OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Restoring, Customising and Modifying Other Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers The Rover Pro-Cut Chronicles

As mentioned in the previous post, I ended up continuing to use the Pro-Cut on a regular basis. But towards the end of 2022, time was catching up with the mower.

Up until this point, apart from basic oil changes, air filters, blades and plugs, any repairs needed on my mowers, I'd take them to my local dealer. And for the most part, this was a perfectly functional arrangement, I'd built up a relationship with this dealer and they looked after me. I'd even provide feedback and take in a box of chocolates at Christmas. Because I was so busy, it was better for me to just hand off repairs to the experts. When you aren't serving customers, you aren't making money! I also didn't want to spend my limited downtime messing about with work related stuff.

I've told the following story elsewhere, but its goes on to explain where I am today....................................

In mid-2022, the above dealer changed hands, which meant starting up a new relationship with the new owners. In late 2022, the ProCut needed a new recoil rope, so I took it in and asked them to also install new front axle bushing while it was there. So, this would be my first dealings with the new owners.

After dropping off the ProCut, I waited and waited until 3 weeks in I gave them a call, at which point I was quite sharply told that all repairs were at least a 30-day turn-around, which wasn't explained to me when I dropped off. This was never the case as the previous owners, they'd try to get commercial customers in and out as quickly as possible. At the time, I just assumed that perhaps it was a matter of making it known I was a long-standing commercial customer.

Then, after four weeks, I was sent a text message saying my Rover was ready for collection. When I went to pick it up, I was told that the machine was deemed not worth repairing and that I was up for a $70 inspection fee. I was someone dumbfounded, how could a broken starter rope be deemed not worth repairing? I was then told that the deck was worn and would need the engine to be removed to weld the deck. Like, what? I was handed back a machine with the front axle hanging from it, but they did replace the rope. I then asked where the axle hardware had gone and was told "that's what it was like when you dropped it off....." which was complete BS, they lost the now obsolete axle brackets. When I started to question this, the I got aggressive attitude from the lady who was serving another customer at the time.

At the end of the day, they thought I would just buy a new mower, which wasn't going to happen as those ProCut's were no longer in production and I already had a fleet of other mowers. Other than losing a set of NLA parts and handing back my best mower in pieces, I was also annoyed that they didn't even bother to phone me and ask what I wanted to do, they just made the decision for me. If they had called me, I would have said to just replace the bushes anyway. They did replace the starter rope though, fat load of good that would do with the axle hanging off the deck.

So, in the end, I tracked down a NOS set of brackets and axle bushings and repaired it myself. And guess what, while the chassis did have some wear, it was not as bad as they made out and certainly did NOT need the engine removed or the chassis welded.

Old, missing bracket.........................





New......................................





I later tracked down a set of NOS bushings as well.

As a busy person, I had no issue paying money to have machines repaired. But I did have a HUGE problem paying money for a service that I ended up having to do myself due to incompetence and VERY poor customer service skills. With the previous shop owners, I made a point of supporting their business through repairs and parts supply because they supported me and my business. They say we should "shop local and support local"....................well it has to work both ways! There is more to this story involving another mower that I had in there concurrently, and it didn't go down well.

After the experience with the Rover, I also had another mower in there for repair at the same time that they also screwed up. I haven't been back after all this went down, in fact I now do all my own repairs.....................funny thing is, I'm actually enjoying it. The same with parts supply, all purchased online in the comfort of my own home. No dealing with incompetence, grumpy people or having to effectively repair things twice, as in, their attempt and then me fixing the fix.

I also set up a parts manual database to easily track down parts, then filed all of my owner's manuals for quick reference in the garage. I now have a "spare parts department", stocking various common replacements such as blades, plugs and filters, all housed within the excellent Milwaukee Pack-Out setup.



















To be continued.....................