Customer DESTROYS BRAND NEW $650 Stihl MS311 Chainsaw! (You win some, you lose some.) Story time.

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9 ай бұрын

Thanks for tuning back into Chickanic! If you found this video helpful, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and COMMENT!!
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My name is Bre. I took two years of small engine repair at the local college. When I left school, I fell into a wonderful job at a local small engine shop where I worked the counter for a couple years. In 2010 my husband and I opened up our own small engine shop in central Arkansas where I am able to work alongside my family and best friends. We see over 2,000 pieces of small engine equipment every year, and answer 1,000's of small engine questions. We specialize in brands such as Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, Echo and Shindaiwa, but work everyday on MANY other brands like Stihl, Husqvarna, Honda, Craftsman, Remington, Red Max, Troy Bilt, Scag, Bad Boy, Hustler, World Lawn, Poulan, Mantis, Etc.. Hopefully, my experience I share, will save you Time, Money and Frustration in the future!
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
Although very informative, these videos are for entertainment purposes. Please use all possible safety precautions when repairing and operating your small engine equipment.

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@Chickanic 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for Watching! Find a link to all of my "Must Have", Favorite Tools HERE!! www.amazon.com/shop/chickanic?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfchickanic_9ERPFPBNGQ924P8NS63B

@pennypackmtb2542 9 ай бұрын

I was in the repair field for 45 years. I learned to listen to the facts, not opinions from the customer. I was always amused by the sounds they tried to recreate. I also was amazed that once you think you had seen it all, then something like this comes along.

@CFRoach 9 ай бұрын

In repair shops I've seen a joke sign that reads: "Labor: $100 per hour. If you work on it first $200 per hour!" You need one of these signs : )

@philliphall5198 9 ай бұрын

I have a sign like that but really I just tell them I’m to far behind to mess with it, you can leave it but I might not ever get to it 😊😊😊

@paulzacher5672 9 ай бұрын

You have to know when to fix them. Know when to junk them

@pseudocoder78 9 ай бұрын

I was thinking this, but for real there should be a minimum charge to evaluate whatever outside work was done on the machine. If it turns out it wasn't destructive it can be applied towards regular shop hours.

@CFRoach 9 ай бұрын

@@paulzacher5672 aren't those the lyrics to a Kenny Rogers song?

@Jamesvh122 9 ай бұрын

I really hate elitist attitudes like this. People act as though you shouldn't be able to repair stuff yourself, and if you give it a shot and fail you should be punished by paying an unethical amount of money. What BS. You are the type of people who vote against right to repair, and take your car only to the dealership for things like an oil change or air pressure sensor. If anything charge the customer for the service hours that are extra or parts you had to re-replace, making someone pay extra beyond what industry standards are is not only unethical but immoral.

@jasonc514 9 ай бұрын

That is in no way a defeat! You totally found the issue and did your job! The customer is the one who failed you. You Rock! Great video Bri. Thank you

@faulltw 9 ай бұрын

The customer didn't fail her, he didn't know and brought it in. No harm no foul

@averyhorton3614 9 ай бұрын

Truth!

@kirdot2011 9 ай бұрын

Yes and she could still fix it if the customer was willing to pay a bit over 200$ for the cylinder housing

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

Yes if it were your saw that wouldn't be the end.

@stephenk.5839 9 ай бұрын

It is not a defeat, when the customer had already effectively made the chainsaw a basket case with his messed-up attempt to "fix it" before he brought it to you to figure out.

@robertpeters41 7 ай бұрын

As an old mechanic, when a customer comes in and says he did this and that, that's where I start looking for the problem. When your customer said he broke the carb, that was a clue. I really enjoy your videos.

@kmech3rd 9 ай бұрын

Your opening monologue about understanding machines and listening to them made me smile. I recognize that exact feel. The funniest part is seeing where somebody else screwed up a repair or got tired, and said "good enough". The fingerprints are always there. Your mix of philosophy and machine-healing is heartwarming.

@crowznest438 9 ай бұрын

Excellent comment.

@saponi2 9 ай бұрын

The customer just used the wrong size of hammer to remove the flywheel.

@kmech3rd 9 ай бұрын

@saponi2 imagine if the customer had an impact gun and a Dremel. She'd have a three beer video at that point.

@oceanheadted 9 ай бұрын

I think this could be the start of Chicanic the movie…

@ljprep6250 9 ай бұрын

@@kmech3rd BLAST YOU for saying that and giving the idiots more fuel...

@jimstraightshooter163 9 ай бұрын

That had to have made hell of a sound when that busted

@dans_Learning_Curve 9 ай бұрын

I wonder if he remembers when it happened?!

