Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

Sears had a recall last summer-fall to fix these machines because of a concern about fire when primed.  They offered an oil change, new spark plug along with the new fix. 

The technician arrived at 9 am on a September day and acted very nervous and shaky when he worked on the machine.  I asked him if he was ok and he responded that he had too many recall type service calls and not enough time in the day.  He kept rushing and scattered screws and parts all over the place.  I gave him a plastic container to hold the parts while he worked.  When he put it all back together and was ready to leave, I asked him to start the machine for a test run.  He ran it for thirty seconds or so, shut it down and I assumed it was ok.  I should have test run it again in November but took it for granted that all was ok. 

I have only used this machine ONCE.  It was last February 2007.  Purchased in February 2006, it sat for a year unused in a snowless winter.  I have a feeling the troubled technician's bad day is now haunting me.  Sears can only send a tech out on January 2, 2008 so I'm stuck with a machine sitting out half the winter.  (I did have the urge not to have Sears do this fix but they were fairly aggressive with mailings, etc.)  The machine is also under the extended warranty I purchased. 

Anyone else out there who had Sears call on them for this so-called fix?

I tried the pull start first with choke on full (primed with two shots as required).  After waiting several minutes, I then tried the electric start after I walked through the owner's manual check list with everything in place and it still won't start!  I returned 30 minutes later to try again and still no start.

The Sears repair tech arrived today (late this afternoon while being told his ETA was between 8 & 5) and he was not sure what went wrong with my machine after trying to start it.  He drained the gas and added his own.  Still wouldn't start.  Finally with lots of spray ether and pumping of the primer it ran weakly on full choke.  When he started to release the choke slowly, the machine would falter with an occassional backfire.  It simply struggled along on full choke and wouldn't run normally.

He thought it needed a new carburator so he ordered one and I parked the machined.  According to his schedule controlled by his manager, it will be installed on Saturday, Jan. 12, between 8am and 5pm.  Should be interesting if the next fix doesn't work.  We could continue on into springtime.  There isn't any snow in the next ten days or so forecasted for eastern Mass.

FYI: said he hadn't heard of any problems other than mine after the recall fix. 

Did the service tech even pull the float bowl off of the carb?  If not, he's not much of a tech.  Pull the float bowl off yourself to see if there's debris,  water or ice in there.  Could be something as simple as that.  Could be the float needle being stuck closed thus not allowing fuel to flow into the float bowl. 

Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008

Received my new carburator yesterday afternoon ordered by the tech during his last  visit.  He'll be here on Saturday, Jan. 12th.

The part number on the box and packing slip is 794593 . 

The part number in the owner's manual is 696737.  He took the part number from the owner's manual when he ordered the carburator. 

The plot thickens.  I hoping the new number is one that supercedes the old (wishfull thinking) with a new-and-improved carb.

WX forecast over the next few days or so is rain and mild weather.

That is truly a pathetic attempt to solve your problem.  I'm not a practicing mechanic although I do have a fair amount of mechanical training and a great deal of mechanical experience.  Timmy the tech should have at least pulled the fuel bowl off of the carb to look for debris, ice or water.  Personally, I'd have pulled the carb off on day one for a thorough inspection and cleaning.  A chimpanzee can do R & R (remove and replace).  Sad to see the level of incompetence that the big box stores have reduced their service staff to.   I'd be some pissed off if I were in your shoes.   

Not to be a smart ass, but have you thought of buying yourself a small engine repair manual for simple repair work?   Even if you learned the basics of carburetor operation you'd probably be able to solve 90% of your small engine problems.  Very, very seldom is engine starting/running problems caused by anything else.  A little knowledge and a simple tool set can do wonders.  The satisfaction of doing it yourself is also rewarding.  Not to mention the money you'll save.    

Best of luck to you.

I appreciate your concerns and getting pissed off on my end doesn't help daily life.  I'm saving that for Saturday when he arrives and I may be told to wait two weeks or so for another repair visit when the correct part is shipped.

This machine is under warranty so I don't intend to tinker with it.  It is, however, a mechanical learning experience for me and we'll see what happens.  I'm retired so I have plenty of time to get on the phone and work through the Sears network.

The Sear's tech (same guy) was here on Saturday and he replaced the carburator.  The new carb part number superceded the old one, which explains the difference.  That was a great relief at the moment.  The machine started immediately on the second pull, he slowly backed off on the choke and we stood, watched and listened.  Sounded good.  It ran well.

