime in "work arounds" to that. Several power tool names he prefers including Porter-Cable, and Milwaukee - although he has had his issues with this latter also.

Owner tends to buy his tools "used" on Craigslist or now Facebook Marketplace - and from the stellar brands of the past such as Craftsman (who was actually made by any number of subcontractors including Emerson Electric, Walker-Turner) Delta, Possibly their offshoot Rockwell-Delta.

Owner WAS open to the higher end imported tools too. He bought Makita a lot when they first started in the 1970s, now there are many competitors.

Owner has owned a couple of Stihl brand chain-saws bought new, but in each case he found parts non-obtanium (Dealer authorized service only), and repairs expensive. And Stihl was among the first to adopt magnesium housings- which along with the new EPA oil/mix rule of 50 to 1 and wiping of the cylinder bore is a reason why he won't buy a Stihl product. Instead he prefers Echo - which is Japanese. For him who uses a chain saw HARD and often, the Echo is good for at least 10 years. Genuine Echo parts are available from multiple sellers on Ebay.

Owner thinks quite highly of the Harbor Freight "Predator" engines - which are actually made in the same factory as Honda Power equipment engines - minus the Honda badge. Parts for these are available on Ebay.

Owner right now is finding "shortages" of certain repair parts - "Backordered" seems to be the excuse of the day to him.

Today he found the 1978 Maytag Electric Dryer had no heat - he's done this repair before and its not hard to replace the heating element. However, parts for this machine are no longer available from Maytag/Whirlpool and he has to settle on "aftermarket" parts. There are still a lot of commercial dryers out there in laundromat land which are of the same ilk as Owner's Maytag, so parts are still in demand. So Owner has the parts on order from Amazon/Ebay - he has had problems with both of these sources on availability. Now with Covid delays possibly more.

You want to "Make America Great?" The solution is to balance the trade deficit - or require compensation for the imbalance to be settled periodically in GOLD. This will tame US inflation, which is the primary reason for salary imbalance between the two countries, and the price differential between foreign made goods and US.

US workers now demand $25 an hour, but a loaf of bread is nearly $4.

Chinese workers demand $5 a day, but a loaf of bread is $0.17.

The market price-points are the same relatively within each country. Only the relative inflation makes sourcing goods overseas attractive to US producers. Why buy $25 an hour when you can pay $5 a day for the same production work?

It is free enterprise - but on a structurally tilted playing field - and because of inflation all the value (water) drains to the low side of the field (China)

Dobbin
 
Intestinal Fortitude

Intestinal Fortitude

Have Faith
nomifyle said:
So my precious DH is finding out that parts are hard to find. Not long ago he bought a craftsman electric chain saw, he has always considered that brand the gold standard in tools. I told him that they are no longer made in the USA, he would not believe me. Well his chain saw stopped working and he could not find the part to repair it. He did some research and found out that craftsman, at least partially if not completely is made in china. He is a creative fellow but this time I don't think he is going to be able to work around this particular problem. He's been using an electric chain saw (he buys them two at a time now) for at least a couple of years if not longer. He uses them for way more than they are made to do, like cutting down and cutting up trees for fire wood.

I asked him this morning if he had a saw that he could use to cut wood if he didn't have electricity and he said he can use his generator to which I asked him what if you didn't have fuel for the generator. He looked perplexed. Me, I always think grid down and that never occurs to him.

Anyway, as I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, be sure to have a good supply of extras.

One is none and two is one, I prefer to have a lot more than that.

God is good all the time

Judy
Click to expand...
get him an ax
 
D

dvo

Veteran Member
A small Stihl chainsaw will easily do the work of several electric chainsaws. Buy their 50:1 fuel mix. Makes it easy. I know that today’s Stihl’s are a bit compromised over those of 30 years ago, but the pro’s generally use them. Repairs other than a spark plug and chain sharpening normally aren’t needed.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
My big saw is an Echo.

Hasn't failed to start in 12+ years and I've let it sit for months without exercising.

My echo weedeater went down. Mud daubers had blocked the muffler and the diaphragm in the carb was stiff.

Found one on the interwebz.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
We took a chainsaw for a simple repair to a shop. 8 months later still not fixed. Man said needed part from China, could not get it. We brought the saw home, DH can probably fix it from all the parts in the barn.
 
ted

ted

Veteran Member
I picked up a McCullough pro mac 650 for $125. It had been used as a rental for 13 years, I used and abused it for 20-25 years and gave it to my son. He took it in for a rebuild and the mechanic ran a compression test...Like brand new so he rebuilt the carb and sent it back. He traded it for an old Stihl. Come to find out the Macs are in high demand.
 
