advice pls re 4110 problems

[Lotek]

Grump, grump, grump. My 4110 was delivered on 10-21 and has become inoperable both times I've used it. I'm very frustrated and contemplating returning it.

The 1st day I used the tractor, and mowed a small area, the left side of the MMM fell to the ground within about 20 minutes & I couldn't get it reattached. It took the dealer about 10 days to get a service guy out to check & repair (?) it. He had to use a BFH to get the MMM back on. The next time I worked with the tractor, the MMM again fell off; I was using only the FEL & BB.

After 3 days, my salesman came out & was able to dislodge the MMM just by shaking it with his hands. He said it looked like washers were missing, bushings were wrong (or backwards), and that the MMM needed a latch kit. Also, the salesman initially told me that the BB can stay on the tractor at all times & it wouldn't interfere with the MMM. However, it turns out that the BB cannot be raised or lowered independant of the MMM. Is that normal? If so, it seems to be an engineering and/or design flaw because both the MMM and the BB would be on the ground whenever one or the other was being used. Is there a work-around?

The dealer seems to be trying to make things right, but I'm beginning to think this 4110 is a lemon that will have more troubles in the future, and I should return it. I'm only beginning to learn about tractors, I'm not mechanically inclined, and, being a dumb girl, I don't have the hand & arm strength to lift tractor parts that fall off. Any advice or thoughts?? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Hambone]

Lotek,
Congrats on your new tractor, I think. 10 days to come fix your new tractor is WAY too long. It sounds to me the problem is with the dealer and prep and not the tractor. Obviously the mower was not installed properly. Call the dealer back. Tell them to pick up the tractor, and return when properly repaired, the way it should have been when they delivered.

 

[JeffSpencer]

Do you have any other dealers around there to work with? There are some really crummy dealers. If so, I would dump the dealer you are using now and switch to another one while the warranty is still good! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[GaryK]

The MMM works off the 3ph arms, the BB will raise and lower with your MMM. You can get a latch kit that will hold up your MMM when using the BB but not the other way around unless they changed the design from the 4100. I always take the MMM when using the FEL and BB, I found that things got banged around otherwise. As far as the MMM, I have never had trouble with mine except for a pin falling out of the linkage and I fixed that with heavy duty cotter pins and washers instead of those large circle clips or whatever they call them JD used. It appears that the trouble you are having is a lousy install job........

 

[klink]

Gary
would you happen to have the part number for the latch kit, or a drawing?

Lotek
I am also disappointed in the 4110 mmm lift design, I bought the mmm lift kit to solve the problem. But the kit leaves a lot to be desired. even with the mmm off the tractor, the lift brackets drag the ground. I like the tractor, but I am working to solve this problem. By next spring, I won't have this problem any longer.

 

[trlong]

Lotek,

I've had a 4115 since June (nearly same machine except HST) and 200 hr.s on it now. Absolutely no problems except a defective fan belt. For that, the dealer picked up the tractor the morning after it failed, to check pulleys, pully alignment,....replaced belt and returned that afternoon.

However, when I bought it and talked about a MMM, the dealer said "you don't want the MMM, too difficult to take on and off, work with other equip....". Got the feeling they didn't want to sell me one. Maybe they knew of problems with them. Bought a 5' grooming mower and love it, even with it's greater turning radius.

Unless you really need the tighter turning radius, and easy height adjustment, I'd tell the dealer to take it back and get a rear grooming mower. If possible, might consider getting a different dealer too. Sounds like the install was poorly done, and the 1st "repair" just as bad.

Tom

 

[bigpete]

That's a pretty lousy install. As far as your concern about whether the deck height system is normal, you are in a CUT class where MMMowers and their mounting systems are less than perfect no matter who makes the CUT. The JD systems employed for suspension, adjustment, and removal are as well designed as any small CUT out there--I looked. I am perfectly happy with my 60"er under my 4110 now that I have learned the tricks and idiosyncrasies.

FWIW, I lost a cotter pin from a drilled pin in the draft assembly due to an improper install and, fortunately, noticed the deck drop right when it happened. I replaced all my cotters with spring key rings, made a few adjustments, and have been mowing beautifully for about 100 hours over the last few months. Don't mow with anything, especially not a heavy boxblade on the 3PH--that's just a plain ol' silly suggestion. Any dealer worth his salt would have made sure you had the deck height kit installed at delivery. At this point, I'd make sure I had that kit installed and make sure the suspension frame isn't bent somehow. I also don't know why a technician would need a BFH to get a deck re-attached.

You don't have a lemon. Rather, you have one of the best small CUTS on the market. I'll testify if needed. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RalphVa]

My JD 4010 is new, and the 3 pt is still stiff. Without something on it, it won't lower unless I push it down or stand on the arms. So, I'd think that you could latch the 3 pt implement in back with a chain or latch made for that purpose.

Others have mentioned that there are latches for the MMM. They apparently work the same way: need weight to lower the arms. If you latch them in place, no weight on the arms.

Sounds as though they didn't connect your MMM correctly. I didn't buy mine with MMM because I have a Gravely and Lawnboy that mow my relatively small lawn nicely.

My dealer has lots of capable people and is really close by here in Charlottesville.

Ralph

 

[GaryK]

It may be dropping slowly because of the flow control valve adjustment. It controls the rate of drop of the 3ph.

