Do you expect Dealer training on new CUT?

[Champy]

In the next 30 days (my wife says), I will be buying my first tractor. How much hands-on operating/training should I expect to get from the Dealer? Or is the process more of a - read the manual & DIY? I am hoping to get a baseline from the Board's actual experience so I don't have extreme expectations of my dealer when I take delivery (but I am willing to confess ignorance and ask for instructions).

Thanks

 

[Elim]

Hi Champy,

The driver who delivered my tractor gave me a somewhat quick overview of what was what, and how to do some basic functions like starting, gears, and brakes. I didn't get much more than that. The rest was a combination of owners manual, and testing the waters.

Best of luck!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

When I bought my New Holland the dealer 'showed me around' the tractor at the dealership, but when the salesman brought it to my house he ran me though all the operating and simple maintanence procedures. We then sat down at my kitchen table and went through the manual, and then went back out and went over several more things on the tractor. There was a check list that we both signed off on. The tractor I bought after that was my Ventrac, the sales rep who delivered that did something very similar, but was not quite as complete as the New Holland rep.

I would simply tell your dealer that you will expect them to show you how to use the tractor (and your wife/children if that is appropriate). Let him know up front that you don't know what you are doing and that you need him to show you how to operate it, check the fluids, go over safety issues, etc.

 

[TrippleT]

When I bought my tractor I drove it at the dealership. They delivered it, and said, there it is drive it. SO, thats what I did. There was a little learning curve but finally got it. Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? I must admit though I had worked on machinery, trucks, cars, tractors, dozers, etc. all my adult life. If you have not had experience, I would make sure they showed me what to do, and what NOT to do.

 

[Bird]

Champy, you've now heard from others that it depends on the dealer and the delivering employee or contractor. They are individuals and the only way to know what they'll do is to ask any dealer you talk to. I would think the person who delivers the tractor (whether to you at the dealership or to your property) would try to pattern his instructions depending on what he/she thinks you already know. If you tell them it's your first tractor, you've not used one before, etc., I would expect them to spend a couple of hours with you; more if you still had questions. On the other hand, if he/she thinks you are already familiar with the tractor, it might be much less.

 

[Billy_S]

I certainly didn't get much in the way of show and tell when my tractor was delivered, but I didn't really care. I have always been a "read the manual" type.

I would do what Bob said. Before your tractor is delivered, let the dealer know you will expect the delivery person to be knowledgeable about the tractor and to spend a couple of hours with you showing you around.

 

[IslandTractor]

I think Bob makes a good point that you need to indicate what your needs and expectations are from the dealer with regard to training/familiarization. Your level of experience should be obvious to the salesman based on discussions with you during the sales process but you don't want to count on that, especially if you have buffed up on tractor terms on TBN but don't actually have hands on experience it is important to acknowledge that and request specific instruction before you are left alone with the tractor. That sort of training could either occur at the dealers lot or at your home once the tractor is delivered. In my case it was a combination of the two. Besides basic maintenance, make sure they go over the 3pt process and any hydraulic hook ups too.

 

[390GT]

My dealer went over tractor very well with my wife and I, including allowing us to drive it around his property. Helped put her at ease as to her ability to operate it. Greg

 

[Bird]

I have always been a "read the manual" type.

Me, too, Billy. But when the salesman delivered my B7100, he went over everything reasonably well anyway. Four years later, I bought the B2710 from the same salesman, so when he delivered it, he simply asked, "Do you have any questions?"

 

[Champy]

Another aspect of my tractoring education is learning about how to hook up implements; running a rotary cutter; FEL; etc... perhaps more important is operating everything safely.

I am inferring from the responses so far that asking (expecting) an hour of hands-on training and instruction is not out of line to ask from a dealer - and I'll definitely be doing that.

Thanks all.......