Shame on dealer!

[oscarvan]

So..... Got her home yesterday, and there was fluid on the deck under the steering wheel.
It was clear and felt like water and not oil or hydraulic fluid so I attributed it to wash water blowing out on the road at 65mph.

Today, however, after 10 minutes of mowing my admittedly lumpy yard there was more. So
this time I confirmed what it was..... Have you ever tasted battery acid? Not my favorite. So,
I removed the screen and found the battery badly leaking from the caps. After removal it turned
out it was seriously over-filled. Fluid should be at the bottom of the necks, it was more than
halfway up. In the attached pictures you can see the amount of fluid I removed from this small battery
to bring it down to the proper level, and that's AFTER a bunch of it leaked out, and the damage done to the battery tray and surrounding area.

I've cleaned it up and painted it, so I'm good, but it made for a somewhat frustrating "first day" especially
since this was 100% human error and preventable. Someone needs to have a chat with the tech that
prepped this unit for delivery. And yes, I sent this story to the dealer.

After that I mowed my entire property (with no more fluid coming from the battery) and must say I am pleased with the performance. I took off the
backhoe and FEL for maneuverability and that was as easy as in the videos. Good stuff. It's a keeper.

 

[rademamj1]

Yes Indeed. Some dealers have so poorly trained mechanics ...its incredible. Most Dealers seem to be just fine on maintenance and repair issues. But nearly every tractor owner can relate some type of horrendous mistake by service departments.

In my case, I brought my tractor in for a small warranty repair. While there i was feeling guilty about such a small repair, and asked them to do additional engine oil/filter change and hydraulic fluid/filter change. I go to pick up my tractor. After paying the bill, i checked the repair, and then checked all fluids....and wow there was not a drop of engine oil or hydraulic fluid in the tractor. None. They checked also to confirm. None. Embarrassed, they explained what happened, the mechanic drained all fluids, changed all filters just before lunchtime. After lunch he simply logged everything completed, and parked the tractor.

I made them bring all the fluids to the tractor when they filled it with oil. Lesson here is: 1. always check your fluids and 2. Any service you can do yourself, is probably better for your tractor than a dealer doing it.

 

[RickB]

Yes Indeed. Some dealers have so poorly trained mechanics ...its incredible. Most Dealers seem to be just fine on maintenance and repair issues. But nearly every tractor owner can relate some type of horrendous mistake by service departments.

In my case, I brought my tractor in for a small warranty repair. While there i was feeling guilty about such a small repair, and asked them to do additional engine oil/filter change and hydraulic fluid/filter change. I go to pick up my tractor. After paying the bill, i checked the repair, and then checked all fluids....and wow there was not a drop of engine oil or hydraulic fluid in the tractor. None. They checked also to confirm. None. Embarrassed, they explained what happened, the mechanic drained all fluids, changed all filters just before lunchtime. After lunch he simply logged everything completed, and parked the tractor.

I made them bring all the fluids to the tractor when they filled it with oil. Lesson here is: 1. always check your fluids and 2. Any service you can do yourself, is probably better for your tractor than a dealer doing it.

I would pay money to see somebody “park” a hydrostatic tractor with no hydraulic oil in it.

 

[Peter 315]

I would make sure you clean the radiator real good........................

 

[oscarvan]

I would make sure you clean the radiator real good........................

Yes.....

 

[mrmikey]

would make sure you clean the radiator real good........................

I was thinking the same thing, lots and lots of baking soda to neutralize the acid, although whatever damage has been done by now.................Mike

 

[4get gto]

Yes Indeed. Some dealers have so poorly trained mechanics ...its incredible. Most Dealers seem to be just fine on maintenance and repair issues. But nearly every tractor owner can relate some type of horrendous mistake by service departments.

In my case, I brought my tractor in for a small warranty repair. While there i was feeling guilty about such a small repair, and asked them to do additional engine oil/filter change and hydraulic fluid/filter change. I go to pick up my tractor. After paying the bill, i checked the repair, and then checked all fluids....and wow there was not a drop of engine oil or hydraulic fluid in the tractor. None. They checked also to confirm. None. Embarrassed, they explained what happened, the mechanic drained all fluids, changed all filters just before lunchtime. After lunch he simply logged everything completed, and parked the tractor.

I made them bring all the fluids to the tractor when they filled it with oil. Lesson here is: 1. always check your fluids and 2. Any service you can do yourself, is probably better for your tractor than a dealer doing it.

Felt my blood pressure rise just reading this..
That mechanic should have been given a permanent lunch break.

 

[Thomas]

"So
this time I confirmed what it was..... Have you ever tasted battery acid? Not my favorite."

 

[oscarvan]

I was thinking the same thing, lots and lots of baking soda to neutralize the acid, although whatever damage has been done by now.................Mike

Afraid so. Hosed it all down liberally. Baking soda is caustic. Also not your friend. Dilution is the best thing.

 

[RickB]

Make no mistake. In this instance, baking soda IS your friend. Rinse exceptionally well after applying.

 

[shovelmike]

So, battery placement in front of the radiator and battery acid pooling on the platform under the steering wheel means that everything under the hood got wet down with acid! As stated, wash it down well, neutralizing with baking soda, pray corrosion doesn't get a foothold in components and wiring connections.
Pure incompetence on the tech's part.
Unfortunately, new equipment setup and oil changes are usually assigned to the new guy in the shop, especially when senior techs are busy with bigger jobs.

 

[Diggin It]

If this is a new machine, I wouldn't have touched anything. I'd have made the come and get it and bring another one.

 

[mikester]

Felt my blood pressure rise just reading this..
That mechanic should have been given a permanent lunch break.

More than likely the high school drop out did the prep and the mechanic did higher value billable work.

 

[coldsteelva]

I would make that dealer immediately replace the tractor OR give me a written guarantee to repair each and every thing that goes wrong with it down the road. Because of the reverse cooling (from dash to the front) EVERYTHING has been coated with that acid mist...EVERYTHING. Unless you submerged that tractor, I wouldn't trust it for long-term survival.

 

[r porter]

if you keep this tractor read post 10 again.

 

[shovelmike]

If this is a new machine, I wouldn't have touched anything. I'd have made the come and get it and bring another one.

The best idea!