Things that make you go Huh???

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

  This one was a bit of a head scratcher for me.  So a couple weeks to a month ago I got a real nice Super EZ via UPS.  It was one of those that looked pretty dirty, but I could tell underneath was a gem.....and I was right.  But unfortunately, because of another Ebay seller who doesn't know how to pack a chainsaw properly, my heart sank when I took it out of the box and found the rear lower corner of the cast starter cover had cracked off in shipping.  Other than that it's a 9 out of 10 and wasn't used much.  It's almost as nice as my Birthday present saw I told you about earlier, but with just a little more use.  Now had it come in a Homelite case like that one.....the starter cover would have survived.  Anyway, I've got an NOS cover inbound.....but I just wish people would box up things with a little more forethought.    

  So I'm cleaning it up to get a good look at it and I hit the bar plates with compressed air (before I pulled the clutch cover off) and it looks like there's some really hard thick sawdust/oil combo stuck in there.  But when I poked at it.......it was solid!  So after a quick WTF? I took off the clutch cover to find what you see in the pics.  I believe it's a cardboard insert installed by Homelite when the new saw was put in its box with the bar removed.  I say that because it's die cut and fits perfectly where the bar would go.  Now in this case the previous owner actually ran the saw without removing it when he put the bar on!!!  Yeah, I know, right?  I found that a bit hard to believe, so I put the bar on just like it sits......and the tensioner still reaches the hole in the bar to tension it and the chain does ride in the sprocket, if just a bit outboard of center.  And the clutch cover nuts get tight!  Had it not happened to me.........I don't think I'd believe it if someone else told me this stuff.  But as usual........fact is often stranger than fiction.  If anyone can confirm that such a cardboard insert was installed on new saws to take up the space the bar would......that would be wonderful.  If not........that's my story and I'm sticking to it!  For now.  But it's always a learning experience with these saws!

;O)
bob 

[edju1958]

Bob,I believe you are coprrect in your assumption in that the cardboard was used when shipping the saw when new.As for the PO,what a dumb ass,Lol.BTW,Happy Birthday!

[blythkd]

I definitely recall some saws coming from the factory with a little die cut piece of cardboard like that. I don't recall if I saw them on SEZ's or not. I don't think they were on all saws but not sure.

You're all over it. Somebody just assembled the saw with the cardboard in place. Guess it didn't hurt anything.

[stillsawing]

My first thought was, how well did the chain line up with the clutch hub? When I was younger and making a living with a new Homelite saw, the dealer set up and tuned the saw before I picked it up. That validated the warranty. Never seen any packing spacer, nor any boxes. Just warranty cards, scwrenches, and manuals. That incidence sounds like a big box store assembly and sale.

[w30bob]

Here you can see the bottom corner of the starter cover that got broke in shipping.......UGGGH!

;O)

[sweepleader]

Nice saw.

Looks like that cardboard would make sure that no dirt got from the oil tank to the bar slot, maybe not much oil either!

[w30bob]

Great point Dan. Might explain why it wasn't used much........another darn defective chainsaw from Homelite! I always have pitied the guys who had to write the instructions for mechanical things. They have an audience ranging from the truly stupid to the ultra smart, and have to cover the whole range. Maybe that's why most guys don't read instructions, as they think they're written for people dumber than me. But maybe some should re-think that.

;O)
bob

[edju1958]

Bob,if you do some biotching to the seller & tell him about his inept packing practices,chances are you'll get a partial refund for whjat you had to pay for the new part you had to replace.I sure as shootin' would be complaining.

[okie]

I feel your pain.
I bought a really nice Red/White EZ sometime back from a guy after seeing the pictures on-line, looked to be new OEM bar and chain.
I sent the guy a email telling him to remove the bar and wrap it good with cardboard, especially the ends so as it would not cut itself out of the packing box.

USPS delivered and when I got to the house and opened the box the power heads was carefully packed but I did not see the bar and chain. Sure enough little slot in one corner of the box where it escaped. I sent the guy a email stating such and he requested I send him a Picture of the shipping carton. More pains taking pictures for him.
He said he would get me another EZ bar and chain and mail such no charge.
Well few days later he sent me a email that a new bar and chain were in the mail.
It arrived and the bar would not fit and the chain was not compatible with the bar chain or saw.

I just chalked that one up top bad experience.

What is also strange about USPS carriers (postal people) I received a saw once by USPS and the chain was hanging out of the shipping carton where the bar had cut it's way out and the corner of a zip lock bag with small parts about to escape and the postal service did not even take time to secure the items.
I'm sure someone had to see the bar when it was coming out. (and just smiled and kept on drawing their pay)
(Also not worth the effort and loss of time to me to file any kind of lost items complaint with USPS especially if it's the shippers fault)

[w30bob]

Hi okie,

Ed has a point about mentioning it to the seller. Usually they give me 10 or 20% off anything I want in their eBay store.....in which is usually nothing I want. But I should contact the seller and let him know. As for your disappearing bar........one of the first saws I bought last year when I got into this whole chainsaw thing was a old Remington with a roller nose bar. The bar was in great shape, as was the chain. And my experience was similar to yours.....there was a single slit in the corner of the box........and no bar or chain inside. In reality the bar and chain were worth more than the saw, so I was pretty pissed when I found out it jumped ship. I've made some good friends at the Post Office over the years, and I worked at a UPS transfer terminal many moons ago.....and shipping isn't what people think it is. It's all about getting the most packages thru a facility in the shortest amount of time. If it breaks or parts fall out.....that's not your problem.....that's why they have insurance. So when our bars fell out........no one could care less, nor would they take the time to figure out which box it came from. No time for that. And as you mentioned, filing a damage claim is a nightmare, and is supposed to be....to stop people from making fraudulent claims. A friend who worked at the PO once told me they reject EVERY damage claim initially, figuring if you're serious you'll keep trying. And if not......you won't. So less work for them. I've had boxes delivered to my front door that if I were the delivery guy..........I'd be too embarrassed to leave.....they were that mangled. When I messaged the seller of that Remington.....his reply was "wow, that's too bad". You can guess my reaction. I now message every seller I buy a saw from on eBay and tell them specifically how to wrap the bar in cardboard and prevent it from slicing thru. And I haven't lost one since. You have to do the least common denominator thing and think every seller is an idiot. And then explain to them how to pack your purchase. It sucks.......but if not.....we both know what happens.

;O)
bob