Lawnmower conundrum.

Hayterking

Hi there. I just joined but this place looks great!

On Friday I bought a brand new Hayter Harrier 48 Lawnmower from my local dealer. They filled it up with oil and petrol and I was good to go.

I used it once briefly on the Friday to test it out and stored it away until today thinking everything was fine. It wouldn't start for a while and when it did it was pouring with white smoke and spitting oil from the exhaust! I waited for it to cool down, checked the oil and it's got 3 times the amount in it that it should have!

Now this is the dealers doing. I obviously didn't put more oil in it after he already told me he had done it. I haven't even used the tank of petrol they filled it with. I haven't contacted the dealer yet as they were shut but this really is a tricky situation and I'm glad I've got a few hours to get some advice. I think they'll either....(beginning with the least likely)

A. Admit their wrong doing and give me a refund or like for like.
B. Admit their wrong doing and offer a repair. (Not what I want because they can't even fill the oil up correctly)
C. Call me a lier and offer to fix at a cost.

I've contacted Hayter directly because I want to know if it can do damage. I'm under the belief it can but I'm waiting for a response. I also want to report the dealer to them.

I did pay by credit card which could end up being my saving grace? I've never raised a dispute so I have know idea if they actually work in these situations?

Any kind of advice is helpful. Google has nothing to offer.

Thanks.

Zandoni

My worry is that it run OK when you first tested it. Are you sure that its actually all oil in the engine?

Hayterking

It's without a doubt the oil being overfilled thats causing it. Brand new mower potentially ruined because of someone's lack of care. I mean it's not rocket science is it?

peter_the_piper

Take it back, tell them to sort it. What I can't get is that you used it once and on the second use there seems to be too much oil. Excess oil should not cause too many long term problems.

Hayterking

I certainly will be taking it back but I want a new one! I didn't buy a new mower for them to ruin before I got it off the premises. And I've read that actually it's worse to run with too much oil than it is too little!

I'm now about to call Hayter to see what they suggest. I will update the post if I come to a resolution.

Hayterking

Oh and it's something to do with when it's sitting it leaks... Doesn't make a tonne of sense to me but I've read lots of forums and they all say the same thing about how it leaks into the crankcase, carb ect...

That along with the clouds of white smoke and the facts there's 3 times too much oil in there confirms it 100% for me. The instructions warn of overfilling too in great big capital letters lol.

AndyMc.....

So are you saying the dealer assembled it and put the fluids in and you just took it home and used it?

peter_the_piper

You buy it Friday, have problems so just take it back. That's what a dealer is for, to sell to you and sort out any problems.

Hayterking

That's correct. Only they failed to put the correct level of oil in. Obviously I didn't check it after a reconzied dealer had told me it's all been filled correctly! It was only when the oil was spitting out of the exhaust and smoking like a fire I checked the level.

Hayterking

But when they created the problem in the first place I don't have much faith in them sorting it out. I just want a refund so I can buy elsewhere. Not going to be an easy task but I'm going to fight it.

motorguy

Hayterking wrote: »

But when they created the problem in the first place I don't have much faith in them sorting it out. I just want a refund so I can buy elsewhere. Not going to be an easy task but I'm going to fight it.

Its likely a simple mistake made. Overfilling with oil - if that is the cause - wont ruin the engine or the mower and will be easily sorted out by them.