ex-troybilt owner
Written: Mar 02 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: good reputation---starts quickly
Cons: design problem with auger
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| 8723's Full Review: Troy-Bilt 6hp |
I purchased a 6hp Troy-Bilt snow blower because of its reputation. I had to return the blower when it broke and the dealer gave me another new 6hp to use.
I had to return both snowblowers to the dealer because the auger bent on both machines. The company and dealer acknowledged that there is a design problem with the 6 hp model. The problem involves the auger and the lack of re-enforcement needed to support the fin so that it does not bend under load. Rumor has it that Troy-Bilt is providing dealers with a repair kit to retrofit the machine. The reason for this error(according to the dealer) is that the 6hp blower design was a knockoff of the 8hp---but the smaller auger on the 6hp was not as strong as the one on the 8hp and yet it had to cope with the same amount of torque under load.
I am concerned that a company with such a fine reputation for quality products would let a product go to market without being tested. I used two different 6hp machines during two light (6 inch) snow storms and both machines had their augers bend in the same place. Good quality control would have prevented this from happening.
Could it be that it was cheaper to market a product with known problems and then fix them later when consumers complain? Could it be that their marketing department has discovered a new way to manipulate the consumer and the dealer? Could it be that the bean-counters have taken control of the engineering department?
Troy-Bilt is marketing their machines on the internet (they ship them for free). The burden for keeping the customer served is on the dealers. The dealers make their money by selling service.
Therefore, it makes economic sense to sell a machine that shows up for repairs and/or retrofits frequently.
Larry Wehner sold me the machine and can confirm the problem with the auger. He also can keep you up to date on what the company is doing to fix the problem. He probably will not agree with my evaluation of why this happened.
Mr Larry Wehner
Wehner Mower Inc.
2321 Ridgeway Avenue
Rochester, New York 14615
716-227-2160
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
8723
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Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
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