Maxiforce provides cost-effective OEM alternative for small-bore engine rebuilds

Toowoomba-based Tilly's Crawler Parts has been in the heavy machinery parts business for over 35 years, but the firm recently noticed a significant gap in the local market for quality and affordable small-bore engine parts.

"At the moment there isn't a great variety of options on the market for someone who runs a smaller engine, so they're almost hamstrung and have to go back to the OEM for repairs," said Tilly's Crawler Parts General Manager, Lance Hinrichsen.

"It's an expensive exercise to get an engine rebuilt at an OEM, so we wanted to provide an alternative, quality product with a price point that makes economic sense to an operator or a retailer."

Maxiforce, based in Miami in the United States, has been developing and manufacturing small engine parts for over 25 years, focusing on just that and nothing else.

The company runs its own R&D department with the strictest quality control conducted by the most qualified of engineers in the engine manufacturing space.

Contractors who run their own fleet of skid steers and mini excavators often have no other choice but to go back to the OEMs for parts and rebuilds, which often cost an arm and a leg, according to Tilly's.

Maxiforce provides complete engine rebuild kits and individual engine parts at a great price point compared to OEM, the company said.

Maxiforce manufactures parts that cater to almost every machine and engine brand available on the market including John Deere, Komatsu, Yanmar, Perkins, Caterpillar, Cummins, Mitsubishi, Kubota, Shibaura and International Harvester/Navistar.

Tilly's Crawler Parts is able to provide anything the small machine owner operator may need for their engine, whether it be complete rebuild kits or individual parts such as pistons, ring sets, crankshafts, camshafts, oil and water pumps, injectors, gaskets and seals.

At the moment, Tilly’s Crawler Parts has an introductory range from Maxiforce on the shelves which mainly comprises parts for Caterpillar machines, but the company can cater to any request, thanks to Maxiforce's prioritised supply commitment.

"Maxiforce has committed to prioritised delivery of anything we don't stock at that given point in time," Hinrichsen said.

"The method we want to adopt is as soon as a part or kit is sold and hasn't been on the shelves, they will become part of a further reorder that's done every six weeks.

"We most often can get something from there to here within three to four days.

"Even though there are a lot of different machines out there, the actual engines don't differ that much so it's very easy to build a significant range offering to multiple brands from almost one source. But that being said, the availability of parts to us is very quick if we require them."

Tilly's Crawler Parts offers a warranty for its engine parts that is supported by Maxiforce.

In addition, Tilly's Crawler Parts has the expertise to aid customers with any query they may have.

"We have 13 parts interpreters on the floor with a wealth of information and knowledge that can be leveraged during purchase," Hinrichsen said.

"So, from a support point of view, the information is available if a machine owner wants to have a go at the rebuild himself or if he's got a mechanic who isn't necessarily familiar with small engines."

Tilly's has access to a comprehensive parts database developed by Maxiforce that allows it to provide customers with parts they need quickly and easily.

"The information we have at our disposal with this database means the operator doesn't necessarily have to know what he requires, but we can still get him exactly what he needs," Hinrichsen said.

"Maxiforce itself has 75 years of experience in the R&D space. Along with Tilly's experience on the interpreting floor, we have over 200 years of collective industry experience to help customers source what they need at the right price and at a good quality."

For more information about the Maxiforce range or to find out about any of Tilly’s extensive range of new parts, check out tillys.com.au or call 07 4633 6000 to chat to one of the friendly team.