RalphVa
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2003
- Messages
- 7,885
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Tractor
- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
I'm not sure you can even get the all metal ones any more. When the plastic bottom blew out on our 1983 240D in about 1996, they tried to get a copper tube one at least. Had to get an aluminum one. (The bottom blew without much warning. It cracked and spewed. Luckily, my wife was almost stopped at the time and right next to a side road that she could pull into.)
Think it would be a good idea to spray ArmorAll onto the plastic every so often, as plastic embrittlement/aging is what caused the bottom to crack. Easy to do on the top. Haven't thought of it or tried to do it on the bottoms of any of mine on vehicles or tractor though.
I wouldn't have much confidence in getting the plastic replaced. I'd also worry about it if they cleaned it like they used to by removing the top and bottom heads and then putting them back on. Doubt they can reseal them like in the factory. Kinda like getting the battery replaced in your watches: no longer water proof. Some seem to have luck getting it done though. The Benz is the only one I've had go so far. The other car & truck are only 10 and 11 years old, mere children.
Ralph
Think it would be a good idea to spray ArmorAll onto the plastic every so often, as plastic embrittlement/aging is what caused the bottom to crack. Easy to do on the top. Haven't thought of it or tried to do it on the bottoms of any of mine on vehicles or tractor though.
I wouldn't have much confidence in getting the plastic replaced. I'd also worry about it if they cleaned it like they used to by removing the top and bottom heads and then putting them back on. Doubt they can reseal them like in the factory. Kinda like getting the battery replaced in your watches: no longer water proof. Some seem to have luck getting it done though. The Benz is the only one I've had go so far. The other car & truck are only 10 and 11 years old, mere children.
Ralph
