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Thread ID: 131167 2013-04-29 03:22:00 Lawnmower died beetle (243) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1338720 2013-04-29 07:20:00 From Briggs and Stratton
oil starts out clear or light brown, as combustion gases and dirt particles accumulate the oil darkens, if it is black it's time to change it BUT only after
Maybe 6 times at most There is something wrong with the engine originally or you were given the wrong oil. When its new you can expect it to go darker reasonably quicker, as it wears in.

Mines quite a few years old (Briggs and Stratton), cant remember when the oil was last changed maybe 4-5 years ago, from memory last time I checked the oil it was still only light brown, I just keep topping it up as required.
wainuitech (129)
1338721 2013-04-29 09:13:00 Beetle. I bought my Victa 4 stroke lawnmower six+ years ago
from M10.It has regular use and never misses a beat.
What impresses me is it always starts with the first or second pull.
I changed the sump oil once when it was fairly new.
I would definitely say it is a faulty one.
gradebdan (2186)
1338722 2013-04-29 09:40:00 Briggs and Strastton make pretty decent motors for the job they do, but occasionally there's a dud. The warranty tidies up those ones.
What is rather annoying is to compare the price of a Briggs and Stratton in USA compared to the same motor here. OK, freight costs a bit, but if they put two motors on a seat and used Economy Class instead of sending each on it's own seat in First Class it may trim the costs a bit. ;)
R2x1 (4628)
1338723 2013-04-29 09:43:00 I got a phone call around 5 . 30 tonight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ( since been stuck at work so could not reply to this thread)

The lady said they have fixed the mower, it goes now, i can pick it up tomorow . but i have to have it serviced after i pick it up .

When i bought it . . . . . . it was the 24th December, i was supposed to be given a form to say that in one month i was to take it back to them for a service as part f the sale .
i was not given this form, nor was i told that after 5 hours use of this machine was i to have it serviced and also get a oil change . it is part of the warranty that this happens .
So she has flagged the peice of paper, but i have to go get it and take it to the shop to get a oil change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . at my cost - for the oil, possibly not the labour .

and now apparently something had gone thru the blades and bent the blade slightly . but this was not what killed it . what killed it was it she said "it must have rammed something hard so the starter motor was bent and cutting off the cable to the stop start lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . " im like what? im the only one who has ever used it . . . . . .

so it goes, but it is going to cost me money . . . . . . . . . . . . . she sounded very happy, and i said . . . . . . . . well at least i didnt waste $400 on for it too seize . . . . . . . . . . . :(


so i have a machine that goes . . . but it needs a service . . . . . . . . and a oil change . . . . .

is this acceptable?
beetle (243)
1338724 2013-04-29 09:50:00 I think as customer service that they should change the oil. You could do it yourself as it is not very hard to do. Just undo the plug underneath and let the oil out then fill it with new oil through the oil filler on top.
:)
Trev (427)
1338725 2013-04-29 10:07:00 Yes it is acceptable, was there no user manual? It is still up to the end user to read all manuals plod (107)
1338726 2013-04-29 10:15:00 I dont think it came with one........... i will have another look tho........... and i didnt put it together it was ready made and we wheeled it out to my truck when i bought it.....tha'ts why i made sure i asked lots of questions and made sure i had suitable knowledge of what to do with it before use, and i made sure i had correct oil etc before we left.
Ive learnt the hard way i guess.....at least i didnt kill it so it never goes again............. but i dont remember hitting anything bad enough to bend the starter motor..... may have hit a stick or two in longer grass, but dont think im that rough on it.

Thanks all for the input.
beetle (243)
1338727 2013-04-29 10:20:00 Nothing to do with having to put something together, most things just come with a manual.

Good luck
plod (107)
1338728 2013-04-29 10:50:00 It is pretty hard to bend the starter motor on that mower - it is a combination of a rope and a beetle.
Ropes are pretty bendy things, but they straighten up pretty easily if you lead them right; so is that woman suggesting beetle is crooked? Seems there is a bit of slack in that branch's Customer Relations training, not to mention simple bad manners.
R2x1 (4628)
1338729 2013-04-29 10:53:00 You were just lucky R2 you got lots of beetle....mumble txts of complaint........................ about attitude and her valued opinion :D beetle (243)
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