3520, is the fan belt a warranty item?

[tuolumne]

I had some helpers show up today and we planned on chipping slash. I noticed the tach was no working...the belt was thrown. Inspection showed a frayed section with a slight notch. I tried to put the belt back a few times, but the belt was kinked enough it got thrown very quickly. No help today after all . The dealer was not open this afternoon...is this a warranty item? Should I ask the dealer for a free belt or just forget about it? The machine has a bit under 200 hours and was purchased nearly a year ago. I don't care so much about the belt as the loss of help when we desperately needed it!

 

[browns40]

If you had nearly no hours at all, the dealer might feel for you & give you a belt, but I can't imagine things likes belts, brake pads, light bulbs, wiper blades, etc. would fall into any kind of warranty coverage for any manufacturer, at any amount of hours.

 

[Yourkie]

I agree with previous poster it is probably considered a maintenance (non-warranty) item unless it had very low hours on it.

You can usually get V belts at hardware and auto-parts stores which you might find open on Sunday and even cheaper than Deere. Take your old belt in, and/or check the internet for a cross ref number.

I agree the real issue is being broke down and no parts available from Deere. Sat afternoon and Sunday most Deere stores are closed.

 

[dieselalles]

Well, technically no, but as a good will gesture, especially if you're a frequent customer, they should. Especially if you bought the tractor there. It's just good customer service to go above and beyond in small ways. It shows the dealer cares about their customers and isn't just trying to nickel and dime them to death.

200 hours is equivalent to about 10,000 miles on a car and that is nothing. If nothing else threw the belt, like a branch or something, the fact the belt went south sounds like a mfrs. defect to me. You might want to run it by the service department because this is an unusual event. Something caused that belt to migrate from it's usual path. A bad bearing in an idler? Loose alternator? Even a bad bearing in a water pump? Any fluid leakage around the area?

Good luck, Richard

 

[Nuru]

I do not think they cover wear and tear items at all. Yes a dealer could give you one free, but i would check with the service department and ask them what could tear a belt up that quickly and that path might give you a free belt too - maybe a free sevice call.

 

[Willl]

Forget about it.

Go buy 2, install 1 and hang the other on the garage wall and get back to work.


Edit; You couldn't find a replacement at the auto parts store ?

 

[tuolumne]

Thanks for the replies all. We are too far from anywhere to make a quick run to a store! I'll grab a new belt tomorrow and won't push the issue. All bearings are good and the pulleys are tracking well. I think it was just a bad belt. Thanks for the advice to buy 2! What else should I have on the shelf at 200 hours?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Like most other people, I'd say its a wear item... What I'd do is put another Genuine JD belt on there...that way if it happens again in a short period of time it would then be probably be a warranty issue...pulleys out of alignment, etc...

 

[Bird]

My 1999 B2710 Kubota threw the fan belt and chewed it up pretty badly once when the tractor was fairly new. Of course, I expected to pay for a new belt, but was surprised to find my Kubota dealer didn't have one. But an auto parts store simply measured the old belt and sold me a new one. And like you, I found the pulleys aligned properly and never knew what caused the original belt to go, but the replacement never gave me any trouble at all.