Sawmill warranty- engine/other components **excluded?**

[plowhog]

I ordered a hydraulic sawmill, but a problem arose upon delivery so I refused delivery. I can't provide details as I am giving the manufacturer a chance to make it right.

This triggered me to read the warranty. I found: " Components or equipment manufactured by third parties are not covered by this Warranty." Surprisingly, this means engines/power plants are excluded. 

I have not reviewed warranties on sawmills in general, so I don't know how common such exclusions are. Is this sort of exclusion typical in the industry? 

And, has anyone experienced needing major engine service or repair on a new sawmill? Did you have to dismount the engine and return it for service? Or, were you responsible for travel and on-site expense for the manufacturer to visit and do a repair? Maybe this is common practice, but it does seem to add a significant risk to the purchase?

[Stephen1]

That is exactly what happens. You bought a Sawmill, be prepared to repair it. They will send you new components under warranty with great instructions to repair it yourself. 
I had a starter go bad on my Kohler engine, on my sawmill, the engine company sent me a new starter. It is their component, they warranty it. I would have to take the mill to the engine company dealer and wait for them to service it. 
Be prepared to do all the work on your sawmill! That's just the way it is. WM will give you lifetime  technical support, but you need to do the work. 
The axles are warranted by the axle company. 

[MartyParsons]

Hello
    If it is a Wood-Mizer

It has a 30 money back warranty.

It has a 2 year warranty for manufacture defects

It has a 5 year warranty on Chassis.

Kohler engine is covered by a 2 year warranty also manufactured defect warranty.
    ( fuel related issues are referred to as maintenance by owner)
Yanmar diesel is the same.

Hope this helps.

[plowhog]

Yes it is a Woodmizer and the 30 day policy is generous.

While I see if the other issue can be worked out, I'm evaluating the merit of a diesel engine in lieu of gas. But I don't know anything about working on diesels so the lack of a traditional warranty was a concern.

I'm capable of mechanical work and repairs-- just trying to understand what might jump up and bite in the future.

[SawyerTed]

After owning 2 different Woodmizer sawmills in 7 years, worrying about what "might jump up and bite" is borrowing trouble.  

The few warranty covered issues I've had, Woodmizer handled quickly.  No issues with the Kohler 25 hp on the LT35 in 44 months of ownership.  

A couple if warranty issues have come up on the LT50 and Woodmizer handled them well and to my satisfaction.  In 18 months the Yanmar 35 hp has hardly coughed.  When it did, it was low on fuel.  All I've done is oil and filters etc on the proper intervals.  

The cost of the diesel would be hard to justify in my situation now.  When I ordered, it was a $7,000 upgrade, much easier to swallow than $11,000.   

[scsmith42]

Yes it is a Woodmizer and the 30 day policy is generous.

While I see if the other issue can be worked out, I'm evaluating the merit of a diesel engine in lieu of gas. But I don't know anything about working on diesels so the lack of a traditional warranty was a concern.

I'm capable of mechanical work and repairs-- just trying to understand what might jump up and bite in the future.

The engine still has a warranty - it is just from the engine manufacturer and not Woodmizer.

My Scag lawnmower was the same way - the engine is warranted by Kawasaki.

Same with some of my generators that have Kubota engines.

[barbender]

Engine manufacturers providing warranty on their power plants is standard practice, whether it is a generator, a sawmill, or a semi.

[Ianab]

But I don't know anything about working on diesels so the lack of a traditional warranty was a concern.

I'm capable of mechanical work and repairs-- just trying to understand what might jump up and bite in the future

There will be basic maintenance that will be covered in the owners manual. Oil changes, air / oil / fuel filters etc. Not much different from a gas engine. If you loose a starter / alternator etc, it's regular spanner work.

If the engine completely throws it's toys out of the cot, and suffers major internal injuries, then you have that warranty, or after that it's a mechanic's bill or replacement engine. 

As others say, there WILL be maintenance issues with any mill. Parts wear out, up to and including the engine.So when you work out your mill running costs, you have to add in expected (and some unexpected) maintenance. 

[plowhog]

Thank you all for the replies. 

I realize I am new here, so maybe I should pass along that I do all my own maintenance on a variety of equipment. I have a manual sawmill, two Massey tractors, TD-9 dozer, Caterpillar track loader, Ventrac slope mower, dump truck, and more. I do all the usual maintenance-- unless it gets to a major engine repair. A few machines are new and shiny, but most are well worn and often needing something.

The warranty exclusion was a surprise mostly because I was not aware of it. And because tensions rose based on a different and unrelated factor. I do hope it all works out.

[scsmith42]

Plowhog, you'll fit in just fine here.  I too was unaware of the engine manufacturer warranty until I purchased my Scag mower 24 years ago.  Then came generators, sawmills, etc with the same setup.

Do you have any problems getting parts for your TD-9's?  I owned a 412 B elevating scraper for years and in the beginning parts weren't too hard to find, but when I sold it was to a guy that had a few more of the same model and he was looking for parts machines.

[plowhog]

I know someone locally who is well connected for old parts like for a TD-9. Last time he visited he brought me some OEM stickers / decals the dealers used to put up in their shops. Very old, but at the same time, brand new.

[scsmith42]

That is one nice thing about older Cat equipment - you can still get just about any parts for it.

[dougtrr2]

I knew a guy that dealt in used heavy equipment parts.  I didn't realize that there are salvage yards for old equipment. He would run a small ad in the newspaper periodically.  You would call him, he would find the part, add in his profit and have it drop shipped to you.  He called it "brown bag" shipping as you would not know where he got the part from.

He ran into health issues and the last months of his life he bounced between hospital and nursing home never did make it back home. BUT, he had his 800 number move to the nursing home and was still running his business from there.  Granted, it was not a big business, but I got a chuckle out of it.

Doug in SW Ia

[plowhog]

he had his 800 number move to the nursing home and was still running his business from there.  

Your call is very important to us. Please hold while we try to resuscitate your vendor. 

[jpassardi]

That is one nice thing about older Cat equipment - you can still get just about any parts for it.

Very true. In my opinion, that's the key element in buying older equipment: parts availability. CAT tends to be common so if they don't still have the part, the aftermarket will.

[Hemlock121]

Hi Plowhog,

Yes.  I think the manufactures should make it a bit more clear that they warranty only the mill and there is a separate warranty for the engine.
Im a hobbyist and bought a new Norwood.  The third time I used the key to start the B&S engine, the key turned in the cylinder 360 degrees.  Even though the mill was brand new, the only remedy offered was to disassemble the engine from the mill and take it to an authorized B&S dealer.  That was too much work so I bought the $50 part and installed it myself.  Very disappointing spending all the money we do for a new mill and then when it doesn't work, the manufacturer referrers you to another manufacture to have the part serviced.