Armrest on Z445

[jeffghs]

I have a Z445 mower that was purchased in March of 09, recently, on of the collars on the armrest that adjusts the height has broken. I pulled the other side off and it is also cracked. These pieces are made of a crappy plastic material so it is not a surprise they are in the condition they are. I figured I would order and replace those parts at my expense, figuring they wouldn't cost much, but the kicker is you have to buy the whole armrest assembly at a cost of approximately $90. The new armrest assembly has replaced the suspect plastic with a metal adjustment collar. Seems like they realized there was a problem.

I called my dealer and asked about a warranty replacement and after looking he told me my warranty was only good until last year (3/11), how convenient. He told me they had others with the same part issue and sometimes it was covered under warranty, sometimes it wasn't. I told them I would try and contact John Deere corporate to see if there was some way they could resolve it. After speaking with a customer service rep there, they told me they couldn't do anything for me so I asked to speak with a supervisor, conveniently, they said they would put in my request, but couldn't transfer me due to phone issues there today. Still waiting for a call.

I really expected more of John Deere than this. Parts availability, customer service, and warranty were all reasons I chose to purchase a John Deere to begin with.

 

[beenthere]

You have to go through your dealer. If the dealer will get behind you and push the Deere rep, then you have a chance. But it won't come from Corporate down. Just sayin....

The fact that your dealer said that the issue had been covered before, would lead one to think that your dealer thinks there might be a chance. Deere does replace parts after warranty, on some issues.

Parts availability, customer service, and warranty are big plusses for Deere. But they won't hold your hand forever. If parts are available, that is a big plus. When they are no longer available, that really is a bummer.

 

[jeffghs]

I wouldn't expect them to hold my hand forever. Unfortunately, the dealer pretty much gave me a hard no! Their stance on this was that the part is considered a wear part. Funny, because most any other wear part I can think of has replacements without having to buy an entire assembly. You don't usually have to replace the calipers on your car when you replace your brake pads do you?

 

[beenthere]

I suspect the arm rests are out-sourced and Deere does not want to carry the inventory of nuts/bolts/individual parts for arm rests....just like one can't buy just the seatcover for the seat and individual parts for many,many other items.
It would be nice, but just isn't the way it is. Sorry your dealer put his foot down.
You probably have a better idea why than we.
Maybe you can get a part made to get the 'rest' back together.

 

[jeffghs]

I am sure it is because of outsourcing, but I am sure there is enough demand for them to stock this type of part at least at a regional level, especially for a company the size of John Deere. Apparently, other manufacturers do the same, but again this is one of the areas I would have expected John Deere to stand above the rest.

Maybe you can get a part made to get the 'rest' back together.

That is my next plan if everything else falls through, it doesn't look like it would be too difficult to fabricate. It is mostly just the principle of the issue.

 

[EASterling243]

Have the same issue, along with others on my Z-445. I e-mailed John Deere CS, received a reply, told me to work with my dealer on any issues I may have. Not what you would expect from a company like Deere. Lowe's sells the Z-245 model for around $3K and it has had metal components for several years now.

 

[jeffghs]

I spoke with the CS supervisor, they would have possibly done something, but I would have had to take the mower, not the armrest or or seat, but the whole mower to the dealer to confirm the armrest was broken. I told them I wouldn't be able to do that since I don't have a truck right now and I am not going to pay to have the dealer pick up and return. The other alternative was for them to give me a 35% off coupon, so I went ahead and took it.

I will still see about having two of them made from aluminum, but it may be more expensive that way. If I buy them it will definitely be the metal ones.