O

OldMan

Candy’s dandy, but a back rub is quicker.
I've got Stihl, Husky, Jonsereds, Echo, Homelite, McCulloch, Remington chainsaws. My favorite, for my specific situation and age is a mid 1980's Jonsereds (runs and cuts like a banshee). But almost any well maintained and tuned chainsaw will run circles around a top end model that is not.

In general, it seems to me that the quality of these brands' offerings has gone down over time. Dilbert's pointy haired suits with business degrees have taken over the various chainsaw and tool brands and have run them into the ground.
 
D

Dozdoats

On TB every waking moment
Gator tail. Antique or new. Need to be able to sharpen and set teeth and that's it for a one man, will need help for a two man.

iu
 
M

Marseydoats

Veteran Member
Dobbin said:
Not much is actually "made" in the US anymore. "Assembled" possibly, but very rare to find ANYTHING which is sourced, constructed, or even fixable in the US anymore.

Owner has spent a lifetime in "work arounds" to that. Several power tool names he prefers including Porter-Cable, and Milwaukee - although he has had his issues with this latter also.

Owner tends to buy his tools "used" on Craigslist or now Facebook Marketplace - and from the stellar brands of the past such as Craftsman (who was actually made by any number of subcontractors including Emerson Electric, Walker-Turner) Delta, Possibly their offshoot Rockwell-Delta.

Owner WAS open to the higher end imported tools too. He bought Makita a lot when they first started in the 1970s, now there are many competitors.

Owner has owned a couple of Stihl brand chain-saws bought new, but in each case he found parts non-obtanium (Dealer authorized service only), and repairs expensive. And Stihl was among the first to adopt magnesium housings- which along with the new EPA oil/mix rule of 50 to 1 and wiping of the cylinder bore is a reason why he won't buy a Stihl product. Instead he prefers Echo - which is Japanese. For him who uses a chain saw HARD and often, the Echo is good for at least 10 years. Genuine Echo parts are available from multiple sellers on Ebay.

Owner thinks quite highly of the Harbor Freight "Predator" engines - which are actually made in the same factory as Honda Power equipment engines - minus the Honda badge. Parts for these are available on Ebay.

Owner right now is finding "shortages" of certain repair parts - "Backordered" seems to be the excuse of the day to him.

Today he found the 1978 Maytag Electric Dryer had no heat - he's done this repair before and its not hard to replace the heating element. However, parts for this machine are no longer available from Maytag/Whirlpool and he has to settle on "aftermarket" parts. There are still a lot of commercial dryers out there in laundromat land which are of the same ilk as Owner's Maytag, so parts are still in demand. So Owner has the parts on order from Amazon/Ebay - he has had problems with both of these sources on availability. Now with Covid delays possibly more.

You want to "Make America Great?" The solution is to balance the trade deficit - or require compensation for the imbalance to be settled periodically in GOLD. This will tame US inflation, which is the primary reason for salary imbalance between the two countries, and the price differential between foreign made goods and US.

US workers now demand $25 an hour, but a loaf of bread is nearly $4.

Chinese workers demand $5 a day, but a loaf of bread is $0.17.

The market price-points are the same relatively within each country. Only the relative inflation makes sourcing goods overseas attractive to US producers. Why buy $25 an hour when you can pay $5 a day for the same production work?

It is free enterprise - but on a structurally tilted playing field - and because of inflation all the value (water) drains to the low side of the field (China)

Dobbin
Click to expand...

Dh got parts for our 1998 model washing machine from PartSelect.com Don't know if they would have what your owner needs or not
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
Most common parts for 2-strokers,

Fuel line, carb kits or carbs and primer bulbs.

Consider stocking these, maybe storing in the shop beer fridge.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Mid 90's when I was in high school I worked at a sears in the tool dept. We had a book that told us who made everything. Most of the electric power tools were rebadged black and Decker back then. Lawn equipment was mtd if I remember as well.
 
SquonkHunter

SquonkHunter

Geezer (ret.)
Millwright said:
My big saw is an Echo.

Hasn't failed to start in 12+ years and I've let it sit for months without exercising.

My echo weedeater went down. Mud daubers had blocked the muffler and the diaphragm in the carb was stiff.

Found one on the interwebz.
Click to expand...
I have been running an Echo weedeater for 17 years now and only had to make one minor repair to it. The plastic primer bulb cracked and leaked after about 10 years. A ten minute repair and $5 cost. I would never have any other brand.
 
Millwright

Millwright

Knuckle Dragger
_______________
Look for Tygon fuel line.


