Rcpilot: I have had the very same thing happen to me at repair shops. I wonder if it is they really do not want to give away a engine that they could NOT get going? Maybe it kills their pride. Then some shop owners say" I won,t have anything to do with a throw away engine. Like you say...you cannot reason with them. Go Figure?? The repair shop I found was when I was searching for parts for my leaf blower MB290. The guy could fix it but turns out he cannot get parts. One shop in Muskegon called AGARDS really ticked me. As soon as they seen I had a Mac product...he spurts out WE DON,T DO MAC,S HERE I said hey your lucky to get paid for working on engines..... most I do for free.....no complanits either. Well time to cool down. Take Care Capt,n