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I had a customer come to me about 28 years ago with the attitude that every shop was out to screw him. That first interaction and fixing a safety switch made a truly lifetime customer and friend. Sadly he passed away last year but his son is still a good friend and customer. Knowing that he is not going to get screwed was his biggest thing. Nothing more than needed to be done and nothing less than a 100% job done correctly.

I was cleaning a carburetor on a Honda Snowblower last night and I heard Eric saying put the parts furthest away.😂 Well by the time I was done I had 7 different groups of screws, it had multiple 6mm shoulder bolts of different lengths that went in the plastic covers. By the time I was done I had to pull the chute and all the plastic covers. It was fun getting it apart just enough to get the carburetor off. Got it done last night and it runs like new.

The best time to start any business is when you are 100% honest day in and day out and especially when you are alone and no-one will know if you aren't.Without that level of honesty and integrity you will fail: only question is when.

Thanks Eric for making these videos. I'm planning on starting a mobile small engine repair business and you have been a tremendous help, I appreciate you, God bless you! Thanks again! Johnny

My customers up here in Ontario Canada are about the same. Being I work on a lot of older stuff (kind of the king of obsolete in my area) the topic of when to stop comes into play. As a general rule its $50 to give it the quick spin over listen for the insides sounding like they want to come out, seeing if the crank has pile of end play, a check for compression, how complete is it and the usual search for field repairs and "my buddy fixed it" That generally filters out the people I don't want to be fixing things for and gets everyone on the same page. Then we set a labor cap on how far to go ...generally $300 for lawn and $600 older outboards. ( that is about $1.50 and $3.00 in UDS 😊). Why the $50 up front?............ it dramatically lowers the amount of abandoned shit in my storage shed that becomes half worn out going to cost me more time to remove it than its worth, parts.

That third customer won't buy new, they will buy whatever junk they can find around for the least amount of money and when it doesn't run correctly they bring it to you and tell you it ran good last year. Then expect you to walk on water and fix it. 😂

My grandpa is 93 and never had any problems with his heart. He got the jab and his heart got inflammation and went to 20%. It took 3 years for him to get better. Luckily he didn't have a heart attack and didn't need surgery. He was always tired and slept all day. He still cuts his own firewood.

I take care of my stuff: lot of work and money goes into that but cheaper than replacing stuff.

your 31% heart function doesn't sound very good. I'm still at "normal" function for my age average. 2 of my 3 bypasses have failed and I also had a heart attack a few months ago.Body is growing veins around the failed bypasses btw. Thought that was neat when I saw it.

Great way to start the day thank you Sir! And prayers for your health

Hey Eric great video thanks for the stories also on Briggs when the head overheats the valve guides move and will bend the pushrods most common cause oil buildup around the head and cooling fins causing it to overheat thanks Phillip

Hidden coast ? Lol

Hey Eric great video thanks for the tips just now seeing this video I definitely feel this is a area of improvement for me so thank you also glad to hear your doing well after surgery and back in the shop

All good advice.... Might I recommend telling the customer to turn on the choke and try to restart the engine... I have seen them run a full 30 seconds on the left over stuff many times. In my shop we run them dry then off storage oil for 15 seconds... Happy customers are free advertising. 😉

After my surgery doc said no lifting more than 5 pounds. Doc: how the hell am I supposed to pee??!! He laughed too.Take your time healing. If you rush it, it will lengthen the healing process. Know that first hand btw. I'm lucky and my wife was right there with me helping me while I healed and now while I'm fighting through herniated discs in my lower back. Still in the 30 day window for the steroid injections I had to show success or failure. Failed so far.

My deepest appreciation to Dr Olumese youtube channel for the wonderful herbal product I acquired from him which completely cured me from a 3 years herpes infection. Thank Dr Olumese

Fatigue with little work; chest pains with exertion; sharp pain under left breast So glad you are doing better... and thank you for talking about your experience.

Interesting, we come for the small engine repairs and stay for the medical stories. You're looking better and better.

Thanks Eric, There is a lot of good info. It got me to thinking back about what you have said in the past talking about being able to shut the doors and walk away. You just left for 3 weeks and I know it isn't ideal financially for you but it's a good thing that you have Claude and he could take care of any loose ends. I was wondering if Claude was feeding the girls? I know how things pile up if I don't get things done. I know how you feel wanting to get things done but can't, a few years ago I was laid up for 4 months from slipping off the steps and falling down. Hurt my hip and hit my head and elbow on the steps. I was so glad I could shut my door and walk away then come back. Says a lot for being debt free.

what's a good source to look-up and buy parts?

What's involved in starting a online or wholesale parts business? Not service but just parts

Happy Friday Eric! I'm glad you're doing well, take care of yourself, and many blessings to you.

Great video as always thank you! On top of snowblowers we're getting a lot of portable generators and log splitters too. Started offering services to compact diesel tractors to local homesteads which brings year round work

I never "clean" extensively a unit with carb cleaner. I use Spray Nine degreaser cleaner..... works so well and i buy the gallon refill jugs online and keep refilling the spray bottle. Works exceedingly well......

I charge flat rate of 8.00 per job "shop materials" fee every invoice.

Break up the sewing circle you lazy basterds I,m paying you to work is how I generally come at it.

