In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

The adventures of a new ope service writer

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by bocefus78, Apr 5, 2018.

  1. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    I promised to keep this going. Heres an update.

    Im officially at a year in and still happy here. Our stupid crazy busy season is in week one. Im light years more prepared this year and excited for it.

    This weeks common theme is mid 70's year old customers checking out new ztr vs their lawn tractor asking if it mows in reverse lol. Gotta love homeowners.

    After telling them yes, and letting them test drive one, they sell themselves.

    Next week will be the first week of all the broken commercial equipment. Stay tuned for lots of funnies :)
     
  2. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,463
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
     
    papadave, Screwloose, Horkn and 7 others like this.
  3. chris

    chris

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    3,094
    Likes Received:
    10,775
    Location:
    SE WI
    126 chains in the wash bucket exactly 2 of them had the depth gauges touched, 2 were trashed. that was a marathon of grinding.
    Good luck with the commercial " I need it yesterday" crowd.
     
    Screwloose, Horkn, Hammy and 7 others like this.
  4. stuckinthemuck

    stuckinthemuck

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    3,119
    Likes Received:
    14,450
    Location:
    Wandering around in the NH woods.
    What are you using for a grinder? How long, on average, does it take you per chain?
     
    Screwloose, Horkn, Hammy and 7 others like this.
  5. lukem

    lukem

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    11,245
    Likes Received:
    58,353
    Location:
    IN
    I drove by the local mower shop this morning. It was s-s-slammed with old guys who decided today was the day to fire up 'ol betty and mow the yard....until it wasn't the day.
     
    Screwloose, Horkn, Hammy and 9 others like this.
  6. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    44,193
    Likes Received:
    274,351
    Location:
    Central MI
    Isn't it strange that folks won't do anything with mowers or any equipment until they want to use it. Holy cow, get the equipment ready before it is needed. Then when it is needed, it is ready to go. What would farmers be like if they went the way of the masses? Well, there are still some farmers that do things that way they can't get their crops in or out in time.
     
    Screwloose, Horkn, Hammy and 9 others like this.
  7. Earl764

    Earl764

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2015
    Messages:
    957
    Likes Received:
    5,993
    Location:
    CT
    You got that right.
     
    Screwloose, Horkn, Hammy and 4 others like this.
  8. chris

    chris

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2013
    Messages:
    3,094
    Likes Received:
    10,775
    Location:
    SE WI
    Have eight grinders all basically the same Tecomec/ Oregon ( 2 of those were AX Oregon units - wore the vise out about once per quarter. A 310 silvy and an old Foley. Can't really give a time stamp- as I clean all of them in the blast cabinet first then rinse in Mineral sprits, then start grinding. grinders are set up in sets of 3 - front /back/depth so I am not resetting the vise left and right. Use a caliper to match cutters length wise as I have yet to find a grinder that cuts both the same length.
     
    Farmchuck, Screwloose, Horkn and 7 others like this.
  9. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    After what seems like 2 weeks of rain, the commercial guys are finally at it cutting grass. Today yielded 1 swimmer ( mower that got ridden into the pond) and countless machines that failed to get a pre season once over.

    Give the new guys another week to beat on these machines and things will be downright comical.
     
    Chaz, MasterMech, Screwloose and 14 others like this.
  10. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    I also had another five hour old efi kohler go down to one hole. I see a trend here. :zip: Hopefully it's just a bad ignition module.
     
    Chaz, Screwloose, Horkn and 6 others like this.
  11. OldJack

    OldJack

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2014
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    1,647
    Location:
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Barley powered autosteer?
     
    Chaz, Screwloose, Horkn and 6 others like this.
  12. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    Messages:
    21,298
    Likes Received:
    133,940
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    What do you know about Ferris IS2600Z (Z turn) with Yanmar diesel? Possibly looking at a new one for my employer...the dealer is trying to steer us to a gas model, we'd rather go diesel...
     
    Chaz, Screwloose, Horkn and 5 others like this.
  13. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    No. Just a new guy with rwd on a 30 degree slope. Operator error. Lol.
     
    Chaz, Screwloose, Horkn and 8 others like this.
  14. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    I would need to research this. No info off the top of my head. Yanmar doesn't make junk as you know but that has nothing to do with cut quality.

    Fwiw around here Ferris has little to no reputation for cut quality. Comfortable......different story.
     
    eatonpcat, Chaz, Screwloose and 6 others like this.
  15. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

    Joined:
    May 29, 2015
    Messages:
    21,298
    Likes Received:
    133,940
    Location:
    NE Ohio
    I've heard that...something to do with the suspension I guess...not a huge deal though, its a commercial property so...meh...
    Right...not sure what the dealers issue is with them...they are pushing stuff with 35 (ish) HP gas V-twins...sounds thirsty to me...and we have no gasoline on premises...only diesel. And when we went from gas to diesel on the Ventrac mower back in 2008 the fuel usage was cut over 50%...
     
    eatonpcat, Chaz, Screwloose and 7 others like this.
  16. billb3

    billb3

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2013
    Messages:
    9,968
    Likes Received:
    51,162
    Location:
    SE Mass
    My Husqvarna has a switch for mowing in reverse on or off.
    What's nuts is with an electric engage for the mowing deck they could easily disengage the deck, but no, they shut off the mower engine . WTF.
     
  17. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    Another swimmer yesterday....This one ended up upside down with no injuries. Wet grass and steep slopes don't mix well with zero turns.
     
    Chaz, Hammy, Screwloose and 11 others like this.
  18. T.Jeff Veal

    T.Jeff Veal

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Messages:
    23,496
    Likes Received:
    142,682
    Location:
    Country life, Ga
    Somebody was lucky and blessed then.
     
    Chaz, MasterMech, Hammy and 9 others like this.
  19. Midwinter

    Midwinter

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Messages:
    19,846
    Likes Received:
    130,463
    Location:
    Nashua, NH
  20. bocefus78

    bocefus78

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2013
    Messages:
    3,694
    Likes Received:
    19,835
    Location:
    Indiana
    A couple of todays tidbits. 12 inch grass vs 8 inch tall broken off basketball goal.
    20190424_110832.jpg

    5 hour old $15,000 exmark. Top 10 nations nation's largest landscaper as a customer. Deck fell off.
    20190424_095246.jpg
    20190424_095250.jpg

    And then on my lunchbreak I was cutting a few yards and this happened to my walk behind. Yep....im one of those guys who failed to check much other than oil:(

    20190424_181236.jpg