bradheiter
Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2003
- Messages
- 36
I reread my post and I want to add A) I'm sorry this is so long B) I really like my tractor. C) The service has been great till this. D) I was supposed to dig the trench for the electric service and do several loader/backhoe jobs at the same site this weekend but lost those jobs. E) I'm a bit frustrated with this experience.
I blew the left side power steering hose at only 132 hours of use, on my 2003 Branson 4520. When I bought the tractor this forum had warned me of the danger and I contacted Branson to make sure my tractor had the improved hoses. They assured me it did, IT ACTUALLY DID NOT. They were very nice about sending me a set at no charge, even though my tractor is out of the 2 year base warranty. It did take a few talks with the warranty department and the service department and my closest dealer, all very nice people to deal with (I bought the tractor from another dealer, farther away, but he is no longer a dealer, my current closest dealer didn't have Branson when I bought mine) In trying to follow Branson's request that I go through my closest dealer, nothing constructive happened on Thursday. In the past, when I went through the dealer I bought from, he just had Branson drop ship me what I needed and we sorted out the bill later. Minimum down time. NOT this time, even though I offered to pay shipping or for everything and sort out later if Branson would/could cover a known issue on an out of warranty tractor...nothing shipped Thursday. When they did ship on Friday it went out overnight BUT NO Saturday delivery. I was very clear that I would pay for shipping or everything I just wanted the parts tommorrow SATURDAY. I obviously don't use my tractor/loader/backhoe very much (140 hours spread out over 2 years 8 months) but when it broke I was on a paying job to put in a 6 foot deep 120 foot long trench for a water line. So I could finish the job before the plumber arrived, I had to pick the front end off the ground with the loader and push the front wheels to the right every time I needed to turn right. Slows progress down a 'bit'. Nothing like having the home owner and the plumber watching me do this and telling my why I should have bought a JD product. sigh One of the most frustrating things is, I was warned by this forum and I checked with Branson so I would NOT have this problem. Sorry for the rant.
Brad
I blew the left side power steering hose at only 132 hours of use, on my 2003 Branson 4520. When I bought the tractor this forum had warned me of the danger and I contacted Branson to make sure my tractor had the improved hoses. They assured me it did, IT ACTUALLY DID NOT. They were very nice about sending me a set at no charge, even though my tractor is out of the 2 year base warranty. It did take a few talks with the warranty department and the service department and my closest dealer, all very nice people to deal with (I bought the tractor from another dealer, farther away, but he is no longer a dealer, my current closest dealer didn't have Branson when I bought mine) In trying to follow Branson's request that I go through my closest dealer, nothing constructive happened on Thursday. In the past, when I went through the dealer I bought from, he just had Branson drop ship me what I needed and we sorted out the bill later. Minimum down time. NOT this time, even though I offered to pay shipping or for everything and sort out later if Branson would/could cover a known issue on an out of warranty tractor...nothing shipped Thursday. When they did ship on Friday it went out overnight BUT NO Saturday delivery. I was very clear that I would pay for shipping or everything I just wanted the parts tommorrow SATURDAY. I obviously don't use my tractor/loader/backhoe very much (140 hours spread out over 2 years 8 months) but when it broke I was on a paying job to put in a 6 foot deep 120 foot long trench for a water line. So I could finish the job before the plumber arrived, I had to pick the front end off the ground with the loader and push the front wheels to the right every time I needed to turn right. Slows progress down a 'bit'. Nothing like having the home owner and the plumber watching me do this and telling my why I should have bought a JD product. sigh One of the most frustrating things is, I was warned by this forum and I checked with Branson so I would NOT have this problem. Sorry for the rant.
Brad