pleasant

Just had a 'final reminder' from ebay regarding the sale of 'bladed' articles which takes effect on the 11th. They have said 'as I am currently selling bladed articles' I need to add age verification for the buyer and then i must send these so called bladed items out tracked and age verification delivery. Only courier currently offering this highly priced service is ups. The dont have drop off branches and only collect from a senders address, which means you have to be in to hand it over and the buyer must be in to prove their age. Now, i dont have any bladed articles for sale (and if i did it would be a complete used chainsaw for collection only) so which in the email there is a link to click on to take me to the items affected that need verification, i did so, and the items are a chainsaw starter recoil assembly and a chainsaw ignition module. Neither are bladed articles and neither come under the government list of age related items. . But now, as ebay have included ALL items listed in the 'chainsaw' and 'chainsaw parts and accessories" categories as 'bladed items' whether they are or arent, you wont easily be able to sell....and importantly buyers wont be able to buy. Particularly a used saw now, which will be age verified delivery only...not collection. So if you want a simple spark plug and its listed in the chainsaw parts and accessories section people just wont bother selling them or it will cost you a fortune and you will have to be in with your age id before its left. Want that expensive part to fix your saw and dont want to buy new? Unlikely to find it listed on ebay anymore.

These are an absolute nightmare to 'rebuild' Years ago we attempted to rebuild a few, but they never assembled how they come from the factory very well and we ended up taking them apart several times to get it sort of right, but were never happy with them. For example, you would extend the head, but then the inner drive shaft wouldn't extend with it, so you lost drive and all sorts of other things. In the end as it was our name on the repair, we just ordered a completely assembled shaft inner and outer then just reattached the engine on one end and the pruner or hedge cutter head on the other.....saved a fortune in labour for the customer even thought the fully assembled drive tube was dearer, and we could guarantee it would work.

Yup....I can get tanaka parts no problem. Hitachi use the same part numbers.

IF it has a decomp valve fitted, then it is a 'comfort' version of the 230, which will also have a primer bulb fitted, tooless chain adjustment, and (crucially) the soft starter recoil system, whereby you dont give the rope a good, hard pull to start it, but instead you pull the rope in a more, slow progressive pull to allow the secondary recoil spring to kick in at the top of the extension of the rope to spin the flywheel. Pulling a stihl soft starter in the normal way will quickly knacker the springs and pawls.

Correct. A groundworks business only use any land they have for storage of the plant they need to earn money. The land doesnt earn them money to be able to run their business, the plant does. A farm is exactly the opposite of that

Surely inheriting a farm is inheriting a business to support a family and pay tax into the system. Its not like me inheriting my parents property when I already have my own home and job. Ok I know i will have to pay a degree of inheritance tax which is a bummer, but i wont lose my job or my home because of it. Putting inheritance tax in the way labour have to farm is taxing the tools of the job. No different to taxing the tools in the back of a plumbers van. No farm, no job....bonkers . Then no other farmers would buy up other farms land for going over the allowance, so swathes of land will go unsold, go fallow, and then the government will procure it to build all these houses on. Cynical? Me?

My wife works in a primary school, and teaching anything now is way down the list of 'priorities' firstly, she is considered a care worker, then social services, then a nurse, then a policewoman, then a surrogate mother, then a counsellor......all for the new breed of kids...who incidentally arent used to being spoken to and are even less likely to communicate back other than a grunt. Sitting still and listening are a thing of the past unless they have an electronic device. Communication is something they havent learned. When my wife started all new intake had to be toilet trained. If still in nappies, they werent accepted. Now they are told they have to accept them......so after all these years of campaigning to protect kids from kiddy fiddlers parents are happy to let complete strangers have a rummage around with their child to take them to the toilet and change nappies My wife has refused....who want to be accused of that!!!

I believe it will. Which means a colossal hike in postage costs as age verification courier delivery is a fortune (I've checked) and they won't leave it as you have to supply proof of age at point of delivery. TBH I haven't had any saws listed for nearly a year, but because I have a chainsaw recoil and a chainsaw ignition module listed, it has picked up on 'chainsaw' and sent that email. I can see a lot of issues unless they sort their algorithms out. If it just picks up the word chainsaw in the chainsaw or chainsaw parts and accessories listing categories, then it's plausible even selling a spark plug for a chainsaw could need age verification to buy, and to deliver!

