Service Nightmare - Need Advice!

[Weedbo]

Rather than by used, I bought a brand new JD 5325 and MX8 brushhog in 2004 with the intent to care for it and keep it for a very very long time. I have performed the general oil changes and lubrication as needed, but having seen a service special advertised at the dealer, I thought I'd splurge and have a thorough "professional" service performed at the dealer. After the service, pick up and delivery and a few minor repairs, my bill came to just over $1,000. OK, I thought as doing this every five years is worthwhile investment. As someone who painstakingly cleans everything (I even waxed the tractor once) I was VERY explicit in my instructions NOT to return the tractor when the roads were wet and salty (slushy upstate NY winter roads) - to please wait until the roads were dry. Sure enough, the tractor was returned while I was away. I came home to see the tractor in the yard completely covered in white salt and hardened frozen dirty slush from the road. I could not pressure wash the tractor because the temperature was well below freezing. A few weeks later, on the first above-freezing day we had, I pressure washed the tractor, but the salt had already bonded to all non-painted metal pieces. The tractor runs fine. And it is a tractor after all. But I paid more than $40,000 for a new machine, justifying the expense as a once-in-a-lifetime expense for my hobby farm. The salt will not come off, and small exposed steel scratches are now starting to rust. I took pictures and showed the dealer, who apologized. I've now noticed that the rust seems to be getting worse, almost spreading - and it's kept inside! Should I ask the dealer to replace all exposed metal parts? Should I ask for my $1,000 back? What I really want is a new tractor, but I realize that's not going to happen. Is there a product that will remove salt from galvanized steel? Am I over-reacting? I'm sure I'm not the only one who takes great pride in keeping his equipment clean and in working order... Help!!

 

[Combustix]

try salt away, you should be able to get it from a marine dealer along the coast or order online. I use it on an aluminum boat and it works real good. Shame you pay all that money and the dealer still does what he wants, after instructions. Good luck with that.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I don't have any real recommendations on what to get the salt off with, but I also don't think you are necessarily over reacting. I quit doing snow removal a year ago because the salt was just too hard on my equipment. I didn't buy it for that purpose so I wasn't going to let it rot away doing that kind of work. I just pressure washed mine with a good general detergent, let it dry thoroughly and applied light oil to any spots prone to rust. Year later and no rust problems.

 

[MikeD74T]

In one way you ARE over reacting...hobbies & especially hobby farms are primarily a way of disposing of excess income. Sounds like you're doing an excellent job. The downside is that hobbies are supposed to reduce anxiety, not increase it.
Tractors are to get dirty with, it you & the tractor ain't dirty you're doing it wrong . MikeD74t

P.S. I'd also push for some rebate from that $1000 just because it's directly against what you directed & they apparently agreed to.

 

[TripleR]

So let me see if I got this right. You asked/directed your dealer to work on your tractor then provide free storage and tailor his work schedule and employees to deliver your tractor only on a nice, dry day?

From your OP: "The tractor runs fine. And it is a tractor after all."

 

[Haoleguy]

Weedbo - Sorry to hear that your dealer did not follow instructions. Since I have a JD 5325 of the same vintage I'm trying to picture where the biggest problem might be. Is this a cab model and did you have FEL/attachments on when it went to the dealer? Is the salt on the front, back, sides, or all around? You might talk to a JD tech rep or a local JD antique tractor restorer to get an idea of the best way to proceed. The Salt Away, or equivalent, sounds like a good suggestion but I would try it on an area I couldn't see well. I'm more concerned with all of the fasteners that hold parts together as you might have trouble getting these freed up when you need to. Unlike you I have not treated my JD5325 as well except for keeping up on the maintenance stuff..........Gary

 

[MikeD74T]

So let me see if I got this right. You asked/directed your dealer to work on your tractor then provide free storage and tailor his work schedule and employees to deliver your tractor only on a nice, dry day? ]

Which the dealer agreed to up front & (don't see anything expected for free) collected his fee for !! Do you routinely accept less than you paid for?? A coworker's son is in the wrecker business and often transports in an enclosed trailer for those that are willing to pay for it, not an unusual or unreasonable concept. MikeD74t

 

[ustmd]

"I was VERY explicit in my instructions NOT to return the tractor when the roads were wet and salty (slushy upstate NY winter roads) - to please wait until the roads were dry"

Not living in a part of the country where this is an issue, is this a common request?

How long did the tractor have to sit at the dealer until the roads were dry? A couple of days, a month, three months?

 

[Weedbo]

In one way you ARE over reacting...hobbies & especially hobby farms are primarily a way of disposing of excess income. Sounds like you're doing an excellent job. The downside is that hobbies are supposed to reduce anxiety, not increase it.
Tractors are to get dirty with, it you & the tractor ain't dirty you're doing it wrong . MikeD74t

P.S. I'd also push for some rebate from that $1000 just because it's directly against what you directed & they apparently agreed to.

Trust me - the machine is plenty dirty, but dirt can be washed off. This salt is actually causing permanent damage, albeit cosmetic.

 

[ModMech]

If the servicing location was the same as the selling location, then you may get some traction with the management and I believe you ARE JUSTIFIED in expecting some reduction in the costs you paid or remediation of the damages.