After he left, I went to start the machine for the purpose of burning off the remaining gas in the tank (about two inches from the bottom).  It started and ran for 20 seconds or so, slowed on its own and died.  I thought it was out of gas.  I remembered last sping when I ran it to burn off remaining gas that the bottom of the tank could be partially seen.  The machine just would not start this time yet there's enough gas in there for a run.

I called the Sears number and they said he would return later in the day.  He didn't.  I called them on Sunday and he's scheduled to be here tomorrow  (Tuesday).  I asked what it would take to turn this in and get a new replacement and she said it would be up to the technician (I doubt I'd be eligable of course but needed to know).

I also got a quick tuturiol on the carb and how the screws on the bottom which houses the float are designed not to be removed.  The tech said the screws (look like brass) would distort and he thinks they're mounted with loctite.  This is a mean and powerfull vibrating machine so it made sense.  Older aircraft engines, piston and jet , are filled with safety wire locking the screws.

By the way, it snowed today and we got about five or six inches. . . .heavy and wet and made for 11.5 hp.

I received an automated call from Sears this morning (Tuesday) conducting a survey with six questions.  I gave the tech high marks for his attempts to fix and I gave Sears low marks for their service (understaffed and long delays for the tech to arrive).

Shortly after the call, a tech arrived (a different guy, looked like he was in his late fifties), stepped out of his van and was singing away.  I said hello and he didn't answer.  He proceeded to remove the structure that holds the "cab" (the cab was not on).  Said it was in the way.  (OK, but the other tech didn't have any problem).  As he removed the housing which covers the carb, etc., he kept dropping screws and placed other screws and parts on the ground.  I ran inside to get a plastic container for his use so he wouldn't lose any parts.  He then asked me to add some of my gas to bring the tank to half-full.

He started pumping the primer and announced he found the problem.  "ICE!"  Gas was not coming thrrough the line to the carb.  He then disconnected the gas line and told me when gas starts pouring out, you'll know the ice has melted.  He said I better get a bucket to catch the gas.  I suggested I would place a heating pad there and he said he couldn't wait around for this and he would return on Friday.  At the moment he pulled out of the driveway and was gone, I discovered the fuel on/off valve was in the off position!!  He never touched it.  I turned it on and quickly turned it off because gas started pouring out!! 

I called Sears immediately, got lucky and had an intelligent person on the line who got more pissed off than I.  He put in for a new tech and said he would submit a report on this guy.

when u turned the gas on did the blower start? or di the tech leave the machine in pieces.

So sorry for your aggravation. She should be ready by the spring. Ouch.

Your repair situation is a litany of incompetence and hubris behaviour on behalf of the Sears Goonie Goo Goo service team.    Fortunately for me, I do all of my own small engine work.  My motto is "If I can move it, I can fix it." So, I never see a service tech unless I bring a new machine into a shop for warranty work.  Even then, it would have to be catastrophic failure for me to bring it in.  I don't trust too many places to fix my stuff.  Particularly when I see sixteen year old Timmy in the back looking like he's recovering from a night of hard partying.  Too bad the older tech didn't have more going for himself.  Bad manners and incompetence don't do much to bolster customer confidence.  So, is your machine still apart or did the tech at least re-assemble it before he left?  If so, did it start after you turned the fuel on?

This tech left the machine in pieces.  He was a complete slob!  Good thing I provided a plastic container.  I placed a Shaw's plastic shopping bag over the carburator to keep out micro-dirt and covered the machine with my Classic cover.  Normally I keep the machine stored under cover on an open side porch, but with the fuel line open, I chose to keep it parked away from the house for safety reasons.

I've now seen three Sears technicians and have watched how they work.  Two were confused and couldn't wait to leave for their next service call.  The third guy, the one who ordered the new carburator, was methodical and tried to work his way through the problem.  All three had a bad habit of placing parts on the ground and then searching for the parts when it came time to reassemble.  In addition, all three mentioned how they had an extremely busy schedule and hoped they could see all of their customers.  These guys are overloaded and don't have the time to check their work.

Today's tech (the slob) obviously was happy to leave so he could move on to the next repair call to keep the pressure off from his management.  Their job is hit or miss.