Exciting times at the Deere dealer today

[jenkinsph]

Not true.. Green is still the leader. Others are good but still not close.

I am very satisfied with Deere over the last 40+ years but have had other brands that were good too. I would say that there are some brands that excel in the smaller tractors popular today but the larger farm tractors are still being served best by Deere.

I suspect that some of the buyers of E series tractors are unhappy with their tractors. The money saved buying an E series over an M series has been forgotten. I spent some time at my dealer looking at the two series and felt the M was a superior tractor, just my take on it.

 

[Boondox]

Go with the Kubota. New Deere's are junk, everyone around here used to run them and are now slowly switching to other brands. Not sure about the smaller tractors but lots of problems with Utility and mid sized ag.

I was hoping for specifics instead of sweeping generalizations that degenerate into a Ford vs Chevy style debate. There is a huge difference between a brand having trouble with one outsourced component and a brand having a deserved reputation for unreliability. And the point about satisfaction with your local dealer others have mentioned is well taken.

 

[MattLynch]

Specifics. My tractor is not used hard, only 1100 hours and 3 years old. Hydraulic, coolant and oil leaks at 20 hours, turbo replaced, heater resistor, fan switch, syncroniser for 3-4 gear, all gear shafts replaced, ring and pinion found to have a lot of wear while it was apart and replaced, pto intermittently stops working, clutch spring broke, etc.
Sure, other then that it's a great tractor, except the 3pt hitch won't lift much.
My neighbour is having major issues with his new 7r, just saw a new massey in his yard. Also know a guy with 3 6m's and two of them have been in the shop for major repairs at low hours (transmission problems in one, not sure about the other). Also know of a few people with 6d's with trans problems.

 

[MattLynch]

No manufacture is perfect, all tractors will have problems but the new deers in my experience are starting to have more problems then the rest.

 

[MattLynch]

Don't mind my rant, my tractor has been at the dealer for 4 weeks now (again) and I am getting really irritated.

 

[Boondox]

Don't mind my rant, my tractor has been at the dealer for 4 weeks now (again) and I am getting really irritated.

Not at all. I appreciate specific feedback. Has your dealer been in your corner?

 

[TripleR]

Tough choice indeed as both make really good machines, our newest is a John Deere but I can't say our next will especially in the size you are shopping. We have had 5 Kubotas and still have four, all have been great tractors, but as mentioned JD has good stuff too. I don't like the pedal on my L5740 as much as I thought and can use either treadle or side by side. However, while I could do without some things, I use the high-low shifter so much, it might well be the deal breaker for me.

We looked at JD before buying the GL and liked them but went with Kubota.

In ag tractors JD is the prominent tractor here though I am seeing more red and blue, but who knows why.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Was your local place the one bought by Townline?

 

[Boondox]

Was your local place the one bought by Townline?

Ages ago we had a JD dealer in Montpelier called Twin City Equipment. It closed maybe a decade ago. I was on my way to the Kubota dealer when I noticed a splash of green up a hill on a narrow side road. That's how I discovered Harvest Equipment. I'm not seeing any online reviews, but the employees are cheerful and the customers who came in for service while I was there were treated by the staff as old friends...and they all reciprocated. I've never seen an angry or frustrated customer there. Gives me the warm and fuzzies...

 

[MattLynch]

Not at all. I appreciate specific feedback. Has your dealer been in your corner?

Manager at dealer has been pretty good to deal with. Dealer was bought out by a large dealer network and now the can't keep staff/pay nothing. They have been through I think 5 mechanics now.