Chainsaw Blues

I spotted three trees this spring that would need to come down, so I researched chainsaw options and found a big fan base for the Husqvarna brand (a.k.a. Husky.) I decided an 18" saw was as big as I wanted to go. I bought the Husqvarna 350 on March 29th from Lowe's. It proceeded to rain for 40 days and 40 nights (and then some.) I finally mixed up some gas and tried firing up the chainsaw in early July. Wouldn't start. I decided perhaps the gas was too old, so this weekend I bought new gas, mixed it up and tried again. 100 pulls later I was frustrated and found on the internet that others had bought this model from Lowe's and had starting problems. So I took the saw back to exchange it.

I ran into a 60 day exchange policy that I did not know about. "Sorry sir, it is policy, and there is nothing I can do," the exchange lady said, explaining they could only arrange to have it sent out for repair. "But it has never even started. I just tried using it for the first time." She held firm to "policy." This is also known as "we don't care what your story is mister."

I was already mad and the policy just upset me more. "I'm not buying anything from Lowe's again." I declared. (As if she cared.) I was already composing the letter's to the CEOs of Husqvarna and Lowe's in my head on the way home, pointing out the effect my internet letters can have on a company like Kodak. I also had already decided Kathy and I would move into a condo where we didn't have to worry about trees, gutters, or drainage ditches.

When I got home, I took the chainsaw apart to see if there was anything wrong with the switch. The entire time I was trying to start the saw, I felt like the spark plug was getting no power. The on/off switch and choke looked fine. I took off the spark plug boot and looked up inside. There was the problem. The contact spring in the boot was too far up in the boot, and was not making contact with the plug. I put the boot back on, twisting to make sure the spring made contact. Started right up!

It was late in the day, but had to use my newly working Husky. I had felled a sweet gum the weekend before using a bow saw. It had been a tricky fall, so I wanted to cut as high up as possible. Cutting with a bow saw gives you a lot more control and is a lot safer on a high ladder. The tree was lying in two pieces on the ground, and the Husky cut it up into logs like a hot knife through butter.

I felt much better about my purchase, but I'm still unhappy with Lowe's. I'll send a letter to the Husqvarna engineers to tell them about the spark plug boot problem. Maybe I'll get a free coupon for oil.