Help I being Screwed!!

nediver · Apr 28, 2009

Hello all,

i wish this wasnt my first post here. I have a kubota L2800 TLB and will soon be looking at buying a CK25 or 30. However, I can't ask a bunch of questions about that now as I am being screwed by a rental company.

So here is the deal.

I rented a 35hp HST Allmand tractor with 9 ft BH when Kubota was being used by father in law. When I went to use the backhoe to dig up a small maybe 300 lb rock that was about 6" below grade the tractor began leaking fluid. Since it happened just after the first time i curled bucket i thought it was water in the bucket or something. When I jumped off I saw the bucket cylinder had broken. Thats my story and now I am being pursued and encouraged to file homeowners claim. Which would get paid at now cost to me if I was found liable, but I feel like Im being taken advantage of.

I have been told I "dead-ended" the bucket. When it was explained to me I was confused, either I pushed the BH too far or I over extended it. I'm not real clear on what he is saying.

I have put the kubota through the paces and thats a lesser BH than this one, if you push the BH it should go to bypass right?

I truely did not abuse this machine, but I dont know enough to discuss what actually could have happened.

Pic 1

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Pic 4

spruce Deere · Apr 28, 2009

Welcome to TBN. Looks like something fatigued and failed...... mettle on the gland, barrel or service persons at rental place. Cylinders usually have tell-tail signs of problems and sometimes just "gut them-selfs" with alot of normal use, not counting rental service. Thats how they try to get out of paying for there own negligence. One person beats the holy livn tar out of it, opon returning it the rental place inspects it mabe, washes the machine up good, mabe some paint, and then the next guy rents it and gets blamed for all. I would have some words

Ridgewalker · Apr 28, 2009

Can you tell them that you will turn it in but that after having pix reviewed by "experts" that you believe they have a fraudulent claim and that you will be reporting same to your insurance company when you file? They may not want your insurance to have someone check it out if it can be proved to be a wear/time break.

JoelD · Apr 28, 2009

This seems very simple to me.

You rented machine, it broke, they come and fix machine or bring you another one and you finish your rental use and return machine.

They either owe you money back for hours not used or a free rental for hours not used.

Period, the end.

They either give you money back or make up rental hours or your bring them to court to get your money or rental time.

This is silly.

Joel

Rebel · Apr 28, 2009

You are being screwed, dead ending a cylinder is complete BS. There is an internal bypass valve in the hydraulic system that when working properly will prevent a "dead ending" type failure. There could be problems elsewhere in the system that could have caused this type of failure. I would suggest you post this in the Hydraulics section of the forum.

GIJOE · Apr 28, 2009

Its hard to tell from the pics, but, it looks like the metal is discolored from corrosion. If it is, that has been like that for a while, and just happen to break when you used it.

Joe

Shmudda · Apr 28, 2009

This is why you rent equipment, so you dont have the expense of purchasing one for a one time job or project. Just like anything else, its the rental companies responsibility to ensure the equipement is in workable condition so you get your contractal time paid for out of it, worry and maintenance free too!

I would let your insurance company know whats going on, and then tell them to come get their junk, and inform them they owe you the full cost of the rental back. Hope you didnt pay cash, if its on a credit card then just stop payment....end of discussion!

Good luck to you.......

Craig

Travelover · Apr 28, 2009

I agree with above posters. I worked for an equipment rental company for several years and we never charged anyone for breaking something unless it was very flagrant abuse. The occasional oops is priced into the rental price.

And has been stated, you can't pop a cylinder by not letting up on the control lever - that is what the bypass is for. If you could, everyone posting here would have popped a couple of cylinders by now.

If you file a homeowner claim, your insurance rate is likely to rise and you'll be stuck with the deductible, plus it is not a valid claim. You are the wronged party here.

Scooby074 · Apr 28, 2009

"Normal" wear and tear on a rental machine to me. The head of the cylinder can get fatigued from the piston contacting it and let go in a manner such as yours. The relief should have gone to bypass if the cyllinder was at maximum extension, but there still is some force put on the head/cushion. Not your fault, just happens over time.

They're just trying to get you to pick up the tab for their maintenance. Did you pay for the rental insurance? You'd never see me put that through my personal insurance, actually id be after the rental company for the lost time on the rental.

Good luck.

Kernopelli · Apr 28, 2009

As stated before, they are giving you the run around and attempting to scam you into paying for something that isn't your fault or responsibility.
That hoe has hydraulic relief valves. You should be able to hold any hydraulic control lever in any fully extended or retracted position for minutes on end ( if you wanted to... but nobody's going to) and not hurt the cylinders or the hydraulic components or pump. That's the way they are designed. I regularly run a Komatsu W200 wheel loader and Case 580 BH at work and "dead end" the hydraulics every time I'm on them, same thing with my personal tractor. When that happens, the relief valve opens and you let off the control a little and go on. The Allmand's cylinder was fatigued or the system relief failed, one or the other. Neither being your fault. Tell them to take a hike. If you want to make sure this is all correct, call Allmand and run it by them and see if they designed their equipment to fail when a cylinder is dead headed, they'll laugh and explain why your local rental company is run by idiots.
Brad Allmand (800) 562-1373 ballmand@allmand.com