LPGS disapointment

[orangeandgreen]

Last week, I purchased a 6' Howse brand dual edge grader (LPGS to everyone else). Put it to work for about a half hour as soon as I got it home, behind my L3240, in my driveway and access road. I was quite pleased with the job it did leveling and smoothing but wasn't so pleased when I unhooked it from the tractor. Both lower hitch pins were bent upward and forward by better than 5 degrees, and the 3/8 thick angle iron frame was clearly bent.
I took pictures and went back to my local dealer today to see how good the "1 year warranty" actually is.
Was told I must have been cutting too deep, I pointed out that the skids and non adjustable cutting edges control the depth.
Was told I must have been trying to move too much material, I pointed out that any excess material flows over the top of the cutting edges, by design.
I showed them pictures in the owners manual that had been reinforced in the area where mine bent and asked if they could get the updared parts for me under warranty.
They called Howse and confirmed that it wasn't a warranty issue.
Half hour use behind a tractor smaller than Howse recommends, doing what it is supposed to be designed for, and it bends and they won't take care of it.

Not impressed with my local dealer or Howse, and will make it a point not to bother either of them again.

 

[murphy1244]

Wow! That Sucks big time.

 

[LiveRoll]

WOW! looking at their online catalogue, it certainly doesn't look very " Beefy" at the hook up points on that unit. I just purchased a 5" similar LP at an auction a couple of weeks ago I think it may be a Conterra, I hooked up to My 7060 Kubota to give it a try and made it about 10 feet before I spun out and had to engage the FWA it did pull it fine but I was totally surprised at how quickly it loaded up. Granted, it was in some deep relatively soft gravel about 8 inched deep . but just judging by how they load up under the right circumstances that picture on the Howse website certainly makes it look like that may be a weak link. I would have a welder spend some time beefing that up!! perhaps welding in another eye on each side and putting good heavy slide through pins to spread out the load across the front.

Cheers

Roger

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

My grader blade doesn't use the bolt on pins it has two bosses about 3 inches apart so you have support on both sides of pins. since it doesn't seem as your going to get any help from dealer I would suggest having it modified as was mentioned in previous post.

 

[oosik]

MAN!! That bites. I WILL NOT forget the product, by name, or the experiences you had with the manufacturer, under warrantee. Thank you for this information.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I had a similar experience with my first purchased new rear blade and landscape rake 10 years ago. Both units had structural failure immediately and I was told that I had abused them. :shocked: I told the dealer that I was using them behind the tractor that they had sold me and that those were the implements that they had recommended to me for that use. That was an $1800 lesson, can't trust the dealer to recommend the right implement or to stand behind what their recommendation was-is.

Experience, it's what you have right after you needed it.

 

[k0ua]

Experience, it's what you have right after you needed it.

That one is worth remembering. :thumbsup:

 

[murphy1244]

And how can he be cutting to deep if the skids have non adjustable cutting edges????

 

[oosik]

It sounds to me like a tractor dealer that is not familiar with the implements they sell. With that level of customer service, I would be shopping for an alternate dealer.

Jeff - the OP post indicates a Kubota L3240.

 

[jeff9366]

HOWSE 72" DUAL EDGE SCRAPER BLADE - $1105.00
Approximate Weight 552.0000
Working Width 72 inches
Side Plates 1/4 inch Thick, 13 inch Side Plates
Hitch Type Category 1
Cutting Edge 3/8 x 6 inch Reversible
Suggested Tractor HP 35 - 45 HP
Skid Shoes 1/2 x 2 inch Replaceable Skid Shoes
Approximate Weight 552
Warranty 1 Year Limited Warranty


I decline to buy implements with open/bolt-on draw pins. I only buy implements with two-ear clevis arrangement to accept each draw pin.

You are 100% correct that your L3240 is within the power parameter that Howse approves, in fact at the low end of Howse approved power range.

I own a Howse standard duty 16/18" Disc Harrow, with two-ear clevis hitches, which has been a good implement. Your experience will make me cautious before considering another Howse implement.

I hope you have a good welding shop nearby. A good welder will have LPGS repaired and reinforced in two hours, three hours max.


HOWSE 6' Dual Edge Grader Blade - Dual Edge Graders - Box Blades & Scrapers - Product Lines

 

[IXLR8]

Sorry to hear of your issues, thank you for letting us know. I was not sure what folks meant by "open draw pins" until I looked at the link provided. I can see why they bent fairly easily, definitely poor design for intended use. Since the warranty seems to be only good for 1 minute, not 1 year... its time to get out a welder and fix it correctly as others have suggested. I had always heard Howse was a quality manufacturer, but I guess they too are cutting corners to make price points. Howse just lost my business... guess I will be sticking ETA for my attachments.

 

[k0ua]

It won't take much steel or welder work to fix it up. Yes, you shouldn't have to, but just looking at a photo of it, you can kinda see it is a heavy piece of steel, that will load up with dirt/gravel and, you know the rest. I would modify it, paint it up nicely, and remember about them next time.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I agree with the others. A properly designed dirt tool designed for up to a 45 hp tractor should not have bent behind your 3240 unless you are really reckless.

