Reasonable Charges for NH Prescribed Service

[Opti-Mist]

The bottom line is that someone has to make the NH filters, at one time years ago it was Wix. There was also a time when NH oil was actually cheaper than TSC in 5 gallon pails. The point is that things change over time. For example, hydraulic oil at one time was 10-30 engine oil with anti-foam and anti-squack additives.

Since I'm 300 miles from my NH dealer (also a friend) I end up getting most everything at TSC or NAPA.

 

[Charles Billings]

Thanks RickB for reassuring me on the valve adjustment and the clutch. I just remember not taking a slant V-6 plymouth in for valve adjustments and ended up with burned valves. As the tech said, the engine sounded fine, if that is a any kind of test. Also, I have no problem with the clutch. Just that I thought I should follow what was in the manual. Do you have any yardstick to say when the valves should be adjusted? And, any typical time to expect that the Sensitrak clutch will need to be changed?

And thanks Jinman for doing the math. What you laid out looks very reasonable, and it is quite possible that the invoice will come in less, because the hydraulic oil didn't need to be changed.

In any event, in the future I am going to continue to do the routine fluid, filter changes and lube myself. I have been buying the NH oil and filters, and think there is not enough financial incentive to switch.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The bottom line is that someone has to make the NH filters, at one time years ago it was Wix. There was also a time when NH oil was actually cheaper than TSC in 5 gallon pails. The point is that things change over time. For example, hydraulic oil at one time was 10-30 engine oil with anti-foam and anti-squack additives.

Since I'm 300 miles from my NH dealer (also a friend) I end up getting most everything at TSC or NAPA.

Yes, someone does have to make them but they are made to a specific spec that New Holland tells them. Then in the case of a filter, if the NH filter fails then NH is on the hook, if it is a non-OEM filter and it fails NH will say tough luck

I understand why people will buy from non OEM sources and it is their right to do so. I only point out my thoughts on it as I use to be one of the guys buying oil from TSC and Napa till I did the math and saw it really wasn't that big of a savings. But I am near my dealers and can get parts and materials rather easily for all the major brands Deere, CNH, Agco and Kubota.

 

[MikePA]

But I am near my dealers and can get parts and materials rather easily for all the major brands Deere, CNH, Agco and Kubota.

Even for people like me who are not near my NH dealer, there's always mail order. I buy a years worth of filters at a time.

 

[brin]

I posted about hydraulic fluid not motor oil....I checked with the service manager at the New Holland dealership before I bought it from Tractor Supply and he said it would be fine and I also did a search on the internet and found different municipalities that were using the same fluid for their New Hollands - I saw copies of their specs in pdf format on line..so I did my due dilligence first. Now on filters of all kinds, I agree best to stick with the OEM filters since there can be major differences.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I posted about hydraulic fluid not motor oil....I checked with the service manager at the New Holland dealership before I bought it from Tractor Supply and he said it would be fine and I also did a search on the internet and found different municipalities that were using the same fluid for their New Hollands - I saw copies of their specs in pdf format on line..so I did my due dilligence first. Now on filters of all kinds, I agree best to stick with the OEM filters since there can be major differences.

I was referring to hydraulic oil as well in my reply.

 

[brin]

I was referring to hydraulic oil as well in my reply.

Then you might want to reconsider since even the service manage I spoke with at NH said the TSC hyd. oil would be fine and the specs. are the same as the NH brand name product and the cost difference is huge but each to his own.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Then you might want to reconsider since even the service manage I spoke with at NH said the TSC hyd. oil would be fine and the specs. are the same as the NH brand name product and the cost difference is huge but each to his own.

ok, you missed my reasoning for using NH oil. New Holland puts their name on it and guarantees it will work. If they sell you some bad oil they will be on the hook for it.

Now if I buy oil from TSC and I get some bad oil that messes up my pump do you think New Holland will do anything to help me fix my tractor? Regardless to what your local service manager said they will not do anything to help fix your problem if you used some other brand of oil. The service manager will say something like "wow, thats some bad luck that you got a bad batch of oil" and that will be all the support you get. That is my reasoning for using OEM parts and materials 95% of the time (there are some instances where I don't really care if something is OEM).

When I service my tractors it isn't cheap as I have three tractors still and a fouth is in jail. But I will not try to save a few dollars on major components like oils and filters (I consider them major as they are what keeps the machine running). I just buy everything in bulk and save money that way. New Hollands case of grease will last a couple years here and I foget how many tubes the case has but I think it is around 60 or 70. Its good grease and my case price wasn't that bad when you break it down by the tube compared to cheap grease at other places. Oil I buy in 5 gallon buckets as I don't want to mess around with 50 gallon drums currently.

Another way I save money is buying parts and fluids when my dealers have their sales going. You usually get 10-20%off your order during their open houses and spring or fall sales.

 

[Charles Billings]

Just a note. It was obvious from what the technician told me that there is pressue on the service department to expand revenue. It was not too suprising that I had a call about 45 minutes after the service from the service manager trying to get me to schedule more work. It has to be tough to keep their buisness going, as it is for us to pay these service charges. Just want to know that I am getting my monies worth, and that I am doing the right things to keep my tractor properly maintained.

 

[Charles Billings]

I now have my invoice, a little more than $400, which seems a little high after lookiing at Jinman's analysis and reading the other responses. One more reason to do the work myself.

I will stick with NH fluids and filters. For one, I still have an extended warranty and have been forwarned that NH will analyze the oil to make sure it is their oil if there is a warranty failure. There may be some state laws that prohibit that kind of exclusion, but who wants to hire a lawyer to fight their lawyer. Better not risk that over a few dollars, particularly when you know that you are getting good products from NH that they use to engineer and test their products.