bartonkj
Member
Long post but good story (for me at least)
I had a New Holland TC24D manual transmission with the 12LA loader. I went out to use it one day in May and the low range would not work. This was odd since it worked the last time I used the tractor. Tractor in the shop before Mother's Day. Find out the low range gear was completely stripped (no teeth left at all). I have no idea how this happened because I do not recall hearing any grinding, banging, or antyhing else that would indicated the gear getting torn up.
Once they find out what is wrong, the parts are not in stock anywhere around - dealer orders part. Dealer keeps looking for the part. I don't get too worried at first since having parts on backorder doesn't seem too uncommon. A couple of weeks go by from when they first picked up the tractor. Still no sign of the part. They investigate and find out the part is nowhere to be had in the country. They are trying to get the part from the factory in Japan.
I politely tell the shop that it has been some time without the tractor, and although I know it's not the dealer's fault, I need a tractor and if the part can't be located - I should get a new tractor from New Holland. Shop manager says he'll work on New Holland rep.
The New Holland parts rep and sales rep find out the supplier doesn't even have any parts to spare - so they are trying to get the factory to pull one off the assembly line to ship over. I give them a few days to figure out if they can do that and continue to press for a new tractor if there is no resolution.
Working with the Owner of the dealership and finally say I can't wait any longer. He says, understandable - we'll get you a new tractor. They have a TC24DA on the lot but hydrostatic not gear. I say I don't want hydrostatic with the same engine HP. They have some TC30s and a TC29DA - all hydrostatic. Although I prefered gear I decided to go with the hydro. I like the features of the TC29 better than the 30 so I decide to take that one.
Dealer gives me full credit for the TC24 and FEL (100% of the price I paid) and charges me the extra for the 29 (and a good price for the 29 w/ FEL). Preps tractor and finalize paperwork next day, delivers tractor the day after that.
I originally went with the 24 b/c I thought it would be a decent size and I didn't want to spend more. We have a very rutted old farm field and it was rough riding the 24 through the property. While the 24 worked fairly well for our needs - it really was too small for our property and the things we need to do. I should have gone with a bigger tractor to begin with (I just didn't want to spend the extra money). After having the tractor for a year I was able to see just how much we needed a bigger tractor. And, I got to use it for free.
I'm VERY happy with how the dealership operated during these circumstances. They gave us a fair price on the TC29DA and 14LA FEL ($18,500), they gave us full credit for the old tractor, and they worked for us to resolve the issues we had. I have heard some stories on here about dealers leaving people high and dry and telling them tough luck when they have problems. If anyone else lives in the North East Ohio area - I highly recommend Spear's Chardon Tractor as an honest dealer willing to stick by their customers.
I've put 7 hours on the new tractor this weekend and it really makes a big difference - it is so much easier to use than the 24 for some of the things I need to do around here. And while I wasn't interested in the HST before - I'm a quick convert (although HST isn't perfect by any means).
I had a New Holland TC24D manual transmission with the 12LA loader. I went out to use it one day in May and the low range would not work. This was odd since it worked the last time I used the tractor. Tractor in the shop before Mother's Day. Find out the low range gear was completely stripped (no teeth left at all). I have no idea how this happened because I do not recall hearing any grinding, banging, or antyhing else that would indicated the gear getting torn up.
Once they find out what is wrong, the parts are not in stock anywhere around - dealer orders part. Dealer keeps looking for the part. I don't get too worried at first since having parts on backorder doesn't seem too uncommon. A couple of weeks go by from when they first picked up the tractor. Still no sign of the part. They investigate and find out the part is nowhere to be had in the country. They are trying to get the part from the factory in Japan.
I politely tell the shop that it has been some time without the tractor, and although I know it's not the dealer's fault, I need a tractor and if the part can't be located - I should get a new tractor from New Holland. Shop manager says he'll work on New Holland rep.
The New Holland parts rep and sales rep find out the supplier doesn't even have any parts to spare - so they are trying to get the factory to pull one off the assembly line to ship over. I give them a few days to figure out if they can do that and continue to press for a new tractor if there is no resolution.
Working with the Owner of the dealership and finally say I can't wait any longer. He says, understandable - we'll get you a new tractor. They have a TC24DA on the lot but hydrostatic not gear. I say I don't want hydrostatic with the same engine HP. They have some TC30s and a TC29DA - all hydrostatic. Although I prefered gear I decided to go with the hydro. I like the features of the TC29 better than the 30 so I decide to take that one.
Dealer gives me full credit for the TC24 and FEL (100% of the price I paid) and charges me the extra for the 29 (and a good price for the 29 w/ FEL). Preps tractor and finalize paperwork next day, delivers tractor the day after that.
I originally went with the 24 b/c I thought it would be a decent size and I didn't want to spend more. We have a very rutted old farm field and it was rough riding the 24 through the property. While the 24 worked fairly well for our needs - it really was too small for our property and the things we need to do. I should have gone with a bigger tractor to begin with (I just didn't want to spend the extra money). After having the tractor for a year I was able to see just how much we needed a bigger tractor. And, I got to use it for free.
I'm VERY happy with how the dealership operated during these circumstances. They gave us a fair price on the TC29DA and 14LA FEL ($18,500), they gave us full credit for the old tractor, and they worked for us to resolve the issues we had. I have heard some stories on here about dealers leaving people high and dry and telling them tough luck when they have problems. If anyone else lives in the North East Ohio area - I highly recommend Spear's Chardon Tractor as an honest dealer willing to stick by their customers.
I've put 7 hours on the new tractor this weekend and it really makes a big difference - it is so much easier to use than the 24 for some of the things I need to do around here. And while I wasn't interested in the HST before - I'm a quick convert (although HST isn't perfect by any means).