Would You Loan It Out?

[deezler]

Dang! This topic really motivates people to post their opinions in a hurry, huh?

I lost count of how many of you didn't even read through the thread to see that the OP ALREADY HAS HIS TILLER BACK, and it seems fine.

You are not an idiot. You are a compassionate human who wanted to give another human the benefit of the doubt. We need more human beings willing to be vulnerable and trusting on this earth. It's a cold and lonely place otherwise.

But! you did learn your lesson about this one particular dude, eh?

 

[Dmacleo]

Very good point about the PTO shaft!!!

its a point very few (loaner or borrower) think about.
its also a thing (what I am dealing with now between 2 friends of mine) that I am dealing with.
you buy a used pto implement (eg a bush hog) that pto shaft is suspect. VERY suspect.
when the seller and buyer (both friends) have no idea about class 1 vs class 2 LET alone shaft length...you got to take a hard line to protect both.
and its a critical point.
trimmed to long breaks his output shaft/gearbox OR your gearbox.
trimmed to short (for his tractor) breaks your pto shaft.
like I said I borrow stuff worth 10s of thousands of dollars all the time, people know I am good for it.
same people can borrow anything of mine I have BUT...pto implements are not it.
I then hook that implement to my tractor and let them use it.
if anyone takes one single thing from my posts here let it be this : your PTO stuff is trimmed for YOUR tractor.

 

[Dmacleo]

Dang! This topic really motivates people to post their opinions in a hurry, huh?

I lost count of how many of you didn't even read through the thread to see that the OP ALREADY HAS HIS TILLER BACK, and it seems fine.

You are not an idiot. You are a compassionate human who wanted to give another human the benefit of the doubt. We need more human beings willing to be vulnerable and trusting on this earth. It's a cold and lonely place otherwise.

But! you did learn your lesson about this one particular dude, eh?

oh I saw that.
does not mitigate the idiocy of loaning a pto item to someone with a tractor not EXACTLY the same as his.
way too many people (you??) think any class of pto stuff with any pto length can fit onany tractor.

 

[Millwood]

I live in Spokane area also and have a Kubota B3300SU that I use for tending my Blueberry field and snow removal with LA 504 front loader. I bought the tractor in 2014, tiller, plow, brush cutter and other attachments over time.

I had some neighbors that mistakenly thought my equipment was community owned. I straighten them out quickly and created enemies by refusing to do freebees, but offering low cost tractor work. A few have hired me to do garden plots and overgrown brush cutting, etc. but most are too cheap.

Spokane has turned into a GIMEE, GIMEE city where losers outnumber the hard working.

You paid hard earned money for your equipment and it sounds like you take very good care of it. Don't be a sucker to a GIMEE user!

 

[dcarman]

A neighbor who lives down the road from me, a neighbor who I've only met once or twice, finds out that I have a tiller. I have a Woods RT72.40 6ft tiller. Last spring, he "hired" me to till his garden plot, about a half acre. And by hired, I mean, I drove down the road about 10 minutes, tilled up the sod where he had marked, and drove home unpaid. He suddenly had to leave and never did pay the agreed amount of $50, which, in my opinion, was a steal. I really didn't care about the money, and didn't push for it.

This last weekend he calls me, first time I've spoken to him all year. He asked to borrow the tiller and informed me that he has recently purchased a new tractor.

Being the nice and helpful person I am, and realizing that this wont take much of my time, I reluctantly agreed. The tiller has been sitting all winter, so I brought it up to the shop, checked the gear oil, greased it, and slipped the slip clutch. I checked it all over for damage and set it next to my garage for an easy hook up to his tractor. He shows up in a small Branson 2400 21 HP at the PTO.... and backs up to my 6 foot wide tiller. Upon learning that his new tractor is only 24 engine HP, I advised that his tractor is simply not enough. I offered to use my tractor. He scoffed and said that he knows what he is doing, and he cannot afford my high prices! I left him to his work of hooking up to my tiller, hoping, at this point, that his 3 point wouldn't even lift it. But it did and he drove down the road.

He sends me a text message that afternoon: He said that the tiller worked very well. He was able to till at "15-1800 RPM, 1/1," and he needs to borrow it a bit longer. I needed clarification. Why so low of RPM? What is 1/1? Why does he need it longer?

Apparently, he is running as slow as the tractor could go: first gear, first range (1/1), and had to slow the RPM of the engine down to move slow enough across the ground, to do a good job. He needs it longer because he has decided to not only do the garden, but expand his garden, and also put in a big back yard.

