Still no real tractor or truck work, the carpet removal in the house is taking priority over anything in the shop. Hauled another load to the dump and pulled staples all afternoon. We did go buy some paint this morning and some drywall mud and tape to do some small repairs before paint.
There were only two experienced parts people left in town, a husband and wife team that had been in the business since the early 1970's. Unfortunately the husband died a couple months ago. His wife is a manager at a large parts house. She works the counter too but the odds of getting her is not good and the rest of the help are like some of you described. That parts house doesn't have a website though so I can't walk in the door with a part number like I can at Auto Zone or O'Rielly's. I just tell them to get me that part number to save myself the frustration of the "make, model, transmission, etc" routine. 99% of what I buy for our vehicles and my tractors is all done on internet now, with much better pricing and so far no problems. Mostly ebay stores but several months ago I needed a Rochester M carb kit and Rock Auto was the only place I found the right one.
@TAHOE, I can tell you that the predator 420 that's now on my MF12G has run great in the 3-1/2 years it's been in service. No engine breakdowns at all. I do have to get off the tractor and brush clippings and leaves off the recoil every hour or so as it will restrict airflow across the engine, but at least it catches it instead of pulling it into the blower housing.
DAC
There were only two experienced parts people left in town, a husband and wife team that had been in the business since the early 1970's. Unfortunately the husband died a couple months ago. His wife is a manager at a large parts house. She works the counter too but the odds of getting her is not good and the rest of the help are like some of you described. That parts house doesn't have a website though so I can't walk in the door with a part number like I can at Auto Zone or O'Rielly's. I just tell them to get me that part number to save myself the frustration of the "make, model, transmission, etc" routine. 99% of what I buy for our vehicles and my tractors is all done on internet now, with much better pricing and so far no problems. Mostly ebay stores but several months ago I needed a Rochester M carb kit and Rock Auto was the only place I found the right one.
@TAHOE, I can tell you that the predator 420 that's now on my MF12G has run great in the 3-1/2 years it's been in service. No engine breakdowns at all. I do have to get off the tractor and brush clippings and leaves off the recoil every hour or so as it will restrict airflow across the engine, but at least it catches it instead of pulling it into the blower housing.
DAC
I'm getting so disgusted with spray cans lately. I got two cans of Rustoleum at wally world last week same color. I used one & nothing coming out on the other. I keep extra nozzles but it was clogged in the can.