(snip)
Small engines on your lawnmower, ATV or motorcycle use a gas-resistant vinyl tubing called Tygon. It is usually clear or transparent yellow in color and is preferred over the clear vinyl tubing you can purchase for your beer keg tap or for use as a wiring loom. Tygon is available in short sections or on a large roll and can be quite expensive, but it will outlast the standard vinyl by many years and does not turn brown and brittle after extended use, as vinyl tubing often does.

Loading…

www.hemmings.com
 
tech

tech

Veteran Member
Macgyver said:
Mid 90's when I was in high school I worked at a sears in the tool dept. We had a book that told us who made everything. Most of the electric power tools were rebadged black and Decker back then. Lawn equipment was mtd if I remember as well.
Click to expand...
Haha...you weren’t born yet when Craftsman still had quality tools! :)
 
F

fish hook

Deceased
nomifyle said:
So my precious DH is finding out that parts are hard to find. Not long ago he bought a craftsman electric chain saw, he has always considered that brand the gold standard in tools. I told him that they are no longer made in the USA, he would not believe me. Well his chain saw stopped working and he could not find the part to repair it. He did some research and found out that craftsman, at least partially if not completely is made in china. He is a creative fellow but this time I don't think he is going to be able to work around this particular problem. He's been using an electric chain saw (he buys them two at a time now) for at least a couple of years if not longer. He uses them for way more than they are made to do, like cutting down and cutting up trees for fire wood.

I asked him this morning if he had a saw that he could use to cut wood if he didn't have electricity and he said he can use his generator to which I asked him what if you didn't have fuel for the generator. He looked perplexed. Me, I always think grid down and that never occurs to him.

Anyway, as I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, be sure to have a good supply of extras.

One is none and two is one, I prefer to have a lot more than that.

God is good all the time

Judy
Click to expand...
I agree.I have always been taught to prep for the worst case and evrything else would be taken care of.To me about the worse case IS grid down.Now at 77 and 50 years experience at prepping i think i am close,but still not there yet.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Off topic, but. The hand saw reminds me of in 1990 when my ex was working out of state, my boys were like 10 and 12. Being the nehanderthalls they were, the oldest was chasing the youngest with a skate board. Youngest ran in the front door and locked it, oldest took the skate board and crashed the lead glass window in the front door. We lived in town a half block from Canal Street and I can tell you I was not going to bed until I had that opening in the door covered with wood. All I had was a hand saw and a piece of plywood so I measured and cut that plywood with the hand saw and nailed it to the front door. I think I'd gotten the glass replaced before ex got back home because if I remember correctly he noticed the different glass in the front door. Never a dull moment with boys.

God is good all the time

Judy
 
P

Publius

TB Fanatic
Sears sold the right to the name Craftsman and its tools a few years ago, so when you buy a Craftsman your no longer buying Sears tools.

As for gasoline powered Chain Saws ECHO is about the best deal going right now, they offer a 5 year consumer warrantee
on all their chain saws. The ECHO CS400 and the CS490 are solid saws and they also offer a model called the Tinberwolf thats a little more saw with a 24" bar than most need.
 
Last edited:
D

Double_A

TB Fanatic
Millwright said:
My big saw is an Echo.

Hasn't failed to start in 12+ years and I've let it sit for months without exercising.

My echo weedeater went down. Mud daubers had blocked the muffler and the diaphragm in the carb was stiff.

Found one on the interwebz.
Click to expand...


I had to do a bunch of repairs on a Poulan string trimmer (weed wacker) on Amazon about two years ago. I swear I still get, sent twice a week, Amazon ads for rebuild kits for all kinds of small gas powered yard equipment. If someone does a lot of repair work on these small engines it sure seems Amazon is the place for repair parts
 
D

Double_A

TB Fanatic
zeker said:
i call poulan chainsaws.. disposable

they last a cpl yrs

then.. not worth fixing
Click to expand...

Well that makes sense then. Amazon figured you'll be constantly fixing them.... so two ad's a week for carb rebuild kits and tiny wrenches makes sense.

I bought a Harbor Freight Lithium ion powered one, a year ago. A full charge last me 6 weeks of weekly yard work before recharge. I really like this sucker.
 
NoDandy

NoDandy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Double_A said:
Well that makes sense then. Amazon figured you'll be constantly fixing them.... so two ad's a week for carb rebuild kits and tiny wrenches makes sense.

I bought a Harbor Freight Lithium ion powered one, a year ago. A full charge last me 6 weeks of weekly yard work before recharge. I really like this sucker.
Click to expand...
I thought about getting one of those
 
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