Its always a possibility, something goes wrong that either costs you time and money, and is why before I even consider a borrow, I try to reason with myself is it worth it? Many things I have obtained over the years, say like small engine power equipment, I have waited for an opportunity to buy, in some cases years, most often from CL ads or similar, the occasional new item if its really needed and there are no other options. In that respect I take as best care of these things that I can, I enjoy doing so, and the benefit is having equipment that saves hand labor, and for that I am very thankful. After awhile people know you have equipment, tools and so on, I am fortunate I do not have many "borrowers" there are a few, yet there are some things I just will not loan, well unless I really trust or know the person. I will accompany said borrowed item, to help the other person and insure whatever they have of mine is used in a good manner. I lent my 1 owner troy bilt tiller on sunday, to a friend whom has a small garden, soft composted organic matter and soils, much less abusive than my rocky patches, took the time to explain whatI needed to about its useage, he's experienced with these, so it was no big deal and I am glad to help a person who appreciates it, he's fought a prostate cancer and I figure its a nice gesture for him and his family to put some good quality food on the table.
Many things I have are older, maybe 1 owner, low hours or old school good quality, I have an appreciation for items like this and know the value of maintaining them, properly, even my old Jackson wheel barrows of the 50's era. I don't like loaning hard to replace items that took time to find or get, looking back its take some time to get the pieces of the puzzle that makes things work around here, can make me money or what have you, don't take much for some ignorant person to wreck something, or have it stolen etc, so I am apprehensive, not selfish about lending things like that, and for good reason.
I have another friend whom has acquired things, and lets say similar to things I need and use, but was able to do so, much sooner than I. Now we've known each other a long time, since about birth or the earliest years before school. I used to borrow a chain saw or power tools, generator and or trash pumps which are the bread and butter of his pool service business. Each item, small engine, or whatever it was, would get an oil change, lube, sharpen, cleaned, what have you depending on what it is, prior to return, small engines I would put a blue tape tag and list what was serviced, oil type, brand, quantity, date, etc. just like I do with my own, and between us there is nothing we would not share if necessary, because each knows how the other is, and most no me to be a little, A..retentive with taking care of things, I do try, and will treat yours the same. I would borrow a trash pump all winter for making ice rinks on the pond for saturday hockey games, and in the spring that pump was freshly serviced, fueled up and waiting to get put back in his truck and go to work.
Some years back we bought hay from a farmer about 10 miles down the road, he had one sort of beat up steel kicker wagon, we would use to haul 200 bales, and towards the end I noticed a bearing going out, one of the side doors, was coming off, rust or welds, etc. My father was going to send it back like that, was his dealing and I don't even think it would have made it down the road again. I did the bearing job, lubed and got all the fittings taking grease, welded the door up, was not a good weld job, but it worked, I made sure it was returned in the condition it was in the beginning, well some time shortly after, a tie rod broke and the front wheels did a splay on him, he came around looking at me at first, in a nice way, I don't think he was all that happy, thought someone at the place sabotaged it, I said not that I know of, and I said to him, "Bob" we speak the same language, I told him of the repairs, and I think he appreciated that, had I not been around, with the help my father had at this place, this could have been an overturned expensive load of hay on a 2 lane state road, I went and bought my old F600, just for this purpose, I hate borrowing things and avoid it as much as possible, rather do without or tough out the hand work. If I do, I rather enjoy servicing, repairing, sharpening, cleaning or what have you, people really appreciate that, and I like the reaction I get, most times its inexpensive, trivial little things, that get the most appreciation. One has to consider the higher cost of something going wrong while you have it, I would hate to borrow a baler and have something get out of time and have to eat the repairs, but if you got hay down that you need badly, thats a tough call, we used to let someone borrow our hay equipment, a mechanic who owned a shop, few minor odds and ends but you knew it would be right when it came back, not all are like that.
I find exhibiting this attitude and care towards all equipment in the presence of the owner, or even a rental house is always highly beneficial, once people know how you are, it opens doors and can gain you access to something you might need, in a pinch or say a straight up longer term rental. I used to rent dozers and backhoes quite often, had a real good deal going on that, and I enjoyed the work I did, wish I could have kept doing it, the owner knew how I was, grease, check fluids, not an abusive operator, cleaned and vacuumed the cab, clean the glass etc. If there were no other problems, most times he could send out anything I had on a job when returned without going back to the shop first, it was greased and ready to go when I was done. I would always hose off the tracks on the dozer, no mess on the trailer. I could get things on a half day rental or quickly in a pinch, only because I did the extra work, I do not understand those who are not thankful for and appreciate expensive equipment that saves so much hard labor. I rented a dozer from him one time, it came from the dealer to the job, was brand new, he would normally bring something like that to the shop first, I made sure to grease it up and check it out and keep an eye out for any "bugs" to work out, I did get to break it in, second one I've ever had new, painted tracks and all that I got to break in, I highly appreciated that trust, it goes a long way.
Farmer I used to help, had always told me if I needed to borrow one of his tractors, no problem, he knew how I was, I'd never do it though, only if I got stuck, quick one time deal, last time he came over and I'd rather it that way, get to BS a bit anyway, Its not a perfect "Ozzie and Harriet" world when it comes to this stuff, but its those I do not understand, people don't even make an effort to do whats right and just don't have the same aptitude for taking proper care of things and understand and abide by the limitations which all these things have..
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