@michaelpowell9164 9 ай бұрын

No doubt in my mind the owner remembers the noise it made when it broke. he may not have understood what the noise was......but he knew.

@chucksmoko5348 9 ай бұрын

Maybe a screwdriver to pry off the flywheel did it. It wouldn’t have been running with the original gas with water... so something broke it while not running.

@marcmyers1465 9 ай бұрын

@@chucksmoko5348That blew from the inside out. The flash is still hanging "out". 😉

@jacquejecker4435 9 ай бұрын

What about all those rotary scratches on the outside of the case?

@2023TMc 9 ай бұрын

I am the maintenance manager where I work. I learned long ago that we get more “help” than needed. 😊 I always tell my guys that you have to be a detective first, then a repair technician. The who,what,why always play a part.

@paulkleinkramer5065 9 ай бұрын

I repair broadcast transmitters for radio and TV stations and have for 30+ years now. I have a client with a top of the line high power transmitter located at a mountain top tower site in the Sierra Nevada mountains. You could think of it as the Stihl 881 Magnum of radio transmitters. Its a big beast about the size of 2 refrigerators setting side by side. I installed it factory new last August and it ran flawlessly for 9 month, then simply shut itself off. Since early June of this year I have devoted almost 200 hours of travel and troubleshooting to finding and fixing this unit. All the systems work properly independently, all Voltages and currents are present and all meet the factory's specifications, all fault lights are green and she's ready to operate... yet, it just won't start and obviously I've overlooked something; something deep, something uncommon. Your video is an inspiration to me to redouble my efforts and start tearing it apart system by system (again)! Who knows, maybe I'll find a hole blasted in the side of an assembly somewhere in there... maybe the electrons are leaking out. 😅

@billcoomber4642 9 ай бұрын

A tip from my years from Echo, a drop of oil on the impulse line and look for spit back when pulling the starter might have told you the saw had a crankcase pulse problem. There can be many reasons why losing your crankcase pulse, (especially on older engines that have a reed valve)...than just a huge hole in the short block...been burned more than a few times on this one.

@davidrice3337 8 ай бұрын

I have an echoe I forgot about - I put a new bubble on it - hadn't used it in 8 yrs at least - pulled the rope and the damn thing started - with old gas even !! I shut it off and poured out the old shit - it's running like a new one

@frankmartin8471 9 ай бұрын

Water in the gas, so the customer started replacing parts to "fix" it, then brought it to you with the complaint that it wouldn't run. He obviously left out the part where something went ka-blam when he tried to start it after he'd replaced some parts. Great video. And a good reminder of what kind of hidden alligator can walk through the door when you least expect it. Brand new chain saw. Wow.

@lrobie123 9 ай бұрын

this is exactly what happened....

@bertram_oredrock 9 ай бұрын

It takes a person of strong character to admit defeat and share it with your followers. Always remember the tough ones. They will help you one day. I had similar instances when I was a Ford Master Technician. Often it due to a customer who tried to repair the problem and would "forget" to tell the service advisor what he or she did.. Thanks Chick.

@dansaver8247 9 ай бұрын

Good video with good explanations and no swear words at the diy customer.

@ozarkian3475 9 ай бұрын

Customer finally knows where that nut/bolt they couldn't find during initial reassembly, went...

@joeromano5607 9 ай бұрын

I am a Stihl tech and when I started watching this it sounded all to familiar to. A few years back I had the same issue with a MS391 only the saw would start and run on high idle only, if you squeezed the trigger it would die but the kill switch would not turn it off???? After a careful inspection I found a small hole under the flywheel in the same area as your repair. The hole was small enough the the saw was actually dieseling, I could even remove the plug wire and the saw would continue to run until the throttle was goosed. It was mind boggling but that hole was just the perfect size to allow this to happen. Thanks for sharing this.

@TF856 9 ай бұрын

I spent nearly twenty years rebuilding antique clock movements and I know the joy you get when something comes back to life. Especially when it's a clock that is over 100 years old. Fortunately there are some companies that make reproduction parts for antique clocks.

@michaelktm6061 9 ай бұрын

THat is why the pressure-vac test is such a great diagnostic tool. Also I have the used the Sthil and the Echo check sheet many times and they are great.

@tonycuomo2298 9 ай бұрын

It's great when people try to save money by repairing their own things however, the price of learning can be costly.

@oursweethomelife 9 ай бұрын

The price of learning is invaluable but so accomplishing . Like I say you cannot make a cake without breaking some eggs .

