Ok whats wrong with this pic

[brokenot]

A quote from the OP:

In my thought this tractor had to have been setting for a while, and if that is the case the customer should have used the clutch pedal disengauge latch.

Stuff like that is exactly what I was referring to in my first post in this thread. Manufacturers' recommendations for use, maintenance, and storage need to be met by the owner or end-user. For example if this tractor model has a clutch disengage latch, and that latch is recommended to be used in situations like this owner subjects his machine to, but he doesn't use it....then he didn't live up to his end of the warranty bargain. (If indeed he did even have any warranty coverage left in the first place.)

That's why it's soooooo amazing to me that operators manuals and warranty agreements are seldom, (if ever), read by owners. They literally have no idea what to do or what not to do, until a problem comes up. And then when a problem does crop up, they know they have no leg to stand on....so the next best thing is to apply the time-honored "squeaky wheel gets the grease" tactic and threaten to take their business elsewhere or badmouth anyone that won't give them consideration.

(Requesting "consideration" from customers in situations like this is perplexing also. Whenever I'm asked for "consideration", I wonder what it is the customer thinks I've been doing the whole time. The entire situation is nothing but "consideration". I've "considered" the conditions the machine has been used in. I've "considered" the shape the parts are in. I've "considered" other examples of the same machinery used under similar conditions for a similar number of hours, and I've "considered" information from the manufacturer when I've asked them about known issues or prior problems a particular model has experienced.)

Once again, hate to say it...but often it's the folks asking for consideration, that need to do some "considering" themselves.

If everyone read, understood, and adhered to their equipment manuals before running their machines in the first place, their lives would be more hassle-free. Funny thing is, they're convinced that actually reading the stuff is the big hassle.

 

[John47]

I agree this is a no win situation. What ever happens ill still b the bad guy but at least i'll know I tried. A few keep saying drill a hole in the bell housing, it does have a drain plug which was pointed out to the customer. In the MF operating manual it states to open and check it atleast twice a year. I recommend to the customers to do it once a month over night to be on the safe side. Customer even stated he has done this several times and was aware the plug was there. After looking at the bell housing and the plug it is clear he has never done this. I do agree with most of you and appreciate both sides of opinions and that is why I started this thread. My rep should be there first thing monday morn and I have asked the customer to attend this meeting with us just so he would hear from MF themselves and not just from me. He stated he was to busy to meet with us but it would be in our best interest to get it fixed. Now depending on what MF says is how I will go from here but me coming any off labor or me eating any of the cost to help the customer out just went out the window. Ill keep y'all posted on what happens momnday and once again thank you everyone for your post, inputs,opinions and thoughts.
Jeremy

May I suggest you videotape the MF inspection, then if the customer complains, show him the videotaped inspection.

 

[IXLR8]

May I suggest you videotape the MF inspection, then if the customer complains, show him the videotaped inspection.

This is a great idea... especially if the owner carries out his threats and takes this to court.

 

[MikeD74T]

I'd be very surprised it MF would allow video taping of their inspection. Such evidence could be subpoenaed anytime in the future by either or a fourth party in a different case. MikeD74T

 

[JJZ 109]

When we saw what ws wrong and called the customer and told him the cost is when he started yelling warranty and he was advised 6 months age his warranty was up and to bring the tractor n so we could go over it incase we saw a problem before it expired at which time he declined. So yes he knew it was out of warranty when we picked it up I just don't think he thought it would cost as much to fix.

I did check the front dif and it apears to have new fluid in it. He has already stated if we didn't fix it he was going to badmouth us.

My rep should be there first thing monday morn and I have asked the customer to attend this meeting with us just so he would hear from MF themselves and not just from me. He stated he was to busy to meet with us but it would be in our best interest to get it fixed.

He knows its out of warranty. He's threatened a couple of times. Still, he wants to play hardball. Time to show him who's carrying the bat.
You've bent over backwards to be decent and are bringing in MF to assess the situation. He's "too busy" to deal with it. Maybe he thinks the MF rep won't succumb to his threats so he's taking a pass on the meeting.
He's had his 3 strikes. Tell him to pay what he owes, remove his tractor and don't come back. By the sound of things he won't be back anyway and is very likely to trash you to anyone who'll listen. If he won't pay, I would think that you have signed paperwork for a mechanic's lien. Keep it til he pays. Time to cut the losses and dump this albatross.
I own a business myself. I'm there to provide a product and service and to civilly work through any problems that might arise with the customer. Start abusing me and being an *** to me and I walk. I've started loading tools and materials back into the trailer to walk off a job before. Amazing how some people change their tune when they see that they can't push you around or intimidate you with threats.

 

[MikeD74T]

He knows its out of warranty. He's threatened a couple of times. Still, he wants to play hardball. Time to show him who's carrying the bat.
You've bent over backwards to be decent and are bringing in MF to assess the situation. He's "too busy" to deal with it. Maybe he thinks the MF rep won't succumb to his threats so he's taking a pass on the meeting.
He's had his 3 strikes. Tell him to pay what he owes, remove his tractor and don't come back. By the sound of things he won't be back anyway and is very likely to trash you to anyone who'll listen. Time to cut the losses and dump this albatross.
I own a business myself. I'm there to provide a product and service and to civilly work through any problems that might arise with the customer. Start abusing me and being an *** to me and I walk. I've started loading tools and materials back into the trailer to walk off a job before. Amazing how some people change their tune when they see that they can't push you around or intimidate you with threats.

