Do you expect Dealer training on new CUT?

[hemiguy]

Ah yes, the "madness". I just picked up my new tractor (my 2nd) Sept 1. I had started looking in May. Everytime I left the house this summer (except to go to work) my wife would simply say: "looking at another tractor?" And I would reply: "Yup, see you in a couple of hours". Seriously, it sounds like you are on the right track. Hopefully your dealer will set you up with a guy like Larry to go over everything. Let us know how you make out.

 

[Soundguy]

Dang! I think you just made the rest of us jealous!!

Larry sounds like a great guy. Was he the owner ? salesman? just the deivery driver? or all 3? Don't matter.. sounds like a great afternoon.

Soundguy

Do you expect Dealer training on new CUT?
I sure did.
I didn't know anything about tractors and had never driven one. I bought a Kama 554 over the internet and the tractor was delivered to my rural property late in the day in the Summer of 2005. It came from Mo to So. California. The truck driver who delivered it knew all about the tractor and unloaded it and all the implements. In doing so, he was careful to show me all the operations.
His name was Larry.

When Larry got it off the truck and everything else, he handed me a set of spare keys, the instruction and parts manuals for the tractor. And also manuals for the backhoe and other implements. Then he showed me starting with the very basics ... starting and shutting it off. He showed me what every lever and pedal did and how to use them. The fel bucket, 3pt, blinkers, lights, brakes, everything on it. He opened the hood and showed me the components like which was the injector pump, oil and hydraulic filters etc. I was impressed at how thorough he was. Each time he referred to the manuals when advising me so I knew where to look once he left. Then he did the same thing with all the implements and especially addressed safety issues. It took several hours to do this.

Knowing he had driven a long way, I had asked him to join us for supper and he accepted. While I was bar-b-queuing and all through supper, he was going on about the tractor and service periods, lubrication etc. Then he had me sign delivery papers and a check list he had, acknowledging that he had gone over everything on it. He was a nice man.

Larry drove off in the dark and has called me a couple of times since, to see how I liked the tractor. He gave me much more service than anyone else at the dealership, including the owner. I was fortunate to have him make the delivery. Definitely an "A" on his behalf.

 

[3RRL]

Update on Larry.
As far as I knew, the dealer hired Larry to do their deliveries with his Dodge diesel truck... separate from the dealership. I don't know if he worked for them in any other capacity, but I suspect he did somewhat? Fortunately, he did own a Kama 554 of his own so he was very familiar with it. He had been doing this for the owners for a long time.

I was especially impressed that he took the time, not only to point out features, but to make me aware of incidental maintenance and safe operation. Like checking for "loose bolts", grease "this part" every 10 hours, or to make sure to keep the air filter clean when working in dusty conditions. I have him to thank for my daily inspection routine. Tractors vibrate and they need looking after. It's not the same as jumping in your truck and drive it to work. At a glance he surveyed my property and said, "Whenever you cut those slopes, never go sideways on them, always go straight up and down or you'll tip over easily!" "Keep your tires deflated for some of that rough terrain you have" etc.
Man, he was great.

Some of you may know that I had some problems with the dealership after the sale, so I was not very happy with them. But Larry called me on his own accord....to thank me for sharing supper with my family and to check on the tractor! His last call (recently) was to inform me that he was on staff now and that if I had any problems, to call him personally. They really needed a good man like him there.
I would think any dealership could benefit from a "Larry" of their own.

 

[ccdck20hst]

My tractor, a little new CK20HST TLB was delivered by the same salesman that sold me the tractor. He went over many things - I took some photos of him showing me various things. I did "test drive one on the dealer lot. My only other two tractors were lawn tractors an old JC Penny as I recall and my trusty Cub Cadet 12 horsepower I use to cut grass. I was so nervous when the CK20 was delivered I forgot half what I was shown. So, read the manuals, one for the tractor itself, one for the backhoe one for the loader. Don't laugh - I copied the pages with the backhoe controls and loader controls showing what lever does what and how and put the copies on card board and attached the card board in front of the backhoe seat and the driver's seat! Purchased the Workshop Manual. Put fluidfilm on the undercarriage and rims and other places to ****** any rust. Bought a good grease gun. Finding all your grease fittings is job unto itself!! Learned interesting things like to check the hydraulic fluid with the backhoe and loader lowered and always with the engine shut off. Purchased a book "Operating Techniques for the Tractor-Loader-Backhoe" that has great pictures showing where the center of gravitiy of the tractor is when doing different things. The general idea is to always keep the center of gravity low to avoid a roll over. This book stresses always carry things low in the bucket and always be aware of how you are altering the center of gravity as you use the bakhoe and loader and as you drive on slopes and over holes! The book is geared more towards large tractor -loader backhoes but gives good advice on how to efficiently and safely use the loader and backhoe for different things. Good luck and enjoy that tractor!

 

[PineRidge]

I think a walk around explaining the various tractor features and how to use them including extras like BHs, FELs, mowers and the like should be mandatory on every tractor sold. It just might save a life or two.

 

[schmism]

i asked for a quick once over of features and got squat. Asked for manuals and they didnt have them in hand... (took another couple of weeks to for the dealer to get them sent in the mail)

I think mine was a poor dealer experience....

what i think you could expect is a quick once over for features, operations... drive it around the yard tweek all the nobs and levers see if anything falls off.

that sort of thing

 

[hlpdobro]

This past weekend's Montana 3840 delivery came with 90 min of familiarization. I had previously driven the tractor for an hour. The dealer also reviewed warranty paperwork and the tractor/fel manual.

Dealer was kind enough to wander over to a steep part of the property and offered suggestions for safe operation.

He'll be back at 50 hours, at which time he'll walk me through all the periodic service issues.

I think he's a keeper.

hp

 

[daTeacha]

The two extremes that have shown up here illustrate why I bought at one store instead of the other one. The place I bought makes me feel like I'm the only thing they need to take care of when I'm there, regardless of the fact that they're busy. Everyone seems to know everyone else, customers included and they all seem more than willing to help with questions or just chew the fat a bit. The other place had a good service people, but the sales guy seemed to think I was bothering him.

 

[Soundguy]

If I get the feeling that I'm bothering a salesman.. they deffinately won't get a penny of my money... this goes for other retail establishments as well.

Soundguy