Rejected 5100s warranty on 8 month old Saw.

thinkxingu said:

Elg, I've also heard lots of crap about Mowtown. And when I was looking for a new saw I figured I'd give them a chance--after all, sometimes businesses get an unfair rap--but the two times I went in there I was turned off. I never bought a Dolmar because they were the only dealer close to me, and I got the sense they wouldn't care about my purchase and support one way or another. In fact, I got that feeling from a couple other dealers I called (in MA) and wrote about it a couple times here.

S

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My coworker does lawncare on the side (very small amount).. He picked up a trimmer from Mowtown, brought it back when it stopped running after a few uses. They dropped in a new carb kit and in a short anount of time, same thing. He brought it back and they wanted to do the same thing but didn't offer to stand behind the original work. He threw the trimmer in my truck and I fixed it for him. Fuel line issue.
I have been in to look at the Jonsereds a few times as he was the closest dealer but I found the sales guy to be lacking any professionalism. Each time I have been in I get the same story of "i'm just about to put a Jonsered order in". There are few on the wall.
I am now using Superior saw in Manchester and when I get the $$ together for a new saw I will go to New Boston truck and Equipment. I met the owner at the Farm and Forest show at the Radison this spring. Great guy and he brought a good selection of saws.

Realstone said:

Do you always go OEM rebuild kits or would you buy a 3rd party kit?

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It depends. I've bought off-brand parts and have had good luck with them. The biggie parts (namely piston/cylinder kits) you want to make sure the cylinder is Nikasil coated, parts like that you are better off buying from the name brand outfits.

ElgBurner said:

Guys

I find it hard to blame the dealer, its like blaming the waiter for your uncooked food.

As was said most are Mom and Pop outfits making a go of it.

Yes some dealers should do more and often they are limited by bureaucratic corporate policies.

Some companies want and/or understand brand loyalty and some just get your cash and run.

Dolmar corporate has put everyone downstream in a very bad way.

Elg

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I understand what your point is . However, it's up to the saw shop to adjust the saw . If it came out of the shop in a lean condition , then it's down to the shop .

Working for a Stihl dealer previously, it was a requirement that every product that leaves the shop be assembled and tested before it left. That included final tuning. If a saw came back siezed because of a lean running condition that wasn't due to something that happened after it left the dealer's shop, then it's technically the dealer's responsibility to make it right. That said I can't remember Stihl ever hanging us out to dry on something like that but I imagine that if multiple customer complaints surfaced, a dealer would get a serious "talkin' to."

I knew instantly upon running a new saw if it was a winner or if it was gonna be trouble. Wonder if the every Dolmar dealer really runs the saws before sending them home?

ElgBurner said:

Guys

I find it hard to blame the dealer, its like blaming the waiter for your uncooked food.

As was said most are Mom and Pop outfits making a go of it.

Yes some dealers should do more and often they are limited by bureaucratic corporate policies.

Some companies want and/or understand brand loyalty and some just get your cash and run.

Dolmar corporate has put everyone downstream in a very bad way.

Elg

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Your analogy doesn't work. The shop is the cook. The manufacturer is the producer. Yes, there have been problems with 5100s but there a LOT more out there cutting wood every day without a problem.

Dolmar shipped the saws to meet EPA regulations. Your dealer didn't know enough to tune the saw correctly before it left the shop. You seized the saw. End of story.

Every other thread that I have seen on that has been started on this topic, Dolmar has made things right. What is different in your situation?

Overall, This has been a lousy episode for you. I'm frugal so I buy used and figure if the saw was going to croak, it would have done so on the original owner.
I just read the thread from the Arboristsite. The new fuel could very well be to blame here. Pilot jets on bikes are plugging up left and right on bikes I see. Smaller cc engines means smaller jets which means that deteriorating fuel line (or glue or o-ring or...) doesn't have to break down much to start causing issues.
I use Startron in all my tanks and it seems to help.
Just my opinion.

ElgBurner said:

The fuel is always suspect, I agree. Funny the Husq LS oil has a fuel stabilizer in it.

I cant imagine that would have hurt it..but.

Nobody needs a saw that is so tempermental anyway, thanks EPA

The point I want to make is, that saw was babied and it still failed.

I would not think I would need Startron with the fresh mix/synthetic oil but will be keeping that in mind.

thanks rkshed.

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Sorry, but I'm not buying the fuel excuse. A new saw should be fired up & tuned by a dealer for their peace of mind, as well as the customer's. Every vehicle that gets repaired here gets test driven for my protection as well as the customer's. I'm bettin I can fuel fire & tune a saw in less time than a 5 mile test drive takes. Just sayin. A C

amateur cutter said:

Sorry, but I'm not buying the fuel excuse. A new saw should be fired up & tuned by a dealer for their peace of mind, as well as the customer's. Every vehicle that gets repaired here gets test driven for my protection as well as the customer's. I'm bettin I can fuel fire & tune a saw in less time than a 5 mile test drive takes. Just sayin. A C

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Most machines that get repaired here get a similar treatment. I'll run it across my lawn so no nasty gremlins show up 10-15 minutes into the customer using it for the first time.

I have NEVER seen a 2-cycle engine sieze from running reasonably fresh ethanol blended fuel that was mixed according to the oil or engine manufacturer's specifications.

Count me as another "scored piston failure" owner of a Dolmar P5100S - twice. Each time after about five cords of cutting . I am now running the saw on canned pure gas as I am told that the saw won't tolerate ethanol gas without overheating. Atlantic Power gave me a major runaround - my dealer gave me a good deal on the second new engine or I would have just junked the saw. I haven't cut >5 cords with the new engine yet, so who knows. If it fails again, I will just junk it and buy a Stihl. Count me among the disappointed - it's a nice saw, when it works. Too bad it isn't more reliable over the long term.

DBoon said:

Count me as another "scored piston failure" owner of a Dolmar P5100S - twice. Each time after about five cords of cutting . I am now running the saw on canned pure gas as I am told that the saw won't tolerate ethanol gas without overheating. Atlantic Power gave me a major runaround - my dealer gave me a good deal on the second new engine or I would have just junked the saw. I haven't cut >5 cords with the new engine yet, so who knows. If it fails again, I will just junk it and buy a Stihl. Count me among the disappointed - it's a nice saw, when it works. Too bad it isn't more reliable over the long term.

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Tune the thing yourself, & save the saw. Not hard to do @ all. A C

MasterMech said:

They're out there. Stihl had problems with 046 flywheels cracking, there have been recalls for the BR550 blower, MS311 saw, big one for flippy caps not being ethanol compatible.... The point is, nobody is perfect but how a manufacturer deals with quality issues such as these is what distinguishes the best from the rest.

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Agree 100 percent. I could tell some story's about the stihl dealership (I think you know the story) But bottom line they stood behind there mistake and paid for it.

Whew! I almost bought a 5100s a few years ago and instead went with the 290. It has been a wonderful machine.

5100 is a high revving machine.......tune is extra important. Makes sense as it is a pro grade screamer.