Received this attached ebay email today. I occasionally sell chainsaws and saw components on ebay. I generally prefer collection in person for machines as it's a faff having to pack them up, plus the cost to send and then you get the emails afterwards asking how to re-fit the bar and chain for example (it happens) Anyhow, as from March you won't be able to sell chainsaws on a collection basis anymore, and if you do decide to send them out, ebay will stipulate not only does it have to be tracked, but also will need age verification upon delivery to a confirmed adult at the household. Before all that, the buyer has to confirm they are over 18, and you must change you listing delivery preferences to delivery only and age verified..if you don't they will end your listing (assuming you have managed to list it in the first place) Even if you sold a body only with no chain or bar, because it is listed in the chainsaw category you will still have to comply. Oh, and the only company ebay recommend to use is UPS. Although I have found that Royal MaiI parcelforce offer a service for this, but from my experience UPS don't have loads of handy agents to drop parcels off to, and as for the RM sure there's a few more branches, but the queues tend to be round the block, and some large items they won't take over the counter so you end up having a 30 mile round trip to drop it off at the parcelforce sorting office. Here's the email. Click on the 'our policy page' link to see the banned stuff, and the stuff they will allow if you now jump though hoops. This is the one that concerns our kind of stuff: 'Tools such as axes, billhooks, chisels, hatchets, hoof trimming tools, chainsaws, and saws ' Expanded safety requirements for listing bladed items on ebay.co.uk Since you’re listing bladed items on ebay.co.uk, we’re writing to let you know about some upcoming new requirements. From 11 March 2025, we’re expanding and strengthening buyer age-verification requirements for bladed items to ensure only people aged 18 or older are able to purchase and receive them. This protects both buyers and sellers, provides safety and reassurance, and helps keep you legally compliant. Please note that the sale of many types of knives and bladed items remains prohibited on eBay. Those that we allow need to be located in the UK, and delivered using an age-verified delivery service. Proof of age will also be required from buyers at checkout. To find out which items need to meet these requirements on eBay, take a look at our policy page. When you list bladed items on ebay.co.uk, you need to: Add an age-verified delivery option. Choose a delivery service that requires age-verification on receipt. You'll also need to remove any delivery services that don’t support age-verification for your existing listings, including any local buyer collection options. Currently, UPS is the only carrier offering age-verified delivery if you purchase labels on eBay. Alternatively, you can make your own arrangements with carriers who offer an age-verified delivery service. Safely package the bladed products, and clearly label the parcel to indicate there are bladed items inside. Ensure your packages are delivered to buyers in person, not to parcel lockers, PO boxes or collection points. Any sales to buyers who’ve given one of these as an address will need to be cancelled. Verify your listings If you haven’t added an age-verified delivery service by 11 March, and removed all other services, these listings may not be visible to buyers on ebay.co.uk. But don’t worry, they’ll still be available for you to revise in Seller Hub. Once you’ve added an age-verified delivery service, they’ll be visible again. You can also find a copy of this email under Messages in your eBay account. If you have any other questions or concerns, just get in touch, we’re here to help. Was this information helpful? Help us improve by sharing your feedback through a short survey.

Absolutely spot on. Cheaper to keep customers than to find new, but from what I read he bought it online as his local dealer couldn't supply within a time frame that suited (for whatever reason...possibly supply from Stihl) The OP, paid his money to this dealer 'down south' so his contract is with them. The distance selling regs are much more stringent, giving a consumer more rights and for longer, than face to face sales. If the purchase was made within a stipluated time (which is generally longer for online sales) then the supplying dealer must offer a replacement or full refund....you do not have to take it to a dealer local to you- despite what they say. If it was purchased from his local dealer and is it confirmed it is an issue covered by warranty, then if it's within 30 days of purchase you are entitled to a direct replacement or refund. After 30 days, then a repair can be offered and if this still doesn't cure the issue, then you can ask for a refund or replacement. I can sympathise to a degree if the case is, his local dealer couldn't supply, so he purchased elsewhere, now has an issue and now wants that same local dealer to bend over backwards to help....which they are, but obviously prioritising their own customers machines, thus this machine is going a bit further down the queue.Not an ideal situation for both parties. I think the OP should have said no...(assuming it's still within the period for online sales where you can demand a refund or replacement) to the people he bought it from, and asked for a refund or replacement, or, been a bit more candid and taken it to the next nearest dealer to him, rather than the one he normally uses, knowing it would irk them and thus potentially sour a trading relationship.To be honest, a lot of customers don't actually think about what they are doing and saying, when it comes to 'relationships' and can work both ways. Incidentally, been a few years (probably nearer 40) since I last heard the 'conscious incompetence' phrase, whist doing my sales management training. Brought me right back seeing that!

I have 25 or so vintage 'shelf queens' in my collection. Feel free to post pics or at least the models and condition. Happy to give you an idea of value, or if what i am interested it, then maybe purchase.

This is good advice. Those clutch 'shoes' are very brittle...even a gentle tap and they can break bits off. I must be honest, though in 25 years of repairing, the only time I have had to replace that type of Husky wrap around spring is when one of the ends has snapped off, rather than any 'stretch' or fatigue in the spring. They really don't expand that far when the shoes are engaged. When you throttle off, immediately you should be able to rest the still rotating chain on the wood and feel no resistance to it trying to continue to rotate. If you feel whilst it is 'throttling down' to idle the saw chain still try to pull across the top of the wood, then as others have said it could be a melted plastic pump drive, or a partially seized clutch bearing........or even a too loose chain with a high idle.

