Tractor service - cost and time expectations

[Libby2563]

My go-to tractor service place shut down a few years ago and I’ve been frustrated by the alternatives that I’ve tried. Very expensive, very slow, and poor customer service to boot.

I just got a routine service estimate for almost $440. $42 is pickup/delivery (no quibble with that–DH was strongly opposed to me driving it there myself), $169 is parts and disposal fees, and $225 is 3 hours of labor for the service itself (which, per the invoice, includes engine oil/filter change, fuel filter replacement, and air filter replacement–even though my tractor is only due for engine oil/filter change and cleaning of the air filter). The parts list included air and hydraulic oil filters, even though the hydraulic filter isn’t due for anything and the air filter is just supposed to be cleaned, not replaced. There’s no mention of the fuel filter in the parts list even though the labor section says the service includes its replacement.

I sent the tractor in with an exact list of what needs to be done, per the manufacturer, but the estimate doesn’t reflect that and the communication from them is so poor that I don’t know why. I don’t know if they are just tacking stuff on to make a buck and hoping I won’t notice, if the person who does the service inspected it and thinks those things need to be done, or if there is some disconnect between the person who does the service and the person who prepared the estimate. The person who answers the phone is not remotely helpful.

Meanwhile, service takes a minimum of 1-2 weeks, longer if they’re busy, and they will schedule pick-up even though they know it will be 5 days before they can find the time to even look at it. Maybe there’s a reason for this, like that’s the one day a week the transport guy works, but I don’t know because, again, their communication sucks.

I’m leaning towards learning to do basic stuff myself (like fluid and filter changes and cleaning). I change my truck’s oil so I’m not a total idiot when it comes to mechanics. I don’t know how to do some of the other stuff, like “clutch pedal play,” “toe-in check,” “fan belt tension,” etc but none of that is ever reflected on my service invoices anyway so truthfully I have no idea whether it’s being done or not! I think I’d feel better if a knowledgeable person would look at my tractor at least every couple of years, but maybe I can do it in between. (FWIW, I only put about 50 hours on it per year.)

I described my experience to a friend and she said 1-2 weeks is normal turnaround time in our area. I’d be curious to hear from you guys whether getting good tractor service is difficult and what your expectations are as far as how long it takes and how much it costs.

[RAyers]

I do it all on my own. Generally it takes 2 hours total for air, oil, fuel, hydraulics, lubrication. Cost of parts only.

[Simkie]

Um, when we sent the tractor in, we waited several months before they picked it up, had to call several times to stay “on the list” and then it was gone for several weeks with zero communication, and it cost nearly a grand. For routine maintenance, one hydro leak in an easy location that required little to fix.

Those guys are the only game in town and I understand why people don’t buy Deere around here because of that. I’ve begged another local shop that we’re friendly with to take care of it, but they sell Cub Cadet and tell me they can’t get Deere parts because of that.

In MN, they picked up for free, generally within days of asking, and it would be back within a week. Communication was great and I often still contact my guy there if I have questions–and he responds right away. I think the regular service was about half here, price wise, but it’s been awhile so I might be off there.

[ElementFarm]

Sorry, but our experiences have been similar to yours… long wait times for repair (2-6+ weeks!) and almost laughably incompetent customer service. We take our tractor to the Kubota dealer, and since we have the insurance/warranty for it, we pay just a deductible for all the non-routine work (so we pay for oil changes, etc, but they fix the damage I created by accidently driving off a bank and getting it stuck in a ditch, or when DH tried to use the FEL to knock down trees). But even with us driving it to the shop ourselves, it seems to sit for weeks waiting for service, even though we explain we actually NEED the tractor, and we’d prefer to schedule for when they have time to work on it right away.

[wildlifer]

You can definitely do air filter & oil changes yourself. Air filter, usually just snapping off a cover, removing old filter, put in new one (which your local NAPA shop can usually sell you; “cleaning” at shops, usually means they just hold it up & blow air through it, it’s crazy they charge people for that). Literally child’s play. Oil is no different from your vehicle. So if that’s all it needs, I would just do that at home, that’s probably 30 minutes of work.

I did recently pay for a shop to do my fuel filter change, but they already had it for something else. I get a little nervous about the whole air bubble thing because my manual instructions were vague. I know if I did it once, it would be fine.

I only send something in if it’s major (like I just had to have hydraulic cylinders on FEL rebuilt). Because shop labor is usually like $80 an hour, I’m not paying that unless it requires specialized tools and something more than “unscrew parts & screw them back on again.”

[hosspuller]

IF you can change the oil in your car, YOU CAN service your tractor. Get a service manual for it. Even $100+ it’s worth the education about your machine. A diesel fuel system is a bit different as you have to get the air out, but the manual will tell you how. Oil, air, hydraulic … easy peasy to service. Ignorance is curable. Stupidity hurts or costs, sometimes both at the same time.

I will throw a kudo to Deere. Their manuals are very good and they will sell to the individual… You just have to know which manual covers your issue. Electrical vs mechanical parts for example.