My wife called me an idiot. Am I too nice? Too helpful? Would you have loaned your tiller (or other attachment) out to someone like this? He still has it, and I haven't heard anything back. I drove by his house this morning and I saw his garden is bigger, all tilled up, but couldn't see his back yard.

What kind of damage could I expect on my tiller of running it at low RPM on virgin soil? Its gear driven, so I assume the gears are taking a beating?

Been down this road. He'll hit a rock or something and sheer a pin or worse then your tiller will be no good and your the bad guy. He didn't have the integrity to pay you as agreed. He wouldn't get any help from me. He showed his true colors.

 

[FERLING]

A neighbor who lives down the road from me, a neighbor who I've only met once or twice, finds out that I have a tiller. I have a Woods RT72.40 6ft tiller. Last spring, he "hired" me to till his garden plot, about a half acre. And by hired, I mean, I drove down the road about 10 minutes, tilled up the sod where he had marked, and drove home unpaid. He suddenly had to leave and never did pay the agreed amount of $50, which, in my opinion, was a steal. I really didn't care about the money, and didn't push for it.

This last weekend he calls me, first time I've spoken to him all year. He asked to borrow the tiller and informed me that he has recently purchased a new tractor.

Being the nice and helpful person I am, and realizing that this wont take much of my time, I reluctantly agreed. The tiller has been sitting all winter, so I brought it up to the shop, checked the gear oil, greased it, and slipped the slip clutch. I checked it all over for damage and set it next to my garage for an easy hook up to his tractor. He shows up in a small Branson 2400 21 HP at the PTO.... and backs up to my 6 foot wide tiller. Upon learning that his new tractor is only 24 engine HP, I advised that his tractor is simply not enough. I offered to use my tractor. He scoffed and said that he knows what he is doing, and he cannot afford my high prices! I left him to his work of hooking up to my tiller, hoping, at this point, that his 3 point wouldn't even lift it. But it did and he drove down the road.

He sends me a text message that afternoon: He said that the tiller worked very well. He was able to till at "15-1800 RPM, 1/1," and he needs to borrow it a bit longer. I needed clarification. Why so low of RPM? What is 1/1? Why does he need it longer?

Apparently, he is running as slow as the tractor could go: first gear, first range (1/1), and had to slow the RPM of the engine down to move slow enough across the ground, to do a good job. He needs it longer because he has decided to not only do the garden, but expand his garden, and also put in a big back yard.

My wife called me an idiot. Am I too nice? Too helpful? Would you have loaned your tiller (or other attachment) out to someone like this? He still has it, and I haven't heard anything back. I drove by his house this morning and I saw his garden is bigger, all tilled up, but couldn't see his back yard.

What kind of damage could I expect on my tiller of running it at low RPM on virgin soil? Its gear driven, so I assume the gears are taking a beating?

Please look in a mirror and see if you have a tattoo on your forehead that says
"SUCKER".

 

[Talkstogoats]

My inner feminist agrees with your wife...
You're an idiot.

...and I mean that in a nice way. Not sure how your wife meant it.

 

[RoyJackson]

its a point very few (loaner or borrower) think about.
its also a thing (what I am dealing with now between 2 friends of mine) that I am dealing with.

I've never had to do this...yet.
If I buy an PTO driven implement, I'll rig it to the 3PH but not connect the PTO driveshaft. Then raise the implement until the gearboxes are inline...that's the shortest the driveshaft would be. Then see if I can connect to the tractor's stub shaft with at least an inch or so of clearance...and, if necessary, trim as required.
I only have one implement (wood chipper) that a neighbor could, conceivably, want to borrow. If that happened, we'd go through the drill as described. He's also the OCD neighbor I'd described in my first response and I'd lend him my tractor and chipper

 

[FERLING]

I sent my parasite neighbor a text yesterday afternoon, asking if he was done with my tiller. He informed me that he was currently done, but has ANOTHER project he might need it for in a week or so... "But you can come get it if you need it."

...

...

I got my tiller back last night.

I checked it out. I didn't see any signs of abuse or damage. I didn't drain the gear oil, but did spin the PTO and it felt good. I hosed it off and parked it in my lower lot.


A quick note on helping, loaning, or working for neighbors. I'm totally willing to bend over backwards for my closer (both physically and relationship) neighbors. They have been great! It's been a somewhat fair exchange amongst us all. We all know each other and hang out on a regular basis. I thought this guy, from down the road, would be the same. Moving forward, if my next door neighbor needs to borrow my tiller, he'll have it, no questions asked. Because I trust him. My parasitic 'neighbor' has lost my trust in him. He might be the nicest, God fearing, family man, but I simply cannot have that type of relationship with someone with that reputation.

