Trouble with SpeeCo

[TennesseeWalts]

I purchased a SpeeCo Quick Hitch from my John Deere dealer (and probably should have purchased a green one from my experiences). Recently it came to my attention that one of the pins that secure the quick hitch to the tractor arms was missing. Luckily I wasn't engaged with the box blade I had attached. When I took off the hitch to manually attach the box blade, I noticed that the other pin showed evidence of a hairline crack in the backing plate. That pin was making progress toward separation and failure.

This morning I contacted SpeeCo to report the problem but rather than request they replace the pins as probably they should on a fairly new part, I asked if I could buy a new set. The representative said no and indicated I should have my dealer order the part. Lord knows how long that will take! He had no regard or interest in the report of the other cracked pin?

Has anyone using the SpeeCo Quick Hitch had similar problems? Can a plain round pin be used temporarily?

Thanks for any input you may have!

 

[gordon21]

Their customer service sucks. I bought a Huskee logsplitter (Speeco made) from TSC and needed a manual and the misc parts kit that was not included with it. I offered to pay for the items and UPS fees. They never showed up.

Don't expect your dealer to get any better results.

Don't get me wrong. The log splitter is very well made and has worked well, but their service after the sale is non-existant. If you buy any Speeco item, make sure you get all the parts, clips, pins, manuals, etc at the time of purchase.

 

[HayDR]

Speeco is not a manufacturer but just a sales company. They re-brand stuff from all over the world. Many of their hitch items are made in India by the lowest bidder.

 

[rural2]

Very true... Their stuff is pretty heavy duty, but come on guys... A little quality control please!!!

Speeco is not a manufacturer but just a sales company. They re-brand stuff from all over the world. Many of their hitch items are made in India by the lowest bidder.

 

[chadincolo]

Speeco is not a manufacturer but just a sales company.

SpeeCo is not just a sales company, everything we sell to the market (I say we as a design engineer for Special Products Company, which is SpeeCo) is designed by us, and manufactured to our specifications. Everything that comes into our plant has an inspection plan and requirements must be met before being stocked or sent out. Some bad parts are bound to slip through out of the millions of parts we receive, but we have taken pride in our history of striving to make customers happy.

Their customer service sucks. I bought a Huskee logsplitter (Speeco made) from TSC and needed a manual and the misc parts kit that was not included with it. I offered to pay for the items and UPS fees. They never showed up.

Don't expect your dealer to get any better results.

Don't get me wrong. The log splitter is very well made and has worked well, but their service after the sale is non-existant. If you buy any Speeco item, make sure you get all the parts, clips, pins, manuals, etc at the time of purchase.

I am sorry to hear you didn't get your parts, drop me an email with your address and you will get it. We sell many many log splitters in a year and unfortunately once in a while one gets to the end user without the hardware kit. I can't explain why you didn't get it, but I can assure you it's not because we didn't try to get it to you.

I purchased a SpeeCo Quick Hitch from my John Deere dealer (and probably should have purchased a green one from my experiences). Recently it came to my attention that one of the pins that secure the quick hitch to the tractor arms was missing. Luckily I wasn't engaged with the box blade I had attached. When I took off the hitch to manually attach the box blade, I noticed that the other pin showed evidence of a hairline crack in the backing plate. That pin was making progress toward separation and failure.

This morning I contacted SpeeCo to report the problem but rather than request they replace the pins as probably they should on a fairly new part, I asked if I could buy a new set. The representative said no and indicated I should have my dealer order the part. Lord knows how long that will take! He had no regard or interest in the report of the other cracked pin?

Has anyone using the SpeeCo Quick Hitch had similar problems? Can a plain round pin be used temporarily?

Thanks for any input you may have!

As the engineer who should have heard about your problem when you called, I am not too happy with the customer service response you indicated you got. If I understand how the one pin failed and the other is failing (even after years of service) I would like to know about it. I can't guarantee that I can always do something about a failure (not saying this is the case here, but abuse does happen) I would also like to see pictures to make sure I am reading your description of the failure correctly. If the quick hitch was relatively new, you should have gotten new pins (per the VP) so email me and you will get them.

We are taking seriously the comments about customer service, it's one of the things our company strives for. I have talked to the VP who oversees the customer service department, he has read this thread, and can offer my assurances that he takes these comments VERY seriously.

 

[HayDR]

Time have changed and so has Speeco. The merger of Farmex and Speeco leaves Speeco as the loan US supplier hitch item supplier in the USA market. Farmex and Speeco once controlled most of the suppliers located in India. Yes Speeco does much more than hitch items. Gripwell, Bawa, King, Udog, & Resource/Excel, all companies based in India, are all selling hitch items direct to the wholesalers and larger manufacturers. The world is getting smaller. Soon Speeco will have to sell direct to the end user, likely via another company name so they can still do both retail and wholesale. Speeco does have good products at great prices.

Take the Speeco quick hitch. Their product better fits the USA market than the JD I-match system. The I-Match system is only usable on 10 of implements currently being manufactured. JD actually had SICMA in Italy make their I-Match system but their cost was twice of the Speeco system. Speeco will win this battle unless JD works out an Asian manufacturing deal for I-Match. JD is more a sales company than most JD worshipers want to admit.

 

[rural2]

chadincolo, I commend you/Speeco for your response. Quite possible I was wrong in my initial assumption???
You have a private mail.

 

[BlacknTan]

What about the LandPride Quick hitch??

Made by LP or an Asian Company??

 

[TomWhite]

Who makes the one sold by Habour Freight?

