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

I was about to make a phone call to the dealership in Wisconsin this morning to order a 221Q.  Before doing so, I decided to take a run to Home Depot to see what they had in stock.  I had thoroughly gone through their web site and it was less than helpful.  Terrible in fact.  Probably the worst big box store internet site I've tried.  Nonetheless, I took the trip into town to see what they had.  I was thoroughly surprised and pleased to see two new 221QE machines sitting on the floor.  Price was marked down 25% from $899.00 to $599.00.  Don't know who's doing their math but that works out to 33.3% in my books.  Regardless, I scooped one up right then and there.  I've got it down in the basement for a good once over before I put it to work.   We're supposed to get five or six inches of snow tonight and tomorrow so, I'll be submitting my review. 

aa335 wrote:
Home Depot showed the machine marked down from $899.00 to $599.00.  The gouger's price was $100.00 over HD's MSRP.  That would lead me to believe that the gouger is obviously marking up his prices over MSRP.   Who knows?  Maybe he uses the extra money he adds to MSRP  to use as his "discount" to sell the machine for full MSRP.   Regardless, anyone with the least bit of shopping sense should do a bit of internet searching and local price comparison before making a purchase.  

The dealership didn't have competition until HD showed up a few years ago selling Toro, Ariens and Echo products.  I have a buddy who's brother in law is a friend of the owner of the dealership.  We were at a gathering a few weeks ago and the b-i-l, said something to the effect that if we don't get a lot of snow soon, the "dealership" would be feeling the pinch.  Snow moving equipment isn't moving off the floor.  I casually said that I've been seeing lots of pick-ups coming out of HD with snow blowers in the box.  His response was brilliant.  He said "Well that's because they sell them a lot cheaper and it's junk compared to what Joe sells."   I just let it slide.   

I've only dealt with that dealership once when I was in desperate need of a belt and air filter for my Husqvarna riding mower.   His prices for parts were at least three times the cost of equivalent parts at larger retail stores (if they had them in stock).   When the larger, less expensive retail outlets don't have what you need, and you can't/won't wait for parts to be shipped to you, the gouger gets to make a killing.  

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned a local woman trying to sell a six year old CCR 2000 for $475.00.   When I made her an offer of $300.00, she refused because she said that the machine had been purchased at the above local gouger for $1200.00 and she couldn't part with the machine for less than what she was asking.  I told her that brand new, better appointed Toros can be had at HD for $599.00 which is only $124.00 more than what she's asking.   She maintained that they paid big bucks and couldn't let the machine go for less than what she's asking.  I then politely told her that she had been severely gouged by the dealership  (she agreed)  and that she cannot expect to get the price she wants when new, better machines are so closely priced to what she's asking.   She said that if she can't get her price, she'll keep it.    I assume she kept it. 

What keeps the gouger alive is his connections with the local landscaping outfits.  He get's a lot of their business and they have no problem paying top dollar because they pass their costs on to the consumer and/or write much of their capital costs off as business expenses.   The gouger also has a good small engine mechanic and draws a lot of service work at $80.00/hr.  What many customers don't know is that 75% of the work done in their shop is carried out by less capable techs. 

It's nice to support local business but at what cost?  With outrageous prices and arrogant, insulting attitude, it's hard to muster up any sympathy for them.   Bottom line is that he'll never see another penny of my money.     

borat wrote:

Here's a pic from yesterday of a stack of a nearby HD's CA$599 "junk".  Some were apparently able to "price match" and use a Rona Saturday (29th) morning opening till noon e-mailed offer of "15% off anything" in Rona stores at HD.  That brought the 221QE from CA$599 to CA$509.15.  "Junk", probably not, "a lot cheaper" than gouger, yes.

aa335 wrote:
That's why I like the mechanical governor on the Tecumseh.  With a simple piece of string, it can be used like a throttle. 

If you find a suitably sized/tensioned spring with a straight extension that could be fed through the hole in the tab, it too could be used like a throttle.  When the spring is at rest in the normal operating position, the engine would be running at desired limited rpms.   Tie a piece of string onto the end of the spring with the straight extension that feeds through the hole will allow for the shaft of the spring to be drawn through the hole on the tab thus increasing rpms.  Relaxing tension on the spring will allow it to go back to normal operating position.   The concept is simple enough.  The trick would be to find the correct spring to do the job. 