There has been a ton of great comments here! Thank you! I knew I messed up, but was torn morally. I am a man of my word, and when I agree to something, that something is done. This is why he was able to take my tiller. It did tear me up inside, a feeling of lending something so expensive and useful for my own property, I may never see again, all because I am a moral person. I guess I cannot let my morals get in the way of decisions like this.

Thanks again!

Just remember a lot of those "God fearing" people only fear their god. They use others as a "god given blessing". Every time they take advantage of someone's gift it becomes a "blessing from their god". They live their life looking for that next blessing and blaming others when they don't materialize.

 

[FERLING]

I know who he was referring to. Family members are usually the worst. They feel entitled to your stuff because you're family. If you do let them, you either never see it again, have to chase them down, or get it back broken.

Oddly, they usually never anything worth borrowing. If they do, they always have an excuse why you can't borrow it.

You deserve better from your "own blood" and when taken advantage of by them the cut is a lot deeper than from a stranger. How to break up a family - Throw a bunch of money, land, or anything of value in the middle of a circle. Tell the family it's theirs, grab as much as they want. You discover the "roots of that family" really quick.

 

[Buggs67]

You've already made two mistakes. You did work for him and let him stiff you for the payment. Then you lent him the equipment he still owes you $50 for. And you are now liable if he sticks his hand under it, and you are out the money if he never returns it or returns it damaged.

My father taught me that you cannot loan money; you are giving it away and hoping it comes back. Tools are the same.

 

[ljjhouser]

Seems like you gave him an opportunity to discuss the issue and ask how you felt about what he was about to do. However, he did not want to discuss it - I would have told him that the tiller was not the right size to operate with the tractor. Then, No way.

 

[deezler]

oh I saw that.
does not mitigate the idiocy of loaning a pto item to someone with a tractor not EXACTLY the same as his.
way too many people (you??) think any class of pto stuff with any pto length can fit onany tractor.

Haha. I might loan the equipment, but not the PTO shaft? Incorrect length PTO shafts are bad news, indeed. The only bit of karma might have been if the neighbor lifted the tiller for the first time and blew his PTO shaft seal into the tractor's transmission, LOL.

I just think it's pretty awful for everyone to keep calling the OP an idiot because he tried to be nice, or wasn't certain enough to refuse a demand in the moment. He was humble enough to come here and tell us the story, and seek advice. No need to keep kicking the dead horse, y'all.

It is a good lesson for others, though.

 

[FERLING]

Appears she is the brains of the operation...

CT

There are people put on this earth that are taken advantage of and there are two or more to take advantage of each one of them. You have to decide whether you are a taker or a giver or you will be just a bystander watching it happen.

 

[Buggs67]

BTW I would never lend a tool that could hurt someone, even to a good friend.

A very good friend asked to borrow my log splitter. I said NO, but I will come over and operate it as you feed me the logs. Same for my chainsaw.

And I have a friend with a small 4' tiller for his BX25. While I would love to use it I would never asked.

 

[Buggs67]

There are people put on this earth that are taken advantage of and there are two or more to take advantage of each one of them. You have to decide whether you are a taker or a giver or you will be just a bystander watching it happen.

I am neither a taker nor a giver; but I will help a friend in need. But my time of servitude is over so I no longer feel the need to help everyone who need help.

 

[dwm1026]

A neighbor who lives down the road from me, a neighbor who I've only met once or twice, finds out that I have a tiller. I have a Woods RT72.40 6ft tiller. Last spring, he "hired" me to till his garden plot, about a half acre. And by hired, I mean, I drove down the road about 10 minutes, tilled up the sod where he had marked, and drove home unpaid. He suddenly had to leave and never did pay the agreed amount of $50, which, in my opinion, was a steal. I really didn't care about the money, and didn't push for it.

This last weekend he calls me, first time I've spoken to him all year. He asked to borrow the tiller and informed me that he has recently purchased a new tractor.

Being the nice and helpful person I am, and realizing that this wont take much of my time, I reluctantly agreed. The tiller has been sitting all winter, so I brought it up to the shop, checked the gear oil, greased it, and slipped the slip clutch. I checked it all over for damage and set it next to my garage for an easy hook up to his tractor. He shows up in a small Branson 2400 21 HP at the PTO.... and backs up to my 6 foot wide tiller. Upon learning that his new tractor is only 24 engine HP, I advised that his tractor is simply not enough. I offered to use my tractor. He scoffed and said that he knows what he is doing, and he cannot afford my high prices! I left him to his work of hooking up to my tiller, hoping, at this point, that his 3 point wouldn't even lift it. But it did and he drove down the road.