@MrTheHillfolk 9 ай бұрын

@@oursweethomelife Hopefully it's a small oops and you don't have total scrap,that's a plus if it's still fixable.

@slipperyblueclay2521 9 ай бұрын

After being a subscriber for some time now, I had to ask, “What make your channel one of the fastest growing channels I know?” It’s unique, truthful, entertaining, helpful, and real. You have the ability to connect with your audience. That’s why so many people watch your stuff!

@Chickanic 9 ай бұрын

Aw! Thanks so much!!

@davidrice3337 8 ай бұрын

no brah - She's hot - that's why - hot and smart as hell - and kinda funny - but not over the top -

@thardyryll 9 ай бұрын

A word about non-OEM carburetors: While I usually swear by Stihl parts, when my 25-year-old brush cutter needed a carb more than 10 years ago, I was put off by Stihl's $100 price, so I went to Amazon and bought five knockoffs. One of them went on the machine, which I use year round, including two days ago. It is still functioning like new, and I have four new spares. The price? $6. Yes -- six dollars per carburetor, less than the sales tax in my state on a Stihl carb. One-third the price at the time for a Stihl rebuild kit, and those things never work. Apparently those knockoffs either came from the factory that supplies Stihl carbs -- or should be supplying them. Sometimes you get lucky.

@dagrote1 5 ай бұрын

Similar experience. I put a $12 carb on a Kohler one-cylinder instead of the $350 (!) OEM and with a little reaming of one of the jets, it's been working perfectly. When a customer comes in, I give them the OEM quote (with guarantee) or the aftermarket price with no guarantee. Guess which one they chose.

@thardyryll 4 ай бұрын

@@dagrote1Now that takes the cake. I know the manufacturer has higher costs to fill and hold replacement parts, but that is ridiculous. The other day I was looking through my Stihl parts drawer and noticed those knockoff carbs. Of the five I bought, I still have three. The two I put on my Stihls, which are heavily used, are still working - for more than 10 years.

@benpoe4335 9 ай бұрын

I can relate. Having retired from IT, and doing years of PC repairs, I’ve often been scared when I heard “I tried to fix it” because I know that there are “extra” variables and the customer is not going to share some facts that help.

@klesko55 5 ай бұрын

My first question is always. Before it stoped working did you change anything, settings, add new software, a printer . . . or do something unusual. . . Time and time again they LIE! 😅.

@delseckora5327 9 ай бұрын

Glad to know you have those type of customers that try the repair but don't know how and won't admit everything they did

@thomasdodd4462 9 ай бұрын

I love that you mentioned defeat and humility when repairing small engines. I’ve spent 1000’s of hours on vehicles and small engines and rarely run into issues I can’t repair, but there are some that have beat me and It’s tough to admit when it happens

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

I hate it when there are no more parts left in this dimension for something I'm trying to fix. Google search is a total waste of time and data is not cheap.

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

And if I do find a part, they want to strike it rich for having what I need.

@wild1bill1950 9 ай бұрын

I FIXED RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT FOR 40 YEARS AND YOUR FIRST 2 AND A HALF MINUTES BROUGHT TEARS THANK GOD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE

@kbjerke 9 ай бұрын

Yesterday I learned not to use Dollar Store paracord to replace the pull start rope on the recoil of my Troy Bilt cultivator/edger. Dimensionally correct, but snapped on the first pull. Today I'm waiting for an Amazon delivery of *REAL* 550 pound test paracord. You *rock,* Bre! ❤

@jerrystauffer2351 9 ай бұрын

This is possibly the most relatable internet repair video on a machine I don't expect to ever own I've ever seen. I feel your frustration.

@michaelglynn2638 9 ай бұрын

I was thinking "timing slip" but did not expect that!! Quite a curve ball. 👍

@dagrote1 5 ай бұрын

Same. If it has good fuel, top end compression and spark, and a clean carb but still won't even crack, I think timing key. If that's not it, then it's time for a leak down test (a real pain).

@tinkergene 5 ай бұрын

Hey Bri - I am working on a Sihl weed whip - tried a lot of things - weak spark - someone said it could be the magnet in the flywheel cracked / broke - is this possible ?🤔

@dagrote1 5 ай бұрын

Anything's possible, and a bad magnet on a flywheel could do it. But it's not the first thing I'd think of. I'd do a visual of the magneto area first: dirt? wires good?, gap right? Then I'd check the timing key on the flywheel? Sheered? That wouldn't affect the spark/current, but it would keep the engine from firing. If it's a bad magnet, there's no fix for it beyond replacing the flywheel and seeing what happens. Good luck!

