No More Carb warranties for Stihl

[dogsluvtrux]

Thought you guys might be interested in this little nugget of knowledge....

I just had two of my tech come back from Stihl Silver School, and we have been informed that Stihl will no longer replace a carb under warranty....they will have to be rebuilt. Apparently, each carb replaced under warranty will be considered an EPA infraction that Stihl will be fined for. I have yet to get a definite answer as to when this policy takes effect, but it seems like a poor sign of things to come :grrr:

 

[Danno77]

but that won't effect this new line I keep hearing about, right? like if you have a 362, they'll probably be ok with replacing that?

 

[smokinj]

seems that it would cost more to rebuild one the to swab it out.What am I missing here if its the same carb?

 

[dogsluvtrux]

From what I understand, if you buy a brand new saw, and there is a problem with the carb, the dealer will have to rebuild it not replace it. My Stihl rep has not given me an exact date as to when this policy takes effect...any carb that is replaced under warranty will have to be filed with the EPA as a violation, and fines will be levied.

 

[stee6043]

Don't blame Stihl......something much bigger is to blame....

 

[Tree farmer]

Don't blame Stihl......something much bigger is to blame....

You got that one right!

 

[SWNH]

Call me slow, but I don't get it. If it's the same type of carb, what's the "violation"? It's not like they're putting on a Holley double pumper in place of the original...

 

[Stephen in SoKY]

Peter, you're applying logic & common sense to something mandated by the EPA. That just won't work.

 

[SWNH]

Peter, you're applying logic & common sense to something mandated by the EPA. That just won't work.

Yea, yea...I know. But they must have SOME ridiculous reason for this....even if it makes sense only to them.

 

[Danno77]

the point is that you'd be keeping a "polluting" engine running. not my words, just my estimate of their purpose. I imagine that the EPA, in all their brilliance, are sitting around saying, "HA, we got them now, it will be so hard to repair carbs that they will spend millions to make the replacement carbs environmentally friendly and make all chainsaws vent water vapor and rose scented happiness."

 

[Nonprophet]

Something just doesn't sound right about this.....

Is the idea that if they replace the carb that they're somehow compelled to report this to the EPA and that means that the defective carb was in theory polluting and that Stihl was responsible for said pollution?? If Stihl rebuilds it instead they don't have to report it?? Seems fishy to me...........


NP

 

[Skier76]

I was hoping this thread was gonig to be about all Stihl saws going over to EFI. :coolsmirk:

 

[Highbeam]

EPA's likely thought: If the carbs needs to be replaced often then it is a crappy carb design and Stihl should be fined. The carb is an emissions device and failure of an emissions device is bad.

My thought: If you didn't force us to use ethanol then the carbs wouldn't bugger up.

 

[blel]

My thought: If you didn't force us to use ethanol then the carbs wouldn't bugger up.[/quote]



I agree 100%. This gas/ carb problem didn't exist until ethanol was forced upon us. If you don't believe this, ask an outboard motor shop. Doesn't matter which one.

 

[Rickochet]

EPA's likely thought: If the carbs needs to be replaced often then it is a crappy carb design and Stihl should be fined. The carb is an emissions device and failure of an emissions device is bad.

My thought: If you didn't force us to use ethanol then the carbs wouldn't bugger up.

What choice do we have? Unless we use aviation gas (100 LL) at $4.40 per gallon, we are stuck using fuel with 10% ethanol and soon could be 20%! I am not liking what I am hearing!

 

[Highbeam]

I race off road dirt bikes and I use pump gas but many racers buy race gas which is higher octane and no ethanol. They buy it in metal cans.

Even at 4.40$ per gallon, it's not like we go through 100 gallons of it, most folks on this forum might use 5 gallons per year. If I knew that avgas or race gas was available and better for the saw then I would buy it.