BRAND NEW 728 PROBLEMS

[cantbeatadeere]

First off everyone will say take it back...local dealer owns the 7 stores around us with a poor service reputation. I would like to at least diag. it myself. the tractor was picked up this morning(brand new) and was used mowing for 2-3 hrs, shut it off, went back to mowing and when the mid pto is engaged it is a VERY soft engagement and i can stop the shaft with a light touch of a 2x4......anyone have this issue, and what did it end up being. .. side note... zero anti freeze in overflow, zero grease on any fittings, 1 and a half quarts low on hyguard, deck slightly off---BUT it was full of gas. serviced it ourself before even running it, now this---LEMON?????:confused2:

 

[glgeek]

mine also needed 1.5 q hyguard. dealer just gave it to me. has be fine since filling. also had to top off coolant a few times and then it stabilized.
does the mid PTO ever get up to speed? does it spin the deck?

I have a '12 728.

ba

 

[cantbeatadeere]

yes, the blades will speed up but as soon as you touch grass the blades stop, you can engage the 62 inch deck at an idle and hardly drops the eng.

 

[Gator6x4]

Sounds like a terrific shock load was delivered via the PTO shaft to the PTO assembly. You may try removing and reinstalling the PTO shaft coupler at the PTO coming from the transmission. I am afraid though you will have to avail yourself of your dealers less than stellar service.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

Sounds like PTO clutch, but in case it's something simple like a shaft roll pin missing, I'd check the deck out first. Make sure the blades feel "connected" to the driveshaft. The blades may slip in the sheaves in one direction, but should grab tight if pushing on the cutting edge.

 

[Gator6x4]

If you can stop the PTO shaft by lightly touching it with a 2x4 something is wrong in the PTO area of the transaxle. Checking mower blades to ascertain if they are slipping is down stream from where the problem is occurring.

 

[cantbeatadeere]

I have been looking in the service manual and there are a couple pressure test ports to narrow it down, prob a couple hour process and a trip to napa for a pressure guage and adaptors/fittings, it looks like anything that causes this symptom is internal,. load up and take back..........I can see a nightmare comming.

 

[Grateful11]

I have to ask, did you know about the dealers reputation before buying from him?

I'll say it, send her back.

 

[cantbeatadeere]

Yes, dealer has a poor rep, but was the only one within a three hour drive with a 728 left. hand were kinda tied.

 

[jenkinsph]

I wouldn't touch the mechanicals on the new machine, rather take it back to the dealer. Don't think it is in your best interest at this point to self diagnose as it may lead to problems getting your money back. From what I have read I don't see what is special about the x728, maybe the price? Might wan't to buy a new x738 from a better dealership.

 

[glgeek]

agree

I wouldn't put a wrench to it.
if the fix requires the removal of anything that requires a gasket, I would think hard about taking it back home.
if they say easy fix, I would want to know exactly what that is.
30 days
returning for something else or refund may make the nightmare shorter lived. just getting it over with . . .
a mower that doesn't mow is not much of a mower at all.
good luck, keep us posted.

ba

 

[cantbeatadeere]

I agree that any disassembly, would be crazy, figured if it were a simple diag. and repair I would just do it myself as i have the sevice manual. this is not a simple fix at all by the service breakdown...as for the reason I wanted a 728 is that it was purchased at a insanely low price, the tractor was discounted buy a lot - along with my fathers 1200.00 rebate as a retired DEERE employee - I simply couldn't justify buying the new style which has no discounts or rebates. typically the later poductions have all the buggs worked out aswell. I will post as this unfolds.

 

[jenkinsph]

I did a quick check just now and figure a new x738 would cost about $11,200 plus tax with a 60" deck and auto connect in round figures. I would agree that if you bought with a steep discount and 1200 dollar rebate in the $9000+ range that you might be well served by gritting your teeth and dealing with getting the x728 fixed under warranty. Might be a little trouble but hopefully once straightened out it will work well for you without problems. I had a problem with my x749 when new, a small piece of debris (chip) hung up the rack on the injector pump, the dealer fixed it and I have not had any problems for 300 hours since then.

I use several pto attachments with my 749 and it handles them well. Hope you can get this resolved to your satisfaction.

 

[cantbeatadeere]

All is working properly now, they picked it up wed. and dropped it this morning and is mowing fine. the problem ended up being the solinoid on the rear of the transaxle, I suspected that aswell and tested it for power and ground when the problem first occurred. thumbs up for now.

 

[swines]

...local dealer owns the 7 stores around us with a poor service reputation.

...they picked it up wed. and dropped it this morning and is mowing fine.

So - does this consitute poor service or acceptable service?

 

[cantbeatadeere]

Although they are known for poor service, this was acceptable in my book.