@timgannon2993 4 ай бұрын

I been a mechanic 37 years I feel your pain

@ToreDL87 2 ай бұрын

@@tinkergene Well, if you loosen the coil screws and when you spin the magnet around it should pull the coil into the magnet. If not, there's your issue.

@woodcraft70 5 ай бұрын

I bought a vintage Echo chainsaw, disassembled in a 5 gallon bucket. I bought it to salvage for parts for another vintage John-Deere, made by Echo. I looked over the bucket case and thought, "Oh my gosh, this will run!" I had to find some more parts, but I got both the John-Deere and the Echo up and running. Grit and detrrmination, oh and more money than I should have spent, but I now have two great running and cutting 24" chainsaws.

@louisaugust1815 8 ай бұрын

It's one of the first things I recognize when I'm doing many repairs. The previous person didn't know what they were doing. I'm sometimes shocked at what I find in the simplist repairs done by someone else.

@michaeldennison7298 9 ай бұрын

Hi Bri, you keep adding content on this channel and we who are hooked on your channel will keep absorbing what you put forth! Kudos!!😊😊

@K-Fred 9 ай бұрын

It was nice of your customer to create a hidden problem to fix! Sorry, nobody wins on this one. Love the videos.

@marcmyers1465 9 ай бұрын

That's why most of us watch these videos to learn about the "Not So Obvious" reality of small engine repair. Nothing is ever Truly Idiot Proof... Merely Idiot Resistant ! ☝️🤨

@fivespeed3026 9 ай бұрын

We win. We definitely win. 😂

@FLSTC53 9 ай бұрын

You didn’t fail ! You found the problem and probably would have fixed it if the customer agreed

@shermanhofacker4428 9 ай бұрын

A bit of jb weld should get it going just fine!😃 Actually, I have a friend who is a whizz with TIG welding that could probably fix it for real!

@jimhofoss9982 6 ай бұрын

@sherma… that’s exactly what I would try before ordering another cylinder….piece of tin and jb weld.👍

@jeepanimal2943 6 ай бұрын

I was wondering that myself. Could the cylinder be TIG welded with an aluminum rod? Seen it done on old Harley engines.

@gungadingo 3 ай бұрын

@@Ridingbearswhat would make you think cast iron? Clearly aluminum, only the cylinder sleeve would be iron.

@dwhallon21 9 ай бұрын

What a story, and yes we are used to seeing you fix everything. Humility is a tough one, sometimes you can't win them all. That is one big hole that he should have known about before he brought it to you

@dans_Learning_Curve 9 ай бұрын

Wasn't the hole behind the flywheel? Bri didn't even go there until she admitted defeat and started stripping the saw down for an autopsy!

@flashwashington2735 9 ай бұрын

@@dans_Learning_Curve He saved himself a ton of money by doing it himself? 🤣🤣🤣Compromisef case. Factory? By idiot for idiot? 🤔🤔

@richnorman5017 9 ай бұрын

Looks like the customer was trying to pry off the flywheel and broke the transfer cover is what I anticipate. The other side of the plastic looks scarred up also. Always a bad omen when a customer brings equipment in after they’ve worked on it and it doesn’t run. Absolutely everything needs check as you found our. Tried to save money but ended up costing him a lot more by doing it himself… Good one Bri!!!!! The frustrations of your profession!!

@bkdarch 9 ай бұрын

Water in tank and busted carb removing it is a good indicator MR ignorant vice grips was beating on this saw and just keep looking for more self inflicted damage.

@robertdavis6708 9 ай бұрын

A thirty minute Tig job would have him cutting wood this fall. I agree with you Bri. Reserching an engines woes are intrigueing. I love to tune a rough running engine into total tune.

@wb8nbs 9 ай бұрын

Seems like you could come up with some kind of quick vacuum gauge over the carb input. Would test leakage in the crankcase and the reed valves.

@tincanboat 9 ай бұрын

I'm thinking when he set the fly wheel down to remove the coil the fly wheel is a magnet and picked up something where he set it down.

@czechmate6916 9 ай бұрын

I thought the same thing. Because there was a lot of metal shavings underneath the flywheel when she took it off.

@philliphall5198 9 ай бұрын

Makes sense to me 😊

@StarSwarm. 4 ай бұрын

Yeah have a look at the close up. You can see where it’s been bashed multiple times. There’s still evidence of it next to the bashed out area.

@chatrkat 9 ай бұрын

Once again, solid proof, some people should never be permitted to own tools.

