3-Point Hitch new 2520 3pt arms installed

[bz1]

I'm getting the impression that my dealer is being honest when he says there is no official replacement program given the fact that we have some people on this forum who have already had there arms replaced with little hassle, we have others who need to provide pictures, we have other dealers who are willing to look, and we have others who are still fighting to get any attention. I think I'm going to take the factor rep. offer to get the parts for free and pay for replacement labor. I'm doing this just in case this whole thing falls apart around us and JD decides to pull the plug an any free replacements. I'm also afraid that if my dealer looks hard enough he'll notice that if I keep the sway adjustment real tight the arms technically don't rub. The problem is that as soon as the sway adjustment loosens up a little bit as allowed by the hitch pins then they do rub and even when tight there is no way I will ever use chains on my tires with the current arms. I figure it might cost me 25 bucks to get mine done given the offer they made me. I don't think I should have to pay anything but I don't want to lose the offer I already have. I hope I'm not whimping out?
Oh oh, real time news flash - as I was writing the above update my dealer called and informed me that if he were me he would take the reps offer ASAP because the factory just called my dealer today and told him that they will not be routinely replacing these arms for customers and they do not ever intend to authorize free replacement and they intend to make sure dealers are aware of that. So whatever replacements you guys have already benefitted from were probably the result of a generous dealer or factory rep. who did your replacement on their own. My advice to everyone - if you have someone willing to replace yours, do it now. If you haven't contacted anyone and pushed hard yet, do that now before it's too late. My dealer just agreed to order my arms today to take advantage of the free offer and I'll have to pay for the 15 minutes to install them. I'll let you all know how it goes and good luck to everyone. As for a last mintue tidbit of info, my dealer did offer to sell me the parts at his cost if JD did't come through on this, his cost was $225 per arm.

 

[Nuru]

It only takes 15 minutes, Hmm, well at least it will be a low cost installation.

 

[FastPauly]

They won't cover the labor to replace the arms....no problem with that on my part. I perform the replacement labor everytime I remove my hoe to put my weight box or landscaping rake on....arms go on, arms go off by me. All I am looking for is for JD to provide me with the redesigned arms to fix their design flaw. And YES, my wheels are set in the wide position...if they were'nt, no way in hay could I mount the hoe!!

 

[seldridge279]

My dealer called me today and said Deere was replacing the arms. He said he had ordered mine and would call me when they came in. He asked if I wanted to install them and I said yes as it would take several hours to go into town with the tractor on a trailer and then wait for them to put them on. I can do it myself in 15 min or so.

 

[bz1]

Just look at the variation in responses we're getting from JD. My dealer said the factory would not approve of me installing them myself because they want to make sure they are done correctly. They said that about the 62D wheel replacement I recently got as well but my dealer let me do them myself anyway. This time he said since we've gotten so much factory attention he needs to do them for me or he might get in trouble for letting me do them. This whole things stinks, there is a problem with this 3 point hitch and JD ought to stand behind it. But I'll pay for the 15 minutes and take my free parts and run.

 

[turbo36]

I got a call from my dealer yesterday informing me that Deere requires him to take a picture of the rubbing arms and submit it with the DTAC. Apparently it is not a "slam dunk" replacement program and Deere will push back to see how serious we are about getting the problem fixed. Fortunately for me my dealer is top notch and went to my house to take the picture, that's what I call above and beyond service.
Hopefully Deere comes through for him and I get the update they owe me.

Got a call today that word came down from the mountain and all is well - Deere approved the fix! Helps to have a dealer that cares.

 

[spc]

my dealer just told me the same as Birdmayon's. They want me to bring the tractor in (50 miles). They need to check that the arms in in the right hole and tires set to wide etc.....

Going to get it on the trailer and take it in tomorrow.

My box blade and RFM rub when i lift them up past half way or so... but my tires are not set to wide. How much space will that really buy me? My concern now is that they will set the tires to wide and say probelm resolved but that is going to only work if i keep the arms completly tightened down. In other words, I may have no tire rub but only if the implement has absolutly no side to side movement and everything stays absolutly locked down. In the real world that doesnt happen. I want arms that are going to give me some room to breathe.

 

[Birdmayon]

SPC, that is my concern as well. My guess is they will move the wheels, check everything out and say "no more rubbing so no new arms for you". But I bet there'll be 1/4" of clearance at best at the top side. Fine, but what if we ever get an out of spec cat 1 implement, or want to throw on tire chains, etc etc. I really don't want to be limited in what my tractor can be used for, whether I have those intentions or not. I'm feeling this could be an uphill battle for some of us.

