Ok whats wrong with this pic

[Gale Hawkins]

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.

Kelvin I can see it happening that way.

The reason I am convinced at this time that the case stems from a design flaw is that it by design will hold water.

It is unreasonable to expect the owners over the next 50 years are going to get the message to pull the plug from time to time. I really never did see the drain plug unless it is VERY small

It can serve as a learning experience for MF. There is not hard evidence it has been in/under water. The chemical reaction of all parts really looks strange to me. Maybe it was just the trapped moisture and extreme heat from time to time caused such a reaction but guess there is little way to every know WHY.

From the photos it seems the clutch shaft seals (assuming it even has any) was were the water came in perhaps. Spraying WD-40 or something thin like that from the outside would be telling if it got wet on the inside.

Owners can get scared when a new tractor gets sick just like it was a kid or something so what they say or do not say may be of questionable value. The owner sees $$$ flying out of his pocket and that could have been the reason behind his child like behavior. Many adults in age are not adults in a behavioral sense when under stress. Ask any LEO.

I would guess the tractor more like 5 years old with 1000+ hours from that shot of the engine and the grime build up above what may be oil pressure sending unit. It may indicate a oil leak that I would not expect on a new tractor like that.

Some overall shots of the tractor would be needed to better judge how it has been cared for by the owner. It should still look like a new tractor. If it does not then who knows.

While my business is not tractors I would see what the rep states and tell him what I wanted MF to do in this case and punt from there.

The dealer always has more to loose than the factory rep. :thumbsup:

 

[Travis_R]

The tractor is 2 and half years old and the customer says he uses it everyday.It has 120 hrs on it, not alot for everyday use. I for one think its been under water. What do you think.

I seen the pictures before I read the first sentence. I said to myself "that thing looks like it's been in water."

If I was a tractor dealer (and I'm not), there's no way I would warranty this. Regardless if the bell housing has a "drain" hole or not, the tractor shouldn't have been in that deep of water to begin with. Wouldn't matter to me if it was an accident or not. The owner/operator needs to be more careful, pay more attention to what he/she is doing, and take better care of his/her equipment.

Now, if they bought the tractor from you and are returning for service, then I'd cut them a "little slack" on repairing it.

EXAMPLE: If you warranty it now, What about next time?? I mean hey, "You took care of it for us last time! What kind of a dealer are you!"

Not saying this is the owner's fault, because I don't know, BUT... I have no tolerence for people allowing this to happen to their equipment.

Travis R

 

[KWentling]

Having no visible high water mark, the only way I buy it being submerged is if the owner took the drain plug out, which the OP said it obviously hadn't been out, or the housing is sealed good enough that only a little water made it in and the high humidity from it did the damage. The changing of fluids by an owner that obviously neglects the tractor makes you think that it has been in water. Not sure what to think other than having the clutch housing sealed is a problem in my mind. Manufacturers have been draining them with a hole in the bottom for what, 75+ years?

Kim

 

[blueriver]

I bet the OP knows by now what the MF rep said and he's holding out on you guys!!!

 

[jlsmith]

Ok and here it is. My MF rep came and looked at the tractor today. His thought are that it has been under water at some point in time and this is the first one he has seen this bad. As a "good will" measure and to show MF stands behind the products he has offered to pay for the parts if the customer will pay for the labor. I have called the customer and left a mess for him to call me back. As soon as i hear from him ill let yall know where we go from here. Thanks to ALL that posted and shared there thoughts and opinions.
Jeremy

 

[jake98]

the opera's not over till..

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That sounds reasonable and very fair but expect the owner may think the labor will be jacked up to cover the parts if he wants to be difficult.

keep up doing the good job it sound like you do as a dealer and let the chips fall where they may in these cases.

 

[blueriver]

I got a 10 spot says the owner will bulk about paying the labor!!