 

[GaryK]

sorry, I don't have the part number. I never got one, made my own up with pieces of chain and turnbuckles. Mine cost about $10

 

[klink]

GaryK
thanks for the reply, I think I'll make one like you did. the mmm latch is nice when all you want to do is move a trailer in or out of the barn, using the 3pt hitch, and not getting off the tractor to do it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Lotek]

Thank you all for the words of experience and encouragement. Yep, at best it was a lousy install, and from the best JD dealer in the area.

The salesman & a service tech came out late Friday afternoon & installed the latch kit, some washers on the mower's J pins to give them tension, the Optima D51 battery I had bought, and did some other minor things. He didn't charge me anything, not even for the latch kit or the grease gun & other stuff he brought. He admitted that they screwed up the assembly & installation, and also admitted he was wrong to advise that the BB stay on when using the MMM. He's making a good faith effort, although the response time could be better.

Anyway, thinking the tractor is finally squared away & ready to do what it was built & bought to do, I go out to do some work with it Saturday afternoon. The good news is that the MMM seemed to stay in place with the latch kit. The bad news is that after less than 10 minutes of light scraping & pushing around a small amount of dirt (barely enough to cover the inside bottom of the bucket, if that much), the FEL arms completely froze up & would no longer raise or lower. The bucket itself still works fine and the hydraulics look to be OK. Gee, 3 times using the tractor & 3 times it c**ps out within 20-30 minutes. I am either the Kiss of Death to tractors or this tractor is a lemon. Doesn't matter which it is, this 4110 is history. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[JClark]

Lotek,

If that Deere dealer is the best in your area I pity the poor soul who bought from the worst. Everything up to the FEL problem is dealer incompetence and neglect. The FEL problem is likely more of the same.

My particular Deere dealer is also incompetent so when I bought my 4110 last summer I only had them take the tractor off the truck and put the wheels on. (They even managed to screw that up.) The MMM and FEL I assembled and installed myself.

From that experience I learned that the MMM suspension system sucks. It requires fiddling, adjusting and patience to keep it just right. The mower deck itself however is the best of any out there. Correctly installed and adjusted it does a much better job than any RMM can do and is way, way more handy. I know this because I also have a 72" RMM I use on my field.

No 4110 (or 4010, 4115, etc) with a MMM should EVER be sold without a latch kit. That your dealer did not include one demonstrates their incompetence. The dealer should also have taken the time to instruct you on how to remove, install, adjust and maintain all the implements.

As readers of this forum know, I have had my own set of problems with my 4110. Incompetent dealer, lazy and arrogant JD service rep and some lousy engineering on the tractor itself. It was no fun but I got through it. Afterward I was intent on selling the 4110 and spent a lot of time looking at other small CUTs. In the end I found nothing with the advantages of the 4110. The alternatives had crappy mowers, clunky FELs and clumsy controls. Pete is right.

Sit down with the dealer owner or manager and tell them you would like these problems resolved without having to go to JD Corporate. Insist on a properly setup tractor, prompt (1 or 2 days) resolution of problems and whatever training is necessary for you to operate the tractor safely and correctly. And absolutely no BFHs!!

 

[bigpete]

<font color="blue"> the FEL arms completely froze up & would no longer raise or lower. The bucket itself still works fine and the hydraulics look to be OK </font>

Disconnect and reconnect your hydraulic quick-connectors to start with. Probably something simple /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[keeney]

I had the lift-circuit quick-connect fail on my 410 loader twice.

The spring clip inside lets loose and the tip no longer pushedshard enough on the mating tip in famale part on the tractor to open it and allow flow.

Easy to check - just disconnect and if the tip is loose or leaking, its probably the same failure.

The dealer said it was a common problem and was handing out replacement quick-connects like they were candy.

I put my own spacer design inside of it that "cannot" fail in that way (spring would have to break now).

- Rick

 

[jd4115]

>No 4110 (or 4010, 4115, etc) with a MMM should EVER be sold
>without a latch kit.

What's a 'latch kit'?

 

[JClark]

This kludge is the solution JD came up with to hold the MMM suspension system up when using the 3 pt hitch. It consists of two short pieces of chain, two turnbuckles, two brackets and two pins. You raise the MMM up as far as possible and then stick the pins through a couple holes and the last link of the chain. It's easy enough to make if you are so inclined.

 

[bigpete]

<font color="blue"> This kludge is the solution JD came up with.... </font>

It's a CUT, not a lawn or garden tractor. Generally speaking, MMMowers on this class of tractor are design afterthoughts. In this class, there is no better solution of which I am aware. I don't mind being corrected, either. Let me know who does it better on a CUT. I think Kubota doesn't even bother trying to suspend their MMMowers once you get above the SCUT level. I think they just roll along on the ground. I don' know what New Holland is doing these days, though.

FWIW, my MMMower and its latch kit work just fine. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[trippert]

Had a similar experience when my 4320 was still at the dealer and they were putting the toothbar on. The loader would tilt but not move up or down-you could hear that the valve was pressuring the line but nothing happened. The dealer and mechs were thinking the lines were crossed or any number of things, but they are color coded, kind of hard to screw up. What it probably was( I think ) since it has happened to me since, one of the lines somehow is not fully connected and will not allow flow. Apparently. the connectors can be almost latched and function for quite a while until they are jarred loose. In my later instance, brush was responsible for moving the latching collar on the connector letting it slide enough to stop flow- and the bucket froze right then. Really had me worried for a few seconds while I figured out what might be the problem. If I hadn't seen the same thing at the dealership it likely would have puzzled me for much longer than it did.