This area of the site provides the answers to many common questions that people have regarding the services we offer. Check here for answers to any questions you may have. If you do not find the answer of simply would rather ask directly then do not hesitate to contact us directly by either e-mail, Info"at"GeorgeCarrPowerProducts.co.uk , or by phone on 0117 966 9845.

What mower do I need?

Lawn mowers come in various sizes and designs to give you the finish that you want for your lawn. The basic differences in the mowers we sell are as follows:

Metal Vs Polymer?                        Metal decks are generally lighter in construction and designed for domestic machines. It is important with all metal deck machines that wet grass is not left in contact with the deck for long periods as corrosion can occur. The exception to this is professional metal decks which are made from alloy rather than simple pressed steel. Polymer decks are designed to last longer and be more robust over expended periods. A common misconception is that a plastic deck is not as strong as a metal one. In the case of professional machines this is true as the deck is made from a very robust alloy material, but with most machines - domestic - a polymer deck is far stronger and will last much longer.

Wheels Vs Roller?                        Depending upon the finish that you want for your lawn depends on whether you want a roller or wheeled machine. A roller will always give a finer finish as the grass is laid flat each time it is cut. This will also give the effect of stripes on the lawn and is good for creating a formal looking lawn. A wheeled machine is fine if you want to cut a normal lawn, where you have children playing for instance, and a good quality cut is required but a formal finish is not. Roller machines are generally more expensive because of the market they are aimed at. Roller machines can also be useful if you have a lot of boarders that need to be mowed around as the roller enables you to get right up to the edge, where a wheel would be in the boarder.

Push Vs Self Propelled?                Whether you want a metal, polymer, professional, wheeled or roller machine one of the most important choices you will make is whether you want a push or a self propelled machine. If you only have a small garden then a push machine will be fine. If you however have a larger lawn or one with lots of trees or flower beds to go around a self propelled is the answer. Most self propelled machines have a fixed speed whish is set at normal walking pace, however some of the larger machines have either a gear system  normally 3 speed - or a hydrostatic system - continuous - which enables the speed to be varied from a slow walking pace to a fast trot. Self propelled machine cost more than push equivalents because of the gearbox, they are however worth the extra in the right location.

Deck Size?                                        Decks come in various size from around 16" (40cm) up to 21" (53cm). The size you need depends on the area of lawn you wish to cut. The following is designed as a guide, and although this information is useful it should be remembered that a larger mower will always take less time to cut the lawn but that a large mower is also hard to manoeuvre in a  tight space. For a lawn of 500-1,200 square meters a 16"-17" machine will suffice, for lawns of 500-1,500 square meters a 18"-19" machine will make life faster and will not strain the mower so much, if you have a lawn that is between 800-2,500 square meters you really need to look at the larger machines i.e. those with a 21" deck as anything smaller will put too much stress on the operator and machine. For gardens with over 1,500 square meters of lawn it may well be worth considering a professional machine or indeed a "Ride on Mower / Tractor". If you have any doubts what you require do not hesitate to contact us to discuss the options available to you.

What is the Standard Delivery?

Standard delivery is made by next day carrier, where appropriate, and is free with with all orders over £100. Smaller items will be sent by post and incur a delivery charge of £6 inc VAT to cover postage and packing. As soon as your order is placed it will be downloaded from our secure server and processed, and if the item is in stock it will be sent out to you the same day, allowing for a reasonable time between receiving the order and our carrier arriving for their daily collection. As a rule of thumb orders placed before noon will be sent the same day where ever possible. This will obviously vary slightly depending upon operational requirements. If an item is not in stock and needs to be ordered will will contact you to let you know what the status is. You will obviously have the option to cancel the order or wait for the item to be ordered, usually a few days at most.

Can I have an item delivered and invoiced to separate addresses?

Unfortunately due to problems in the past our company policy is not to deliver items to any address other the cardholders. This is for our and your protection in helping to prevent fraudulent credit card use. All credit cards numbers are linked to the house number and post code of where they are registered, and with a simple check we can verify this, helping to stop fraudulent use of your card details. If this should create a problem as there will be no-one in during the day to receive the items ordered then we have a number of options available to help you. These include Evening delivery, Saturday delivery, cheque with order. If you want a fuller explanation of options please do not hesitate to contact us.

Do you run an account system?

For our established trade customers we do operate a credit system. Details of which are available upon request.

What happens if something goes wrong with a machine, what warranty do I get?

