I have been a lurker. Yes, a lowly lurker
off and on, for quite awhile. Joining now
seeking info or advice regarding a particular
issue. Maybe you guys can help.
The back story: I bought a MT 573cps in late
Nov 2021. I put it to work immediately moving,
scraping and hauling dirt, rock and concrete from
a excavation for a large new slab. Between bad weather
incidents during the winter (we usually have short,
light winters) I would use it for farm chores, haul
gravel, grade farm roads etc. In the spring warm up it
was used primarily with a fully articulated flail mower.
Trimmed vines, bushes and trees from encroaching on
my hay fields and from the paths and farm roads. It was
also used to mow fields. I never had any regen problems
because the tractor was usually running at 2500rpm/540.
No problems so far.
One year later: Late Nov 2022, while fall/winter mowing to prep
for spring. Shrill alarm sounds in cab, dash lights error
codes appear. I reduced rpm, shut off the pto, raised the mower,
put the tractor in neutral and sat idling for a few minutes. The
alarm stopped, dash went back to normal. I headed for the barn
and parked it. Tried using it the next day. Same thing happened
after about 45 minutes. I called the dealer and was instructed
to check all fluids etc (all fluids were clean and full). The
above sequence of events was repeated several times with the
alarm sounding at shorter intervals each time. Bad weather,
Christmas and holidays past by waiting to have it hauled to
the dealer for repair. January 2023: Hauled to dealer,
dealer claimed it was fixed and tractor was hauled back to farm.
Covid got me. Long Covid and hard to get over. Finally able to
get back to work. Nope. Tractor alarm still howls after 45 minutes.
Again I tried several times, different days, and had the same results.
In the meantime, the original dealer went out of business. No warning
or advance notice. Just folded up shop and gone.
So, I'm forced to take it to another dealer that is 3x the distance in
another town. To make a long story short....it took 2 months to fix a
potentiometer (LS Part#40311849) & Shuttle lever (#40538503)
at the 2nd dealer. Multiple calls to 2nd dealer,
calls to corporate LS (which did absolutely nothing to help this customer), email
stream to LS etc. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.
I finally had the tractor hauled back to my farm. Used it for 3 1/2 days
and the fuel tank seam split open and dripped about 10 gal of diesel in my shop.
Yep, it got hauled back to a dealer again for warranty repair.
I've asked LS to extend my warranty, bumper to bumper, since this tractor
has spent more time on the dealers lots than in my fields working. LS is
using up the time the warranty should be covering a customer.
I'm not asking for hauling fees, money for lost time or wages, or for fuel
clean up or replacement, or any financial compensation. Just extend the warranty
2 or 3 months. (I originally asked for a 8 month extension since I've been
dealing with this problem since late 2022).
I may get flamed by the happy LS crowd, but this has been a nightmare. If you need a
sub compact tractor maybe LS is your go-to brand. If you depend day in and day out
on a Utility tractor, you may want to spend the extra $ and get something that has
better local and corporate support.
I really wanted to like this tractor. And for a few months I did.
It's the lack of a solid dealer network and complete absence of corporate support
that sours the LS purchase and experience for me.
(sorry this post got so long)
off and on, for quite awhile. Joining now
seeking info or advice regarding a particular
issue. Maybe you guys can help.
The back story: I bought a MT 573cps in late
Nov 2021. I put it to work immediately moving,
scraping and hauling dirt, rock and concrete from
a excavation for a large new slab. Between bad weather
incidents during the winter (we usually have short,
light winters) I would use it for farm chores, haul
gravel, grade farm roads etc. In the spring warm up it
was used primarily with a fully articulated flail mower.
Trimmed vines, bushes and trees from encroaching on
my hay fields and from the paths and farm roads. It was
also used to mow fields. I never had any regen problems
because the tractor was usually running at 2500rpm/540.
No problems so far.
One year later: Late Nov 2022, while fall/winter mowing to prep
for spring. Shrill alarm sounds in cab, dash lights error
codes appear. I reduced rpm, shut off the pto, raised the mower,
put the tractor in neutral and sat idling for a few minutes. The
alarm stopped, dash went back to normal. I headed for the barn
and parked it. Tried using it the next day. Same thing happened
after about 45 minutes. I called the dealer and was instructed
to check all fluids etc (all fluids were clean and full). The
above sequence of events was repeated several times with the
alarm sounding at shorter intervals each time. Bad weather,
Christmas and holidays past by waiting to have it hauled to
the dealer for repair. January 2023: Hauled to dealer,
dealer claimed it was fixed and tractor was hauled back to farm.
Covid got me. Long Covid and hard to get over. Finally able to
get back to work. Nope. Tractor alarm still howls after 45 minutes.
Again I tried several times, different days, and had the same results.
In the meantime, the original dealer went out of business. No warning
or advance notice. Just folded up shop and gone.
So, I'm forced to take it to another dealer that is 3x the distance in
another town. To make a long story short....it took 2 months to fix a
potentiometer (LS Part#40311849) & Shuttle lever (#40538503)
at the 2nd dealer. Multiple calls to 2nd dealer,
calls to corporate LS (which did absolutely nothing to help this customer), email
stream to LS etc. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.
I finally had the tractor hauled back to my farm. Used it for 3 1/2 days
and the fuel tank seam split open and dripped about 10 gal of diesel in my shop.
Yep, it got hauled back to a dealer again for warranty repair.
I've asked LS to extend my warranty, bumper to bumper, since this tractor
has spent more time on the dealers lots than in my fields working. LS is
using up the time the warranty should be covering a customer.
I'm not asking for hauling fees, money for lost time or wages, or for fuel
clean up or replacement, or any financial compensation. Just extend the warranty
2 or 3 months. (I originally asked for a 8 month extension since I've been
dealing with this problem since late 2022).
I may get flamed by the happy LS crowd, but this has been a nightmare. If you need a
sub compact tractor maybe LS is your go-to brand. If you depend day in and day out
on a Utility tractor, you may want to spend the extra $ and get something that has
better local and corporate support.
I really wanted to like this tractor. And for a few months I did.
It's the lack of a solid dealer network and complete absence of corporate support
that sours the LS purchase and experience for me.
(sorry this post got so long)