Another option would be to make some kind of linkage that would utilize the existing spring and running a small shaft through the hole in the tab and bending the tab far enough to the left to allow the shaft to have movement.  The shaft would also need a stop on it on the left side of the tab to hold normal operating position.  Might take a bit of trail and error but very much possible.  

"That brought the 221QE from CA$599 to CA$509.15. "

I'm having a Homer Simpson moment here.....DOUGH!!!!

Unfortunately, we don't have a Rona here so, I have to live with $599.00. 

Borat,

Is there a reason to wait until first oil change or 20 hrs (or some set usage hour) of usage before increasing the RPM?  Just curious and I am not trying to pass down any pre-conceived idea.

Borat,

Don't worry, you still got a good deal.  Just enjoy that outstanding view while you clear snow, your video is a post card of snow throwing locales!

Love the 2-stroke sound, especially that distinctive bouncy engine sound when you back up with no load.  Not sure my tighter-quarter neighbours would agree.  That's why I'll probably hang on to my Poulan 4-banger, unless I see some crazy clearance on the 221QE, especially the HD with 27 in stock today from yesterday's pic.  I caught the 2-stroke bug years ago with three Yamaha bikes in a row, RD400, RZ350, DT200R, once in your blood.....

MN_Runner wrote:
I don't see too many OPE engines that restrict rpm during the break in period.   Loading and unloading the engine is more important with OPE.

When I say load the engine, I'm talking enough to make the engine work pretty hard for a few seconds then back it off.  Repeat off and on for the first hour or so of operation and the engine will be ready for sustained loads in an OPE engine. 


I know with motorcycles, some engine manufacturers like to keep portions of the break in period under certain rpm levels to ensure proper seating of rings, wearing in of bearings etc.  A new engine can be "tight" and shouldn't be stressed too highly before having a chance to run the internal parts in a bit.   Not unreasonable in my view.  However, babying the engine is not a good thing either.   I like to load and unload the engine during break in.  In a four stroke motorcycle engine for instance, back pressure is supposed to help seat the rings better.  Therefore, I'll run the bike up to speed then do some serious gearing down to cause engine braking which generates a lot of back pressure in the cylinder. 

Personally, I think a lot of manufacturers like to keep the engine rpms at reasonable levels to minimize warranty claims.   Chances are that if something is going to let go, it will probably be sooner than later.  Pushing a new engine too hard too long will more than likely facilitate something going wrong.  Whereas, a reasonable break in method will likely allow the engine to settle in a live a longer life. 

 

borat wrote:

A few local OPE dealers threw in the towel rather than try to compete with the big box chains.  However a few enlightened dealers in my area have flourished.  They found the sweet spot, as far as price that a consumer will pay over the box store price, for all of the extra value that a dealer can offer.  Things like expert product knowledge, free delivery, taking trade-ins, etc...are things that the box stores can't touch.  I would much rather buy from an independent dealer for all of those reasons, even if I had to pay a reasonable premium.  Of course there a difference between pay a premium to a service orientated dealer and being taken to the cleaners by a shameless gouger.

" Just enjoy that outstanding view while you clear snow, your video is a post card of snow throwing locales!"

I thank my lucky star every day to be fortunate to live where I live and have the health to enjoy it. 

We were at a dinner party last night and everyone sitting around was moaning and groaning about winter, having to deal with cold temps and snow etc. and talk about trips to warm destinations.     I was the odd man out.  I told them that I love winter and I love snow.  Bring it on. 

This year I bought a cheap old Skidoo Elan to push trails into the bush behind out house so that we could walk them during the winter.  Much nicer than walking out on the streets or roads.   Sadly, my Elan broke down with an electrical problem and I'm waiting for a warm day to pull the engine to fix it.  In the mean time, I've been keeping the trail packed by foot along with help from numerous deer, wolves, coyotes, fox and lynx. 

 The wife and I just come back from a 2.5 mile walk on this loop trail: 

Don't wig out about the picture Trouts, for some reason, I cannot re-size it.

 

   The pict is 640 x 597 which fits and is that size that determines if a thread blows out.   The other "size" is density which is 500,000kb.  It's got way more detail than needed for a net picture to be crisply displayed.  I have fast net but others don't so resizing for density is a good thing also.  That picture at 50kb would look as good and load quickly for everyone.