 

[IXLR8]

That sounds more than fair, but I wouldn't take Blueriver's bet.. it is a sure thing owner will still pitch a fit over labor costs.
Jeremy- You sound like a stand up dealer trying hard to do your best and I wish there were more like you out there.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Ok and here it is. My MF rep came and looked at the tractor today. His thought are that it has been under water at some point in time and this is the first one he has seen this bad. As a "good will" measure and to show MF stands behind the products he has offered to pay for the parts if the customer will pay for the labor. I have called the customer and left a mess for him to call me back. As soon as i hear from him ill let yall know where we go from here. Thanks to ALL that posted and shared there thoughts and opinions.
Jeremy

What did he base the "under water" on. Other than the fact that there was water I havnt seen anything but empty assertions to it being under water; whereas there is a very apparent lack of telling evidence that it was. Please tell us that the rep found good evidence.
larry

 

[sixdogs]

All of this isn't a social theory attempting to discern degrees or shades of black and white. Life is too short.

It's out of warranty, the customer has made at least some false statements and the factory rep has not seen rust like this on any tractor before. The customer has no leg, especially a moral one by the dealer, to stand on.
As mentioned, life is tough, especially when the customer does not follow the reasonable norms of accepted maintenence behavior. I mean, we all know enough to drive on the right side of the road.

It's all over. The guy can whine but his tractor is in two pieces and could just as easily rust some more in two pieces out in the dealer's back lot.
What would any of us do? I'd guess complain a little and move on.

 

[Scotty370]

I'm of a different opinion...IXL & Blueriver........I don't think he'll 'balk' at the service/labor cost. I'd hope that he'll appreciate Jeremy's efforts to get these repair parts, on MF's 'dime', that is if he's got any scruples at all........! But, like Jake and 'Yogi' said, "It ain't over, 'til it's over, ! Pretty generious of MF, (IMHO) but, passed on to every other MF owner, and stockholders.......~S

 

[SPYDERLK]

Are you making assumptions? ... what false statements?
larry

 

[sixdogs]

what false statements?

It said he used it every day.
Yet the clutch was rusted together tighter than a drum.
If any of us could rust a cluch that tight in 24 hours or less I'd bet NASA would like to know about it. It simply is not possible.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

It said he used it every day.
Yet the clutch was rusted together tighter than a drum.
If any of us could rust a cluch that tight in 24 hours or less I'd bet NASA would like to know about it. It simply is not possible.

What proof was there of the clutch 'rusting' together? What are clutch disc make out.

You can tell the clutch was slipping too much to rust together assume the clutch was metal to metal plates.

 

[sixdogs]

What proof was there of the clutch 'rusting' together? What are clutch disc make out.

From the OP at post # 58

".....I have asked him to come to the shop and look at the clutch which was rusted together and had to chiseled off....."

 

[dourobob]

I'm of a different opinion...IXL & Blueriver........I don't think he'll 'balk' at the service/labor cost. I'd hope that he'll appreciate Jeremy's efforts to get these repair parts, on MF's 'dime', that is if he's got any scruples at all........! But, like Jake and 'Yogi' said, "It ain't over, 'til it's over, ! Pretty generious of MF, (IMHO) but, passed on to every other MF owner, and stockholders.......~S

I believe the owner should not balk at any help that is offered based on the history he has established and he should be grateful to have a stand-up dealer who will go to all this trouble to be fair rather than just blow him off as an out-of-warranty liar.

 

[blueriver]

I'm of a different opinion...IXL & Blueriver........I don't think he'll 'balk' at the service/labor cost.

He will cry like a little girl ... he has done nothing but lie and whine ...

 

[blueriver]

I believe the owner should not balk at any help that is offered based on the history he has established and he should be grateful to have a stand-up dealer who will go to all this trouble to be fair rather than just blow him off as an out-of-warranty liar.

So very true ... BUT as sure as the sky is blue he will balk ... he is lucky to have JL and MF working for him ... I really belive he is going to scream about the labor as well as "extended warranty" I truly hope I am wrong ... I would have long ago decided it was fourth and long .... punt.

 

[tcartwri]

Not to be a dissenter here, but if the clutch had a failure, and there was metal to metal contact, you will get heavy rust deposits like the ones shown in the pictures. An example would be disk brakes that have been allowed to go completely to metal. They will throw metal dust particles all over the side of the car, all over the wheels, etc... that will rust like crazy with just a little bit of humidity or moisture. If the clutch disk is semi metallic and it was slipped a lot, you could get the same effect. Particularly if the machine sat for long periods.

Just my opinion.