He sends me a text message that afternoon: He said that the tiller worked very well. He was able to till at "15-1800 RPM, 1/1," and he needs to borrow it a bit longer. I needed clarification. Why so low of RPM? What is 1/1? Why does he need it longer?

Apparently, he is running as slow as the tractor could go: first gear, first range (1/1), and had to slow the RPM of the engine down to move slow enough across the ground, to do a good job. He needs it longer because he has decided to not only do the garden, but expand his garden, and also put in a big back yard.

My wife called me an idiot. Am I too nice? Too helpful? Would you have loaned your tiller (or other attachment) out to someone like this? He still has it, and I haven't heard anything back. I drove by his house this morning and I saw his garden is bigger, all tilled up, but couldn't see his back yard.

What kind of damage could I expect on my tiller of running it at low RPM on virgin soil? Its gear driven, so I assume the gears are taking a beating?

I’d have been down there in a heart beat…. What’s a 6’ tiller cost these days?

 

[acarr1]

A neighbor who lives down the road from me, a neighbor who I've only met once or twice, finds out that I have a tiller. I have a Woods RT72.40 6ft tiller. Last spring, he "hired" me to till his garden plot, about a half acre. And by hired, I mean, I drove down the road about 10 minutes, tilled up the sod where he had marked, and drove home unpaid. He suddenly had to leave and never did pay the agreed amount of $50, which, in my opinion, was a steal. I really didn't care about the money, and didn't push for it.

This last weekend he calls me, first time I've spoken to him all year. He asked to borrow the tiller and informed me that he has recently purchased a new tractor.

Being the nice and helpful person I am, and realizing that this wont take much of my time, I reluctantly agreed. The tiller has been sitting all winter, so I brought it up to the shop, checked the gear oil, greased it, and slipped the slip clutch. I checked it all over for damage and set it next to my garage for an easy hook up to his tractor. He shows up in a small Branson 2400 21 HP at the PTO.... and backs up to my 6 foot wide tiller. Upon learning that his new tractor is only 24 engine HP, I advised that his tractor is simply not enough. I offered to use my tractor. He scoffed and said that he knows what he is doing, and he cannot afford my high prices! I left him to his work of hooking up to my tiller, hoping, at this point, that his 3 point wouldn't even lift it. But it did and he drove down the road.

He sends me a text message that afternoon: He said that the tiller worked very well. He was able to till at "15-1800 RPM, 1/1," and he needs to borrow it a bit longer. I needed clarification. Why so low of RPM? What is 1/1? Why does he need it longer?

Apparently, he is running as slow as the tractor could go: first gear, first range (1/1), and had to slow the RPM of the engine down to move slow enough across the ground, to do a good job. He needs it longer because he has decided to not only do the garden, but expand his garden, and also put in a big back yard.

My wife called me an idiot. Am I too nice? Too helpful? Would you have loaned your tiller (or other attachment) out to someone like this? He still has it, and I haven't heard anything back. I drove by his house this morning and I saw his garden is bigger, all tilled up, but couldn't see his back yard.

What kind of damage could I expect on my tiller of running it at low RPM on virgin soil? Its gear driven, so I assume the gears are taking a beating?

I'm afraid I'll have to jump on the bandwagon and say no as well. I actually don't think he'll hurt the tiller just by running it at a low rpm, but he sounds like he doesn't have a clue what he's doing. And if he stiffed you on the first deal, he probably has no respect for your equipment. Go get it ASAP.

 

[D2Cat]

I had a brother-in- law would go to an auction with me and openly say, "You buy it, I'll borrow it!" When I realized he was serious I parted company.

I have seen him one time in 35 years!

 

[FERLING]

Haha. I might loan the equipment, but not the PTO shaft? Incorrect length PTO shafts are bad news, indeed. The only bit of karma might have been if the neighbor lifted the tiller for the first time and blew his PTO shaft seal into the tractor's transmission, LOL.

I just think it's pretty awful for everyone to keep calling the OP an idiot because he tried to be nice, or wasn't certain enough to refuse a demand in the moment. He was humble enough to come here and tell us the story, and seek advice. No need to keep kicking the dead horse, y'all.

It is a good lesson for others, though.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me! His wife can count and arithmetic isn't his strong part. He should take his wife's comment more seriously. When someone wants to borrow something he can always say he can't because his wife would raise hell if he loaned that out. Some of his freeloading friends might label him as "***** whipped" but he lays beside his wife every night and his $2000.00 tiller would look new under the barn shelter.