Husqvarna is making changes

[XLS]

Today I was called by my dealer and Informed the items we ordered was unavalible and would continue to be that way for a while.

we found out the 223L string trimmer is dropped from the line up. This string trimmer model makes up 90 percent of the total trimmers we run and now I will be reordering 24 units.

The 323L is taking the place of the 223 and has a stronger solid shaft. In 2009 through 2011the 323 cost $345.ooand the 223L $299.oo Now I can get the 323L for$ 279.oo after taxes with absolutly no change inthe unit.

They are holding off on shipping #17 - 580BT because apparently with the unit redesign the added power output caused leaves to get into the intake area which could cause future issues.
shipment could be mid season not February.

We ordered #7 -61" ztrs units which were suposed to have powered baggers .....Now this unit is only avalible in 48" cut.

and to make it worse was I have to reorder everything and it will not even be here when season starts.

[MASTERMOWER]

Time to switch brands. Toro/Exmark, Stihl.

[XLS]

No dealers within 80 miles of me and the dealers are crap . over worked underskilled and over charge the customer.

[MASTERMOWER]

That doesn't make sense. For a period you were buying those Bradley stand on units direct from the company. Ain't many dealers (if at all) for those...

[XLS]

your correct in a way. The dealer I use for all of my 2-cycle purchases is also the husqvarna dealer, but does not stock ztr over 46" residentials due to no sales demand.

I found redhawk/Bradley at the Louisville Gie and asked my dealer to support them for us if we chose the mower . Bradley does not have dealers I have heard of. He said he could service all the major repairs because he was certified kohler,and hydro-gear and as long as it was that combo no issues would exist. but there was no parts in stock if I needed them.

With branded equipment they ask him to be a dealer which he will not do . and with parts they are substantially higher priced.
Besides the bradley mowers he has sold me everly mower I have ever owned purchesed new.
He has sold walker,ferris in the past and we was the full extent of his sales for both brands ( we asked him to take ferris on and he did) and we said go- they did. the walkes he got by purchasing through the same distributer and when I needed parts I drove 60 miles round trip to pick them up,which is the same dealer that sells me parts for our gravely`s.
I wasnt p-oed at the dealer and in no way would drop him but not expecting husqvarna to put me on hold either.

[XLS]

Also $2500.00 per bradley delivered cost to me is a major factor for the purchasing of them with out a True Dealer. also why we will continue using them for a bit longer.
Where as the name brands you mentioned will not knock off a dime to sell out their suport. and do not offer better fleet purchasing options then a guy buying 4 units . Cost are many $1000`s more then the unit we run.
and so you get my point I run my equipment 1000 hours or until it`s cost totals1/4 the originals
yet no unit I have ever run reguardless of or cost or model or crew has lasted 3 seaso as a primary mower.
now considering I have run the61" 3000z ferris with kawi engines ,the 72"5000z ferris with cat diesels, dixion 50"residentials cubcadet50" residential,walker, bobcat ,hustler, bradley and husqvarna Ican assure you they none make it over 3 seasons with weekly oil changes.
so it boils down to the fact I dont need the mowers come day one of the season but still expected it in his spring order.

[XLS]

there is a big difference to me in a mower that retailes for 9 grand that is say a 27hp 61"unit running10 mph that I can buy for 5500.oo
after tax over a exmark who saves me 10-15% on a 12 grand mower that cuts no moregrass.

[MASTERMOWER]

Ican assure you they none make it over 3 seasons with weekly oil changes.

I've read that Ford conducted a study and found frequent, pre-mature oil changes were more harmful than good. For optimal protection, oil has to 'break-in'. :alien::alien::alien:

How many hours do you place on a primary mower per year?

[XLS]

1200 to 1600 hundred on some crews as few as 800 on some of the newer ones.
They mow about 40 hours a week form mid Feb through christmas and 20 hours a week for the remaining weeks. On dry years they may go to mowing on a 2 week schedual with regular visits weekly to touch up in July -August, but last year it rained all year.
Our guys change oil on saturdays so it does not happen mid week and throw off the crews.

[XLS]

premature oil change is a baaaad thing !! thats something I look down on here......and if I see or hear one of my guys doing it or talking dirty to a mower I will fire them on the spot too...... I cant have them harrassing the work force . lol serious note when the oil becomes dark and the cross patteren on the dip stick becomes hard to see, but still visible it gets changed .

[sjessen]

I've read that Ford conducted a study and found frequent, pre-mature oil changes were more harmful than good. For optimal protection, oil has to 'break-in'. :alien::alien::alien:

How many hours do you place on a primary mower per year?

Do you, by chance, remember where you read that? Have not heard of that before.

[MASTERMOWER]

Do you, by chance, remember where you read that? Have not heard of that before.

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/mobil1.html

"This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it."

[XLS]

It is all hot air I read it . Ford says words like warranty and 3000 miles and No extended milage oils. so 3000 miles void all warranties reguardless of testing they may or may not had done.

same goes for my mowers . I do not use 6.oo oil
nor do they drive it 3000 miles. the factory says 50 hours so 50 hours it is. If the change at 40 hours is killing my engine then I will live with it.
There is a major difference between a ford engine and a mowers engine.

[MASTERMOWER]

It is all hot air I read it . Ford says words like warranty and 3000 miles and No extended milage oils. so 3000 miles void all warranties reguardless of testing they may or may not had done.

same goes for my mowers . I do not use 6.oo oil
nor do they drive it 3000 miles. the factory says 50 hours so 50 hours it is. If the change at 40 hours is killing my engine then I will live with it.
There is a major difference between a ford engine and a mowers engine.

However oil is oil. Just because you have 50 hours logged on a mower engine doesn't mean the oil won't lubricate the engine just the same for another 20 hours. If the engine manual said it's recommended to change the air filter every 5 hours, would you?

[XLS]

lol I wasnt saying any of my post in a way that it Has to be 50 hours lol sorry Just saying with our crews that 80 hours between changes and it thick as tar and black I would believe is to long due to the dirt and other visible contaminates present in the oil. I can not afford the day of down time in the mid week to change it at any other interval .

air filters we blow out with our blowers daily. reguardless of the hours they run. =sdle air and a bump with your had will clear out alot of dust. then a new filter every 500 hours is it.