[RAyers]

I’m with hosspuller, I agree about Deere. Those are the tractors I learned on. Kubota, New Holland,… are all pretty much the same. Deere does have awesome manuals. Air in the diesel system really isn’t that bad in todays engines (sure the engine is a bit noisy for a bit). Modern diesels have air bleeders and vents. Hydrolocking is different (fuel filled cylinders).

[wsmoak]

Similar to @4LeafCloverFarm we’ve found a local/independent guy who already comes to our used equipment guy just down the road. Used equipment guy allowed us to drive our tractor (which we bought from him originally) over to his place and have the work done there. (We do most of our own maintenance, but it had some leaking seals that apparently require a special tool to deal with, or something like that.)

(Interestingly, the independent guy does this on evenings/weekends after working for the local auto/tractor repair shop. Apparently they don’t have him under a non-compete agreement!)

Now… he is probably not insured such that if he totally broke our tractor, we would have no recourse, unlike if we took it to the official shop. So there’s that. But there is also the thing where DH can go over and actually talk to the guy doing the work and watch it if he wants. (Really, they should charge extra for him “helping”.) . And that it would have been done the same day but for the fact that we didn’t buy all the necessary parts and it had to wait another week for those to arrive.

I would have paid double for someone to come to my farm and do the work! But we don’t have as nice of a workshop as the used equipment guy does.

[Equibrit]

I found that there is usually a guy around who comes to your place and works on the equipment. My guy does the stuff I can’t manage and doesn’t charge that much.I usually buy the parts and pay him to fit them. Talk to folks nearby to find out if you have a guy in your area. (The hardware store is usually a good place to start)

[Libby2563]

Thanks guys!!

Holy crap, @4LeafCloverFarm, 6 months!? That blows my mind…people have tractors because they need them, ya know? The most recent shop is a small engine place that does lawnmowers, snowblowers, etc, so I think my compact tractor is one of the larger things there rather than the smallest, but yeah, their to-do list is likely topped by the many landscaping companies based nearby.

I would love to find an independent mechanic. I do have one possible lead through a co-worker and am going to ask around more. I’ve collected some business cards over the years as I find them at Tractor Supply, etc, but they don’t always return phone calls. The lady who answers the shop phone might be useless but at least she answers! :lol:

In the meantime, I told the shop no (in writing) to all the extras they tacked on that I didn’t ask for, and I will be learning to do the basics myself. I actually like changing fluids and filters…it’s very satisfying!

[Equibrit]

@4LeafCloverFarm

insulate wire to alternator (it keeps melting due to heat of manifold), clean and adjust carburetor,

Check this out; https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-350137-1?rrec=true

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@Equibrit

Check this out; https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-350137-1?rrec=true

Yes - he installed something similar that’s not supposed to melt and will protect the wire. Hopefully it will work so we don’t have to rewire again. Years ago (like 12 years) we had the whole tractor rewired and that person/shop used a standard plastic accordion sleeve for the wiring, which just didn’t hold up in several places.

[4LeafCloverFarm]

I wanted to add that for certain tractors, mom & pop auto repair shops are another option (assuming they have a mechanic familiar with tractors/machinery). We have such a shop about 5 miles from our farm - close enough to drive our tractor to. And they have told me they can work on our tractor - though it would be of lesser priority to automobiles they are working om. The catch is, we have to drive it, so the tractor has to be running to get it there.

So don’t discount auto repair shops that have seasoned mechanics either. A tractor may not be typical for them, but it never hurts to ask!

[fordtraktor]

I will say that finding someone independent has made a huge difference in service for me. I have a guy who used to work at my local Deere facility and branched out on his own. Not only is he half the price for much better service, he schedules me in when I take my annual vacation every year so I don’t even miss it (my horse sitter doesn’t really need for daily chores). It did take me a few years to find my guy. It is like a reliable hay provider…it can take a while but stick with them when you find one! Also he doesn’t have a fancy shop or storefront, he works out of a pole barn on his farm.

i would ask farmers in your area who have been there forever, not horse people. They tend to know all the service people and I think you get a better price if referred by a friend of theirs. Also, fair or not I think many providers charge a hassle price for horse people, who they see as wealthy and often annoying.

[jawa]

@Libby2563 I’m glad you are able to do some of the routine servicing yourself. I would keep asking around about an independent equipment mechanic. For years we used a guy that would come on weekends only. He worked for a paving company that would send him out of state to work jobs as their mechanic. When he was home, he was able to do some side work. If a part was needed, it would mean that we’d have to wait until the next week or two in order for him to come back to fix it. We now have a mechanic that we can take equipment to or he can come to us. For major repairs, we take the tractor to him since he has a shop and all the tools there.

The tractor dealerships and their repair shops are very much like the car industry. The dealership goes by what the “book” says it will take time wise and they charge their hourly rate based on that. RARELY does it take that long to do the actual service or repair, but you get billed that anyway.