@chatrkat 9 ай бұрын

@@Nimblebee-iy4nzYes I too have met a few similar individuals. Definitely keep your tools out of his hands! 😁

@j.morrison73 9 ай бұрын

I love your tenacity. I guess more than several of my bosses throughout my career liked mine as well because they either wanted me to stay with them or have requested my 'moving on' with them. My motto is 'I love to be awed'. I always admired people who learn a job then do it to perfection.

@wapitiRack13 9 ай бұрын

I learn so much stuff in your channel. You put your point up front and take us for the ride in short amounts of time. This is why I watch a lot of your videos. Well done Bri

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

Looks like a job for jb weld! I've fixed a few holes in Briggs crank cases put there by the lawn repair shop to keep people like me from getting their old mowers and fixing them.

@avid6186 9 ай бұрын

Came here looking for that answer 😂 I would probably try something like that if it was mine, but a customers saw? Not so much.

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

@@avid6186 it might be better than completely giving up

@ggg-fv9zz 9 ай бұрын

@@avid6186 if the hole is round enough it might be possible to drill and tap and plug it.

@avid6186 9 ай бұрын

@@ggg-fv9zz same answer really, if it was mine then yes, worth a go, a customer's not so much. You have to be able to do it for a reasonable price, less than $100? And be willing to guarantee it. Are you sure you got no swarf in the crankcase etc? Not worth the risk to me.

@williamstuessy1611 9 ай бұрын

This is a great video. One of your best. The opening monologue is spot on, when a machine that is not working can be made " brought back to life ", the feeling is really good. I wished you lived closer to us here in the Northeast. Honest mechanics are out there, but they are becoming more difficult to find. You and DieselCreek and Sasquatch from Minnesota are the only ones to watch !

@Chickanic 9 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

@dans_Learning_Curve 9 ай бұрын

Hey, we watch some of the same channels! I live in MN. I've been trying to meet up with squatch for some time now. He's always at a show when I have to work. If you're wondering why I have an old car in my profile picture, there's a playlist on my channel.

@geraldsmith3423 9 ай бұрын

Honest any trade is getting hard to find.

@markmcmeen287 9 ай бұрын

Excellent example of "there is always a reason" for everything. The frustration happens when we can't find the reason. Thanks for sharing your determination with us. I hope the customer appreciates it (if he can get over the reality that he screwed up.)

@geraldsmith3423 9 ай бұрын

I like all of your feed back still learning at 76.

@donnyarmstrong9559 9 ай бұрын

Absolutely loved your monolog! It was word-smithed with perfection and 100% from the heart! This is why so many of us watch your videos, you are so real with all of this! "its broke broke, like double X double X" see what I mean, you are so real with us!

@independentthinker8930 9 ай бұрын

Back when I worked on boat motors, it amazed me what people would do!

@Chris-yy7qc 9 ай бұрын

Always surprises me how some people want to solve anything with brute force. I thought Ive seen everything but breaking the carb and engine block while replacing the carb and coil is on a whole new level.

@dsplawn55 9 ай бұрын

There's still hope for that Stihl. It'll take a while. JB Weld. Small amounts at a time. I did it years ago to an Evinrude crankcase. Right at where the crankgoes by. Very close tolerances. Otherwise it was junk...like your customers Stihl. With patience I completed the task. Off to the lake. IT WORKED!!! And it never quit working. I couldn't believe it! Don't throw it away just yet. I'll come by and pick it up. 😆😊 😊😊

@pete1735 28 күн бұрын

JB weld is the best that is what I was thinking she should have tried

@toddb930 9 ай бұрын

Wow, that's crazy! When you pulled off the pull-start I thought you were going to find the flywheel key sheared so that the flywheel timing was way off. 😅

@markh.6687 9 ай бұрын

Sometimes an issue just gets by us, no matter how good or careful we are working. I'm not happy about those either, but it reminds me to recheck things (and recheck my thinking) when I think I've got everything right. Applies to people, hardware, documents, and everything else.

@marcmyers1465 9 ай бұрын

Normally catastrophic failure is obvious, but small engines have "ALLOT" of hidey holes. 🤷🏼‍♂️

@cherylinoklahoma9624 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to teach us. Absolutely love your channel because of your expertise and integrity.

