Illustrated Parts List Maruyama/MTD/AYP BC233RS

[rogerf]

Hallo Folks,

I bought a MTD BC233RS about 10 years ago from a local dealer. Unfortunately he no longer handles this line of products. I now do most/all small engine repairs myself having the time and getting tired of taking machines back for the same fault.

When I put new fuel lines and filter on this machine I found that the last 'professional repairer' had put the fuel filter on the return line - the filter was blowing bubbles when priming and both lines were long enough to reach the far corner of the fuel tank! In spite of running without an effective fuel filter for some time the machine still works well.

I would like to find an illustrated parts list for this machine if at all possible. My searches so far have only come up with the string head. Can anyone point me in the direction of a full downloadable IPL? An IPL for the BC 233 would be a good start!

Looking forward to being able to look up part numbers!

Cheers from Downunder,
Roger

PS Hope your rotten weather eases soon!

[bobodu]

http://www.propartsdirect.net/pages/oemparts?aribrand=MTD#/Husqvarna_%2f%2f_AYP/BC233_B_%282010-03%29/ENGINE/5887/58870002

[KE4AVB]

Roger, I am a little curious on this. Is a it a Maruyama, MTD or is a Poulan/AYP/Husqvarna? One way to research is by referencing molding numbers on the plastic parts.

When I research the number I even got a hit on the full BC3233 RS model number but it is one recently released by Stihl in the Aussie area.

[rogerf]

Hallo bobodo and KV4AVB,

Thank you for your replies and link.

The machine was marketed as an MTD, on the recoil housing it says 'Powered by Muruyama'. I was told when I bought it that the entire machine was made in Japan by Maruyama, and it was just badged MTD and marketed by them in Australia.

When I asked about a leaking fuel tank I was told (after about a week) that the fuel tank was available here, but it would cost an extraordinary amount (the same as a new machine) by the time it arrived.I solved that problem by having the tank welded professionally by a plastic welder at a very reasonable cost.

I was given the part number and when I did a search on the part it came up on the Muruyama USA web site at US$40!

I suspect the same machine is sold with many different labels!

Cheers,
Roger

[bgsengine]

I was given the part number and when I did a search on the part it came up on the Muruyama USA web site at US$40!

Not uncommon - if they buy parts from the USA, one by one, shipping to AU can be incredibly expensive - I've seen USPS package (priority mail international) quotes as much as $45 USD (and that's with commercial rate discounts from USPS) for as little as a 2 pound package - figure that plus the $40 tank, plus dealer markup , guessing a typical 35% probably $130 USD or round about $170 AUD just for a tank.. It makes it really hard to sell single "smalls" to international buyers - some have gotten to the point where they actually buy up multiples of the same thing and then they turn them around and re-sell them at 2/3 of what it'd cost to ship each one to their country, selling to others in their region that want the parts and end up getting the ONE piece they needed for practically nothing out of pocket..

I suspect the same machine is sold with many different labels!

Not uncommon with smaller manufacturers like Maruyama, as well as MTD, AYP (Poulan Weedeater) badged as Husqvarna - Echo does that as well most notably with the Mantis/Little Wonder SV-xx series engines, among others - then there's Efco - Jonsered used to have a line of those with the Li'l Red badge.. and of course Homelite, TTI Ryobi getting their products badged under the Toro brand (and Toro lawn tractors these days are just Glorified MTD machines) - then you got brands like Jet and Delta (shop equipment/power tools) built by TTI (Ridgid, Ryobi) and then there's the Simplicity/Snapper/Allis Chalmers now that Briggs owns them - Even John Deere in the game with their re-badged AYP stuff - it is almost to the point that consumer models of lawn tractors, power equipment, etc may as well all be made by the same company with all the different components from various manufacturers going into so many similar machines.. So yeah, your suspicions would be pretty accurate on almost any piece of power equipment you can pick up..

[rogerf]

Hallo folks,

I checked the plastic mouldings and as far as I could see they were all marked with Maruyama, either clearly on the outside or inside with a stylised "M". So I'm certain the machine is manufactured by that company as I was told when I bought it.

I can quite see how easily the costs mount up if single parts are imported and a marketing company has no spares holding - which also costs money sitting on shelves. I was grateful to be given the part number - at least that gives me the possibility of buying the part in the USA and having it shipped to our daughter living in MA. That way we could use the relatively low cost and reliable USPS to send it to Australia. However, it does seem weird to manufacture in Japan, ship to the USA, only to ship it almost all the way back where it came from! Such is our 'global village'!

If Stihl are now selling the machine here that gives another potential and shorter path length for spares - if only I can find that Stihl IPL. The local Stihl dealer and the original dealer are helpful and well grounded in reality as far as reasonable prices. The original dealer told me himself that the quoted price was in his view ridiculous.

Meanwhile I'll use the machine and report back after a few months regarding the reliability of the plastic weld on the fuel tank.

Cheers from Downunder,

Roger

(It's 31 Celcius today)

[KE4AVB]

Roger you might try emailing them explaining your problem and your request for an IPL through the following website.

http://www.maruyama.co.jp/english/oceania/products.html

They are also the following as a distributor in Queensland. This doesn't always means the info is up-to-date om their site.
POWERUP LAWNCARE PRODUCTS 11 Sodium Street,Narangba QLD 4504, AUSTRALIA Phone 61 7 385 4955 Fax 61 7 385 4950

[rogerf]

Hallo KE4ABV,

Thank you for the link, it didn't come up when I searched for Maruyama in Australia.

I've sent an email to the contacts link on the site you gave me. Turns out that the contact - Powerup Lawncare Producs are part of RGS which is probably the biggest supplier of lawn care parts in Australia. I hope and believe that spares sourced from that company would have a very much shorter supply chain and be transported much more economically leading to more realistic pricing. We'll see what the results of my email will be and I'll update you on the results.

Cheers from Downunder,

Roger

[rogerf]

Hallo Folks,

An update with not much to report!

I sent an email to the Australian distributor Powerup Products through the website and so far have not received any kind of reply. After waiting a couple of weeks I am no longer expecting a reply from that direction.

I guess I could try sending a message to the company itself in Japan and see if they are a little more interested in supporting their products than their Australian distributor - we'll see!

Cheers,
Roger