Starting to lose it . . .

Late last summer I bought a new petrol driven lawn mower (Homelite HL454HP) from B&Q. It was a simple choice - it looked like the one that had packed up after five years' hard use and the price was reasonable. Never thought to check design!

Used the mower twice and then discovered a shrub had caught a spring which regulates the engine speed. A very delicate spring which has been stretched so that it no longer works, and consequently the mower can't be used as the engine now runs too fast. In my opinion it is a design fault that such a flimsy part is so exposed as to be damaged so easily. Be that as it may I resigned myself to getting another spring.

As it was the end of the summer I didn't do anything about it until now. Mistake as I could have gainfully employed my time through all those long dark months chasing a spring.

First port of call was the local B&Q shop who could not help as they do not stock parts. That was to be expected but they were helpful and gave me the number for the manufacturer in the UK. Rang the number and when I elected to speak to Parts I got through to Transport! Transport said they would transfer me to Parts. Don't know who I got through to but they said they don't supply parts!

Then given the number of a business in Northampton . . . they don't do parts for that machine! Given two other numbers to ring! One turns out to be the manufacturer again so full circle. The other does stock parts but he doesn't have a schematic of the model in question so he can't find out the part number for the spring!

Every mower probably uses the same spring but no point going down that avenue as far too complicated to try and compel him to sell me just any spring. Am given another number. Again it is to the manufacturer but this time it has a different area code and I am told it is a direct line to "Ron" who will be able to tell me the part number which will enable me to go back to the previous person I spoke to so that he can see whether they stock or can order the part.

It's just a spring for heaven's sake!

In the meantime my grass continues to grow and I can't get on with clearing ground for my new greenhouse.

Because the likes of B&Q sell mowers so cheap there are no longer people providing a repair service so that option no longer exists. You can see what is going to happen . . . it is going to be easier and cheaper to buy a new mower!