rScotty
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2001
- Messages
- 8,263
- Location
- Rural mountains - Colorado
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, JD530, JD310SG. Restoring Yanmar YM165D
I suspect that a lot of compact & utility suburban tractor dealers don't employ a real mechanic. About the farthest they go in the mechanical direction is to have someone who can guess at a problem and change parts. Their "mechanics" uncrate new machines, service them, do routine maintenance by the book, and bolt on accessory kits. It's "cookbook". You can do as much or as little of that for yourself as you wish.
And honestly, that's about all the level of competence you should ever need. The "parts swapping" approach to being a mechanic works fine during a warranty. And after using a warranty period to expose any manufacturing flaws, the machine should be reliable for many years. In fact, most are. So in spite of us old guys grousing about the lack of real mechanics these days, the new approach has advantages.
If you are curious about old fashioned real mechanics, here is a hint: You can often spot a real mechanical shop because they will have a specialized shop truck & offer mobile service. The construction dealer where I go to get parts and chat about our full size TLB has a whole shop full of real mechanics and several trucks. My favorite mobile mechanic was a helicopter mechanic in Afganistan..... 'nuff said.
But now you have me curious. I used to have a mechanical shop. And you've said before that dealer "A" is one that you like.
Since apparently they don't know their products, and their mechanics are limited to maintenance, then just what is it about that dealership that is so attractive?
And honestly, that's about all the level of competence you should ever need. The "parts swapping" approach to being a mechanic works fine during a warranty. And after using a warranty period to expose any manufacturing flaws, the machine should be reliable for many years. In fact, most are. So in spite of us old guys grousing about the lack of real mechanics these days, the new approach has advantages.
If you are curious about old fashioned real mechanics, here is a hint: You can often spot a real mechanical shop because they will have a specialized shop truck & offer mobile service. The construction dealer where I go to get parts and chat about our full size TLB has a whole shop full of real mechanics and several trucks. My favorite mobile mechanic was a helicopter mechanic in Afganistan..... 'nuff said.
But now you have me curious. I used to have a mechanical shop. And you've said before that dealer "A" is one that you like.
Since apparently they don't know their products, and their mechanics are limited to maintenance, then just what is it about that dealership that is so attractive?