@jackvoss5841 9 ай бұрын

I was working on a customer’s chainsaw that was damaged when the tree fell onto the saw. The cast aluminum crankcase was broken. Considering it a loss, I thought it deserved at least a try. So, I bought a tube of “liquid aluminum”. It was actually model airplane glue with powdered aluminum mixed in. Each day, I laid a bead of the glue onto the broken area, slowly working to rebuild it back to original something resembling its original configuration. Somewhere in the second week, I had material built up. I carefully filed it back to resemble the original casting pretty darned good. I reassembled the saw. I was happily surprised when it started, ran well, and cut well. The saw worked another three years, and he brought it back to trade in on a new saw. It wouldn’t run again without putting in more parts and labor than the saw would sell for. It had finally reached the end of its service life. I had to check the status of the glue repair. It was still there, and still OK. Sonofagun! Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

@bartwright430 9 ай бұрын

Bri, you are always so brilliant, evervescent and knowledgeable. You inspire me. Now, if I can only make the time to rebuild the carb on my srm 225. I know I can do it. Thanks for all your help.

@jimandnena4 9 ай бұрын

My uncle once asked why I was wasting time fixing my lawn mower. My reply, "the satisfaction I get from getting it running is worth any amount of money". Nena brings home abandoned mowers every Spring so I fix them. We have never bought a lawn mower! We have given several away. 😁

@dteasdale77 9 ай бұрын

Your opening statements are amazing! Very well written and said! They apply to any situation where someone strives to accomplish something!

@3rdsamdan 9 ай бұрын

I'm absolutely enthralled, video after video. We've got hacks working on small engines in my neck of the woods. You have proven there IS a right way to do things. Thanks for all your efforts.

@PaulPetrulis 9 ай бұрын

Defeat in the way of your time, but not certainly in your determination, or focus. Lots of respect for you and your drive. Great job! And thank you for sharing! Who would have thought it was this unless someone like you was driven, patient, and smart enough to figure it out.

@mikehamilton3833 9 ай бұрын

Great story, Bri. Your two cycle knowledge is amazing. I can fix four cycle fine, but have no success on two cycle. Have three dead chainsaws in shop floor as evidence of my 2 cycle frustration. You are an amazing small engine mechanic. Thanks for your videos. Love them.

@dr.detroit1514 9 ай бұрын

The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat! Toughest problem I had with my home equipment, was a snowblower that would start and run for a short while, and then in use would just sputter and die. Repeat, repeat. After trying all parts that made any sense to me, I finally on a whim took off the muffler to look at the exhaust port, to find it rattling. Turned out there was a broken off baffle inside the muffler that would stand up at the outlet occasionally, blocking off the exhaust and killing the engine. New muffler fixed it.

@levent8208 9 ай бұрын

I am impressed, you have a real talent to tell stories, this was really funny too.

@ginamiller6015 9 ай бұрын

Very true words spoken about learning to listen to what the engine is telling you. Especially with 2-strokes, they have a personality of their own. This skill comes from experience, along with some trials and errors along the way. Thanks for another great video 🫶

@pmdoit 9 ай бұрын

I absolutely love this video. Yes, you are human and you're hilarious. I love that you can poke fun at yourself and present this in a very entertaining way. Keep doing you. We love you!

@praecantrix 9 ай бұрын

it's nice to see you share a story of failure as we all have them. as i was listening i kept waiting to hear 3 tests. 1) muffler off and piston visual. check. but 2) impulse check and 3)pressure/vac test on cylinder i didn't hear. fuel not getting to cylinder can sometimes be a fuel line or carb but as the case was here, if you have a bad enough air leak it won't draw fuel. if a saw won't start after i visual the piston and clean the carb then i always (usually) test the impulse and pressure/vac the cylinder before replacing parts

@johndesaavedra1040 8 ай бұрын

Reminds me of fixing a laptop for my sister-in-law. She neglected to mention the latte that got away from the granddaughter. Yep, most of the problem was the dried-up latte inside the case.

@robrailroad1050 9 ай бұрын

What a great story & demo of the trials and tribulations of your craft. I have to say, you are entertaining and smart with all your info. Thanks Doc Bri. You are putting out great videos. You make this crap fun. Please keep up the great work!!!✌

@countrylifetales2700 9 ай бұрын

I love your videos. You're a great story teller, you're obviously a good mechanic, and you're an awesome human being for sharing videos to help us better understand our small engines. Cheers.

@colinweir5807 9 ай бұрын

Another one for your note book of experience. That's why I like this channel. You show all the ups and downs of your business. 🐯

@jamescallon8193 9 ай бұрын

A great honest person...I love that.

@darrenpethoud9554 9 ай бұрын

Probably should have done a pressure/vacuum test😁. But as the saying goes, shit happens. And it’s happened to me too. I see this kind of thing alot when the customer’tried’ first. Lesson learned! Love your videos!

