Ethics......what you say about this scenario.

1930 · May 27, 2019

I hope thats an Ok title, spent the weekend on the property, I went there with a 2.5 glallons of Kubota trans/hydraulic fluid knowing that I needed to add some cause last weekend I had to fix a hydraulic line that had never been tightened properly underneath my backhoe.

The owners manual is confusing/a joke in my opinion so I wasnt even sure how much I had lost cause I didnt know how to check it properly.

I didnt buy the fluid from the dealer that I purchased the tractor from, I bought it locally to my home cause I wasnt sure I could get to Agricon in Ocala on Fri evening before they closed.

Anyway I did get to Agricon before they closed, bought a grease gun, mentioned to salesman and a mechanic there that the line was never tightened and I had lost some fluid but not sure how much.

They told me that if the pump wasn't squealing than I hadnt lost too much, they made no attempt to offer some fluid.......Im a bodyman mechanic, we all make mistakes......I didnt think it worth pressing anything.

Fast forward, got to my property, finally see the little tiny glass eye for fluid level, nothing showing in it at all, I dumped all 2.5 gallons in there and it came up to the 3/4 full mark eventually.

All is good.

Used tractor all day and into the next and then saw it leaking again......I have no way of getting to these line unless I lower the backhoe legs into the sand and crawl underneath this thing which is very unsafe....I did it again anyway and this time found that none of the lines were tight, they were all left loose.....on mistake Im sure,,,,just forgotten.....it happens.

Now I am reading empty again, another 60 plus dollars I need to spend.

Should I ask dealer to reimburse me what I am out?

On their side they can say I should have just brought it back from the get go and let them deal with it.....on my side I dont have a trailer that I trust at the moment to haul it back ( even though its only a few miles away ) and anyway it would take to much of time that is valuable to go thru all of that.

Ive tightened them, I dont expect to have any more issues there...........teflon tape was never used.....maybe I need to correct that?

No chance they were loosened by running something over, the lines are nearly completely surrounded by thick steel

Now Im gonna be out over 100 in fluid

Blondie70 · May 27, 2019

I got my dealer to give me a gallon since mine was low from them. I think you should ask them for the oil. They screwed up.

4570Man · May 27, 2019

I’d probably ask for for more fluid/reimbursement.

MossRoad · May 27, 2019

How long have you had the machine? Just curious. If it's just a short while, then I'd side with you. However, if, like a few stories in the past, it's 7-8 years down the road, then, well..... :laughing:

1930 · May 27, 2019

Maybe a month, Ive used it only a few days however. If it were any length of time I wouldnt be asking

John_Mc · May 27, 2019

Do NOT use teflon tape on hydraulic fittings. Use teflon paste, or Loctite 5452.

dstig1 · May 27, 2019

That's not an ethics question. Only a month out, it is clear they did not tighten the hoses. Yes mistakes happen, and making them right is the next step. Yes they should offer free fluid at the bare minimum....and a smart dealer would even offer you something in compensation for your time and hassle (like a free set of filters or something similar) as a goodwill gesture for their screw up.

Fuddy1952 · May 27, 2019

I think there's a lack of quality control probably with all brands. My new JD had random leaks as I was using it, some fittings were finger tight!
I just tightened them, added fluid, chalked it up to poor final inspection.
I did get pixxed when two hydraulic cylinders leaked puddles. Dealer repacked them under warranty which lasted two days! I called manufacturer, got a supervisor who sent me two new cylinders.
Dealer wants old ones back...what will they do with them?

JOHNTHOMAS · May 28, 2019

dstig1 said:
That's not an ethics question. Only a month out, it is clear they did not tighten the hoses. Yes mistakes happen, and making them right is the next step. Yes they should offer free fluid at the bare minimum....and a smart dealer would even offer you something in compensation for your time and hassle (like a free set of filters or something similar) as a goodwill gesture for their screw up.

I pick this one. One (the dealer) could say you should have done a let it run walk around inspection to check for leaks after you got the machine. I think the owners manual even says to check bolts for tightness when you get the machine. But I still think the dealer hsould replace the fluid you had to buy especially if this is your first tractor purchase.

shooterdon · May 28, 2019

It is cover your *** lawyer stuff when the manual says to check bolts etc. The purchaser should not have to do final inspection. If the factory and or dealer cannot do their jobs, then putting it on the consumer is pure BS.

Have them reimburse for your oil plus a free 50 hr service. If it does not cost them anything, they will continue to be lazy/incompetent.