I have one that just sits in the barn because the inside measurement between the "arms" on it is only 26". Won't fit a darned thing I own.

 

[HayDR]

Who makes the one sold by Habour Freight?

I have one that just sits in the barn because the inside measurement between the "arms" on it is only 26". Won't fit a darned thing I own.

26" has been the CAT 1 standard for 50 years. The CAT 2 standard is 32". 80% of all 3 point implements sold are CAT 1.

 

[TomWhite]

26" has been the CAT 1 standard for 50 years. The CAT 2 standard is 32". 80% of all 3 point implements sold are CAT 1.

Then I may be a bit off on my numbers. But I have a 5' KK rotary Mower, unidentified rear blade (old), boom pole, single bottom plow, disc, etc. and none of them will fit with that hitch.

 

[HayDR]

Then I may be a bit off on my numbers. But I have a 5' KK rotary Mower, unidentified rear blade (old), boom pole, single bottom plow, disc, etc. and none of them will fit with that hitch.

Here is a link for the Three point specs.
Speeco

KK has lots of implements using CAT 0 measurements with CAT1 pins and holes for use with the sub-compacts with limited CAT 1 hitches.

 

[DanMcC]

TennesseeWalts, Has SpeeCo stepped up yet? It looks like it has been a few weeks.

 

[TennesseeWalts]

To bring all up to speed regarding the replacement of my lift arm pins for my SpeeCo Quick Hitch, I have contacted an engineer (Chad) with the company and emailed photos of the cracking in the flat plate of the remaining pin which seemed to me to be in the process of failing. From information from the engineer, it would appear that the plate thickness which is welded to the pin may be somewhat thinner than specifications allow and the plate had been ground or belt sanded during manufacture which apparently was not a standard procedure. I called them yesterday and talked with a fellow named Mike in Customer Service. He was very kind and indicated he would be shipping out a set of replacement pins soon. I look forward to receiving them. I appreciate the way SpeeCo has responded since my earlier contact with that rude and uncaring customer service representative. It would seem that there are some quality individuals with that company that do care about customer problems and service. I will be back to let all know if the pins come in.

 

[California]

Who makes the one sold by Habour Freight? I have one that just sits in the barn because the inside measurement between the "arms" on it is only 26". Won't fit a darned thing I own.

The distance between the inner portions of the two lower hitch pins must be between 26.81 and 26.94 inches.

No wonder nothing fits. HF's first batch (last summer) seemed to have random dimensions, but I haven't seen anyone complain about the more recent ones.

See LSU AgCenter . Will an ASAE Standard Quick Hitch Fit? You can click on the diagram, and photo, shown there.

 

[TennesseeWalts]

I received replacement arm pins for my quick hitch yesterday from SpeeCo. They were certainly a welcome sight. I appreciate the help certain representatives from SpeeCo offered me to resolve my problem; however, I still remain puzzled that a company as large as SpeeCo would be resistant to a customer wishing to directly purchase a replacement part to replace a possibly defective one. Such policies make it painfully hard on the customer especially when down equipment is involved. SpeeCo has stepped up to the plate and their representatives have indicated that customer service may have been impeded by previous policies which are being or have been amended. Thanks SpeeCo and all who read and posted. Also, glad others have had their problems resolved.

 

[chadincolo]

Who makes the one sold by Habour Freight?

I have one that just sits in the barn because the inside measurement between the "arms" on it is only 26". Won't fit a darned thing I own.

Gee Sun implements, makes it. Crude copy at best, doesn't meet the ASAE specs in spacing and fails to meet other requirements.

 

[chadincolo]

I received replacement arm pins for my quick hitch yesterday from SpeeCo. They were certainly a welcome sight. I appreciate the help certain representatives from SpeeCo offered me to resolve my problem; however, I still remain puzzled that a company as large as SpeeCo would be resistant to a customer wishing to directly purchase a replacement part to replace a possibly defective one. Such policies make it painfully hard on the customer especially when down equipment is involved. SpeeCo has stepped up to the plate and their representatives have indicated that customer service may have been impeded by previous policies which are being or have been amended. Thanks SpeeCo and all who read and posted. Also, glad others have had their problems resolved.

Glad you got the pins. As you said, SpeeCo is not in the retail business, I'm sure you have spoken to Steve Rolin some, there is no mechanism in place to actually accept payment from individuals, an issue that I am sure Steve is looking into. We are working to make sure we take care of the people who buy and use SpeeCo's parts and equipment, and look for any feedback we can get (compliments or opportunities to improve).

For Walt or anybody else who has questions, please feel free to PM me, I don't get to check this real often, but will do what I can to help and look forward to any input or ideas for improvements.

 

[HayDR]

People have to realize the structure of Speeco's past. They have changed from an import distributor to more of a modern wholesaler/manufacturer. Speeco has always had high value products. Speeco has many other high value items being sold under their names and other private labels. I just see Speeco having to change even more to survive. The world is much smaller because of technology and the net has changed all of our businesses.
Speeco and other adjustable quick hitches will drive JD out of the quick hitch business. JD's hitch is a proprietary driven market and the others are free market driven and the free market will always win.

 

[anojones]

Understanding the Speeco is probably not the best place to find replacement parts (at least not yet)- does someone have an online source for Speeco parts? The top hook on my quick hitch came off in the weeds while mowing last week and I can't find it. It coming loose was my fault, I'd replaced the bolts with pins to ease adjustment, and knew at least one of the retaining clips on the one of pins was missing.