2009 Chain Saws

Ahlborn Equipment is known for continuously adding great new chain saw accessories to their product lines. Now the company is proud to announce the roll-out of 2 new lines of premium quality steel chain saw files: Woody’s Files and Forester Chain Saw Files.

Both lines are designed to fill an industry need for reasonably priced professional chain saw files. Ahlborn evaluated chain saw files all over the world to create the perfect fit of quality and value. Woody’s and Forester are great additions to the Swiss and German files also offered by Ahlborn—comparable in quality and affordably priced.

Working Conditions Key To Seniority by Dale Stotts

Recently I was contacted by a past student from the 1980s when I taught adult Vo Tech Education part-time who had heard I was teaching again. He is now a manager of a local farm and home store and needed to find training for existing and new service techs. When I told him that was a rumor, he asked me where could he send his techs to a course of study like I had taught years ago. Sadly there are none in the area. In fact, there are none within an afternoon’s driving distance.

He then went on to explain he had been at a major OEM’s dealer meeting with approximately 500 dealerships in attendance and the big question among dealers was where to find good service managers and technicians.

Dealer Moving Ahead In Good Position by Dan Shell

If a lawn and garden dealership was a jet liner, then dealer Tony Lane, owner of Diamond Power, is wondering when his business will get to cruising altitude. Lane purchased the existing dealership less than five years ago, relocated it, consolidated and added product lines, absorbed another dealership’s inventory, then remodeled a building at a great new location only to have to endure almost a year of local bridge construction that cut off a major route for customers.

And now, with all the critical dealership pieces firmly in place, the economy has turned down, giving Diamond Power another tough situation to navigate.

Diagnosing A Business Problem With 5 ‘Whys’ by Sid Kemp

There’s a great way to get to the bottom of a business problem. It’s called the “Five Whys?” Take a problem. Ask “Why is this happening?” five times. For example, projects often run late:

1. Why did the project run late?

Husqvarna Celebrates 50 Years Of Chain Saws

One of the milestones in Husqvarna’s rich 320 year history is the introduction of the company’s first chain saw in 1959. Fifty years ago, Husqvarna created the quintessential modern chain saw as we know it today. “Prior to then, saws were large and cumbersome, and Husqvarna changed all that,” says Gary Hardee, director of product management for Husqvarna Professional Products, Inc.

The first factory, located in Huskvarna, Sweden near a stream that provided a source of power, was where engineers were tasked with the job of creating a lighter saw with minimal noise levels. They worked with Husqvarna’s motorcycle and moped frame shop to create a simplified muffler design with a noise level half that of other contemporary saws. “In 1959, the Husqvarna 90 was introduced, coated with the same signature orange paint used to signify the brand today,” says Hardee.

Tilton Celebrates 40th: Surviving and Thriving

Glance around Dave Tilton’s office and you’ll learn all you need to know about Tilton Equipment Co. The framed photos on the wall and the artifacts on the shelves all have stories behind them, and Dave smiles proudly as he recalls the memories attached to each of these treasures.

When you’ve found a way to make it work for 40 years in the lawn and garden power equipment business, you have every reason to smile. Tilton risked everything when he started the business in 1969 in New Brighton, Minn., and the fact that Tilton Equipment has not only survived, but also thrived for four decades, is a testament to Tilton’s work ethic.

Deep Thoughts—and a Laugh

List your problems. Get a friend and give them a pad and pen. Launch into a standup comedy routine. That’s right. Stand up. Talk loudly. Complain. Bitch and moan. The theme is: Here’s what’s wrong with my business. Have your friend write down every complaint. Now you have a list of problems—and you may feel a bit better as well.

Pick one problem to fix. You have a list of problems, but you can only fix one at a time. So pick one. If you can’t decide, ask yourself. How? Well, try this. Which problem is: killing your business? driving you nuts? looks like an easy place to start? fixable by yourself, with little or no help? one that will bring in, or save, the most money?

Of Rain And Other Things by Dan Shell

While early spring here at PET headquarters in the Deep South had a few weeks or two without rain, the weather since mid April has been absolutely tropical, with rain every two or three days, it seems. Right now we’re in the midst of nine straight days of heavy dew and clouds at daylight, broken sun by noon and clouds, thunder and rain by four in the afternoon—with a few all-rain days mixed in for good measure.

And on the day or two of dry, sunny weather in between these bouts of rain and thunderstorms, lawn services and homeowners come out en masse to attack the quick-growing grass as a soggy spring turns into summer weather with 90-degree temps right around the corner.

Supplier Sales, Distribution and Program News

Husqvarna recently launched a new Dealer Chat feature as a component of the company’s customer service center. The new tool allows Husqvarna retailers to communicate with a customer service representative, similar to instant messaging, if they choose this option. Anything from tracking shipments and determining product availability to finding part numbers can be achieved online at the retailer’s convenience.

“Selecting this option means the dealer has the freedom to operate their business without having a phone in their ear, and still get their answers as if they did,” says Jim Wilson, Director of Customer Service for Husqvarna. “Accessing Dealer Chat is a choice the dealer makes or the dealer still has the option of talking via telephone to a representative.”

Power Tech Tips

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John Johnson of Johnson Cycle & Mower in Atlanta, Ga., sent in one of his handy “tech tip” tools for installing the push-on clip for Honda BBC and transmission cables.

According to Johnson, “Using a ‘ziz wheel,’ I ground slots into a pair of ordinary pliers. The slot on one side needs to be such that it will just fit over the cable conduit, but will not go over the metal end of the cable. With just a simple squeeze, the clip is installed. Works every time, is easy to make and saves time and money!”

The Latest In New Products, New Technology

For homeowners wanting to shave time off yard maintenance, a new compact zero-turn mower from Husqvarna offers premium performance and significant time savings at prices only slightly higher than a traditional tractor. Incredible maneuverability in combination with high cutting speed is why the zero-turn option is gaining popularity with homeowners across the country.

Now available, the RZ3016 Zero Turn mower incorporates features that professionals rely on, but with the needs of a homeowner in mind. The highly maneuverable and compact design will be of particular value to homeowners with smaller properties or gated yards.