Price Check JD 2320 alternator and block heater pricing

[JackDWaller]

Hi All. This is a first post after some weeks of reading good stuff here. I must say I am impressed with the quality of exchanges in this forum.

I just completed the financing of a new 2320 with mmm. A few weeks back I picked up a used 200 CX loader so in a few days I hope to be playing.

Boy was I in for a shock when told that to upgrade from a 20 to a 35 A alternator and add a block heater would cost me $1136 - I immediately baled on that since the unit will almost certainly be in a heated shop and I suspect that I can live with the 20 A alternator or hopefully someone here will describe how I should do the alternator swap some other way.

The bare tractor with an iMatch was $13 554 which seems to be pretty fair for this part of the country (Alberta, Canada).

Jack

 

[kennyd]

Welcome to TBN

Why do you think you need the larger alternator? I have a 20 amp one with four lights on my ROPS and have never needed more power.

 

[JackDWaller]

Good question. it's an assumption based on the typical draw of some items including lights as you mention. And you may be right since I've yet to go there. Regardless, is there an inexpensive option regarding upgrading?

Jack

 

[kennyd]

Inexpensive? Not that I know of. If mine ever goes out I plan to take it to local rebuild shop and see if they can fix it up with a little more juice, but I won't worry about it till then.

The 50 watt lights draw less than 5 amps a piece (use 13.8 volts rather than 12 when doing your ohms law) and you wont need the headlights on, the tractor needs very little power once it running.

 

[glc24]

Welcome To TBN Jack

The block heater shouldn't be much more than 70 or 80 dollars to purchase and if you were to get a dealer to install,that shouldn't be much of a charge.
Actually,draining some anti freeze and removing a plug and putting the heater in its place is pretty much all that's involved.

Greg

 

[JackDWaller]

Thanks for that. I have installed block heaters in cars and it's no big deal but I've never owned one of these CUT's. I'll learn quickly. My wife had scribbled down some numbers so I checked the breakdown. It was $530 for the alternator (no credit for the unused 20 A original) and $120 installation. So that puts the block heater installed at $477.

IMHO that is practically criminal. The JD salesman insisted that JD prices are very competitive

I guess I will very quickly become aclimatized to all this but ....

Jack

 

[bcb]

Thanks for that. I have installed block heaters in cars and it's no big deal but I've never owned one of these CUT's. I'll learn quickly. My wife had scribbled down some numbers so I checked the breakdown. It was $530 for the alternator (no credit for the unused 20 A original) and $120 installation. So that puts the block heater installed at $477.

IMHO that is practically criminal. The JD salesman insisted that JD prices are very competitive

I guess I will very quickly become aclimatized to all this but ....

Jack

but u will have 1 **** good tractor

 

[JackDWaller]

That I am sure of. After all I've spent 30 years doing everything under the sun, i.e. pulling engines with this old JD G!

 

[glc24]

So that puts the block heater installed at $477

That is unbelieveable!!
How on earth do they justify that price.
I got mine with the tractor in '09 and the heater price was 70.00. Didn't even charge me for installation.
Another price was quoted on here not too long ago not much different.
Installation?? Holy cow,if they want close to 400.00 for a block heater,what would they want for a transmission install.:confused2:


Greg

 

[RickB]

I'd give them the benefit of the doubt and ask if there was a mistake. The alternator deal isn't that far out of line, but the block heater price simply cannot be legit.