Do you take it to the dealer for maintenance or do it yourself.

[Reddogs]

I never took my John Deere 790 to the dealer for anything, did it myself no matter what it was, but now its pretty beat up. So for my L3301 I am thinking its best to have the dealer do everything, but got to pay pickup and delivery back, to say nothing of the sky high charges, but want to keep this one in immaculate shape. Is it worth it?

 

[oosik]

For 27 years I did all the maintenance on my 1982 Ford 1700 4WD. For 13 years I've done all the maintenance on my 2009 Kubota M6040 4WD. I had/have no problems keeping either machine in tip top shape.

 

[old and tired]

Taking it to the dealer does not guarantee "immaculate shape". I use and abuse my equipment but I also maintain it - as long as it works and preforms as it should, I don't care what it looks like. Service the tractor yourself, if you can... and if you want it clean, see if any mobile Car Detailing Services around you would do the job?

See what they charge to come once a year to make her look pretty...

 

[Tinhack]

Yeah, what does doing it yourself have to do with "beat up"?

I do all my own maintenance and repairs. Because I can and I know that it's done right or the way I want it done.

 

[RoyJackson]

Mostly a common sense thing...
I can do an oil changes and filters, replace bulbs and such
I don't change the hydraulic fluid since I don't have a container large enough to catch it
Engine work and such is left to the dealer since I really don't have those skills

 

[seville009]

Mostly a common sense thing...
I can do an oil changes and filters, replace bulbs and such
I don't change the hydraulic fluid since I don't have a container large enough to catch it
Engine work and such is left to the dealer since I really don't have those skills

basically the same here.....I try to do the basic maintenance, hose replacements, etc, but leave the real repairs to the dealer.

I don't mind paying someone who knows how to do it and do it correctly versus an idiot (me) that will just make things worse and cost more in the end. I'm old and wise......

 

[RjCorazza]

I do my own maintenance, and repairs that were within my ability and interest. I also keep my tractor and diesel mowers in very good condition mechanically, and appearance.
Nothing wrong with having a dealer do this work, but just the routine maintenance alone is going to be expensive at the dealer.

The only time I had my tractor serviced at the dealer was to replace the 3 point lower arm connection point, where I snapped it off the case. I just didn't feel like removing the loaded tire, draining hst fluid, remove differential, replace brake case (where the broken tab is located). That was an expensive job.

 

[MossRoad]

My dealer is 9 hours and 536 miles away.... I do it all myself.

 

[Massey convert]

I've always maintained all my equipment, anything with moving parts. One thing about doing it yourself, you know it's being done right.
Sometimes the people doing the work don't do it right.

 

[4570Man]

Who does the maintenance has nothing to do with how beat up the machine looks.

 

[rScotty]

Yeah, what does doing it yourself have to do with "beat up"?

I do all my own maintenance and repairs. Because I can and I know that it's done right or the way I want it done.

That's the same question I had.....Not sure about the "beat up" part. Maybe that was a poor choice of words. It doesn't make sense, does it?

I'm thinking that he must have an exceptional dealer.
And I agee that I would rather use a dealer - and I do sometimes - but only after checking their shop and some references to make sure that the dealer mechanics can do work as good as my own - doing it for the first time and without specialized tools.

rScotty

 

[grsthegreat]

I have always done my own maintenance, except when front seal went out on axle. The dealer quoted me a price to replace both side at such a good price, wasnt worth my time to mess with.

 

[treefarmerguy]

I prefer doing my own maintenance so it gets done when I want to do it. I can also stop and do some work with the tractor and go back to the maintenance later.

 

[Oaktree]

One thing about doing it yourself, you know it's being done right.
Sometimes the people doing the work don't do it right.

Only if you have the skills/time/tools to "do it right".
Ask any repairman (and not just mechanics) and they'll have stories about customers who tried to fix something themselves, screwed it up, then brought it in.

 

[Fallon]

I generally do my own routine maintenance & some repairs.

It's frozen here now & my barn is unheated. So I took it in for a hydraulic leak in a very inconvenient spot at the pump. Hoping it's just an o-ring or the hard line. It's due for an oil change, hydraulic change (barely on the dipstick because of the leak now as well) & 75 hours from needing the valves adjusted. Just having the dealer do it all. Would do the fluids & filters myself, but it will be in at the dealer anyway.

Amusingly this week I'll be replacing a leaky hydraulic hose on somebodu elses machine. But that's a standard part I can get made anywhere & is easily accessible.

 

[Massey convert]

Today, with you tube, if you have any mechanical skill at all, the average person can do most non-critical work themself. Some people prefer to have others work for them, even oil changing. If I was wealthy enough, I might even hire someone else to drive my tractor

 

[Williy]

As I have a 10 year warranty on my tractor I
will take all warranty work to the dealer bu
changing oil etc I do it myself as have been
changing oil etc for over 68 years so won't
stop now!

willy

 

[Thomas]

Still have 2 visits left from the dealer and they are 14 miles away,I pay for parts fluids no labor charges.

 

[JohnDeereJoey]

I've spent way, way, WAY more money on, lifts, tools, garage space... then I have EVER saved by not going to a dealer for service.

Not a chance I'm going to change my evil ways!

 

[ZTMAN]

Dealer did our 50 hour and 200 hour service. Both times oil was overfilled. Just because you have the dealer do it, does not mean it will always be done right.