Do local tractor mechanics exist? How do I find one?

[ransonjd]

How do you find a good local mechanic? My Kioti dealer is 40 miles away via the interstate, and I don't own a trailer anyway. I'm just looking for regular maintenance right now. When I was a kid in rural Minnesota, there was a local mechanic who worked on everything, within a tractor ride's distance. Do such places still exist? The only nearby places I can find are dealerships for Kubota and John Deere.

Location is Brockport, NY, if you happen to know of a guy.

--John

(I would do maintenance myself if I had more time and a good place to do it, but I don't right now.)

 

[YLee Kioti]

Go visit your local Kubota dealer.
Strike up a conversation and ask.
Also, your local NAPA dealer. Some like our here has a local repair shop as well.
They do autos, and tractor tires etc.
Strike up a conversation when you buy some expendable everyday use product and ask them. Many times they also has a place for local business cards of independent shops.

Even you local oil change/lube shops have an office filled with business cards. Ask them as well.
Hope this helps yah get started.

 

[smstonypoint]

Go visit your local Kubota dealer.
Strike up a conversation and ask.
Also, your local NAPA dealer. Some like our here has a local repair shop as well.
They do autos, and tractor tires etc.
Strike up a conversation when you buy some expendable everyday use product and ask them. Many times they also has a place for local business cards of independent shops.

Even you local oil change/lube shops have an office filled with business cards. Ask them as well.
Hope this helps yah get started.

And check with farmers in your area. Not all of them do their own mechanical work.

Steve

 

[Redlands Okie]

Ask around at antique tractor shows.

Ask around at the local farmers coop.

Farm and market fruit and vegetable market or selling places. Their running older equipment quite often so need repair info.

Farm feed and seed stores.

Any breakfast places where the farm or construction type hang out to eat or have coffee.

Is there a agriculture or farm news paper or classified adds paper. Often people in them are selling and buying equipment and therefor are or know mechanics.

Construction equipment repair places.

Tire supply shops that handle or repair agricultural stuff.

Places selling off road fuel to farmers.

Perhaps some auto parts stores if they deal in ag parts, hydraulic hoses, fluids, oils, etc.

Farm auction guys selling estates and such.

County or other local farm crop and weed assistant places.

Ask several people at each place you go. Do not just assume the one person your talking to is the one that knows everyone. Perhaps leave your contact info on a card or paper in case they remember some one after you leave.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My vehicle mechanic does all kinds of stuff. Not uncommon to find a tractor in there for a clutch or engine rebuild.

But whereas a mechanic can get code readers for all makes of vehicles, the same is probably not true for tractors.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Ask around at antique tractor shows.

Ask around at the local farmers coop.

Farm and market fruit and vegetable market or selling places. Their running older equipment quite often so need repair info.

Farm feed and seed stores.

Any breakfast places where the farm or construction type hang out to eat or have coffee.

Is there a agriculture or farm news paper or classified adds paper. Often people in them are selling and buying equipment and therefor are or know mechanics.

Construction equipment repair places.

Tire supply shops that handle or repair agricultural stuff.

Places selling off road fuel to farmers.

Perhaps some auto parts stores if they deal in ag parts, hydraulic hoses, fluids, oils, etc.

Farm auction guys selling estates and such.

County or other local farm crop and weed assistant places.

Ask several people at each place you go. Do not just assume the one person your talking to is the one that knows everyone. Perhaps leave your contact info on a card or paper in case they remember some one after you leave.

Good list, just wanted to add farm supply stores, like here close by we have Tractor Supply and Southern States. I'm sure they know mechanics. Always talk to the manager is best.

 

[Ritothebull]

The guys behind the counter at any independent auto or truck part store can tell you because they sell to those guys all the time. I have an old auto parts store near me and i've gotten plenty of names from them over the years for different things. And if they like you enough they can also tell you who not to use.

 

[kthompson]

I have lived in my area for near 60 years and keep running into tractor mechanic. One reason is new guys keep joining the ranks. One reason I am meeting new guys is they are retiring from other jobs and moving into what they have been doing as hobby or such. Put you note up on bulletin boards such as TSC for what you want. Also keep eye out for yard with tractors parked obvious not being used there.

 

[goeduck]

My vehicle mechanic does all kinds of stuff. Not uncommon to find a tractor in there for a clutch or engine rebuild.

But whereas a mechanic can get code readers for all makes of vehicles, the same is probably not true for tractors.

When I last had to have a tractor worked on, a hydroplane was in the next stall and the same mechanic worked on it (similar to this one in the picture). I got to hear it run up close.