Do you grease/maintain borrowed equipment?

[gsganzer]

I don't normally lend things. I have the philosophy that "the operator comes with the equipment" and will perform the task for a neighbor with my equipment, if they ask.

Recently, I let a neighbor borrow my backhoe to bury a horse, because I was going to be out of town when they put the horse down. No real issue, I know the neighbors well and I know they'd make everything right in spades, if anything was damaged during their use.

I noticed when I got the backhoe back, that they had greased all the pivot points. (I greased it before I gave it to them) It was nice of them to do that, but it was a different grease from what I use. It's not a big deal if the grease was incompatible, because it's just pivot points and I can push the other grease out. Bearings would probably be a different issue.

But it got me to wondering how much "maintenance" people would do on borrowed equipment? I have most of my own stuff, so I rarely borrow things. But I do check all fluids on anything I use or rent. If I use someone's chainsaw, I'll usually sharpen it for them (I used to be a logger).

Do any of you do maintenance on equipment you borrow?

 

[ArlyA]

yes.

 

[MMC]

I don't normally lend things. I have the philosophy that "the operator comes with the equipment" and will perform the task for a neighbor with my equipment, if they ask.

Recently, I let a neighbor borrow my backhoe to bury a horse, because I was going to be out of town when they put the horse down. No real issue, I know the neighbors well and I know they'd make everything right in spades, if anything was damaged during their use.

I noticed when I got the backhoe back, that they had greased all the pivot points. (I greased it before I gave it to them) It was nice of them to do that, but it was a different grease from what I use. It's not a big deal if the grease was incompatible, because it's just pivot points and I can push the other grease out. Bearings would probably be a different issue.

But it got me to wondering how much "maintenance" people would do on borrowed equipment? I have most of my own stuff, so I rarely borrow things. But I do check all fluids on anything I use or rent. If I use someone's chainsaw, I'll usually sharpen it for them (I used to be a logger).

Do any of you do maintenance on equipment you borrow?

Absolutely. I might want to borrow it again...

 

[EddieWalker]

I borrowed a friends Deere 450G dozer before I bought mine, and I greased it every time I used it. I also topped off the hydraulics and checked the oil. When the alternator went out, I bought and installed a new one. I only used it a couple times and put a dozen hours on it, but since I was using it when it broke, I fixed it.

My neigbhor borrowed my riding trencher for a project on his place, and when he returned it, had had fixed the safety switch for starting it. I told him the trick to get it started, but since it wasn't how it's supposed to be, he spent the time making it work properly.

 

[edgarrian]

thats a good rule of thumb but sadly thats few and far between. I have a buddy that I loaned my tractor to. I left my trailer on his property. His dog at some wiring and pulled 2 running lights. To my surprised my main lights all still worked as well as my trailer brakes. He paid me more than was necessary and gave us another surprise. So in my head space it wasn't a big deal.

My closest neighbor I have let him use it but I was there watching. He is really new to operating and all that. So I wouldn't loan him my tractor. He has purchased one in the last year. So he's having fun with that.

My college buddies I would never let them borrow it b/c I wouldn't trust them to not hurt themselves. They would make any damage right but Id worry about them.

So there is really a select few id let borrow it

 

[RjCorazza]

Uhmmm. I guess it all depends. If I borrowed a neglected piece of equipment I think I would grease it, but likely not if the owner was the regular maintenance type.
I would not want my stuff to receive routine service IF I loaned it out (which I generally don't do).
I do occasionally loan out my chainsaw, and it comes with fuel, bar oil, sharpened chain, sharpening tools, and a lesson on how to sharpen the chain. The last time I loaned it out it came back perfect and WITH a set of new chaps.

 

[EddieWalker]

I've had people ask to borrow tools, and I've replied that I'd let them borrow them if they gave me the cash amount to buy a new one if it's destroyed or disappears. So far, nobody has agreed to this.

 

[gsganzer]

Uhmmm. I guess it all depends. If I borrowed a neglected piece of equipment I think I would grease it, but likely not if the owner was the regular maintenance type.
I would not want my stuff to receive routine service IF I loaned it out (which I generally don't do).
I do occasionally loan out my chainsaw, and it comes with fuel, bar oil, sharpened chain, sharpening tools, and a lesson on how to sharpen the chain. The last time I loaned it out it came back perfect and WITH a set of new chaps.

I agree on providing the fuel, especially on 2-strokes. Nothing ruins equipment faster than bad fuel or wrong/cheap mix.

 

[WinterDeere]

Yes, I will usually do some maintenance on any piece of borrowed equipment. But I always tell the owner what I'm going to do before I do it, in case they don't want me to.

 

[Torvy]

The thought is nice, but I'd rather do it myself.