Low hour diesel engine failure.

clemsonfor · Jul 28, 2012

This is the problem with new things and dealerships. They want to satisfy a customer, but also want to make money. They will lie and say things to cover themselves and you will never know or prove it unless its documented. This thing is still under warrenty right?

I would talk to a regional guy in Deere fast and let them know your not impressed with thier service, timewise and mecanical ability of the pros. The vavle was the problem, but like you said a few failed starting attempts will not pit the valves and seize the rings in it, this has to be from shop neglect. You can say you will pay a few hours labor to diagnose and repair the valve but you cant possibly be responsible for engine damage cause by eccessive cranking and possible "starting aids" being used, which you know is obvious from the pitted valves warped head (know its not over heated from the swapped hoses and deadheading pump). Also the pump could be your problem, it could be tearing up on the second crank deadheading?

Hope its resolved for the good.

jenkinsph · Jul 29, 2012

Since the tractor was under warranty why did you have to work on it at all? Seems that the steering valve repair and hose reversal and ultimately the engine problems could have all been a dealer problem without muddying the waters.

As a technician business owner selling and maintaining equipment with warranties I can say for a fact that I don't wan't the homeowners and myself both working on the equipment I am responsible for. Better to have the dealership do the wrenching under warranty and then take over afterwards if you wan't to.

Sure hope everyone can step up and be fair to all involved, hope you can get your tractor home soon.

ORCM · Jul 29, 2012

clemsonfor said:
This is the problem with new things and dealerships. They want to satisfy a customer, but also want to make money. They will lie and say things to cover themselves and you will never know or prove it unless its documented. This thing is still under warrenty right?

I would talk to a regional guy in Deere fast and let them know your not impressed with thier service, timewise and mecanical ability of the pros. The vavle was the problem, but like you said a few failed starting attempts will not pit the valves and seize the rings in it, this has to be from shop neglect. You can say you will pay a few hours labor to diagnose and repair the valve but you cant possibly be responsible for engine damage cause by eccessive cranking and possible "starting aids" being used, which you know is obvious from the pitted valves warped head (know its not over heated from the swapped hoses and deadheading pump). Also the pump could be your problem, it could be tearing up on the second crank deadheading?

Hope its resolved for the good.

No out of warrenty.

Not knowning much about the pump, and what exactly happened in the shop I can't say were the pump damage started. I do know that I was in there when they got the motor back together for the second time, that they started it for about 10-15 secs. The Tech. told me that he had run it before, after he got it back together (Note:radiator, and hydralic cooler were off. Which confuses me, because if the lines were off the fluid should be shooting out.). I would think they would have waited to hook the drive line up until they had tested the motor out. Come to find out these motors are all aluminum, so it wouldn't take long to heat them up.

I've thought long and hard about this, and ask people that I respect their oppions. I was think of paying some for the pump, but since they jack the motor up and I've put up with their shop drama. I have decided not pay for any of it. Other than my screw up with the valve.

lilranch2001 · Jul 29, 2012

What a total clusterf...!

logankelly · Jul 29, 2012

If you do not get satisfaction spend the $25.00-$35.00 small claims court and once they get served a summons then see what John Deere does to solve your problem. Work twice for me a few years ago with the people with the orange tractors

Gator6x4 · Jul 29, 2012

ORCM said:
No out of warrenty.

I've thought long and hard about this, and ask people that I respect their oppions. I was think of paying some for the pump, but since they jack the motor up and I've put up with their shop drama. I have decided not pay for any of it. Other than my screw up with the valve.

Given that you have admitted starting the tractor down the slippery slope to the junk yard by switching the hoses and destroying the pump, then probably deliverying to the dealer without disclosing your previous attemps at repairs might make a "I have decided not pay for any of it" stance not a good one to adopt when talking to the dealer. It sounds like now that more information has been provided a ton of mistakes in attempting to repair the unit have been made.

Did you tell the dealer this is what I did and then the motor locked up when you delivered it to the dealer for service?

lilranch2001 · Jul 29, 2012

Gator6x4 said:
Given that you have admitted starting the tractor down the slippery slope to the junk yard by switching the hoses and destroying the pump, then probably deliverying to the dealer without disclosing your previous attemps at repairs might make a "I have decided not pay for any of it" stance not a good one to adopt when talking to the dealer. It sounds like now that more information has been provided a ton of mistakes in attempting to repair the unit have been made.
Did you tell the dealer this is what I did and then the motor locked up when you delivered it to the dealer for service?

I believe, that had you read the whole thread, you would have noticed that when the dealer picked the unit up, he had disclosed to the service manager that he had worked on the pump. At that point the dealer should have looked at that aspect of the issue.

DK35vince · Jul 29, 2012

lilranch2001 said:
I believe, that had you read the whole thread, you would have noticed that when the dealer picked the unit up, he had disclosed to the service manager that he had worked on the pump. At that point the dealer should have looked at that aspect of the issue.

Maybe, But we are only hearing one side of the story.
If an owner worked on the tractor while under warranty that led to many of the problems caused later, warranty may not cover a thing.

ORCM · Jul 30, 2012

I not only told the service manager, I also told the Tech. that first worked on it. He called me and I told him everything that had happend, I also told some of the othe mechanics that worked on it.

It sounds like this period has been a transition period for them, and I can't help it if the dealer has employee issues. After talking to some of the Techs., it sounded like the 2 or 3 of the previous Techs. couldn't wait to get out of there, and followed the old service manager (The one manager that got fired, that took the place of.).

Like I told them, I have proof that the tractor was runing fine just a couple of weeks before that, because it was into another dealer to get the shaft repaired. You have to remember that they had it over a month and a half before they even tore the motor down, so what were they doing with it then? A. Not much, and just letting it sit there (which is not what they told me.). OR B. Jacking with it for a month and a half. They were telling my things like "I think we almost have it, it blowing out white smoke now instead of black." "Its runing longer than it did before".

Yep you are hearing one side of the story, but I'm also sure I wasn't hearing the whole story..