Here we go, again

Had ordered an original, expensive McCulloch/Husqvarna replacement mowing deck belt from our local agricultural engineers after the cheap eBay/Amazon one had "failed", as it turned out not due to its quality but the mower.

Back last year just two months or so after getting it new, the mechanism/lever/wire on the dashboard that puts the mowers in action had broken. I couldn't be bothered to make all the effort of taking the tractor back to the dealers to get it replaced but did get a free-of-charge warranty replacement from them. The quick fix I made at the time, had worked perfectly ever since but due to the belt problems thought I ought to now get around to replacing the wire before fitting the new belt, just in case it had been the cause.

Horrible job removing steering wheel and dashboard & fiddling about but eventually done & new belt on. Worked great for two minutes but then the burning smell started & the new belt jumped out of its pulleys.

Enough is enough. Angie, whose machine it is, phoned the German HQ of McCulloch/Husqvarna which is only an hour away in Ulm. They were not at all helpful but said get in contact with the DIY store in Memmingen where we bought it. We knew they simply didn't have the expertise.

I knew there was a Husqvarna dealer near Memmingen with a very good reputation who I had used once to hire a petrol tiller. So packed my Husqvarna chainsaw that needed a service & we took off. The owner was very pleasant but wouldn't "open up"  about Husqvarna mowers. His showroom was in fact mainly full of other makes. Angie asked him about used machines & he showed her an old Honda he had taken in part exchange for a grass cutting robot. She fell in love with it & said she would buy it. He needed a couple of days to get it done up, oil change etc. Left the chainsaw for service.

Drove home via the butchers in Ottobeuren. While Angie was in the shop I stood outside & photographed the building opposite, an optician. Posting this 3 months after the event, I have no idea why but have put it in as an extra photo in case I one day remember! Geotag is the building.

Tomorrow will attack the McCulloch story again but overnight on the internet saw that McCulloch have stopped selling any lawn tractors! Seems like you can still buy them but only from "cheap" outlet stores e.g. DIY chains & some internet only sellers.