Friend broke my GC1710

[MF RED in MT]

Also, my Tractor insurance company only allows the tractor off my property for servicing or repairs. I had no problem with that stipulation either.

If you don't mine, I'll begin using that phrase, thanks.

KC

 

[MF RED in MT]

I'm away from the tractor now, but I was able to download this picture taken the day of the damage.

As a thank you, I gave each person a $100 Amazon gift card and we took them out to a steak dinner. Total about $1,000. If a new hood is $1,000+, it cost me over 2 grand to get about 5 cords of split wood.

Now I'm wondering, as someone suggested, if a body shop could do a reasonable repair? If I could come up with a headlight assembly?

View attachment 649971

Ouch, and you rewarded bad behavior with a $100 gift card and a steak, maybe he's just waiting for another call to help you out again?

Anyone that does not correct their mistakes in 6 months does not have good character...

Now you are saying 5 cords of wood cost $2,000 that's $400 a cord, if it were me I'd buy firewood next time and take the wife out to dinner many times...

Good luck with the repairs.

And I can not resist, you could look up some old Red Green shows that deal with automotive body repairs, sorry that's not much help, ha.

KC

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Is the hood broken beyond use? Maybe it's an opportunity to do some design work on the tractor? Maybe paint a large eyepatch on the front end, claw marks around the breaks. Have some fun with it before you decide to replace.

I definitely would look into adding LED worklights on the ROPS, before replacing a semi useless headlight.

A lot can be done if repair costs are high. A good example:
View attachment 649902

LOL! We'd be friends if we lived near each other.

 

[DMW]

After looking at the picture, the damage to the hood is mostly cosmetic. I don't even see a reason to fix it, just spray some Massey Red on it. The headlight is pretty cheap from Jacks @$120. Try losing a single piece of the 3pt arm linkage, it only sell as an assembly for over $200. Had it been your son, would you have taken it out his allowance? Why you would even expect a friend to pay for the damage is debatable, I wouldn't. The next time you need a hand, they may be permanently busy doing something else. In life it becomes more important the relationships you make, not so much the money. Of course, you should always remind him of his terrible driving ability.

 

[edgarrian]

Well thats a ****** situation. Your friend certainly should have declined the gift card and then should have offered to pay for the steak dinner at the very least. If he didnt offer any of the two things I just suggested. Then he is a **** bag. Also taking down the phone number of the dealer and then doing nothing is basically him trying to save face with everyone around. You could certainly just ask him to pay half for the damage once you get it fixed. Show him the reciept and simply ask him to pony up for half.

As noted be several its a bad situation and counting on friends to do the RIGHT THING. Just doesn't seem to happen very often. Friends are friends up until the point money should exchange hands. If it doesn't and it should. Always remember that before offering them any kind of help.

 

[ray66v]

Now I'm wondering, as someone suggested, if a body shop could do a reasonable repair?

If the total extent of the damage is that lttle dent, that hood would have been a one day repair when I had my shop. Two days, if I was real busy.

Since we do jobs a thousand times harder than that everyday, why would there be a question?

Take it off yourself, remove all the attached parts, and take it to a few shops for an estimate. No one is very busy right now. So, you may even get a deal.

If you plan on keeping this tractor, make sure they understand that you want it done properly. Cheap paint, or poor prep work will be a problem down the road, if they don't take the time to do it right.

If you want to save a few dollars, order a headlight, and the hood emblem, (must be removed to do a proper repair, and may not be resusable), and do that part of the repair yourself.

 

[LouNY]

Someone helping you out and working for you isn't much different then having an employee working for you, stuff happens. ***** about, repair it or have it repaired and life goes on.

 

[Deere Dude]

I think if having the hood fixed at a body shop and doing as much as you can personally will make the job more affordable. I bet for $2-300 it would look almost like new. I had a truck door pushed in which looked worse than your hood and the body guy did it for $500. Don't lose a good friend for $300.

He probably got sticker shock after calling the dealer for a price, as I would, but a few hundred would be more manageable for him to swallow and even yourself to go with. I am very sure he fells terrible about it also, but things happen to good people with tractors.

 

[Cat_Driver]

I learned LOOOONG ago NEVER EVER lend anything to anyone.
My "friend" borrowed a 4x4 that I had and told me where he went ( rough area) ( I thought just getting groceries etc.)
He brought it back filthy, muddy, fuel tank empty THEN HAD THE HUEVOS to complain about the made and model of 4x4 that I purchased.

This is one story I could give you a dozen more just like that.

That was 25 years ago. Every person since that incident including family members gets this as an answer for anything I own.

Sorry, my insurance company emphatically will not allow me to lend anything I have or they will cancel my policy. The explained that
when I loan my equipment out I am liable for anything that happens to the people that use my borrowed equipment.

Sorry, I would LOVE to let you use it but my hands are tied by the insurance company.

Then they say: How will they know you let me use your stuff?

My answer: They won't but I'm not willing to take a chance by breaking their rules.

This has worked perfectly for me because I put the insurance company as the "bad guy" and I'm removed from the decision so no feelings are hurt.

 

[MoMower]

The guy I sold it to, fixed it. He just banged it out and realigned the headlight brackets. Looked well enough. The damage was worse than yours.