The OP is no different than anyone else who takes great care and pride in keeping NICE THINGS NICE. "Salt" itself is not a real problem, the MagChloride is and I can assure you it is covered with it. Tractors are NOT designed to tolerate salt and other corrosive environments like automobiles are. Fortunately, he washed the junk off and had wax on the paint before the event.

Imagine you spent $40,000 on a Ferrari (you can get a nice example for that), PAID the dealer to trailer the car to the shop for service and then deliver it back - because it was winter. Now, they do as you asked, but return it on an open trailer and it is now covered with snow, ice and salt - all things it has NEVER been exposed to before. ANYONE WOULD BE FURIOUS and this is, IMO, no different.

 

[MikeD74T]

"I was VERY explicit in my instructions NOT to return the tractor when the roads were wet and salty (slushy upstate NY winter roads) - to please wait until the roads were dry"

Not living in a part of the country where this is an issue, is this a common request?

How long did the tractor have to sit at the dela until the roads were dry? A couple of days, a month, three months?

Usually within two days of the sun coming out. MikeD74t

 

[Degolyerent]

I believe if I were that picky about the delivery I would deliver and pick it up myself, I believe your request to the dealer was unreasonable

 

[Fixemall]

I service and restore everything from crap that I know the people can't afford to fix properly but I do it anyhow because they need it for a living...to high end "garage queens" that barely see parade duty. In the winter (and sometimes rain) we have a cheap elastic bound car cover that we put over the machine, followed by a tyvex car cover, couple of bungy cords and I don't have to worry about chips, calcium or whatever crap is being thrown around out there in my NY winters. I pulled one last week that I covered because it had to go thru two miles of road construction, the tar covered rocks on the tyvex I noticed when I got home assured me I had done the right thing.

 

[9973720wb19]

Hmmm...the same thing happened to me...kind of. I took delivery in January of a JD 4720 2011. it showed up nice and clean on the upper body, but the delivery guy told me that when the dealer got it from the JD shipping truck it was "covered in road salt" and been shipped in a snow storm. He was just making conversation and I had sooo much on my mind at that moment, i hardly heard him. when the excitement wore off i noticed a bunch of salt on the "bottom" of the tractor (they did not bother to clean) and thought i should power wash that off. since then the tractor has been cleaned a few time times but i can see pre-mature rust (spots) damage under the tractor from the salt. i put some grease on these areas and just figured it would stop and not cause much harm. i plan to keep an eye on these areas and just spray paint them. so either I'm under reacting or your over reacting...anyway, thanks for sharing.

 

[Weedbo]

For the record - I have had a very good relationship with this dealer, which is why I'm hesitant to even press this. Just wanted to see how best to address the issue. Many thanks for all of the responses. I realize there are more important things in life to worry about, but I'd like to proect this investment as best I can.

 

[Weedbo]

try salt away, you should be able to get it from a marine dealer along the coast or order online. I use it on an aluminum boat and it works real good. Shame you pay all that money and the dealer still does what he wants, after instructions. Good luck with that.

I will try this. Thanks! I think there must have been a miscommunication with whomever was making the delivery, and I'm sure the dealer didn't realize the damage the salt would cause.

 

[tcartwri]

Not living in a part of the country where this is an issue, is this a common request?

It is actually common sense in the NE, not to open trailer when there is slush and salt on the roads. It can cause a lot of damage, particulary to untreated steel. Our tractors are not prepped for paint like a car is.

My dealer did the same thing FWIW. It was a mess. I got the pressure washer out of winter storage to wash it down right away.

 

[riptides]

Hmm... wonder how people would react if the machine was covered in say - dung, oil, or some other nasties?

 

[TripleR]

So let me see if I got this right. You asked/directed your dealer to work on your tractor then provide free storage and tailor his work schedule and employees to deliver your tractor only on a nice, dry day? ]

Which the dealer agreed to up front & (don't see anything expected for free) collected his fee for !! Do you routinely accept less than you paid for?? A coworker's son is in the wrecker business and often transports in an enclosed trailer for those that are willing to pay for it, not an unusual or unreasonable concept. MikeD74t

If the OP did not have some degree of doubt no matter how small, this would never have been posted. When you post something asking for advice/input you run the risk of getting opinions which you might not like.

If I made a request like this to any dealer in my area, every time I went in for parts/service, when they saw me coming they would nudge the other guys and say, "Here comes the guy I was telling you about." Maybe the laughter would have died down by the time I got to the door.

Maybe things are different in New York.

 

[dave1949]

I don't think it was a request that was out of line. It's your tractor, you asked, the dealer could have just as easily accommodated you regardless of what he or anyone else thinks about it. If he had done as asked, you would think all the more of him, no matter his motives.

My FIL might have asked the same. He never put a garden tool away without wiping it down with an oil rag. Hosed out the deck on his rider just about every time he used it. He had lots of things that were old but well cared for and still useful.

On the other hand, after he passed away, I found three lamp cord extensions behind the his couch and think he is lucky he didn't burn the house down. Everyone has their own tastes and definition of what really matters.

There is nothing wrong, and much to admire, with wanting to keep stuff in as good a shape as you can - just because. Not everyone, me included, will take the time and effort to do it. Maybe making fun of someone who does, could be a form of guilt or in the nature of an excuse?
Dave.