Wowsers!

[Momboy007]

Hello All,
I have been reading about Rob's experience concerning his clutch and am envious of everyone's skills on this forum. I have a Jinma 304 and ABSOLUTILY DO NOT have the skills to split my tractor, or even take off the loader.
My question is, how much would this repair cost if I had to take it into a shop for a new clutch?

Thanks all,
Rick

 

[Red55]

Rick, in San Diego I would imagine quite a bit! Location has quite a bit to do with cost of overhead and labor. Remember a while back one of the dealers (texas?) ballparked it at around $800 Let's see what the going rate is!-Ed

 

[greg_g]

My question is, how much would this repair cost if I had to take it into a shop for a new clutch?

For simple splitting/reassembly, figure a minimum of one shop day (8 hours/2 guys) at what - maybe $75/hour? But that doesn't take into consideration what happens in between. Plus, it might be cheaper to pay the guy that already has all the tools - that it would be to buy all those tools yourself.

Variables include parts and downtime. A new clutchpack and bearings will probably run on the high side of $500. From that standpoint, it's cheaper to rebuild. But that may increase the shop hour costs, and definitely increases downtime . If you rely on your tractor for everyday use, downtime is money lost. So in some cases, slapping in a whole new clutchpack can be the less expensive option. Besides, that leaves you with an OE to rebuild - and put on the shelf to use again another day.

//greg//

 

[mffarmall]

I would say this it would cost about as much as a car. But if your not tied to a dealer for warranties then it might be a good idea to start looking around. I would say that if you know someone then you might be able to pay them or do some work around their place to pay for the work. But they must be good with these tractors. I replaced the dif on a MF and learned a lot. I always see if I do mess things up and still get the tractor on the hauler to go get help. So I always start a project thinking of what could go wrong and where would I get help.

I don't think that I would split my tractor. It would be worth the time and money to just have it done.

 

[mffarmall]

Another thing. I thought that my clutch was going bad. I took the loader off to see what was going on. I was glad to get in and see what was happening. But it accually was the pin not the clutch. I probably would have put in a new clutch and still not have fixed it.