In the unlikely event that a fault should develop with your item we will do our best to fix the problem ourselves. We are not a company who will immediately say, "Oh sorry, go to your nearest agent". If a problem arises we will ask for your co-operation in the matter but do our best to get the problem sorted as soon as possible. This includes proving technical support over the phone and if that is unable to resolve the problem getting a machine returned to us for warranty work to be carried out. Please note that if when a machine is returned to us but it is found that the problem is not warranty related, e.g. a two stroke machine has been run with neat fuel causing damage, carriage will be chargeable. Therefore please always contact us first to discuss the nature of any fault. As a main distributor of all the products we sell we have a fully equipped work shop which is able to carry out all manner of repairs. All machines are fully inspected before leaving our premises so we can be sure that the product you receive is functioning properly.

What happens if something gets damaged in the post?

If something gets damaged in transit please contact us immediately to discuss what options are available to you, as the best course of action will differ on the specific circumstances.

Do you ship items abroad?

Unfortunately we do not ship items abroad, due to prohibitive costs and possible clashes with matters such as EPA, environmental, regualtions.

Can I get technical support if I need it?

We will always provide technical support, from the time you first enquire about a specific machine onwards. We have the technical knowledge to help you make the best decision about what you would like for your garden or business.

Are machines run and assembled before delivery?

All machines are fully PDI inspected before you receive them. When your machine is delivered it will be in a semi assembled state depending upon what the machine is. We will always assemble the machine as far as possible but it should be remembered that the item still needs to be boxed for our carrier to be able to take the item. This may mean that you need to partly assemble the machine when you take delivery. If you wish to query any aspect of this then we will always be here to assist. You can be sure however that the assembly required will only be final assemble and the main parts of the machine, technical parts, will be assembled already.

Who do I contact if I need to get assistance other than the questions here?

If you have any questions other than those listed here you can contact us by phone, fax or e-mail and we will do our very best to provide you with an answer whilst you wait.  If we need to call you back we will always check it would be convenient first.

What is Stihl ErgoStart?

The Stihl ErgoStart, or Easy2Start, is a new innovation from Stihl which greatly reduces the force needed to start a machine. This is currently fitted to a chainsaw and several brushcutters. Further information can be found by looking at the following .pdf file.

Stihl ErgoStart System

Can I get items apart from those shown?

We are main dealers for: Stihl, Honda, VIKING, Countax & Husqvarna. We can therefore supply any items that these manufacturers products. We also can supply a large number of items from other manufacturers, both garden and forestry related, details of which are available upon request. If there is an item you would like to order just let us know and we will see if we can get it for you.

Why buy a Stihl 4-mix machine when 2-stroke is cheaper?

The new 4-mix engine from Stihl combines the advantages of 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines. Fewer emissions, no oil services and a deeper more pleasant sound. It also has the advantage of excellent "lugging" power and tangibly higher torque. The automatic decompression advantages of the engine briefly opens the intake valve when starting, thus considerably reducing the effort needed to pull the recoil rope.

What is a Quick Tensioner?

Conventionally a chainsaw chain has always been tensioned using screw to move the bar forwards and back to take up the slack in the chain. This means that a combination spanner comprising a spanner and screwdriver must be carried to do this. The Stihl quick tensioner system uses a simple thumb screw to accomplish this job therefore reducing the need for a spanner to be carried. The quick tensioner models of chainsaws also tend to come with a decompressor and primer - which makes starting easier. Truly the comfort models.

Can I fit a Honda engine to anything?

Honda make a vast range of engines to suit both OEM and Honda equipment. For further details of the engine application call us for further information. The web site shows only a selection of popular engines. Please call for more information.

Which generator should I buy?

The specific generator you require is based upon 3 factors; The power required, the acceptable noise level and the portability. The first step if you would like a generator is to add up all the wattage of all the items you NEED to run. This will give you an indication of the power you need, at this point bear in mind that any generator will try to give the power you are asking for. If this is over the maximum power output of the machine it will burn it out! The noise level is the next aspect to make a decision on. If you are working on a site then an open frame generator is more than likely fine, if you are caravanning then you will need a silent generator to keep the noise down to acceptable levels. Portability is related to both of these issues. A 1kW generator which is silent running is no bigger than a normal weekend bag, but a 4kW diesel generator which is silent weighs upwards of 150kg and is BIG. For more information and simply advice for what you need simply call us or e-mail us.

What different chains are available for my saw?

