Be cautious of RI Harvesting, their “expertise” now causes me to go elsewhere. I have patronized RI Harvesting for over 15-years. During those years, I purchased various equipment, service and lubricants.
I recently brought a Stihl 031AV chainsaw in for repair (the cost for analysis was $65). When the chainsaw was ready for pickup, I was told the cylinder walls were scored, the exhaust port was bad and parts were no longer available due to the age of the saw (35-years old). The assessment was the chainsaw was not worth repairing. I paid the $65 and left. Not being completely comfortable with the valuation and the manner in which information was conveyed to me, I brought the saw to another Stihl dealership (McQuades Ace Hardware Westerly, R.I.). McQuades charged $20 to check the saw (I figured it was a cheap price to pay to satisfy my insecurity with the previous outcome). McQuades stated the chainsaw needed a carburetor rebuilt (do to ethanol in the gas) and some fuel lines as well as an air filter. Also, the technician (Jamie) claimed the chainsaw had between 70-75% of its life left. The cost for repair was $200; replacement is a MS311 which is $550, loving the 031AV I had it repaired.
Being extremely frustrated with the fact that I was originally misguided by RI Harvesting, I called to get my $65 back. Steve, from service, claimed different technicians have different opinions and he would call Jamie at McQuades to get his side of the story. At that time, I remember thinking when one mechanic’s assessment is a bad cylinder and another’s is a carburetor rebuild, something is not right. Needless to say Jamie never received a call from Steve. RI Harvesting will never see my face again and I am sharing my sentiment with anyone whom I come in contact with needing small engine services.