To answer the question on how to control the cutting depth on a grader with fixed runner to blade dimensions. You use the top link. When you start to pull the front blade digs in and the grader tries to roll forward lifting the back of the runners slightly. You may not notice this because the runners are buried in loose gravel. The front blade becomes very aggressive because it supports all the weight with the back end up. If you lengthen the top link to hold the back end down while cutting the weight is distributed evenly along the runners and the cut will be less aggressive. If you lengthen the top link even more the front end will lift and the cut will be even less aggressive.

 

[Rocky Hoffler]

Sorry to hear of your issues, thank you for letting us know. I was not sure what folks meant by "open draw pins" until I looked at the link provided. I can see why they bent fairly easily, definitely poor design for intended use. Since the warranty seems to be only good for 1 minute, not 1 year... its time to get out a welder and fix it correctly as others have suggested. I had always heard Howse was a quality manufacturer, but I guess they too are cutting corners to make price points. Howse just lost my business... guess I will be sticking ETA for my attachments.

A few months ago I bought a Howse tiller in there web page it said was quick hitch compatable. It had two bosses on each side with pin thru both when I went to put on tractor it wouldn't fit called dealer and they said oh yeah you have to tweak it to make it fit just paid 1700 dollars for it. needed to use it so I tweaked it with 16 lb. hammer. It worked for about 30 minutes then quit turning. had to haul it back to dealer who said what do you want me to do about it I didn't build it. Not very happy I got money back I'm done with Howse and dealer/

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

This is really short-sighted and, frankly, just plain stupid on the part of Howse. A lot of people in this industry don't seem to understand the power and scope of the internet. If Howse had stood by their product, this could have been a good story. Instead, Google searches for "Howse" right this moment, and for a long time to come, will be pulling up this thread.

I'm not sure I'd be as willing as the OP to go away quietly with my tail tucked between my legs. I know it's not worth the time and brain damage of pursuing it, but sometimes you just gotta stand on principle.

 

[orangeandgreen]

A bit of adjusting with my sledge hammer to get the ears straightened out, and the addition of 1/2x 3 steel along side the current rails should do the trick. Got it welded up tonight, will paint it tomorrow and should be better than new.
On another note, this is my second and last purchase from this dealer. Many years ago I purchased an 8' box blade, also a Howse, for my 4020. It had cat 1 hitch and I bent it multiple times then finally converted it to cat 2. Should have bought a good one but the wallet wouldn't cooperate.
Just goes to show "you get what you pay for"

 

[MtnViewRanch]

A bit of adjusting with my sledge hammer to get the ears straightened out, and the addition of 1/2x 3 steel along side the current rails should do the trick. Got it welded up tonight, will paint it tomorrow and should be better than new.
On another note, this is my second and last purchase from this dealer. Many years ago I purchased an 8' box blade, also a Howse, for my 4020. It had cat 1 hitch and I bent it multiple times then finally converted it to cat 2. Should have bought a good one but the wallet wouldn't cooperate.
Just goes to show "you get what you pay for"[/QUOTE]

This is the case most of the time when purchasing new implements.

 

[chopped]

If you paid with a credit card you might call them and put in disppute. At least youd keep them from getting their money for a couple of months.But the damage seems like something a local weld shop could fix up for you..

Last week, I purchased a 6' Howse brand dual edge grader (LPGS to everyone else). Put it to work for about a half hour as soon as I got it home, behind my L3240, in my driveway and access road. I was quite pleased with the job it did leveling and smoothing but wasn't so pleased when I unhooked it from the tractor. Both lower hitch pins were bent upward and forward by better than 5 degrees, and the 3/8 thick angle iron frame was clearly bent.
I took pictures and went back to my local dealer today to see how good the "1 year warranty" actually is.
Was told I must have been cutting too deep, I pointed out that the skids and non adjustable cutting edges control the depth.
Was told I must have been trying to move too much material, I pointed out that any excess material flows over the top of the cutting edges, by design.
I showed them pictures in the owners manual that had been reinforced in the area where mine bent and asked if they could get the updared parts for me under warranty.
They called Howse and confirmed that it wasn't a warranty issue.
Half hour use behind a tractor smaller than Howse recommends, doing what it is supposed to be designed for, and it bends and they won't take care of it.

Not impressed with my local dealer or Howse, and will make it a point not to bother either of them again.

 

[rutwad]

That is sad they won't stand behind it. I would email, write, call or whatever method you can find to contact the manufacture.

I have pulled a 6' grader blade behind a 120 HP MFWD tractor. Howse must be using week steel from China or something.

On a positive note I would like to commend Kubota and Bush Hog both for standing behind their products.

 

[NHbotanut]

That would be very disappointing to buy a new tool and have it fail and not be backed up. On the plus side, I think you will like it very much once you get it beefed up.