The chains which are available for a saw are all the same quality. We do not sell cheap chains for rough work. What we can do is offer significant reductions in the price for multiple chain orders. There are different cutters and different pitches and gauges of chains for different machines. A particular chain is tailored to that machine to provide the best cutting performance. A bigger chain is not always better as the engine will not have the power to drag the chain through the wood. More information can be obtained from us if you would like to know more.

What is the Stihl MultiSystem?

The all purpose Stihl MultiSystem is a new concept in lawn and garden maintenance. From maintaining the perfect lawn to cultivating the soil or clearing large areas of the garden, the MultiSystem makes light work of a whole variety of demanding gardening jobs. The MultiSystem has a range of easily interchangeable MultiTools designed for specific garden and lawn maintenance jobs. These jobs can vary from removing moss, loosening the soil, sweeping paths or even edging the lawn. The Stihl MultiSystem is truly a revolution in the garden. The most important thing to remember is that the engine is the main cost of any machine, with this you only need one engine to power all the attachments.

What is the Stihl CombiSystem?

The Stihl CombiSystem has the same principle as the MultiSystem, improve the usefulness of the machine by using one engine to power a variety of tools. This can be from using it as a strimmer for cutting long grass to tilling the soil to cutting the hedges with a long reach hedge trimmer. As with the MultiSystem, truly a revolution.

What protection does Stihl Safety Clothing Provide?

PPE is an important aspect of the machine that we sell. Everyone wants to make sure they are safe using machinery at work, and this is just as true at home even when you are not legislated by HSE. The range of Stihl safety clothing covers everything from ear defenders for when you are cutting the grass and want to protect your hearing, right through to all round protective chainsaw trousers which provide cut through protection. For information on the range of items available see our online store or call.

Are machines delivered ready to use?

All machines receive a full pre-delivery inspection before leaving our premises. This helps to ensure that the machine will be ready to use when you receive it and that everything is functioning as it should. Some machines will only be sent out part assembled as they obviously need to fit into a box. This means that some final assembly is sometimes required, this does not require technical knowledge, if you do require assistance though you can be sure that we will be here to assist you. All machines requiring 50:1 - 2-stroke - oil and chain oil are supplied with this so that you can begin immediately. The only thing we cannot supply is the fuel as petrol is a highly flammable liquid and as such is restricted from being sent by normal carrier.

Can I get an electric mower?

Why buy an electric mower, no fuel, no oil. The only problem is that you then have a long lead trailing around the garden which is not only restrictive but under the wrong circumstances dangerous. The latest mower from Honda uses powerful batteries to provide a mower with excellent performance, light weight, and durability. Click the link to see this new mower for yourself.

Battery Powered Mower

Is it safe to order online?

George Carr has always been cautious regarding online transactions and only recently, the last few years, taken the step of allowing online transactions to take place. By using the latest 128 bit encryption we are able to provide a safe and secure area for all sensitive information to be transferred. All items ordered will only be delivered to the card holders address to prevent fraudulent credit card use and other checks such as security codes are always used to assist in the process. We operate our own secure site and do not share your information with third parties. We are also strongly opposed to “spam” and will not participate in such tactics. For security credit card details should never be sent by e-mail as this not a secure form of communication as messages are transmitted over public networks. It should be noted that there has never been an instance of credit card fraud related to our online secure order service.

If I ring or e-mail can I get the same deal?

We believe that a customer should always be able to get the same deal whether they are stood in the shop, ordering online, over the phone of by e-mail. We are not a company who say that you must do this or that to qualify, you are the customer and it is your decision how you order the items you would like. As stated before it is important when ordering by e-mail that no sensitive information, especially credit card details are sent by e-mail as it cannot be guaranteed as a secure form of communication. The best option in this case in our experience is to send a request by e-mail for the items you would like and enclose a contact telephone number so we can call you back as soon as possible.

Do you have a minimum order for Free Delivery?

All orders within the mainland UK, excluding certain areas of the Scottish Highlands, over the value of £100 benefit from free delivery. Orders below this value have a carriage charge of £6 to cover the cost of postage and packing.

What is mulching?

Mulching is an alternative to collecting the grass. It is important to remember when mulching that you should only cut about 1/3 of the grass at a time as the cuttings will need to be hidden in the remaining grass for it to look nice. This is fine when the grass is hardly growing but when when the grass is very lush you may need to cut the grass 3 times a week. The other thing to know is that when you mulch the grass over long periods it can have a tendency to promote thatch, which then requires scarifying to remove.  It does however stop you from needing to find somewhere to put those cuttings that pile up through the summer months.