labor for 50-hour

[citytransplant]

Took my Farmtrac 270 in to the dealer who I bought it from for 50-hour service earlier this week. All filters (hydraulic, fuel, oil) and fluids, including hydraulic, were changed. All nuts bolts torqued, including head bolts. Valve clearance checked. I also purchased a brush guard and had that installed. When I called to see what the bill was, my heart sank. All parts and fluids seemed to be priced within reason, however he wants $325 in labor.

At $65 hour, that's 5 hours labor. Even if I grant him one hour for the brush guard installation (4 bolts), would the work that remains actually take 4 hours? In an effort to be frugal I drove the tractor 3 miles there. Needless to say on top of labor above he whacked me $40 to deliver it home. He stated that since he has payments to make on his transportation equipment and costs for fuel he couldn’t make pick-ups and deliveries for free (OK, I understand that).

Finally the manual appears to call for hydraulic fluid change at 400 hours. I failed to consult the manual prior to work being done, assuming he would limit his work to what the factory calls for. Was the hydraulic fluid change unnecessary?

Next time I will determine what work I want done and communicate that to him before any wrenches are turned. Actually at these prices, next time I will do the work myself.

 

[wickedinhere]

That sure is a lot for the labor charge, he must have charged you to watch the fluids drain from your tractor. I cant imagine it being more than one or two hours
of labor to pull some plugs and change the filters and to refill fluids. I hate stealers i mean dealers LOL.

 

[jjcc246]

just had mine done at new holland, can't be a lot of differance between machines for the fifty hour service. they also did all the fluids, filters and bolts. labor charge was 2 hours @ $65 per. so $130 labor. not bad i thought.the whole bill was about $225.

 

[scott_vt]

Citytransplant,
That seems way high to me It sounds like he had another job in the shop that went sour, and your tractor was there to absorb some of the overun on the other job IMO, I would complain about it and have him itemize exactly where the heck all that time was spent !

 

[bill177]

My Massey Ferguson is coming up on 50 hours. I'll be doing the work myself. I'll get the fluids and filters at the dealer - so I will have a receipt for my logbook.

My thinking is simple: You own it - you take care of it. You learn about your tractor by doing your own work. Short of an HST, engine problem, or major warranty issue I will be doing all my work.

When changing fluids - take care to avoid spills. The stuff will screw up your paved driveway and/or stain the garage floor - not good for the pond or well either. I'll take the old fluids back to the dealer - like I have said before, I have a great dealer.

For those asking: Abele Tractor of Albany, NY Home.gif

 

[ovrszd]

Took my Farmtrac 270 in to the dealer who I bought it from for 50-hour service earlier this week. All filters (hydraulic, fuel, oil) and fluids, including hydraulic, were changed. All nuts bolts torqued, including head bolts. Valve clearance checked. I also purchased a brush guard and had that installed.

Everyone wants to jump on the dealer here. But just read what citytransplant had done above.

Wickedinhere,,,, I challenge you to torque the headbolts and adjust the valves on your tractor in an hour???? I do all my own mechanical work. Depending on how much "stuff" has to be removed before you can get the valve cover off, I would figure a minimum of two hours to do this function.

Also, when he says all nuts/bolts torqued, what does that include??? I'm not familiar with Farmtracs guidance so I don't know how many nuts/bolts we are talking about??

So, the clock starts when the mechanic picks up the work ticket. The clock ends when he hands the ticket back to the shop foreman. His time includes running the tractor up to operating temperatures before he begins and after he finishes. The clock is running while he's looking up all the torque specs. The clock is running while he is standing at the counter waiting for the parts guy to get him the oil and filters. And yes, the clock is running while the fluid is draining. That's how shops survive.

I'm not arguing for the mechanic or for the owner. I'm just stating that when you take your tractor to a shop you should ask for an estimate of time required. You can't always hold them to the exact time because they may find things wrong that take more time. For things like an initial service, most shops have a flat rate that they charge for that service. Do you think that flat rate is determined by the minimum amount of time required or the maximum amount???

I'm blessed, I have a shop and a way of disposing of my old fluids. I will only pay a shop for a service if my warranty requires that I do. Otherwise, I do it myself. I have even installed warranty repairs with the parts provided to me free of charge. But that's me. If you can't do that or don't have the blessing of the equipment necessary, then you have to be prepared to pay someone that does.

 

[normde2001]

You got ripped off. Any able-bodied man can easily do all of that work himself.

 

[DieselPower]

As ovrscd stated with the work done the labor time does not seem out of line. I to am not familiar with the engine in a Farmtrac 270 so I do not know how the overhead is set up in this engine. I do know that all engines are not the same. One engine that may only take 15-20 minutes to run a overhead while another may take 4+ hours. Depends on how complicated the adjustment procedure is and what specialty tools and gauges are required.

Not having been there to watch them service your tractor I would give them the benefit of the doubt. Afterall, this was more than just a oil change.

 

[Marcussen]

My dealer quoted me 2 hours at $65 an hour. The kubota did not require a valve adjustment check but did include filters and fluids. I did it myself and it it was close to 5 hours, most of that time watching the front end fluid drain (slow going). I will be a lot quicker next time.

 

[dirtworksequip]

My questions is: Why is a valve lash adjustment needed? I've owned a couple of tractors, 7 or 8 pieces of heavy equipment and 4 diesel autos and valve lash adjustments where not done at 50 hours. The new JD 3520 I have doesn't call for checking the valve lash until 1200 hours????? Checking at 50 just doesn't make sense to me.