Fuel line shortage

[ultrarunner]

Sounds like a good dealer, and that he is doing the best he can to address your issues - can't really expect more than that. I don't know your model, but with any luck at all, once these teething issues settle down you should end up with a solid machine that you can use for many years.

True or not, this thread had me thinking about what Cat's service level commitment was reputed to be, back when the world in general moved at a slower pace than today. Pretty well anywhere on the planet, they'd deliver a part within 48 hours. That service level is not cheap, but if you are going for high up-times in a critical industrial application in an out of the way place, it is just another line item at the end of a quarter.

Here's hoping the fuel line elves are working overtime on the next production run ! :thumbsup:

Rgds, D.

I've found my CAT dealer the absolute best when it comes to service...

My Dozer is 35 years old and you would think I was their number one customer every time I walked into Peterson Tractor.

Last year, I had a line go out and the guys at the parts counter said they could have one for me in the morning and then asked if I was on a job... told him I was and shut it down when I noticed the leak...

He called back to the fab shop and then had me walk it back... they made a new one, perfect replacement right in front of me at no extra charge...

I've tried buying parts for my 91 Silverado Chevrolet and get the "You must be kidding" look at the Dealer that sold it new...

Makes me wonder... how a low production 1977 CAT Dozer can have better parts than a 91 Chevrolet.

In all fairness the guys at Deere treat me well too... it just anything I want is always 1 to 3 days out for a 2003 Deere 110.

 

[3930dave]

Glad to hear the OP is likely back in action - let us know how the "field" test works out.

Re. Cat: for any line, the local dealer can have a big impact. As with the OP, he recognizes that the dealer is realistically doing all he can, given limited factory parts availability.

I look at Cat as just "smart business", but done at a Corporate level - easy to say, not easy to get consistently executed across a large corporation though.

Nobody wants to hear that the parts they need are not readily available. With the millions of light vehicles sold today, added to the economics of the light vehicle market, added to gubmints wanting to get that vehicle fleet turned over faster (primarily for tax revenue reasons), then, IMO, the light vehicle market basically comes down to "Well, if we just keep jerking these folks around long enough, then they will give up and buy a new one - their Loss = Our Win".

Heavy industrial equipment, is still (for now) a different story. Up until very recently, there was little gubmint interference (re. emissions) in this market.

Nobody wants to wait for parts. It's bad enough if your p/u or car ends up sitting for a while in your driveway, but worst case..... just run (walk) down to Budget and rent one.

If you are literally in the middle of nowhere, with a critical piece of heavy equipment down, and it's idling a crew where even-the-guy-leaning-on-a-shovel-is-making-4x-what-he-would-back-in-civilization, then pretty quickly most managers are going to shift into seriously screaming at the supplier mode. A few large corporations are smart enough to look at these dynamics, and make a genuine best effort to avoid or at least minimize these situations.

If a typhoon shuts down half a country, you'll forgive a Cat for not getting you the part when they said they would - anything less = unhappy customer.

Good to hear that Cat is still supporting oldish equipment,that is getting all too rare today. Given your experience with them, I think I know who'd you would choose to spec a piece a heavy equipment onto a job - in "civilization" or elsewhere.

You can always run out and buy a new pickup, if you have the $$$, or don't mind debt. In remote areas, even if you decide to buy a new _____________, just the logistics of having a new piece of heavy equipment shipped in can burn a lot of time. IMO, all these things add up to why many people depend on Cat, and don't have a problem if the price is a bit higher than the comp - for commercial/industrial applications it will likely work out cheaper in the end.

Rgds, D.

 

[Srb08]

Yesterday, I spent about four hours moving rock and grading my road. Parked the tractor in the shed with clean cardboard under it. Went out this morning and found perfectly clean cardboard, not one drip of anything. I felt all of the fittings, everything was dry. Finally, I think things might be sorted out. It's been right at a year since I got the tractor.
Although I'm not very impressed with the quality control at Mahindra, at least on my tractor, I'm thankful I ended up with a good dealer.

Harrawood Equipment in Leslie, Mo has been good to deal with. They were responsive to my concerns and never balked at making the three hour round trip to work on or pick up the tractor. Mahindra is fortunate to have them as a dealer.

 

[3930dave]

Congratulations on a successful conclusion !

From some of the posts it sounds like these were not typical problems for your model..... with any luck at all you should have many years of trouble free use coming up.

Rgds, D.

 

[Srb08]

Congratulations on a successful conclusion !

From some of the posts it sounds like these were not typical problems for your model..... with any luck at all you should have many years of trouble free use coming up.

Rgds, D.

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I sure hope you're right.
Moving from a 2615 to the 4530 was quite an eye opener. The 4530 is a much more capable machine and fits my needs much better. I cut a lot of firewood and the larger tractor makes the work much easier. I am going to have to get a heavier scraper blade. The one I had for the 2615 got mangled the first time I used it on the 4530.
I think, if things are finally sorted out with my 4530, I'll be happy with it for quite a while.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I sure hope you're right.
Moving from a 2615 to the 4530 was quite an eye opener. The 4530 is a much more capable machine and fits my needs much better. I cut a lot of firewood and the larger tractor makes the work much easier. I am going to have to get a heavier scraper blade. The one I had for the 2615 got mangled the first time I used it on the 4530.
I think, if things are finally sorted out with my 4530, I'll be happy with it for quite a while.

You're welcome.

A long time Canadian automotive journalist has a saying "I've seen reliable Fiats, and lousy Hondas".

I was in my buddy's father's Ag repair shop last winter - he was rebuilding a not-that-old JD that had used oil from day one. Turns out, there were rings not installed at the factory !

Stuff happens........ the way I look at your situation, you've paid Murphy forward far enough that you should be good for a while !

(But, keep your fingers crossed, a little luck never hurts )

Rgds, D.

 

[Srb08]

Well, another problem has surfaced with the tractor from ****. The hand throttle is no longer working. The keeper on the throttle cable is tight but I have about 2" of slack when I pull on the keeper. When the hand throttle is moved, the cable stays stationary. I guess the **** thing is broken at the throttle shaft.
If I didn't have such a good dealer to work with, I'd be second guessing my decision to buy a Mahindra.