And now a commercial

Or at least a ringing endorsement for a local business.

Last week-end, I took my non-functional generator into the repair shop to see if they couldn't get it working for me. My generator is a 5600kw machine that I bought cheap from a pawn shop a couple of years back. It was rough and ugly but it always started so I considered it a bargain for $200.00 even if it meant that I had to start it by wrapping a rope around a pulley that had been attached to the flywheel in lieu of the proper pull-cord and giving it a good yank. But last year it developed some problems, including a crack in one of the frame support rails and a severe oil leak. I put new oil in, and the new oil all dripped right out the bottom of the machine onto the floor.

So it was a toss-up call: junk it, or try to get it fixed. I didn't want to put a lot of money into it, but I didn't want to write off the $200 that I had tied up in it either. So I took it to Dean's Lawn Mower Shop on Flowing Springs Road in Shenandoah Junction. I dropped it off and told him to check out the leak, and if it could be fixed for a reasonable price, let me know and we'd talk about the other things. I estimated to myself that the job would run from $200-$300 and resigned myself to taking a hit in the wallet to get the thing made useful again. I also figured they'd have it for a few weeks.

So I was surprised when they called me three days later and told me that it was all finished. Not only was the leak fixed, but they'd rewelded and re-painted the frame and put a used but proper pull-cord shroud assembly on it too. The total cost was only $82.00, a far cry from my estimate. They'd also given it a tune-up to boot.

So I picked it up yesterday and it works beautifully--starting right up and running smoother and quieter than it ever did before. So as one who seldom misses a chance to bitch when someone screws me over, I have to take this opportunity to thank and endorse a company that did me right. If you're in Jefferson County, West Virginia and need a small engined device like a lawnmower or generator fixed, call Dean's Lawnmower Shop at 304-725-2908.