Response based on one side of a 3 sided story? I know nothing of jlsmith, seems to be basically honest, but this situation would make me wonder about MF's products and ultimately about their willingness to stand behind or in front of their product. MikeD74T

 

[JJZ 109]

Response based on one side of a 3 sided story? I know nothing of jlsmith, seems to be basically honest, but this situation would make me wonder about MF's products and ultimately about their willingness to stand behind or in front of their product. MikeD74T

I suppose that will come out tomorrow when the MF rep makes his appearance.

 

[KWentling]

I suppose that will come out tomorrow when the MF rep makes his appearance.

I'll be curious to hear what the MF rep has to say. I personally think sealing up the clutch housing like that is asking for problems like this.

The owner sure isn't helping his situation by making threats. I don't see a good outcome to this.

Kim

 

[rilesdav]

Hope the MF rep shows up!! I predict lots of disappointed readers including me if the saga can not continue tomorrow,
Dave

 

[jlsmith]

Hope the MF rep shows up!! I predict lots of disappointed readers including me if the saga can not continue tomorrow,
Dave

Im shure he will I have a pretty good rep with MF, although it did start snowing here today. If the roads arnt to bad im shure **** be here first thing.

 

[blueriver]

I am a bit taken back by those on the forum that feel MF should stand up and fix this out of warranty problem? Why? Is that what you expect when you purchase a tractor? Life long repairs for free.

MarkV

I agree ...

 

[KWentling]

I am a bit taken back by those on the forum that feel MF should stand up and fix this out of warranty problem? Why? Is that what you expect when you purchase a tractor? Life long repairs for free.

Nope. Don't expect that at all.
Actually, I think this IS a design flaw. If it was my tractor, I would hope that MF would help out. All manufacturers have "fix as fail" programs or other help when problems out of the ordinary crop up that shouldn't. What makes it a little grey to me is the recommendation to remove the plug as part of maintenance. The good thing about having a plug is you can see if you have a rear main seal or something leaking, as it will be obvious because it will collect there. The bad thing is what we see in the pictures. Any moisture that is trapped in there can't get out. Obviously the owner has neglected the tractor. He has hurt any chance that he might have had by not being honest and making threats. If I were the MF rep or the dealer, I wouldn't be inclined to help him just for that reason.

Kim

 

[Mike Costello]

Is it a design flaw or is this a case of negligence on the part of the owner. That tractor had to have gotten into a lot of water to cause all that the pictures show. If that was the case, it seems to me a responsible tractor owner would have immediately taken action in order to prevent damage. That action includes reading the owners's manual and contacting the dealer for advice and help if necessary. Even talking the situation over with a veteran tractor owner probably would have helped. In this case, simply opening the drain plug in a timely manner may haved saved the day. Unfortunately, it appears nothing was done and we now see the results.
Tractor ownership involves more than just starting it and driving around. The key word here is responsibility and it sure looks like it was sorely lacking in this situation.

 

[sixdogs]

I am a bit taken back by those on the forum that feel MF should stand up and fix this out of warranty problem? Why? Is that what you expect when you purchase a tractor? Life long repairs for free.

Nope. Don't expect that at all.
Actually, I think this IS a design flaw. If it was my tractor, I would hope that MF would help out. All manufacturers have "fix as fail" programs or other help when problems out of the ordinary crop up that shouldn't. What makes it a little grey to me is the recommendation to remove the plug as part of maintenance. The good thing about having a plug is you can see if you have a rear main seal or something leaking, as it will be obvious because it will collect there. The bad thing is what we see in the pictures. Any moisture that is trapped in there can't get out. Obviously the owner has neglected the tractor. He has hurt any chance that he might have had by not being honest and making threats. If I were the MF rep or the dealer, I wouldn't be inclined to help him just for that reason.

Kim

You know, a little rust in the bell housing is no big deal. Not stepping on the clutch pedal or not using the tractor is why the clutch rusted together. It takes a number of months of not using the tractor for this to happen. We all know this.
Yet the guy says he uses the tractor every day. So that's a lie and that's the issuue. If he did what he said he did we wouldn't have this thread because there would be no problem. To complicate things the guy threatens what appears to be a great dealer and nice guy. And we are way out of warranty.
Cam't wait for the updates tomorrow. I'm going with 80-20. The company rep explains the meaning of life but offers to pay 20% just to be nice. Dealer pays zero. Client threatens but is never heard or seen again.

 

[aczlan]

Client threatens but is never heard or seen again.

Would that be a bad ending (as long as they go quietly)?

Aaron Z

 

[jlsmith]

That's the one thing I love about this site, you get everybodys opinion and thoughts. Some have suggested design flaw but I don't think this to be the case. I have sold close to 100 of this units and so have the dealers around me that I have talked to and this is the first clutch prob of this nature any of the other dealers have heard of, not saying it could be a fluke chance that this did happen. I would like to hear from some of the other brand tractor owners and see if they have plugs or cotter keys in their bell housing. (Scut and cut's only I know what the bigger tractors have.
Jeremy

 

[kjung17]

I've been into more than a few clutches and I can't recall one that did not have a drain hole and cotter key dongle in the housing. I can just picture this tractor sitting under a shade tree. Up comes the sun, bathing this beauty in morning light. The sun travels across the sky. About 11:00am our little peach moves into the shade. That bell housing acts like a terrarium. It wouldn't take long to seize a clutch. Looking forward to the conclusion of this cliffhanger.

 

[Scotty370]

I'm thinking this is like :

YouTube - Jeopardy! Think Music, 1997

:laughing::thumbsup:

I'm waiting for the MF decision on Monday!

 

[jimmysisson]

The no-drain is why I suggested drill-and-cotter-pin the plug itself. If that works, good. If MF objects, you can install a solid plug. I agree with others this was not submerged but subject to condensation and lack of use. The semi-sealed housing just made that worse. As with all, interested in what the new day brings.
Jim