they are for the newer engines, but not very good for the older engines. Many of those older pieces of equipment were powered by Briggs, and today it is getting extremely difficult to get the parts to repair those old engines. I can remember when he would hone a block and install a new bearing, piston, and rod into the older engine just to keep the machine working because the machine was well made, such as the older Troy Built rototillers before they got bought out by MTD. Said that new carburetors are no longer available and replacements coming from China are also junk. Even carb kits are in short supply for the older machines.
I know that in the auto parts business, there used to be companies that would buy out whole stores that were closing, but I think that most of those places are also gone. I can remember when I bought my 1962 Chevrolet 20 years ago, I had no difficulty finding the mechanical parts that I needed for the engine. I needed some brackets that were long ago discontinued and I could call the local Chevrolet dealer and they would put the part number into the computer and any dealer in the country that had that obsolete part in inventory would come up. All I had to do was call the parts department and give them a credit card for the cost of the part and shipping and a week later it was in my mailbox. Today auto dealers stock very few parts and order what they need every day. They get daily shipments from the master warehouse. A part from the Maryland distribution center takes 3 days to get to Massachusetts. I know this because last week I needed a complete exhaust system for a 2016 Ford Explorer. It was one piece from the flex pipe to the chrome tips. I was just shy of 14' long and weighed about 35-40 pounds.
I know that in the auto parts business, there used to be companies that would buy out whole stores that were closing, but I think that most of those places are also gone. I can remember when I bought my 1962 Chevrolet 20 years ago, I had no difficulty finding the mechanical parts that I needed for the engine. I needed some brackets that were long ago discontinued and I could call the local Chevrolet dealer and they would put the part number into the computer and any dealer in the country that had that obsolete part in inventory would come up. All I had to do was call the parts department and give them a credit card for the cost of the part and shipping and a week later it was in my mailbox. Today auto dealers stock very few parts and order what they need every day. They get daily shipments from the master warehouse. A part from the Maryland distribution center takes 3 days to get to Massachusetts. I know this because last week I needed a complete exhaust system for a 2016 Ford Explorer. It was one piece from the flex pipe to the chrome tips. I was just shy of 14' long and weighed about 35-40 pounds.