@jeg1353 9 ай бұрын

It wasn't a failure. You COULD fix it if the customer wanted it done. The problem was something you don't usually look for but you found it anyway.

@amossnowdaharleyman9179 9 ай бұрын

I spent decades trying to teach people that their ears are their number one diagnostic tool. Anything that has movement will tell a GOOD mechanic what is most likely wrong. Nice to see someone who gets it too.

@allanbarber4038 9 ай бұрын

Love your channel, this is one of your best! I feel your pain. Over 60 years of fixing stuff and failing sometimes, I've learned that life can really bruise your ego. This is probably good or we all become insufferable to others

@dustyroads834 9 ай бұрын

I thought you were going to show us a sheared off key- way on the flywheel. This was much better. Lol

@eurowerx4267 9 ай бұрын

When a potential customer says “ my mechanic or I replaced “ no thank you is what comes out of my mouth!!

@michaelbaumgardner2530 9 ай бұрын

The process of eliminating suspects is and arduous one...Bless Your Heart.

@squangan 9 ай бұрын

As someone who’s been running and working on chainsaws sine I was way to young to be doing so I can say I didn’t see this coming.

@RoboDriller 9 ай бұрын

Seen it happen on a Polaris 650 triple. That seal blew out and caused lean issues couldn't resolve. It was hours and hours, found it with a can of either buy accident

@oldcdawg1 9 ай бұрын

Pressure testing the crankcase is a valuable tool in engine testing. Looks like it would have saved you a lot of time and money on this one. The Stihl engine checklist would have found this in less than 30 minutes.

@jonburke2038 9 ай бұрын

After working on Stihl saws for many years, I feel your pain. Customers are their own worst enemy when they don’t know what they’re doing and try to fix a saw.

@ARoyalLyon 9 ай бұрын

I second that on aftermarket carburetors. Stopped by the really good Echo dealer when I was in town to inquire about a carb rebuild kit for my handlebar string trimmer. The counterman said he needed to see it as they used different carb manufacturers over the years. I discovered new replacement carbs on Ebay for around $18 with free shipping, which is practically a free carburetor, so I bought one. Ran OK for a few weeks, then during a long weed wacking session got weaker and weaker, bogging down rich, and finally died and wouldn't restart. With air cleaner off I saw it was dumping fuel into the intake, so I'm going to take the original to town with me to see about an OEM rebuild kit.

@johnjriggsarchery2457 9 ай бұрын

Some JB Weld and bug screen will fix that hole.

@robertodebeers2551 9 ай бұрын

Stories like3 this one make me appreciate the quality (and good luck?) of the two Stihl 044 saws I bought while logging at the family ranch in Montana in the early 1990s. We put 28" bars on right when I bought them and used them hard in mixed fir and P-pine woods for ten years. Then I used both saws for occasional firewood cutting (somewhere between 5 and 10 cords a year until 2016, when I bought a new 362 Stihl for wood cutting. Both O44s start and run as they should. Neither saw has been back to a saw shop for repairs, ever. And I've done nothing except make sure my fuel is perfect and the chains are sharp. Good luck, yes. But also a quality product from Stihl, which they no longer make. Go figure. So, Chickanic, thanks for the reminder of how things can sometimes go the other direction!

@kirstenspencer3630 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing the adventure !

@laszlodesimon4768 9 ай бұрын

Wow, first time seeing your video, and amazed at how much you know about these things! Thank you for sharing those experiences and doing such informative segments!

@MrsSunshine75 9 ай бұрын

Well I guess doing a pressure/vac test before ordering any parts when working on an unknown 2 cycle would be a good idea! Good video, your beautiful girl!❤

@wayneswonderarium 9 ай бұрын

At the very least, now we all know there's another possible explanation for a non-starter even when all the other conditions are there

@kenibnanak5554 9 ай бұрын

I remember someone who once dropped a small spring down the throat of an engine intake on an Oldsmobile Cutlass and who just shrugged and put the carburetor back on without fishing the spring out. Yes, the car started and ran well. For about a month or so. Then there were noises and clouds of smoke. LoL That engine's insides were completely ruined. The first few weeks that spring had just rolled around. A few bumps in the road and it eventually found (several) spots where it could jam things up and cause gouges and nicks as it began its self destruction process. Nothing wants to die alone, so it took the engine with it.

@michelbrodeur6055 9 ай бұрын

I see from the comments that the point of it all is you did your job on what was a new saw but didn't imagine what the problem was because it's not something a reasonably apt small engine mechanic would expect. I appreciate that you still have all your hair as it didn't get torn out or rubbed out. Good learning experience and I am happy to see you not wearing your beautiful ring while working. Thanks for this and all your videos.