Easier way: after 1 year of business the misc expense for shop supplies should be easy enough see on the books. Let's use $2500.00 for the example. Also easy enough to see would be billable hours. If during the years time there was 1250 billable hours an adjustment to the billing rate of +$2.00 an hour will cover the misc expense for shop supplies. But Amos, some customers don't need that much for shop supplies and some will need more. True, but in business it's all about the averages and spreading out costs as much as possible. On cold days would you charge the customers more because the shop heater is running more?

That Gunk parts cleaner is like $50 a can now. I use it in plastic bags in the ultrasonic cleaner and store in a plastic peanut butter jar. I don't soak in the can in the basket. It takes way less time in the ultrasonic cleaner and it also softens diaphragms and gaskets in 30 minutes to an hour and a half.

You also have to look at is 3 cans of carburetor cleaner needed or would you be better off using purple power and a pressure washer first. Then 1/4 can of carburetor cleaner for cleaning gasket surfaces.

Free speech no more

Awesome video good luck with everything tomorrow

Just finished up bringing a 1983 snapper snoblo with Briggs 8hp back to life, after sitting about 7 yrs. Don't look for these units to work on, but when a customer has sentimental attachment to a unit because it was his dads', I'm a big sucker..... issues were all fuel tank to petcock to carb rebuild and then all good......

Thanks for the video It's helps out a lot

I just opened my website yesterday. Soon I hope to be supplying the masses😂

The Walmart website also a good place for cheap parts. Any order over $35 is free shipping. So tack on another item you can use to take advantage of that. I sent my grandkids Christmas presents and added a $2 package of kids apple sauce in the packets to save $11 on shipping. 😂

Another good video eric

What about saying that a video is on another YT channel if it's related to a certain video?

I think trade schools are starting to scam people with false promises the same way universities have been doing. Its so very transparent with all of these welding channels. There is a lot to learn from them but I think the correct route is to first get an entry level job that has a high skill ceiling and work towards that ceiling. Employers have access to government grants to get you your trade school or even college education for free while you get paid to work. Post covid its easier to do all your schooling online so commuting/housing is of no concern. I'm currently on this route in machining and at 23 I'm already getting 60k a year and I have a dozen places to work at that all have benefits. I didn't have connections or any money in my schooling. I didn't even have a father to teach and push me. "I don't know anything but I'm a sober, honest, and punctual person that wants to start a career and learn the job." Its that easy to get into the trades. That advice is relevant today for young people, its not some boomer bs.

Thanks

If possible could you touch on how to acquire parts when a person is just starting out repairing other people's equipment. How and where to go to look up parts. Is there any small engine repair software available? How do you track customers maintenance schedules? Any kind of maintenance software available?

Thanks for the videos

When doing a fall service don't forget the PRI-G fuel stabilizer

Ahh so a bunch of woke bigots can now keep you from commenting on RUclips huh lmao. I’m officially about to delete RUclips and never use it again and bash it for the remaining feature until they quit being woke bigots supporting this garbage.

If possible could you talk about how to become a manager or how to learn management skills Could you also do some topic about winter maintenance

In a licensed trade, school is compulsory and there is no way you could pass the qualification exam without the schooling even if you have years of experience. They teach you what you need to know to pass the test. When I went to trade school, all of the teachers were experienced mechanics. They told us there was a shortage of teachers, to go and get some years under our belts and then possibly come back to teach. They weren't looking to hire teachers, they want good mechanics that they would then train how to be a teacher. The head teacher at the college was an ex machanic and was also a co- author of the text book we used. Absolutely, hours on the job cannot be replaced by schooling, but everything together can help you. All schools are not equal, or all courses. I have went to some short courses that were great, some were of no value. You can't really paint all schools with the same brush.

Hey have you ever heard of the company ricman?

Good Subject. Glad to see you back

I went through multiple "trade schools" in the USN. I was nuclear propulsion designated. So, first school was machinist mate "A" school. Nothing to do with being a machinist. In that school I was taught very basic mechanics and theory of steam propulsion. Then I was sent to the fleet while awaiting a spot in nuclear power school. Big mistake. When I finally got to nuclear power school it was night and day difference between being in the real fleet. About the 10th time I was standing parking lot watch at 2 in the morning to fulfill my "military duties" I decided I wanted to go back to the real fleet. To do that I passed all classroom and homework, then made a point to fail every test. At the academic review I was asked why: don't test well was my answer and back to the fleet I went.My goal all along. In the fleet I then went to refrigeration and A/C "C" school and gauge calibration school. Back to the fleet again after passing those. The real training was hands on while on ships. Schools were just to get me started. Made E-6 in 5.5 years, many medals, combat vet etc. Was being fast tracked to Warrant Officer or Limited Duty Officer (engineering) when the navy ran out of money, and I was denied re-enlistment. E-6 was mid-level management, and it was decided that rank was first to go.Leaving the nuclear power program was a wise move: not much of a future in the civilian world for nuclear power plant operators. Too many navy vets and too few nuke plants.

There is a big difference between Automotive and Small Engines. I know Parts Swapping Automotive guys that won't even try to touch a small engine. 😂

You already seem to have a lot more energy and better color in your face. Kudos to you for getting back up and going so quickly. Glad you are back.