 

[bz1]

Isn't this all interesting. As I posted above my dealer told me that the factory called him yesterday, not just his factory rep. but a manager at the factory, who told him they would not be approving this type of replacement. Glad to hear that it appears you guys are getting postive responses. We'll see how long this lasts.

 

[bz1]

The continuing saga - I got a return call from JD Corporate offices today. I wasn't home but they left a message. They said that they talked to my dealer and since the factory rep. had agreed to provide my new arms at no cost as long as I paid for installation that's as far as they would cover my problem. So I guess I'm really getting mine fixed too although I sure had to fight for it.

 

[FastPauly]

Bz1,
You didn't happen to note the JD phone number they contacted you on did you? I would like to call it just to discuss with them the Goose and Gander theory.

 

[bz1]

Fastpauly, not sure what you mean by goose and gander but I wasn't home when they called so they left a message so I could call them back.
800-537-8233 then select option 2, then option 7. I have not called them back yet because I heard the message Friday evening after work. The lady on the phone just told me that since the factory rep. had offered to provide the arms and I pay the installation that she considered the matter taken care of. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to call Monday and try to get them to cover it all.

 

[FastPauly]

bz1,
Just an old saying "What's fair for the goose is fair for the gander". JD is certainly showing inconsistancies in handling this issue....the goose and gander are facing the same problem, but are being handed differing solutions to the problem.

It is not a case of an error in assembly where a "few" 2520's got out the door with a wrong part or wrong assembly procedure....but rather a case of a design problem that was pointed out immediately by 2520 owners that use 3-point attachments. JD obviously realized the problem was real...or I doubt they would of done the re-design. In my mind, there is something about an object rubbing against an un-related rotating piece of equipment that would warrant a re-design.....especially when the rotating object is a rubber tire that could be subject to failure because of it.

If JD did the re-design as just a "product improvement", then so be it, I don't expect them to "update" my 2520 with product improvements for the life of the product without cost to me.
Like I stated in an earlier post, there is not a better way to destroy loyalty to a product/brand, than to do exactly what is happening here....the goose and gander theory.

The Gander

 

[bz1]

I agree entirely. I wonder if JD monitors forums such as this. It would benefit them if they would. Just think of all the people seeing our complaints and the lack of consistent response.

 

[Birdmayon]

SPC, that is my concern as well. My guess is they will move the wheels, check everything out and say "no more rubbing so no new arms for you". But I bet there'll be 1/4" of clearance at best at the top side. Fine, but what if we ever get an out of spec cat 1 implement, or want to throw on tire chains, etc etc. I really don't want to be limited in what my tractor can be used for, whether I have those intentions or not. I'm feeling this could be an uphill battle for some of us.

My fear was realized today as the dealer dropped off my tractor with the same lift arms. To be fair, they do have ~ 1" of clearance between the wheels/arms at full height now that the wheels are in the wide position. I don't know how much they'll sway with a heavy implement hooked up. I painted over the spots that were worn by the tires so I can tell if they rub again.

 

[seldridge279]

Got my tractor back. I had it in for 50 hour servicing and getting the tires foamed. While it was there the new lift arms came in so the dealer installed them for me as part of warrenty service (no charge). Loads of clearance now.

 

[newt92]

Mine will be going in for some hydro work under warranty work. I inquired about the new arms and the dealer asked when do they rub? I said with my quick hitch on, I have it adjusted so they dont rub, however when I want to use my finish mower, I have to remove the quick hitch and then they rub with mower in the air and on a hill or sharp turn when the mower swings side to side. The dealer told me to bring the mower along when the tractor comes in for the work to be done. Guess I'll have to see what happens.

 

[2520_RBC]

I was searching for solutions to the same problem, I had asked my dealer if any hub extenders could be used. He did not tell me that JD had re-designed the arms. I was also wondering if it possible to buy rims with a little more backspacing to get more clearance?

Mine will be going in for some hydro work under warranty work. I inquired about the new arms and the dealer asked when do they rub? I said with my quick hitch on, I have it adjusted so they dont rub, however when I want to use my finish mower, I have to remove the quick hitch and then they rub with mower in the air and on a hill or sharp turn when the mower swings side to side. The dealer told me to bring the mower along when the tractor comes in for the work to be done. Guess I'll have to see what happens.

 

[bz1]

Well, I got my arms replaced last week. JD offered me the arms for free but I had to pay for installation - $32. Not bad but I'm still pissed that I had to pay anthing. But at least my problem is fixed. No clearance problems with the new arms! Thanks to all those on this forum that stuck with this and helped us all get the fix. For those that don't have it yet keep insisting. I made such a stink with my dealer that he didn't dare even ask me about my problem he was just glad to install the arms and get rid of me.