CCM T-N-T, Finally

[PAB_OH]

Well I finally ponied up and called CCM today. Ordered the top and side link I've been wanting for so long.

The guys down there in TN sure are helpful and patient. They know their stuff too. Mark made sure I understood eveything he was saying and asked the same questions a couple of different ways to make sure I knew what I was telling him and that what I was telling him was accurate.

I'm a Design Engineer in my day job and work with heavy equipment that incorporates quite a bit of hydraulics. I've been exposed to a lot of the hydraulics side of the machines over the past three years so I know my way around it a little. I was impressed with the thoroughness of the questioning.

When Mark says they spend an half hour or so with someone going over this stuff he isn't kidding. While he had me on the phone he had me tear the adjustable side link off and double check some of my more questionable dimensions. The man makes sure you know what you are doing.

I may be putting a curse on myself by praising them before I receive the goods but I thought I should post this while I have the time to do so.

Looking forward to dragging some dirt around once I get the links.

Thanks CCM!

 

[Temp97]

I agree with your comments and nice to find a dealer that doesn't just "send the product down the road". If possible take lots of pics as I am ready to do the same.

 

[actionaj]

I bought my top link off of them last summer and have no complaints at all. They are really good to do business with.

 

[3RRL]

Ditto here.
They are top notch and personable. I think their product is great.
Mark and I used to email back and forth in the late evenings when we both had nothing to do ... lol.

 

[PAB_OH]

Well I forgot to mention that this site and all the members' feedback is a big reason why I went with CCM in the first place. I don't think I've read a single negative post related to CCM or their product and there a ton of guys on here that have purchased from them. That says a lot in my book about the way they conduct their business and the quality of their product.

Thanks for the re-affirmation guys.

Temp97, I'll definitley have some pics of the install. I'll post back here once I get everything installed.

 

[john_bud]

Worst complaint I've ever seen about CCM is that tyey occasionally run out of cylinders and you have to wait for the next shipment.

jb

 

[Spaceman]

Forgive me for being new, but who is CCM?

 

[Eric_Phillips]

Cater and Carter Manufacturing

 

[wedge40]

Forgive me for being new, but who is CCM?

Tractor Hydraulic toplink, Top-N-Tilt, Side link

Wedge

 

[PAB_OH]

Sure enough, just as I thought, I cursed myself.

CCM did nothing wrong, it was me. Mark explicitly asked me how the top of my side link connected to the lift arms. I told him... "a ball eye".

Well this morning on the way back to the house from running chores I started going over the conversation in my head (I'm **** like that) and I kept thinking about some of the conversation when I realized he wanted know what was on the SIDE LINK not the LIFT ARM. The side link itself has a clevis to fit around the ball eye.

I had to call him back this afternoon and tell him I screwed up. It was about 3:20 PM when I called and the shipment was packed to go out for delivery today. Thankfully I caught him before it was shipped. He's reworking it for me. Man do I feel stupid.

His guy that does the fab work is off next week and I know they rushed to get my links made before he left. I feel bad because of it. He was pretty good about it all though. True to their reputation he just wanted to make sure he got it right (even if the customer couldn't answer a simple question).

 

[PAB_OH]

Well I got me side link today! I really wasn't expecting it for at least another week and half at the earliest since I messed up the order. That was a quick repair to correct my mistake!

I do have a question though. Those of you who have ordered them, is it normal for them to show up at different times? There was no sign of my HTL. I'll call them tomorrow to find out for sure but thought I'd ask here to see if it's common for them to show up on different days.

Looking forward to putting them to work.

 

[Zephrant]

I can't get them to reply to an email, have you been calling them?
Since the SCV I want to get has the check valves in it, I'd like to get their cylinders without them, for better clearance back there, but I can't get their attention.

 

[PAB_OH]

Phone is the only way I can get in touch with them. I would imagine they are buried or getting close to it. Hay season is just around the corner and that is their bread and butter from what I understand.

I'm going to call this morning to see if my HTL got missed somehow or if it's lost in the delivery system. I would give them a call if I were you. Email doesn't seem to work to well. In another thread a while back Mark mentioned they have spam filters turned on due to the number of emails they would get otherwise. You might be getting filtered out for some reason.

 

[PAB_OH]

Zephrant did you get in touch with them? I was able to call this morning and spoke to a lady there. She said my HTL did not ship out with the side link. I'm sure it's because of the confusion I caused and the ensuing mad dash to fix the side link before their guy went on vacation this week.

She said the HTL shipped out today. I got to give them credit they don't waste any time. Might just need to call them on the phone to get in touch with them. Good luck.

 

[daBear]

Mine shipped separately because the top links are made up and the side links are made after the order. The top cylinder was received in just a couple of days followed by the side link a week later. CCM is one of the best group of folks I have dealt with in a long time. Delta quick hitch is another.

 

[Zephrant]

I suppose I'll call them next week- I have a low tolerance for companies that have email addresses, but refuse to keep up with them though.
I surf and shop at night, and prefer to get quotes by email as it cuts down on the mistakes on both ends.

 

[PAB_OH]

I understand what you're saying Zephrant but you also have to remember this is not their core business. I too was a little frustrated by the lack of communication by email but they aren't a giant company and from what Mark told me, about half their guys were out this week on vaction.

Hay season is right around the corner and if the past is any indication of the future you shouldn't wait too long. They will be going gang-busters with the hay side of the bussiness and I think they usually do not have time to do the custom fabricated side links pretty much all summer.

I'm the same as you, I work long hours through the day and surf/shop at night. I rely on email to get the info I need so it's hard when a company does not reply real quick. At the same time though you have to think about how highly regarded the company/product is. It is worth the extra time it takes to talk to them on the phone.

Good luck.

 

[Zephrant]

Actually I'm not quite ready yet to buy, I just wanted one question answered- Will they sell them without the check valves, and how much. The control valve I'd like to get has the CVs built in, and I like the idea of a cleaner installation without the big CVs on the side of the cylinders.
I understand the need for them, but I'm not much worried about a hose blowing between the SCV and the cylinder, so having them right on the cylinder just puts them in harm's way for me.

I'm waiting to try blading my drive this spring without them, before I invest the $1k to get all setup with a TNT.

 

[JSUnlimited]

Worst complaint I've ever seen about CCM is that they occasionally run out of cylinders and you have to wait for the next shipment.

jb

......which is why I built my own cylinders.

 

[PAB_OH]

I'll bet they will sell them without the DPOCV's. Might even be cheaper.

Give 'em a call. If you're not in a hurry to buy then you've got a little time to wait for them to reply to an email too. Maybe try sending a PM. I know they read those. I got a response the other day from them. Again, it's slower than calling them up but I think you'll have better success that way.