What a little work and research could do for you.......

cruzenmike

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
I though I would share with everyone what a little work and research could do for you....

I am replacing the bearings in the three spindles on my Exmark deck. The 18 nuts and bolts that hold the spindles to the deck were completely rusted. I checked with my local dealer and the cost to replace them all was around $53. I checked Home Depot, and could not find the exact size bolt I needed. I checked Tractor Supply and all they had were regular Zinc/Steel bolts in which I need at least Grade 5. I hopped across the street to Family Farm and Home to find the exact bolts I needed with the nylon lock nuts for under $4. Yes, I saved almost $50 just by swinging by a couple of stores on my way home from work. Some might say their time is worth more than what I just saved, but saving money certainly brings me joy!

Good luck everyone on your equipment upgrades and repairs!!!
 

Boobala

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
I though I would share with everyone what a little work and research could do for you....

I am replacing the bearings in the three spindles on my Exmark deck. The 18 nuts and bolts that hold the spindles to the deck were completely rusted. I checked with my local dealer and the cost to replace them all was around $53. I checked Home Depot, and could not find the exact size bolt I needed. I checked Tractor Supply and all they had were regular Zinc/Steel bolts in which I need at least Grade 5. I hopped across the street to Family Farm and Home to find the exact bolts I needed with the nylon lock nuts for under $4. Yes, I saved almost $50 just by swinging by a couple of stores on my way home from work. Some might say their time is worth more than what I just saved, but saving money certainly brings me joy!

Good luck everyone on your equipment upgrades and repairs!!!

I know exactly what you mean Mike, I saved about $200.00 ( yes ..2 HUNDRED ) bucks when I bought 50 frame screws from the link below, normal cost of these are $4.00 ea. at the mower shop, a bit less at the local ACE Hardware .. ( I posted this in the Murray Forum, ( Murray Frame Screws ) awhile ago )



http://www.eastcoastbolts.com/gm516-18x1316hex12blkphosphate25pcs.aspx

Rural-King is also a GREAT place for hardware, if you have one nearby !
 

cpurvis

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
Good move. Fifty bucks saved is fifty bucks earned.
 

7394

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
:thumbsup:
 
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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
Mike........... I don't know about the TSC up north, but ours down here sell G 5 and G 8 also bolts and nuts sell by the pound....... Cheaper that way..........
 

cruzenmike

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
Mike........... I don't know about the TSC up north, but ours down here sell G 5 and G 8 also bolts and nuts sell by the pound....... Cheaper that way..........

They had them by the pound but they didn't have 3/8-16 x 1 1/4 " grade 5 or grade 8. I would have had to use 1 1/2" long which I am not sure if it would have worked. The price I paid for the bolts was $2.69/lb and $1.69/lb for the nylon lock nuts.
 

motoman

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
I have done the same searching and buying , and have learned that many of the fasteners are poorly protected from corrosion and some are suspect in strength. The Chinese produce bogus items in any area you want to name...purses, CDS, electrical components, rake handles, on and on. They are masters at cloning and especially the cosmetics including the apparent finish on metals. Fasteners are required to carry manufacturers' stamped logos and there is a data base online showing the source. Not so significant on our lawnmowers, but a lot more so on some automotive stuff. The Chinese product is getting better IMO, but buyer beware. About ? 15 years ago the feds tried to clamp down after a major discovery of fastener bootlegging. BTW nuts ideally are matched in strength, but I have never been able to shop that issue, so the risk is: torque to spec and hope the nut face won't give (cold flow). :2cents:
 

Darryl G

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
I usually go for convenience when buying parts and most come from my dealer whatever the price. I don't usually even ask the price. But time is money to me and I believe that buying from my dealer gets me points for when I have a key piece of equipment down and need it ASAP. The dealers I deal with most often will strip parts off their floor models for me if necessary. I'm not saying that's the route everyone should take, and I'm certainly not going to fault anyone for shopping around, but that's my operating mode.
 

bertsmobile1

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  • / What a little work and research could do for you.......
Way way too many cheap Chinese fasteners down here to buy any thing form any one other than a specialist bolt shop.
And the way to go is ask for a "Box Price".
So you do end up with 200 bolts but in my case they cost 50¢ against $ 4.50 and I can cost them out at $ 3.00 and be a money saving hero to my customers.
I never worry about brands any more cause Ai Fool Yu manufacturing will put any name on the fasteners the customer request if they buy them in big enough quantaties.

I just fixed a chain saw with genuine Oregon chain & bar.
Well the Oregon branded cutters could very be genuine but the badly upset rivets are definately not from the Oregon factory unless it was the Genuine Oregon Chain & Bar Factory in Fool Yu province China.
Even then when they cut the chain, they bent the drive link, and rivited the chain together with the bent drive link that has chewed out the groove in the "Genuine Oregon Bar" so much, I had to replace it as even 063 chain was too loose in it.
 
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