Would You Loan It Out?

jaxs · May 11, 2022

I have a little different view than everyone that posted so far.

Emagin that! I want to help people but I try making sure they understand what is expected. When asked to loan something,it usually needs something fixed or replaced and deadbeats are seldom ready to spend a few dollars in exchange for using it so they move on. My trailers always have a low/flat tire and if they ask me to air it up and they will of course "keep an eye on it",I might say the tire is borrowed so i can't risk it being run flat so here's a rim,go get a tire put on it. If i think enough of them I will run a tractor and not charge them. If i could care less whether their job gets done,i say i don't loan tractors. That has worked pretty well and I have a circle of people I loan and borrow with. If i don't have reason to trust they do the right thing if something breaks,I ask for security deposit that some give me and some move on. I never bring up past bad experience as excuse not to loan and i don't want to hear it either.
In the situation that started this thread,go get the tiller and consider it a lesson on human behavior.

WM75Guy · May 11, 2022

With one exception being my next-door neighbor, nothing gets loaned out. I will come over and do what task you need, but I operate the equipment.

CalG · May 12, 2022

On the topic

I've got one neighbor, lives across the way. I would GIVE him any machinery I own if he asked. Knowing that he would abuse it for all a "thing" is worth, but he would make good on any and all depreciation. I could "borrow it back" any time. ;-)

We think highly of that family. Share suppers often ;-)

jaxs · May 12, 2022

Y'all are lucky to have say so on who does and doesn't borrow your things. I have people that don't always ask and just borrow what ever they want then bring it back when they feel like it. If I say anything to them,their mother or Granny make's me wish I hadn't.

m1garand762 · May 12, 2022

I have done some local research on this. I own a 6 foot tiller but checked with the rental yard. Its$119 for 4 hours. You charged him $50 which included your time, fuel, wear and tear , and your tiller. He complained that your price was high and did not pay you. He is a user and he played you good. I would get my tiller back and cut him off

RjCorazza · May 12, 2022

There are a couple of neighbors that I would loan equipment to, and one that I would loan my tractor to if he asked (spoiler alert... he has never asked and he bought his own tractor). I have long term established relationships with these neighbors. All others, I come with the equipment.
I frequently do one-off gratis work for neighbors that I feel neutral about, but would certainly draw the line at someone who refused to pay an agreed on price for tilling!
ps.... Go get your tiller.

Jstpssng · May 12, 2022

What gets me is that the OP hadn't heard from the guy since last year, when he needed his garden tilled. Some people have a lot more brass than I do.

Mooseman1616 · May 12, 2022

I'm just curious to to know if the OP is going to go get his tiller or if he's gonna see it out...

kenmbz · May 12, 2022

I would be afraid to borrow anything from my neighbor. He would lend it to me, but I would need to return it in better shape than I got it.
I would rather rent something, less stressful to me, and I would still be more careful than with my own equipment.
Get your tiller, show him how much to rent one from a local place and tell him you'll charge him half.
Get the money up front if he says yes, otherwise walk away next time, as a lesson learned.

Jchonline · May 12, 2022

Avenger said:
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?

You are WAY too nice, your wife is correct. Never, ever let anyone borrow things you expect to come back in the condition they were in when they left. I would have done the work for them. Look at how much time thinking/worrying about your tiller has caused you?

I dont even let people borrow a shovel. It just isnt worth the hassle.