Buying Advice Branson Problem - Need Advice
- Thread starter JonMark
- Start date
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dieselsmoke1
Platinum Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What is CDB? and do I need some? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif JonMark )</font>
Cost of Doing Business...
I hope Branson feels they need some in your case /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Cost of Doing Business...
I hope Branson feels they need some in your case /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Chipperman
Platinum Member
JonMark
Century and Zetor
Chipperman
PS: Salsco chippers and equipment
Century and Zetor
Chipperman
PS: Salsco chippers and equipment
DennisFolsom
Gold Member
I have a Century brochure here, which has a graph of the speeds in various gears. If understand correctly, the Branson has the same transmission. Reading the graph, I get around 3 mph as top speed for second gear in range 2. That should be about right, per Dieselsmoke's comment.
Unless this tractor has suffered some real punishment at some time that you don't know about, I would say that there was some kind of manufacturing problem or defect with it. It sounds from one of your recent posts that Branson and the dealer will take care of you. I'm certainly interested in how it comes out.
I am interested in buying a Century some day. It is my understanding that Century and Branson are practically identical, so any experiences people have with Bransons are of interest to me as well.
Unless this tractor has suffered some real punishment at some time that you don't know about, I would say that there was some kind of manufacturing problem or defect with it. It sounds from one of your recent posts that Branson and the dealer will take care of you. I'm certainly interested in how it comes out.
I am interested in buying a Century some day. It is my understanding that Century and Branson are practically identical, so any experiences people have with Bransons are of interest to me as well.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Daves Tractors,
Thanks for the response. Can you post the service bulletin about the bolts not bieng torqued to spec. I can't get ahold of one. )</font>
I don't have the service bulletin at my fingertips, but it says just what you would expect....essentially that they have seen a few of these tractors with loose front end bolts and to watch for it.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In your response you say that you found one tractor with loose bolts. How loose were they?
On my tractor, there were the three bottom bolts that were completely out, the others were over half way unthreaded and I never lifted anything heavier than a full bucket of dirt with the FEL. )</font>
Your bolts were looser than ours. Ours were obviously backing out and had even bent a little in the gap that was starting, but things were still mostly together.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Since you are another 4520 owner, and a dealer, I will bend your ear with a few questions.
Are there anyother service bulletins out there that are of importance? )</font>
No other bulletins of any significance.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also, what is the average life of a clutch on the Branson? )</font> I don't have any solid numbers on this. We've never seen a worn out or failed clutch on one of these, but remember that Bransons are a fairly recent thing on the left coast so most our tractors in the field have less than 500 hours. In speaking with the National Service Advisor he relates that failures are extremely rare.
In summary, these clutches are top quality and failures are very rare. Clutches can be worn out by improper use, abut could also be damaged because of a related mechanical failure.
Most importantly, Branson is owned by reasonable people that care about their product, their customers and their dealers. They will not hide behind some technicality in the fine print of the warranty if they really feel they should cover something. This isn't a company that has a bunch of layers of executives...when decisions need to be made they are made promptly. I can't say what they will do in this situation, but they have never let me down.
Thanks for the response. Can you post the service bulletin about the bolts not bieng torqued to spec. I can't get ahold of one. )</font>
I don't have the service bulletin at my fingertips, but it says just what you would expect....essentially that they have seen a few of these tractors with loose front end bolts and to watch for it.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In your response you say that you found one tractor with loose bolts. How loose were they?
On my tractor, there were the three bottom bolts that were completely out, the others were over half way unthreaded and I never lifted anything heavier than a full bucket of dirt with the FEL. )</font>
Your bolts were looser than ours. Ours were obviously backing out and had even bent a little in the gap that was starting, but things were still mostly together.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Since you are another 4520 owner, and a dealer, I will bend your ear with a few questions.
Are there anyother service bulletins out there that are of importance? )</font>
No other bulletins of any significance.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Also, what is the average life of a clutch on the Branson? )</font> I don't have any solid numbers on this. We've never seen a worn out or failed clutch on one of these, but remember that Bransons are a fairly recent thing on the left coast so most our tractors in the field have less than 500 hours. In speaking with the National Service Advisor he relates that failures are extremely rare.
In summary, these clutches are top quality and failures are very rare. Clutches can be worn out by improper use, abut could also be damaged because of a related mechanical failure.
Most importantly, Branson is owned by reasonable people that care about their product, their customers and their dealers. They will not hide behind some technicality in the fine print of the warranty if they really feel they should cover something. This isn't a company that has a bunch of layers of executives...when decisions need to be made they are made promptly. I can't say what they will do in this situation, but they have never let me down.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,420
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
DavesTractor:
The LUK (pronounced Luke) may not be made in Germany. Luk has a huge manufacturing facility in Wooster, Ohio, just off the Route 30 bypass. We sell them a bunch of steel. By the way, they also make torque convertors.
The LUK (pronounced Luke) may not be made in Germany. Luk has a huge manufacturing facility in Wooster, Ohio, just off the Route 30 bypass. We sell them a bunch of steel. By the way, they also make torque convertors.
DavesTractor
Elite Member
Daryl,
Thanks for the info on the LUK clutch. Seems I learn something new everyday. It's an international world we live in.
Thanks for the info on the LUK clutch. Seems I learn something new everyday. It's an international world we live in.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,420
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
DavesTractor:
I'm sure they make good clutches and torque convertors. I have been in their plant a number of times. It is really state-of-the-art and so clean you could eat off the floor. The employees seem to all have a good attitude too. That makes for a quality product.
I'm sure they make good clutches and torque convertors. I have been in their plant a number of times. It is really state-of-the-art and so clean you could eat off the floor. The employees seem to all have a good attitude too. That makes for a quality product.
CMunger
Gold Member
LuK is a Germen based company, but most of the tractor clutches are produced in Herferd England. It's a nice suprise to see a Luk clutchs in these tractors, because most tractors from the Orient use Diakin, and LuK is far superior, not only in longevity, but also at rebuild or replacement time.
Chuck M.
Chuck M.
Update!
Spoke with dealer about the replacement of the left front axel housing and bolts. Dealer has replaced all bolts, axel housing, and a spider gear that got chewed up in the event. Went through tractor and verified that all other bolts were torqued to spec.
Also I got word from dealer that they would warranty the clutch aswell.
Dealer and Branson pulled through!
I am very pleased with the outcome.
I am also having the 50 hour preventative maintainance performed on the tractor. Does anyone have any cost ideas?
Jon Mark
Spoke with dealer about the replacement of the left front axel housing and bolts. Dealer has replaced all bolts, axel housing, and a spider gear that got chewed up in the event. Went through tractor and verified that all other bolts were torqued to spec.
Also I got word from dealer that they would warranty the clutch aswell.
Dealer and Branson pulled through!
I am very pleased with the outcome.
I am also having the 50 hour preventative maintainance performed on the tractor. Does anyone have any cost ideas?
Jon Mark