By coincidence I had an ms250 (earlier model, but similar) in this week, which customer stated was hard, near impossible to pull over with plug in situ and the rope would 'kick back' out his hand. Difference was to yours is that it wasnt starting at all...otherwise same symptoms. We took muffler off and clean as a whistle....piston and barrel fine. Removed plug and it would pull over fine. Correct plug fitted btw. Removed recoil assembly. Operating fine. Removed flywheel. Keyway fine. Noticed some oily residue around flywheel area and noted. Refitted flywheel and recoil. Again, pulling over fine with no plug fitted. Decided to do a compression test as we had the plug out. With compression tester fitted it wouldnt pull over. There was the possibility the carb was flooding the crankcase. Machine was tipped upside down onto some blue roll, with nothing in the plug hole and recoil pulled several times. Blue roll was flooded with fuel despite the plug being quite dry when saw was in the upright position. This, together with the oily residue around the flywheel pretty much confirmed our suspicions, as the crank pressure whilst trying to pull it over would have allowed excess fuel to blow past the crank seal to a degree. Our final confirmation check was to drain the tank and remove all fuel from the system. We then refitted the plug and it pulled over perfectly. New carb now on order as customer stated he has rebuilt it twice over the years, and we wanted to guarantee our work, so a new carb was the best option. Yours could be similar. If the needle isnt seating it can supply a constant flow of fuel, much like a dripping ball valve in your toilet cistern.

The kit comes with a new gasket

If you havent done it before, watch a video of it being done first. You need to set the piston at TDC and to know you have, there are markings on the flywheel to help you, but you have to know where to look.

Buy a load of husky stuff, and if you get similar issues, then you will know its 'pilot error' rather than the products.

I don't disagree with your more accurate and in depth comment, but bear in mind the majority of my customers are of the 'weekend warrior' type with zero mechanical skills and little or no experience of using machinery such as ours. I find my comment to them is easier to grasp, retain, is shorter to keep interest and allows us to up sell Aspen. If I were to use your explanation, although absolutely correct, I would just be watching their eyes slowly glaze over, as all they want to do is leave and crack on in their gardens on a Saturday afternoon. 😂😇

It's made for Wickes by a third party, not wickes themselves. Only wickes will know what chinese factory it came out of. The machine itself is a generic machine probably made in different colours to suit whichever multi national buyer for a european retailer wants, and then they sticker it up with different names on it. Wickes won't give you their suppliers name, and even if they did a wiring diagram is something they are unlikely to produce or provide to joe public. It's not designed to be repaired given its purchase price and projected operational life, and you would have to prove you are a qualified electrician in the product to warrant taking it apart...something they don't encourage.

Consider checking the chain drive sprocket before doing any intensive investigation work. It may well be possible it has worn so badly that the underside chain drive links have cut a slot in the sprocket teeth, so under no load condition the chain will rotate, but as soon as a load is applied the chain drive links just slip through the wear slots cut in the sprocket teeth.

Grab some spray carb cleaner, start it, tip it on its side to the point when it starts to die and with the narrow plastic straw fitted to the nozzle on the can, quickly give it a little spray in one of the cooling holes in the starter housing....towards the front, as far away from the carb intake as you can.....if the revs momentarily increase then its the crank seal failed. Quick and easy way to check

Likewise, as you cannot ask for a sellers address or telephone number until youve actually won said auction, you cannot now view an item before bidding. So if you have a rare or expensive bit of kit (or both) and you want to check the condition before you bid, you can now no longer view it. On expensive, collection items i always used to put in the description, viewing before bidding is welcome (always reassures a potential bidder i have nothing to hide) can no longer do that, so bidders are buying blind...particularly on iffy listing pics and descriptions. I know why they did it, as obviously people were settling a deal in person and auctions were being cancelled, but i always found it reassuring that a seller was happy for someone to come and view

There did, but its been withdrawn if you havent already got the buyers details via the sale transaction page you get when you sell something. It was stopped due to data protection laws. For the last near ten years you havent been able to exchange details via ebay messages unless its after the auction has finished and it is between buyer and seller. Don;t care what people have said about trying to be clever and try and circumnavigate this by putting numbers in words or spaces or hyphens or whatever between numbers (written or otherwise) it wont work and you will get a terse message from ebay giving you a slap on the wrist. Only way around it would be to add a photo to your listing with your contact details in, but you then run the risk of being reported by someone who knows what you are up to. Its clear in the listing rules you cant do that....and ebay now have software that can recognise contact info in photographs.....its now free to list and zero sellers fees on most categories on ebay now...if you are a private seller, so now no reason to buck the system quite so much

Which is what I said isn't it? Even then it may well get picked up on their software. It's happened to me.

No you cant ....unless you are very inventive and you try to circumvent 'normal' communication...and even then it is very difficult. If you think you can simply message someone with your contact details then im afraid you are incorrect

You cant do that effectively as you cannot communicate addresses emails tel numbers etc in normal messages prior to the sale. So if you did end an auction, then both you and the seller wont have contact info so rendering ending the auction for an off ebay sale impossible