@paintnamer6403 9 ай бұрын

A JB Weld fix would make a good video to see how long it would last. Or Flex seal!

@signor_No 9 ай бұрын

Project farm did this test for the head of the engine, jb weld did a good job

@beingthere597 9 ай бұрын

Yep, the flywheel magnet picked up a stray screw, probably from the starter. My question is: how did he break a hole in the crankcase and not realize it? Maybe he loaned it to that no good brother-in-law. One thing I do early on for a non-starter that should start is a crankcase pressure and vacuum test. Solves a lot of mysteries. Also a check for sheared flywheel key, although unlikely on a chainsaw. Good story!

@kenromaine2387 9 ай бұрын

Maybe the engine had water freeze in the lower block? She talked about water in the fuel tank.

@beingthere597 9 ай бұрын

@@kenromaine2387 It's possible if the saw had been left outside with the spark plug out, but it would have to have been completely full of water with no headspace for the water to expand. The open spark plug hole would have provided a pressure release point unless the freezing was extremely fast. Also, I would expect a rupture rather than a small hole.

@grifonks 9 ай бұрын

I like Hyway brand piston and cylinder kits for MS311/391. My personal worst recent saws was a ms462 that was run over by a dingo, little grapple that fits through a back yard gate. Intermittent loss of fuel. The extremely thin wire that runs from the coil brain box to the fuel control solenoid snapped inside its wrap. it would show continuity but when it got hot it would loose control of the normally off solenoid. I've since seen it in a ms661. At least the harnesses are relatively cheap. Rock on Bree!

@ben-me9jy 9 ай бұрын

Great lesson! That is some good detective work! Some times the customer does not want to spend the money and you just have to walk away.

@mauricejefferson1836 9 ай бұрын

There is no defeat when a customer attempts a repair then brings it to you for a "cheap" repair of damage(s) they caused.😊

@ns4wsm 9 ай бұрын

Wow! Stihl has really gotten pricey! Thanks for your honesty ❤

@viperstrike3827 9 ай бұрын

Even though I am a Stihl fanboy I completely agree! They could lower their prices!

@Firedog-ny3cq 9 ай бұрын

I recently bought a brand new 311 for $550 from our local small-engine guru mechanic/Stihl dealer. He was hanging up his wrenches after several decades of service to our community. Maybe he gave me a deal (I have bought 4 other saws from him) but the price for me was a no-brainer. My saw runs great. I haven't tried running it with water for fuel, however.

@viperstrike3827 9 ай бұрын

@@Firedog-ny3cq We bought an ms311 for 5?? $ back in about 2015. They are more like 6?? $ now in my area.

@deerslayer6419 2 ай бұрын

I consider myself pretty good at small engine repair. I'm the guy that all your friends bring their stuff to, to get fixed. I love your videos, I always seem to learn something. I've seen holes/cracks in cylinders, but not tucked away like this one. Thanks!

@ccastaneda669 9 ай бұрын

Wow, what a lesson learned. Thank you for sharing. I would have never been able to figure this thing out. I appreciate so much the philosophy of life and mechanic mentality and process. The CSI investigation of how sometimes you gotta get really down to the nuts and bolts, to figure it out, and sometimes you just have to say, enough is enough and this can't be fixed. I can relate so much to that, because I always have a mentality of I can fix that, I can make it better. But there are times in life that you can't. For me, I am sure as for many others. Again, thank you so much for sharing this video, I can clearly relate as I am sure many others can. Great video. Keep up the good work. You teach us all so much❗️

@warddc 9 ай бұрын

a vacuum check on the crankcase would've revealed that pretty quick.

@aptechknowledge 9 ай бұрын

What does that test consist of ?

@warddc 9 ай бұрын

@@aptechknowledgeseal exhaust port and intake port with rubber. Connect vacuum tester to impulse line. Pull vacuum. Wait to see if holds for 5 mins or so. This tests crankcase and seals for leaks. Mity-vac works nice. You should pressure test as well with same tool. Spray soap solution if it wont hold pressure to find leaky crank seal. Or in this case giant gaping hole in case. LOL

@aptechknowledge 9 ай бұрын

@@warddc thank you

@jimbefit3073 9 ай бұрын

I think she KNOWS that.

@julesviolin 9 ай бұрын

@@warddcall very well in hindsight now you know what the problem was !! However on a newish machine you would not be expecting a crankcase leak that big or the reason for it ⚠️