How to get ahold of Branson

[Marty Weatherup]

I bought a 2018 Branson 3725 in the fall of 2019. Only 88 hours on it. The folk who traded it in did so to get the same model with a cab. I have been extremely happy with tractor.

I bought a 3 ph snow blower which has a hydraulic cylinder to turn the chute. I have been trying, unsuccessfully for weeks to get in touch with Branson to find out if they have a hydraulic controller that has a switch/diverter to allow for joy stick control of both the bucket and the chute on the snow blower. I really don't want to tee off the bucket roll. I'd like to be able to switch from the bucket to the chute with a switch on the joy stick control. I was told by one mechanic he thought there was one available for the Branson to replace the original.

Branson has the contact form on their website but no phone number. I checked with the local dealer but the one mechanic in Alaska who would know bounces all over the state and I haven't been able to get a call back from him. Branson has not responded to any of my contact form submissions. Not even an email acknowledgement of my query.

Is this standard operating procedure for Branson? The tractor is great. I'm thrilled with it but no so thrilled with the companies lack of response to customers. Any insight guys? Thanks.

 

[ericm979]

They're not good at working directly with customers. They want you to go through a dealer.

That said I'm pretty sure that the Branson "3rd function" is a diverter off the curl circuit- when the switch is depressed it switches the curl circuit to run the 3rd function. WR Long has a true 3rd function kit. That's where there's two switches or a rocker and depressing one sends fluid out the new valve to the device in one or the other direction, like a regular manual spool valve. The joystick does not need to be moved. Supposedly there's a kit specifically for Bransons. Or you can make your own.

The problem with the true 3rd functionis that when our loader valve is operated it sends all the surplus flow out the tank port. So you can't raise the loader and operate the chute at the same time. I've tested this and it's in the shop manual too. Kind of a bummer. Although in practice if you send flow to two cylinders at once, the one with the least resistance moves while the other stays put, until the first reaches its limit or you shut it off.

 

[TractorTYMe]

Do you have ANY rear remotes at all?

 

[ericm979]

That's a good point. My 3725 came with the factory two remotes but that may have been how my dealer was setting up the 25s to differentiate them from the 20 series.

Last I looked the Branson remote kit was very reasonably priced... like about what it would cost in parts to build your own 3rd function (with a high quality joystick handle with switches).

 

[Marty Weatherup]

No rear remote. Just the bucket curl and raise/lower. Of course there is the 3ph raise/lower control but no separate control for a third function like what I'm looking for. I've talked to the dealer and they have been somewhat helpful but they don't have a full time mechanic. He floats between several shops and Alaska has a few miles between those shops.

I guess what bugs me more than anything is them having a contact form on their website and not repsonding to customer queries. But that seems to be the case for more online sites than not. It is like pulling teeth to get a response from most of the sites who have a contact form.

 

[ptsg]

I honestly wouldn't expect any contact whatsoever with the manufacturer of any vehicle (tractor, trucks, etc). The dealer is the middle man between the costumer and the manufacturer.

If I have a problem or a question about my pickup truck (Mitsubishi), I have to go to the dealer and I know for sure I can't contact Mitsubishi directly. There is simply no way.

 

[ericm979]

TWMNorsky's suggestion of the factory remotes is a good one. You'd have two valves with levers between the seat and right fender, all nicely integrated. There's a linkage from the levers back to the valves which mount on top of the transmission housing right at the back. Last I heard (which was a few years ago) the price was aboout $550.

I use mine to operate the top and tilt cylinders on the 3pt, and the dealer installed valve on the fender to run the grapple. One of these days I'll do my own 3rd function.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I would also go with rear remotes for the chute rotation and deflector angle. You can get 2 rear remotes added that will do what you need. Once installed, these will sit above the 3pt hitch arms, and it will be much handier for connecting and disconnecting. Plus you won't end up with hydraulic hoses snaking all over your tractor. I can get you some pictures this weekend of what the factory rear remote location looks like.

 

[Marty Weatherup]

I would also go with rear remotes for the chute rotation and deflector angle. You can get 2 rear remotes added that will do what you need. Once installed, these will sit above the 3pt hitch arms, and it will be much handier for connecting and disconnecting. Plus you won't end up with hydraulic hoses snaking all over your tractor. I can get you some pictures this weekend of what the factory rear remote location looks like.

That would be great. I'd love to see some pictures of a rear remote and how it is set up on the Branson. Thank you.

 

[Marty Weatherup]

I did finally get a hold of the mechanic who travels around the state. He is checking on the availability of a third function remote.